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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If budget is a concern and you're looking for a basic, reliable pair of earbuds, the Moondrop Chu can be a solid choice as it's much more affordable. However, if you're a discerning audiophile looking for higher-quality sound, noise-canceling features, and premium build, the Focal Bathys would be a superior option but at a higher price point. The Focal Bathys would also likely offer better battery life and a more luxurious experience, which could be important if you plan to use them frequently or for long periods. Keep in mind the Moondrop Chu may lack some of these advanced features and the sound quality won't be on par with the Focal Bathys. 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 Focal Bathys
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Moondrop Chu
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
8.0
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Moondrop Chu is very good.
Phone Calls
5.2
8.8
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the Focal Bathys is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
7.6
The Moondrop Chu is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
7.5
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
6.0
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Moondrop Chu is only fair.
Battery
31.0 Hours
N/A
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Moondrop Chu does not have a battery.
Cost
$699
$18
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Moondrop Chu costs $18.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the Moondrop Chu has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.0
7.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Focal Bathys to be very good for music, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Moondrop Chu compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Moondrop Chu |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $18 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Moondrop | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 8.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 31 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
Shopping
Focal Bathys
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
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 Focal Bathys or the Moondrop Chu
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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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.
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