A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH M40X
- Very good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for air travel
Advantages of the Moondrop Chu
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
7.0
8.0
The Moondrop Chu is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is good.
Phone Calls
3.3
8.8
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.1
7.6
The Moondrop Chu is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
TV and Video
8.7
7.5
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Noise Reduction
5.3
6.0
The Moondrop Chu is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.
Cost
$99
$21
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Audio Technica ATH M40X has a price of $99 and the Moondrop Chu costs $21.
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Key similarities
Music
8.1
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Audio Technica ATH M40X to be very good for music, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Build Quality
8.2
8.5
The Moondrop Chu and Audio Technica ATH M40X both have very good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M40X and the Moondrop Chu compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M40X | Moondrop Chu |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $21 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Moondrop | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | April 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 3.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 8.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 245 Grams | 8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | In-Line | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH M40X
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Lily Katz | August 2023
"If you were to pick one headset to fill all of your needs, the ATH-M40x is a great buy with its sub-$100 price tag, pleasant sound quality, and accessories. Whether you need to use it for live monitoring, a midnight editing session, or to underscore a campus walk, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great companion."
Moondrop Chu
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2022
"These budget buds put the pressure on those premium priced in-ear monitors to really justify the cost disparity. Offering excellent sound quality at any price, the Moondrop Chu is both a perfect entry into the audio enthusiast hobby, and an all around good pick for music fans."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M40X or the Moondrop Chu
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About Moondrop
Moondrop is a Chinese brand of smart audio equipment, portable audio players, earbuds and headphones started in 2015. During the last few years they have become one of the major players in what is lovingly referred to as the Chi-fi market, the bulk of Chinese companies that have managed to actually compete with the western manufacturers in both prices and superior quality. Products such as the Blessing II, Chu and Kato are among the most popular offerings of the brand, more popular among those users that wish for good quality audio that won't break the bank. Besides audio, the brand also works in what they call the ACGN field (Animation, Comics, Games and Short Novels).
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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