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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and active noise cancelling for noisy environments or air travel, consider the JBL Live Free NC+. However, they have a shorter battery life and may not be optimal for exercise. On the other hand, if you're looking for better overall sound quality and microphone performance for calls, meetings, and a wider range of listening experiences including gaming, the Moondrop Chu, with its wired connection, might better fit your needs, with the tradeoff of less portability and no active noise cancelling. The JBL's higher price reflects its wireless and noise-cancelling features. 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 JBL Live Free NC+
- Good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Moondrop Chu
- Good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.8
7.9
The Moondrop Chu is good for music, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Gaming
5.0
8.0
The Moondrop Chu is very good for gaming, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
8.8
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4
7.6
The JBL Live Free NC+ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
TV and Video
5.6
7.5
The Moondrop Chu is good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Free NC+ is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The JBL Live Free NC+ is good for noise reduction, while the Moondrop Chu is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Free NC+ has 5 hours of battery life. The Moondrop Chu does not have a battery.
Cost
$60
$21
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The JBL Live Free NC+ has a price of $60 and the Moondrop Chu costs $21.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The JBL Live Free NC+ and Moondrop Chu both have very good build quality.
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How the JBL Live Free NC+ and the Moondrop Chu compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Free NC+ | Moondrop Chu |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$60 | $21 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Moondrop | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5/10 | 8.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 7.7/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.3 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 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 | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
Shopping
JBL Live Free NC+
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Dig into reviews and images
HeadphoneCheck
Maike Paeßens | 2020
"JBL has added great-sounding, rock-solid all-rounders with a pleasant, warm sound character to their range. They are equipped with a high level of functionality that can be customised via the app. Some compromises have to be made with the active noise cancellation, which has a discreet effect, while the ambient mode and the Talkthru function proved to be powerful despite a perceptible background noise."
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 JBL Live Free NC+ or the Moondrop Chu
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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Why trust us
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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