Although people thought Lan was an upgraded version of Chu, Moondrop recently surprised them by launching Chu 2. Still possessing Chu’s familiar design language, Moondrop Chu 2 has completely overcome its weaknesses on the previous version.
Packaging and accessories
Still packaged in a compact cardboard box like Chu, but the outer packaging of Moondrop Chu 2 has been redesigned to be more eye-catching. As usual, the most prominent image on the cover box is a beautiful and adorable waifu. The brand name and product name will be printed in the right corner in Chinese. All technical specifications as well as sound chart of Chu 2 will be available on the back of the cover box.
Accessories included with Moondrop Chu 2 will include:
1 cable
3 pairs of silicone eartips size S/M/L
1 suede bag
1 card with instructions on how to wear headphones
1 QC certification card
Detailed instructions for use
Moondrop CHU II High Performance Dynamic Driver IEMs Interchangeable Cable in-Ear Headphone: Buy it now
Table of Contents
Design and wearing experience
The housing of Moondrop Chu 2 still has the same design as its predecessor. The manufacturer continues to use zinc alloy to make the housing. Covering the entire housing surface is a smooth black paint layer. To make a difference with Chu, the bamboo leaf pattern on Chu 2’s faceplate will have a slight change in position.
One of the first upgrades on the Chu 2 is that the nozzle tube will be made of brass and painted gold to increase its prominence. The top of the nozzle tube can be removed, allowing users to clean the filter mesh inside or replace it if necessary.
Right above the nozzle tube will be arranged 2 small vents that regulate the pressure inside and outside the negative cavity. Thereby improving the depth of the bass range. The L and R symbols are also printed in prominent yellow to help users easily distinguish left/right ears. Ergonomic appearance will allow Chu 2 to create a comfortable, snug feeling when worn on the ear.
The next upgrade point on Moondrop Chu 2 comes from the cable, which has better finishing and is designed to be detachable. The cable uses a standard 0.78mm 2-pin connector and 3.5mm Singld-Ended jack, so it is compatible with many types of sources. Being detachable allows users to replace or upgrade the cable in the future.
Driver configuration and sound quality
Moondrop Chu 2 still uses the same 10mm dynamic driver as Chu, but the composite speaker membrane will be made from aluminum-magnesium alloy instead of titanium coating like before. In terms of parameters, Chu 2 will operate at an impedance of 18Ohm, have a sensitivity of 119dB and a frequency response range of 20Hz – 20kHz.
Practical experience shows that Chu 2 possesses better V-Shape sound quality than Chu. With the added volume, Chu 2’s bass range sounds stronger, tighter and more energetic. The structure of the bass range does not overlap and is much neater than the KZ D-Fi or Tanchjim Zero. In addition to faster response speed, the decay is also much nicer than Chu. With such a tuning style, Chu 2 has many strengths in performing Jpop and Jrock songs.
Although it has better bass, the mid range on Chu 2 is somewhat pushed back. This greatly affects the vocal performance. In addition, the thickness of the mid range remains unchanged compared to Chu, so the ability to express deep vocals is still Chu 2’s weakness. To improve the prominence of the vocal part, users can replace the stock tips with Spring Tips or change the existing filter using Tanchjim’s filter. A very noteworthy point is that the female vocal part will be performed better by Chu 2 than the male vocal part.
Still possessing the same amount of detailed and abundant treble as the Chu, but after enough burn-in time, the treble range of the Chu 2 will become smoother and soften a bit. The extension is well processed, making the treble range sound airy and clear. The microscopic details in the music are extracted relatively clearly. The smoother sounding treble also partly reduces the annoying sibilance when hitting high notes.
The soundstage of Chu 2 is not too special. Both the width, depth and height of the soundstage are average. But the sound image has good vividness and the ability to position the instrument is relatively accurate. However, with complex music, Chu 2 still has some difficulty separating instruments.
Compare
Vs Moondrop Chu
As a comprehensive upgraded version, Chu 2 overcomes most of the disadvantages of Chu, which are: The cable is not detachable, the cable is not finished well, the bass is shallow and does not go deep, the bass is lacking in volume and Not strong yet, treble is a bit harsh. In addition to overcoming the above weaknesses, Chu 2 also possesses the ability to set up a more spacious and airy sound stage than Chu.
Vs 7Hz Salnotes Zero
In terms of design, it is clear that Chu 2 with a metal housing will have better quality than Zero with a housing made of plastic. Chu 2’s nozzle tube, in addition to being better finished, also has a better length. Although this detail is small, it greatly affects the ear fit. The proof is that Chu 2 will feel much better when worn than Zero.
Moving on to the sound quality, Zero has a brighter sound with more energetic treble range. As for Chu 2, it has a stronger, warmer, and more rounded bass range. The soundstage on Chu 2 is more expansive and has a better sense of depth. But Zero has more advantages in terms of audio.
Possessing a similar price to Chu but with detachable cables, better V-Shape sound quality and better mixing capabilities, it is clear that Moondrop Chu 2 is a very good choice at the present time.