CHU II High Performance Dynamic Driver IEMs Interchangeable Cable in-Ear Headphone

I purchased these after my pair of noname IEMs died, since they're the top selling pair on amazon under $25. I use these to edit a podcast, and they work great and are pretty transparent. For the price, these things are an unbelievable deal. They sound great with both music and spoken word, they're comfortable for extended wear, and the all-metal housing is really sturdy. The cable is also really nice - it's thick and doesn't tangle easily. When these die, I'll probably just get another pair since I don't really want or need anything else. My only complaint is with static - it's winter when I'm writing this, and with the air being really dry, these have a tendency to give a very slight, occasional static shock when your ear touches the metal body. It doesn't hurt but you can hear it and it just kinda feels weird. Is it a dealbreaker though, absolutely not. Also, very minor thing, what's up with the anime girl on the packaging? It's kind of embarrassing when you just want some headphones, I get that some people like it but it's a super weird branding choice. Update after 8 months of almost-daily wear - I typically wear these in an office with only one ear in so I can hear what's going on around me, and I've noticed that the left ear (the one I would wear most often) has dropped in volume by about 80% while the right ear is perfectly fine. No idea what caused it, it just happened one day. I'm not dinging it any stars since it's still a crazy value for the quality you're getting, but don't expect too much longevity out of these if you wear them frequently. Update after over a year of near-daily use - these unfortunately died on me a couple of weeks ago. Wearing them in only one ear at a time, I noticed that the ear that I would favor would slowly diminish in volume in the last two weeks of its lifespan, and at a certain point it would fully die on that side. Then I'd switch to the other side, extending its life a few months, but the same thing eventually happened where the volume would gradually lower until it stopped working entirely. I decided to branch out and try a new set after these (the Linsoul Salnotes Zero) and the Moondrops are far and away the best build quality I've found in this price range. Sound quality is similar with decent clarity on both, but I noticed that these are tuned with a bit more bass and slightly more high end detail. So if you're using these in a studio or editing situation, I would maybe look for a pair with a flatter response. Otherwise, if you're using these for casual listening or really anything else, they'll sound great and last you a little while before you have to replace them.

The sound at first seemed normal, but now as I get used to it, I noticed it’s actually better than I thought? I think the audio quality is a bit subjective. At the very least, the audio isn’t cheap sounding. The box it comes with is cute, I’ve kept it in my room as a little decor. The silicone tips were harder to put on than I thought. I really struggled with it, but at least you know it won’t fall off easily. The earphones itself are metal, which makes it durable and heavier than your average plastic earphones. The weight isn’t noticeable since it goes in your ear. The texture of the cable is like thin clear PVC pipe, I assume it is, since it is kind of stiff, glossy and slick compared to other cables. Through it, you can see the wire is silver, which suggests it is silver-plated copper, which means it should be better sounding than Apple Earpods which use just copper wires. The earphones are actually curved just like in the photo. You can’t straighten them out, it is in a fashion of a sport-hook attachment if you wrap it around your earlobe it makes the earphones less likely to fall out. So besides me struggling with putting the silicone ear tips on, this product is great. However, one weird thing is the pricing of the cables you’re supposed to replace them with is similar to the earphones’ price itself! Add shipping to it, and at that point just buy the whole thing again. So double check the replacement cable prices before buying it, if you’re buying this mostly for the detachable cable feature.

