The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If call quality and versatility in different environments are important to you, the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7, while more pricey, provides excellent performance in calls and meetings, has a low latency mode for smoother audio during gaming and watching TV, and includes active noise cancelling for quieter environments. If budget is a concern and you primarily use earbuds for casual listening, like music and podcasts during exercise or travel, the Moondrop Nekocake is more affordable and provides good sound quality, but lacks features like noise cancelling and has limitations with call and mic quality. Both options are well-built, but you'll need to weigh whether the Audio Technica's additional features are worth the higher cost for your needs. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
Good for music
Excellent for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Good for exercise
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Moondrop Nekocake
The Moondrop Nekocake has no clear advantages over the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7.
Key differences
Music
7.3/10
5.7/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is good for music, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Gaming
8.7/10
4.6/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for gaming, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Phone Calls
9.1/10
6.1/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for phone calls, while the Moondrop Nekocake is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.1/10
7.7/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Moondrop Nekocake is good.
TV and Video
8.2/10
5.0/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for TV and video, while the Moondrop Nekocake is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
7.0/10
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for noise reduction, while the Moondrop Nekocake is good.
Battery
6.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Moondrop Nekocake has 3 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$39
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has a price of $199 and the Moondrop Nekocake costs $39.
"There’s plenty to like about the ATH-TWX7. A robust set of features brings a lot of convenience to your day. But a few of those tools could still use some fine-tuning and the lack of automatic pausing in 2024 is a head scratcher. Still, the audio is mostly good, and transparency mode is better than most. Add in the solid call quality and the in-app voice test and the ATH-TWX7 are a worthy consideration, especially at this price. Too bad it falls short of being a more complete package some of the competition offers for a slightly larger investment."
"What sets the Nekocake apart from its competition at this price point is the Moondrop Link app that allows the user to change the tonal balance of the Nekocake. This makes sure that it’s versatile enough to suit different sonic preferences while allowing some customization of controls."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 or the Moondrop Nekocake
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).
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
128,300
Recommendations made
19,245
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.