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

TL;DR: How are these 20 bucks? They sound great and have an incredible metal build while being light and comfortable. Buy these. WtfThe Build:How are these $20… This is the most premium headphone I've ever opened and it was $20. They're insane. They are metal. They feel substantial in your hand, but light when you put them in they are so small and the fit is incredible, unsurprising for IEMs anyways, but I have some CCZ coffee beans that fit great but are bigger so don't enter as deeply, so these definitely take the cake.They have a leather pouch which is Primo, and not what I was expecting (I didn't see any pics beforehand).The eartips are pretty standard (no foam) and do a good job blocking out the outside world, it’s no active noise canceling and I’ve used better passive, but again they’re 20 bucks.The cable is a bit thinner than other IEM’s I have, and they don't have controls or a microphone. There is a slightly more expensive version with a thicker cable and controls and a mic, although its’ USB-C? Honestly I like the cable, it's light and more out of the way, and if nothing else I’ll just use a different cable from another set of IEM’s.The Sound:They sound excellent. I do think that the mids and highs are a little darker than I'm used to, but it's nothing that I couldn't fix myself with an EQ. They’ve very detailed, I'm running them with the BTR 5 and with Wavelet on and they sound pretty crisp. They're not the most clean I've ever heard, but definitely up there, and ESPECIALLY for $20. I do wish they were treblier, but I’m being picky at that point.I listened to a FLAC of AM by the Arctic Monkeys and they sound real good.I’m not sure what else to say about the sound, it’s dark and bassy, but it's nice and smooth; it’s unlike the bass outta some headphones I’ve tried.They do get loud. I've been listening to them at 60 percent without issue, they do get too loud at about 85 percent, if you’re into that sort of thing.The Music:FLAC - AM by Arctic MonkeysFLAC - Discovery by Daft PunkFLAC - IGOR by Tyler, The CreatorSpotify - I Need to Start a Garden by Haley HeyndrickxSpotify - Locket by CrumbSpotify - Various songs by MitskiThe Conclusion:I'm definitely going to be daily driving them at least for a bit, and again just an incredible package for 20 bucks (I'm excited for the leather pouch). I’m thinking these will be a great gift for friends.The Waifu:Excellent, my wife likes pandas lol

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 BudgetDriver: 10mm dynamicImpedance: 18Ω — easy to power, even from a potatoSensitivity: 120dB — gets loud enough to drown out poor life choicesCable: Fixed (because Moondrop wants you to stay humble)Shell: Aluminum alloy—lightweight, sleek, and way too nice for this priceEartips: Includes Moondrop Spring Tips (seriously, those cost $10 alone)You can't swap cables, but you also can’t complain—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 listens.Cable: Non-removable. Not mod-friendly. You break it, you buy it again.---🎮 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 Kiwi Ears Altruva instead. These are for chill vibes, not killstreaks.---🎼 Audiophile Cred – The Gateway DrugFor 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 sparkleYou’re just starting out in the hobbyYou want to gift something that makes people say “Wait... this is $20?!”🔴 Skip it if:You hate fixed cablesYou crave thunderous bass or holographic soundstageYou 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.