This was my first ever iem 2 years ago, since then I've vastly expanded my collection and reflected on my opinion about the Chu 2 for this review. The first time I put on the Chu 2 was after listening to the HD6XX for 8 years. I was in the middle of a Motown playlist, and Marvin Gaye's Mercy Mercy Me came on, and I was absolutely floored. It was like rediscovering music again. I didn't think such small iems could have sub bass or such shimmer in the treble, or the airiness of Marvin Gaye's vocals. So for a first time foray into iems, this a 5/5 recommendation even after all these years and having moved onto other iems. It's also small with a nice cable, and should fit in whatever ear with zero issues. Two years since, I've started to understand the shortcomings of the Chu 2. And for those more mature with music who didn't just listen to the HD6XX for 8 years and who wants to get into iems, this might be more relevant. The Chu 2's biggest and only con for me is that it can be sibilant and fatiguing in the treble. I say this is the only con but it's a big one for me, since I am sensitive to treble and prefer warmer signatures, which the Chu 2 isn't. The shock from HD6XX to the Chu 2 initially blinded me to the treble peaks. But put on Feist's I Feel it All and you can hear it especially when it gets busy. Listen to Resolve talking about 480 Pro and note the sibilant sounds. EQ will work somewhat, but it's still not very smooth for me. For this reason, I don't use the Chu 2 anymore, neither for music or just listening to podcasts. Ultimately my daily driver is now a EQed Nova which is 5x more expensive and comes with its own issues, and still old reliable HD6XX, but more for work and listening on youtube and podcasts. At this point you might be thinking if there's a budget iem like the Chu 2 but with smoother treble, and I don't think so. I have the Wan'er, and while that is much less harsh than the Chu 2, it is not nearly as dynamic, the imaging isn't nearly as good. Wan'er is still excellent for relaxed warmer listening, but it's not the Chu 2. Wan'er 2 although better on imaging is still not the Chu 2, it still lack that dynamic tuning. The Gate comes a bit closer but still doesn't capture Chu 2's dynamic sound. Chu 2 still slaps hard on most tracks even when I put it on these days, but it's issues are apparent when I encounter it. Having said all that, I still wholeheartedly recommend the Chu 2 over any other budget iems even in 2026 as your first iem. It's a perfect spring board to get started listening to iems, to learn about graphs and also not read too much into them, find out about your tuning preferences, learn how to EQ, and go down that iem rabbit hole

I got the Linsoul 7Hz Salnotes Zeros about a year ago as an upgrade from basic budget earbuds, and have enjoyed them. I wanted a second IEM so one could be for at-home use and one could be for carrying around. I find the audiophile rabbit hole fascinating, but have difficulty hearing and describing characteristics in audio that might be apparent to those folks. So I wanted to try a different IEM and see if I could hear differences from the Zeros. I went with the Chu II's because of the reputation of the original Chu's, and initial YouTube reviews of the Chu II's were quite positive. I've been using the Chu II's at home and carrying the Zeros around. I haven't attempted to A/B them for a careful comparison, so all I can say right now is that I enjoy them both. As far as I can tell, they both have an even response with good presence and are not lacking in bass. Neither have an overpowering bass or a shrill treble to me. The shape of the Chu II shell is a bit more comfortable, and they look a bit more streamlined than the Zeros. Chu II also has a metal shell in comparison to the Zero's shell which is mostly plastic. The Chu II cable has a nice silver color in a clear sleeve and is a bit more pliable than the Zero's braided copper cable. The plug on the Chu II cable is L-shaped while the Zero plug is straight. Both the Chu II and Zero are very easy to drive and work well plugged into a DAC (which is a Scarlett Focusrite Solo for me) or a standard 3.5mm jack from a phone or laptop. Many reviewers seem to prefer the spring tips that came with the original Chus. The Chu II's come with basic tips of varying size. I use the ones that fit the most snugly and they seem good to me. The Zeros and Chu II's seem to be safe budget-friendly choices for a first IEM or to have a few handy. I like them both and don't see one as a clear winner. Perhaps I will give a slight edge to the Chu II because of the look and ergonomics. There are a bunch of other highly touted budget IEMs on the market right now too: the Kiwi Ears Cadenza, Tangzu Wan'er, the Truthear Hola are three that come up a lot. I'm thinking that these also might be safe choices, but that's it's not necessary to acquire all of them because they won't be so different sounding from each other. It would be useful to listen to them side-by-side and somehow be able switch back and forth without delay, but I'm not sure if that is physically possible. Update (10/28/2024) After about one year of regular use, the right IEM suddenly stopped producing sound. These are the IEMs I use for home listening, so I have treated them very delicately. I noticed that this was a recurring issue in other reviews and did some troubleshooting. First I swapped the left and right shells to the opposite sides of the cable; the right IEM was still the one with no output. Then I tried removing the filter from the right IEM and putting the tip back on with no filter (very briefly). The output seems to be normal, so I think it is definitely a filter issue. There was a bunch of gunk on the filter, including some blue stuff (blue ear wax?), so I tried cleaning it with 91% isopropyl alcohol and some q-tips. The filter is a thin piece of metal and an a tiny sheet of paper housed inside of a round enclosure. I gave both of them a good swabbing, and they both appear to be significantly less gunky. After replacing the original filter, the output has improved significantly, maybe to about 50%. I rummaged through my saved box collection to see if I could find the Chu II box in case it had some extra filters, but I can't seem to find it. I think replacing with a new filter will bring the output all the way back, but I'll post an update if I try it.

