Review: Moondrop JIU – Addressing a Niche

Moondrop JIU use the same shells as the CHU.
Moondrop JIU use the same shells as the CHU.

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Moondrop’s DSP-enabled, entry-level IEMs offer convenience at the cost of flexibility.

Thank you to Linsoul for providing the Moondrop JIU for this review.

Lately, it seems like Moondrop has been releasing products every other week. This frenetic pace is difficult to keep tabs on, so I tend to zone out and miss some announcements.

However, the JIU stood out to me as something intriguing. The premise is promising: a type-C jack with built-in DAC to “shape” the sound and fix some of the deficiencies of the original Moondrop CHU, namely end-to-end extension and lack of staging.

Moondrop JIU

(70%)
Bottom Line

The Moondrop JIU are the best DSP-enabled budget IEMs I have tried so far. As such, they earn my recommendation for “USB type-C IEMs.” This is a niche that is far from saturated, so Moondrop gets an easier pass for the time being. I cannot bring myself to nitpick about certain sound aspects in the ultra-budget range since it seems unfair. At the end of the day, you do get what you pay for. However, I’d suggest Moondrop tighten up its QC process further since unit variation should not exist to such a degree.

70%
General Usage
60%
Audiophile Usage
  • Design
    good 80
  • Build Quality
    average 60
  • Comfort
    outstanding 100
  • Pairing
    outstanding 100
  • Value
    good 80
  • Bass
    good 80
  • Mids
    good 80
  • Treble
    average 60
  • Sound Quality
    average 60
Form
In-ear
Driver
Dynamic Driver
Impedance
32 ohms
Sensitivity
95 db/mW
IP Rating
-
Weight
- g
What We Like 😍
  • The shells have good heft and density
  • Comfortable fit
  • Spring tips included
  • Good end-to-end extension
  • Good imaging and staging
  • Seamless pairing with Android, Windows, or Mac devices
What We Don't Like 🤢
  • Fixed cable
  • Shells are prone to discoloration over time
  • Slight shout in the mids
  • Noticeable unit variance
  • The mid-treble peak can be fatiguing
  • Lacking in microdynamics

The price premium over the CHU is negligible, and the potential improvements hint at a performance that far belies the price. So, is the digital processing enough to make the JIU the only entry-level IEMs worth considering, or are there caveats lurking underneath?

Technical Specifications

Packaging

Moondrop’s signature anime packaging makes a reappearance. I am kind of dazed by the flurry of anime girls that have zero relation to sound-producing devices, but hey – these “waifus” push sales, so why bother changing?

The JIU packaging has the same old anime artwork.
The JIU packaging has the same old anime artwork.

In the box

  • Moondrop JIU IEMs
  • 3 pairs of Spring tips
  • Carrying pouch
  • Ear hooks

The Spring tips are the biggest attraction among the accessories.

The spring tips alone retail for more than half the price of the IEMs, so putting them in the box is a nifty perk. The PU leather carrying pouch has a nice design but doesn’t offer much protection.

The carrying pouch looks sleek but offers little protection.
The carrying pouch looks sleek but offers little protection.

Design

Moondrop recycles the older CHU shell for the JIU, with the faceplate pattern being the only difference between them.

This shell is fairly good for the entry-level bracket, given that the Zinc alloy shell gives a reassuring heft to the IEMs. There are two vents on the inner side, a common acoustic design lately.

The upshot to this vent positioning is that the isolation is above average. On the downside, the driver does not have access to as much direct airflow, which results in the bass lacking slam and density.
The metal alloy shell has good density to it.
The metal alloy shell has a good density to it.

The type-C termination is what makes the JIU stand out.

It’s not that there are no other IEMs in the market with such a feature – rather, they are few and far between. The type-C port makes it seamless to connect the JIU to most modern laptops and Android phones.

The housing of the type-C port has a DSP chip inside.
The housing of the type-C port has a DSP chip inside.

The cable lacks a chin-slider, which is a bummer. There is an inline MEMS microphone with playback controls, so voice calls are fairly clear.

Moondrop's proprietary Spring tips are supplied for free with the JIU.
Moondrop’s proprietary Spring tips are supplied for free with the JIU.

The biggest downside, of course, is the fixed cable and the apparent lack of strain relief. The supplied ear-guides can help in the latter case, but using them is awkward. Also, Moondrop’s shell-painting process tends to flake over time, resulting in discoloration of the shells.

Comfort and isolation

Isolation is good and gets better with foam tips. Comfort is also excellent, and hours of listening should cause no issues.

