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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Edition XS offers an exceptional listening experience with superior sound quality and a wide soundstage, making them ideal for music enthusiasts seeking an immersive auditory experience, but due to open-back design, they are not as versatile for noisy environments or outdoor activities where noise isolation is important. They also don't have a microphone, making them less suitable for calls. In contrast, the Moondrop Chu is more versatile with good sound quality, a built-in microphone, and better suitability for calls, meetings, and use during exercise due to their closed-back design and lighter weight. If budget is a significant concern, the Moondrop Chu provides good performance at a much lower cost, while the HifiMan Edition XS is more suitable for high-fidelity home listening at a premium price. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Best in class for TV and video
Advantages of the Moondrop Chu
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Gaming
7.4
8.0
The Moondrop Chu is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
Phone Calls
5.0
8.8
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
7.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Moondrop Chu is only fair for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Cost
$269
$22
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Moondrop Chu costs $22.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.6
The HifiMan Edition XS and Moondrop Chu are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and Moondrop Chu both have very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Moondrop Chu compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Moondrop Chu |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $22 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Moondrop | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.4/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 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 | 8.5/10 | 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) | 421 Grams | 8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | In-Line | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Moondrop Chu
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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 HifiMan Edition XS or the Moondrop Chu
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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
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