I will be comparing these Chu 2s ($19) to the original Chu's ($20-22), the Tanchjim Zero's ($15-16), and my Gen 2 Airpod Pros ($200-250). I wouldn't call myself an audiophile, but I do enjoy hunting for great affordable sound under $40 and comparing the results. I tend to prefer headphones that have a more flat and balanced sound, in short nothing that has too much added bass. THE SOUND QUALITY: The highs and mids sound on par with the original Chu's and the Zeros (which I found traded blows in sound quality, I couldn't crown one better than the other). Vocals and instruments in that range are very clean, clear, and pleasant. Where these differentiate from its predecessors are in the bass and lows. The sound feels more impactful while not being overbearing or muddy. It has a little more flavor than a balanced flat sound signature but it doesn't overdo the lows. The original Chu's and the Zeros can feel a little lifeless on bass-heavy/prominent songs so I would tend to switch to my AirPods when listening to those types of songs. With the Chu 2s I don't feel that need. The bass feels on par with the Airpod Pros 2 (which is fairly clean) while the highs and mids sound better and clearer in my opinion. The bass sound profile isn't exactly the same as the AirPods, but the difference is too small for me to be able to put into words how they differ. Overall, if I want to use a pair of headphones with the best sound quality capable of listening to any genre of music then I would use the Chu 2s over my daily driver Airpods Pro Gen 2. Otherwise, if I specifically want to decrease the emphasis on the bass for a particular song then I may switch to the Zero's or original Chu's. THE TIPS Personally, I prefer the white Spring Tips ($13 after market for a single size) that come with the Original Chu's. They are slightly more comfortable and way easier to remove than the ones included with the Chu 2s. The Chu 2s tips are nothing special. They are not bad, but they aren't note worthy either. The Zero's come with similar tips to the Chu 2s, but with way more options in terms of shape and size. You are pretty much guaranteed to find a size that fits well if you get the Zero's. The Zeros also have various size diameters in the hole which I assume is to achieve different sound signatures, but my ears are not sensitive enough to pick up on any changes. I included an image that showcases all the tips included with each pair. THE CABLE AND FIT The Chu 2s win this hands down in my opinion. First off its removable so its easy to replace. It also has a firm soft plastic around where it grips on your ear which makes it obvious on how these are meant to be worn and are quite comfortable. This cable helps negate the downgrade in the tips. It comes with a right angle audio jack. If that doesn't work for your device then you can always swap the cable. The original Chu's had a comfortable fit without the included rubber guide, but selecting the microphone option definitely degraded the comfort for me. The rubber used on the cable could be a little unrully at times. This also has a right angle audio jack. The Zeros are the lightest being all plastic and thus take a little longer to put on properly in a way that comfortable (they also lack an L+R indicator which doesn't help the process). This is the only option with a thin straight audio jack so it will work will if you need to plug it into a recessed port. This product definitely feels the cheapest (which it is by 20-25%) out of the three, but I wouldn't call it bad. REPAIRABLITY Both the Chu and the Chu 2 have filters that can be replaced. You can tell they need to be replaced if the audio becomes quieter in one ear. A replacement set of filters will run you around $5. The Chu 2s also have the replaceable cable which makes them the clear winner in this category. TLDR All the IEMs listed are excellent in this price bracket and hit well above their weight. The Chu 2s are the most versatile and sound great with any genre of music and are also the most repairable.

The sound quality is great for an IEM in this price range. They are comfortable to wear. The metal housing of the IEM is far superior to plastic or resin types and have held up to abusive conditions very well. The connectors are rugged and also very rugged. There are only two issues that I have had and could do with some improvement: 1. plan on purchasing a set of the replaceable ear nozzle filters because the mesh is too fine and they tend to get clogged with earwax. I noticed that one side sounded more muted over time and replacing the filter solved the issue but only temporarily until it happened again. Apparently, this is a very common complaint. 2. The cable is made with a vinyl type of plastic, and it is prone to developing cracks over time. If your listening environment is casual then it's not likely going to present a problem, but if your usage involves a lot of flexing of the cable (exercise, work, sleep) then don't expect them to survive very long. Mine developed multiple tears and cracks after about a month of use and they are now being held together with bits of electrical tape. I suspect that the material they use loses flexibility and/or becomes brittle over time or just can't handle bending or stretching beyond a certain point before it tears.

