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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality for music and calls, the Moondrop Chu has very good performance for both, and their build quality is robust, making them a solid investment; however, they lack wireless capabilities and are not suited for exercise due to their poor score in this area. On the other hand, the Sony MDREX15AP excels in comfort and is lighter in weight, with decent portability, and they are much more affordable, though their sound quality and mic performance for calls are not as good. Neither option supports low latency or active noise cancelling, so if these features are important for your activities like gaming or air travel, you might want to consider other models. 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 Moondrop Chu
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sony MDREX15AP
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Gaming
8.0
6.7
The Moondrop Chu is very good for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.8
3.5
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.6
5.4
The Moondrop Chu is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
7.5
9.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
7.0
The Sony MDREX15AP is good for noise reduction, while the Moondrop Chu is only fair.
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Key similarities
Music
7.9
8.3
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sony MDREX15AP to be very good for music, while the Moondrop Chu is good.
Cost
$18
$20
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Moondrop Chu has a price of $18 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Moondrop Chu and Sony MDREX15AP both have very good build quality.
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How the Moondrop Chu and the Sony MDREX15AP compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Moondrop Chu | Sony MDREX15AP |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$18 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Moondrop | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | March 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.9/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.6/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8 Grams | 3.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | In-Line | N/A | |
Shopping
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."
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Moondrop Chu or the Sony MDREX15AP
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).
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.
By the numbers
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11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
114,500
Recommendations made
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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.
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