Moondrop CHU III
Wired earphones with punchy bass for the price
Pros
- Bass quality reviewers call excellent for the price
- Balanced, mildly V-shaped sound that's clean and coherent
- Small metal shells that fit most ears
- Easy to drive straight from a phone
Cons
- Bass can get boomy, with little sub-bass rumble
- Treble peaks can make cymbals sound thin
- Wide 6 mm nozzles won't suit every ear
- Brass nozzles can tarnish, and the accessories are bare-bones
Updated
Details and specs
The Moondrop CHU III is the third generation of Moondrop’s budget CHU earphones, released in 2026. It keeps the small metal shells and detachable cable of the CHU II and adds a new aluminium-magnesium driver. Headphones.com calls it one of the best budget earphones of 2026, mainly for its bass quality at this price.
The sound is balanced with a mild V-shape: bass is lifted and firm, the mids sit slightly forward, and the presentation is clean. Reviewers note the bass can turn boomy on drums and the treble can make cymbals sound thin. The 6 mm nozzles are wide, so fit isn’t for everyone, the brass nozzles can tarnish over time, and the box holds little beyond a pouch, tips and a basic cable.
- 10 mm dynamic driver with an aluminium-magnesium diaphragm
- Impedance 16 Ω, sensitivity 118 dB/Vrms (easy to drive from a phone)
- Zinc alloy shells with brass nozzles
- Detachable cable with a 0.78 mm 2-pin connector, 3.5 mm plug
- Black or silver