By Hi-Tek HQ – Real Tech. No Hype. Let’s be honest—these aren't endgame IEMs. They won't make you cry in FLAC or hear ghost notes in Beethoven’s 9th. But they will make you do a double take when you realize they cost less than a pizza and sound better than some $80 hypetrash. I mean… think about what $20 gets you nowadays: • A streaming service you’ll forget to cancel • A gas station lunch that fights back • Or these—a pair of metal-shelled, Spring Tip-equipped, properly tuned IEMs that might just ruin mainstream earbuds for you permanently. --- 🔧 Specs & Build – Fancy on a Fast-Food Budget Driver: 10mm dynamic Impedance: 18Ω — easy to power, even from a potato Sensitivity: 120dB — gets loud enough to drown out poor life choices Cable: Decent quality, no microphonics and no you can't tow your car with it. Shell: Aluminum alloy—lightweight, sleek, and way too nice for this price Eartips: Includes Moondrop Spring Tips (seriously, those cost $10 alone) —Moondrop essentially gave you a free IEM with your Spring Tips purchase. It’s like ordering fries and finding a chicken sandwich in the bag. --- 🎧 Sound – Budget Harman Done (Mostly) Right ✅ The Good: Tuning: U-shaped with clarity up top and a tasteful bass lift. It’s not reference-grade, but it knows what it's trying to be. Vocals & Detail: Clean, articulate, surprisingly coherent. You’ll hear background layers you didn’t expect at this price. Treble: Bright, sparkly, mostly well-behaved. It tries hard to be impressive without stabbing you in the ears. Imaging: Narrow stage, but good left-right separation. Like a well-behaved studio apartment. ❌ The Bad: Bass Control: Starts tight, ends flabby. Play Kendrick Lamar – DNA at 2:00 and the bass gets messy like a toddler with pudding. Treble Peaks: Slight zing around 7–8k. Not icepick-sharp, but borderline fatiguing on long sessions. --- 🎮 Gaming Test – “Footsteps? Kinda.” Plugged into a Fosi K7, the Chu II handled ambient cues fine. In Hogwarts Legacy and God of War, you’ll catch enough detail to feel immersed. But in Call of Duty? Let’s just say: you'll know someone’s near. You just won’t know if they’re upstairs, behind you, or breathing down your neck with a shotgun. Not competitive-tier, but usable. For ranked or sweaty lobbies, use a something else instead. These are for chill vibes, not killstreaks. --- 🎼 Audiophile Cred – The Gateway Drug For new audiophiles? This is the gateway IEM that opens Pandora’s box. You’ll love it—until you start hearing its limitations... and the next thing you know, you’re buying a DAC, a stack, and justifying $300 cables to your spouse. For veterans? It’s your backup set. Your glovebox IEM. Your “hey listen to this” intro for friends stuck in EarPod purgatory. --- 💬 Final Verdict – Hi-Tek HQ Says: The Chu II is the kid who shows up to the gym with solid form, decent muscle, and great potential… but never does leg day. It’s admirable. It’s capable. But it’s not complete. Yet for $20? It’s criminal how good this is. If you have a heartbeat and two ears, buy it. Worst case? You score Spring Tips and get a free IEM in the box. 🟢 Buy it if: You want clean, confident sound with a touch of sparkle You’re just starting out in the hobby You want to gift something that makes people say “Wait... this is $20?!” 🔴 Skip it if: You crave thunderous bass or holographic soundstage You already own better and have no use for a sidepiece 🔊 Score: 8.3/10 – Honest value, slight flaws, big impact. 💼 Reviewed by Hi-Tek HQ – Come for the Sound. Stay for the Sanity Check.

