what's up with the moondrop lan?

Submitted by no7_ebola t3_1165tyf in headphones

moondrop recently announced the lan, it's priced at $40 and the tuning's basically identical to the chu's with slightly less treble (which was an issue for a lot of people). which makes me wonder who would even buy this? the chus had a lot of QC issues and people also hated the lack of detachable cables. but wouldn't it make more sense to release another revision of the chus without the QC issues and add a detachable cable? you can argue the spring tips themselves were worth $13 or whatever but the tips are more of a novelty item than a neccesity. the salnotes zero, tangzu waner and truthear hola were able to achieve all these while being $20 (below $20 in my country which was surprising). from my knowledge I just feel like the lan has no niche that separates it from the chus.

0

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Degru t1_j956xhh wrote

There are perhaps dozens of chifi IEMs released every month. Just don't pay them any mind.

21

aless530 t1_j97ja89 wrote

Literally this! The cheap chifi iem fad was a neat novelty back when the chu and the zero were the only real game in the market. Not even a year later, and the market is utterly oversaturated.

5

Grieflax t1_j98hqxh wrote

I’ve just started downvoting every single chifi post. It’s time to put an end to the cheap nonsense.

−11

thatcarolguy t1_j960x8q wrote

You answered your own questions. Less treble and detachable cable. Updated tuning or not, a Chu with detachable cable would have been more expensive. They could have called it a Chu MKII or they could call it a Lan. Who cares?

17

DCharlo t1_j9a98g5 wrote

this could have been a genuine thread and good conversation but OP is a fukn nutter

3

no7_ebola OP t1_j96404l wrote

did you not read my post at all. from my knowledge people seem to agree a lot of the value are from the spring tips, removing them definitely gives them a larger budget. if other iems can have great tuning as well as a detachable cable I don't see why the chus in particular can't. I mean they're the one who started this $20 iem deal

−9

thatcarolguy t1_j9676kc wrote

It seems your issue with my post is that I did not acknowledge where you said:

>you can argue the spring tips themselves were worth $13

Well I read that and I ignored it because I would not argue that the spring tips are worth $13 because they are not. They are worth pennies to Moondrop. If they drop the spring tips they still have to provide some other tips and and they are not left with a product they can sell for $7 or add a detachable cable for $13 more.

I'm still not sure what you are complaining about. Lots of people said the Chu is bright. Lots of people complained about the non-detachable cable. This addresses both. Of course it's going to cost more. Salnotes has cheap plastic build quality and (to me) sounds far inferior than the Chu.

But none of this personally matters to me because I am all about the Quarks DSP. If they gave it a slight upgrade in sound and/or quality of life for double the price I'd be all over it.

7

no7_ebola OP t1_j969eb1 wrote

the fact that spring tips themselves are priced at $13 says otherwise. not sure what you're trying to say by they are worth pennies to moondrop. proprietary tips that comes with majority iems as a neccesity comes to mind as a replacement tip.

I'm complaining about how the lan is literally moondrop chu with a detachable cable. some people complained about how "shouty" the chus are and this is what the lan doesn't have but other than that there's is literally nothing that separates it from the chus besides a detachable cable.

I definitely overlooked the metal build's contribution to price but the metal build is absolutely insignificant to the audio quality and only gives a premium feel at best. at $20 asking for a premium feel is a bit stupid.

my point is, the nuances between the LAN and Chus are too insignificant, lan fixes the issue chus had by being more expensive but other iems have proved it can still stay at the same price by knowing where to hold back on budget. my tangzu waners which has a detachable cable, great turning and build quality that isn't garbage is only $14

−7

thatcarolguy t1_j96c941 wrote

If you like your Waner for $14 then I am happy for you. It is still a plastic build, which is fine but it's cheaper.

But if somebody really likes their Chu but wants a detachable cable...they can pay $40. Everybody's happy.