Internals

The Moondrop JIU utilize a 10mm titanium-plated diaphragm driver. Moondrop also designed the acoustic coupling cavity (basically the part of the shell that directs the soundwaves to the nozzle from the driver) to adhere to their VDSF target.

JIU connects to any phone or laptop with a type-C port.
JIU connects to any phone or laptop with a type-C port.

Moondrop JIU Sound

The following sound impressions are formed with the stock white tips and a Cayin N7 as the source. Test tracks are available on Tidal as a playlist.

The Moondrop JIU follows Moondrop’s own VDSF target tuning.

This “objective” approach to tuning has been one of the hallmarks of Moondrop, and they added DSP to make the graph of JIU follow their target curve even closer.

VDSF is Moondrop’s take on Diffused Field tuning, where the frequency response at the “eardrum” point of a dummy head is taken into account in free-field conditions.
Frequency response graph of the Moondrop JIU. Measurements conducted on an IEC-711 compliant rig.
Frequency response graph of the Moondrop JIU. Measurements were conducted on an IEC-711 compliant rig.

As an aside, I have noticed several variations of the JIU graph in different measurement databases. You can check this over at squig.link.

The JIU have noticeable sample variance, especially in the upper-mids and treble.

One reason for this variance might be the nozzle mesh, which was not properly placed on one side of my unit – just something to keep in mind.

Bass

On paper, a “tasteful” elevation below 200Hz should ensure no bass bleed into the midrange and a nice sub-bass rumble.

Unfortunately, this is where we hit driver limitations.

The sub-bass notes are noticeable, but the excursion could be more physical. Dense sub-bass rumbles lack their physicality. Also, the lack of mid-bass body results in anemic-sounding snare hits and pedals.

However, the bass is not as dry or “inorganic” sounding as other DF-neutral IEMs, so the overall texture is decent. Given the price tag, I am not going to nitpick further.

Midrange

The midrange is fairly neutral, with little to no coloration. However, the lack of mid-bass body can thin out certain male vocals. Also, high-pitched female vocals in tracks with sparse sub-bass can get shouty.

Other than those cases, the mids are pushed forward in most tracks, with strings and pianos having an added bit of “excitement” to their sound.

Treble

There are hints of graininess in the treble. The upper-treble sounds fuzzy, but it’s nothing that any of their peers do better. The mid-treble is pushed forward around 6-7kHz, which can vary depending on your unit or tip selection.

Moondrop's long-forgotten IEMs, Crescent, alongside the latest JIU.
Moondrop’s long-forgotten IEMs, Crescent, alongside the latest JIU.

Overall, it could be a more impressive showing in terms of treble, but again, given the price, I struggle to find an option that does it better.

Soundstage and imaging

Staging is above average. The mids do not sound “in your head” despite the up-front presentation, which is a nice bonus.

Imaging is also above average, with good left-right separation but a fuzzy sense of ordinal orientation.

Dynamics and speed

Macrodynamic punch is decent, but microdynamics (subtle shifts in the volume) could be more evident. Speed is above-average, with busy passages in tracks not being completely blurred in terms of instrument separation.

Since the JIU has a built-in amp for the IEMs, there should be no issues with “powering” them from a phone or another source with a type-C port.

Comparisons

Vs Moondrop Chu

The Moondrop CHU is priced slightly lower than the JIU while offering a regular 3.5mm analog connector. The build and accessories are identical otherwise.

CHU and JIU have noticeably different tunings.
CHU and JIU have noticeably different tunings.

In terms of sound, I find the JIU an upgrade over the CHU. The bass is the biggest improvement with better dynamics, while the treble is also livelier on the JIU. As a result, staging and imaging improve on the newer model.

Unless you absolutely need the 3.5mm jack, the CHU is now obsolete, which seems to be a pattern in Moondrop’s yearly “upgrade” cycle.

Where to Buy

Conclusion

The Moondrop JIU are the best DSP-enabled budget IEMs I have tried so far. As such, they earn my recommendation for “USB type-C IEMs.” This is a niche that is far from saturated, so Moondrop gets an easier pass for the time being.

I cannot bring myself to nitpick about certain sound aspects in the ultra-budget range since it seems unfair. At the end of the day, you do get what you pay for. However, I’d suggest Moondrop tighten up its QC process further since unit variation should not exist to such a degree.

Then again, you get quite a lot for not a lot with the JIU, which may be enough for many newcomers to the hobby.

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