This is my first "modern" IEM after using a pair of low-end Westones for nearly two decades. These definitely sound better - Westones are notorious for having no treble, and I favor a very clear and articulate high end, so I'm not really finding these to be fatiguing so far. As others have said, the soundstage is a bit narrow. Imaging isn't the best, but it's pretty good. (I'm comparing these to over-the-ear headphones and floorstanding speakers, so not exactly apples to apples.) They are heavier than the Westones, but I don’t relly notice the weight when wearing them. And as with the Westones, the Chu II is very efficient - I barely have to turn the volume up for it to be loud enough. I'm not that fond of the cable. It tangles rather easily, and the vinyl exterior is ever-so-slightly tacky, which makes untangling require a lot more effort than my Westone's cable, which have a more plasticky exterior. I know ~1.2m is a standard length, but I find it a little too short for anything other than phones or portable devices. Something around 1.6m-2.0m would be preferable for desktop use. The ends that plug into the IEMs are not color coded, and they're so small, you have to look very closely to see the L/R legends on them. Also, the cable lacks a cinch. The included eartips aren't that great either. Not the worst I've ever used, but not the most comfortable, nor do they provide the best seal. I'll be switching to Comply in the near future. If only they made longer tips, like their P series, but for IEMs with larger bore nozzles. It comes with a small leather pouch that doesn’t really provide much protection. Westone’s hardshell case is much better. And of course, the big issue always looming over us when purchasing Chi-fi is the longevity, or lack thereof. There are too many reports of these things failing after a few months. That's the reason why I didn't immediately buy a more expensive IEM like the Blessing or even the Hexa - I don't trust that those will be any more robust. Sonic shortcomings aside, the Westones have been absolutely rock solid for nearly two decades. I'll continue to use them for practicing and performing music, and use the Chu II for everything else. At ~$21, I'm okay with the risk once.

Subbasslar az gelbilir ama brnim içim yormayan detaylı ve hızlı bir kulaklık. 2.5 sene sonrasında ikinci alışım kendisini

Le Moondrop CHU II sono cuffie in-ear di qualità sorprendente per il prezzo. L'audio è chiaro e bilanciato, con bassi presenti ma non invadenti e alti dettagliati. Perfette per ascoltare musica in modo immersivo senza spendere una fortuna. Il design è elegante e confortevole, e il cavo intercambiabile è un plus che aumenta la longevità del prodotto. Anche dopo lunghe sessioni di utilizzo, rimangono comode da indossare. Se cerchi IEMs ad alte prestazioni che offrano un audio di qualità superiore senza svuotarti il portafoglio, queste cuffie sono un'ottima scelta. Consigliate per audiofili e non solo!

Build Quality: Metal feels nice . They feel premium wich is insane to think about considering their low price . The cable feels rather cheap and tickles my ears sometimes wich is a little bit uncomfortable. The ear tips are good but not amazing Fit : They fit really good and seal well . They go deeper than I expected ( more than like tws earbuds ) but it’s not uncomfortable. The shell is small so it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone Sound : They sound a bit light . Bass is nice but could be elevated a few db . Bass quality is also okay , not bad but not amazing. Mids are excellent. Nothing to say honestly EarGain . Feels wide and open . For my taste a bit too much tho but nothing that makes them sound shouty Treble . Treble is airy and sparkly . Doesn’t sound peaky . Not 100% detailed but really good . I mean 19€ c‘mon . Verdict. If you’re looking for your first IEM and don’t want to spend too much , then this should be your pick . Sound is really good (4/5) Build is also really good (3/5) And they should fit anyone (4/5)

Amazing for the price. Kept seeing getting praised and hyped up as a budget iem and im glad it actually lived up to it. Build quality is amazing, with a full metal body and cable is also decently amazing. 10/10. Definitely will take good care of them.

I had bought a number of cheaper IEMs that were well-reviewed on YouTube, such as BLOB BL03, Kiwi Ears Cadenza, KZ ZS10 PRO X, and this Moondrop CHU II. I was looking for a pair of IEMs for my Meta Quest 3 VR Headset, where I wanted good sound (with fat bass) for music games like Beat Saber, but also for watching movies where you can really hear those movie basses clearly. I extensively tested all 4 IEMs, starting on the phone with the left-right test to ensure the stereo was on the right side, followed by music videos. Here, the Moondrop CHU II and the KZ ZS10 PRO X performed equally well in the test; both sounded fantastic. I had never heard such quality before. When I performed the test on the Meta Quest 3, the Moondrop CHU II clearly emerged as the winner. The sound here was also of high quality, with a thick, fat bass to boot—exactly what I wanted. The KZ ZS10 PRO X sounded really bad on the Meta Quest 3. I think it has to do with the low-current amplifier in the Meta Quest 3; however, the Moondrop CHU II delivered the same quality as on the phone. I am so satisfied that I just ordered a second Moondrop CHU II set as a spare. I also ordered Moondrop Spring Tips at the same time, which isolate the sound around you even more, whereas it was already blocking out 80%. What quality, and for 25 Euros; I really don't need 1000 Euro IEMs anymore. I was actually considering buying expensive IEMs, but what if it had been disappointing? 1000 Euros down the drain. With the Moondrop CHU II, I have exactly what I wanted; my search for good IEMs is now complete.