$20 for premium feel is not stupid. If you appreciate premium feel even a small amount it's worth it. If not, Waner. Once again, everyone is happy.

I could be complaining that the Lan is over twice the price of my Quarks and is heavy/ bulky/uncomfortable and sounds worse (and in fact I will when the Jiu is released) But instead I am being happy with my Quarks and if for whatever reason someone else wants the Lan then good for them.

$13 does not say anything. That is the retail price of the tips because they are a retail product. They do not cost moondrop $13.

4

no7_ebola OP t1_j96dwdj wrote

I actually don't like my waners. which is why I made this post in the first place since I wanted to get a new iem. not saying it's bad just didn't like it. being cheap is the entire point of chus and other $20 iems. by trying to feel premium you're going to have to sacrifice a lot of things such as utility and longevity.

you buy iems for the sound not the premium feel, I doubt you're gonna notice the metal build while you're wearing it. if you're gonna appreciate an iem appreciate the fact it plays audio well.

my point still stands that lan has no real identity. turning is what defines an iem at the end and lan just isn't all that special to be a real product. revising the chus still makes more sense than an entirely different product that does the same thing.

1

No_Analysis6187 t1_j97nsri wrote

Actually you WILL notice the metal build. It will give you lots of confidence in wearing it, whether it be using them for commuting or laying on the side with them. A little extra durability and premium feel are always appreciated. Besides, if it address the peakiness on Chu then shouldn't that be big enough of a difference? You really shouldn't be expecting massive difference in anything below $80.

3

thatcarolguy t1_j96o4vu wrote

The longevity thing is very unfortunate though I have personally not had any problem with my Chus. My only point really is that if the Chus blew their budget on premium feel then of course a version with the same premium feel and added detachable cable is going to cost more.

I don't even like the premium feel. Like I appreciate how it looks and feels but as soon as I pick it up (in any way besides grabing the 2 shells first and being careful to keep them apart which is something I don't want to do because to me a $20 IEM is about convenience, not being fussy) and feel the little heavy weights swinging around and banging together I don't like it compared to how I can just yank my Quarks any which way and throw them around.

But I do notice the metal build while I am wearing it. Yet another reason I prefer the Quarks lol. But if the Chu was what I wanted in sound and feel yet I desired a detachable cable I wouldn't hesitate on the Lan. I don't know who exactly that is for but it is somebody.

What is it that you don't like about Waners? And what is stopping you from trying Quarks? If it is the USB C then I totally understand.

2

no7_ebola OP t1_j96pmz2 wrote

my issue with my waners was that the emphasis on vocals isn't as strong as I would like. it's overpowered by the instruments and bass. they play instruments EXTREMELY WELL but the vocals just isn't as present as I'd like. I've gotten used to it for the most part.

main reason I don't try the quarks because they just seem like a generic earphone with good tuning? also remember how I got my waners for $14? in my country the price difference isn't significant enough for me to consider it

1

thatcarolguy t1_j96qy89 wrote

Generic in what way?

2

no7_ebola OP t1_j96r37z wrote

in the sense it's literally the same as the buds that comes with your phone, random Chinese earphones.

1

thatcarolguy t1_j96rbxh wrote

So you mean physical shape/construction? That's what makes them so comfortable and convenient. That was a game changer for me. I never want bulky or heavy shells or thick nozzles ever again.

2

DCharlo t1_j9a9fyl wrote

$20 is like 5 coffees bro, it's fuckin loose change

1

Milolo2 t1_j95p5zl wrote

it is not tuned basically identically to the chu. sure it has a pretty similar gain and body, but the difference in the treble response will sound very different.

6

DCharlo t1_j9a8t4z wrote

how something is tuned doesn't necessarily mean it is better or worse, e.g. better frequency response accuracy, clarity, soundstage, imagine, so many things to take into account besides just one graph of it's tuning

I forget where on the socials, but moondrop has said that this IEM is NOT a chu upgrade and is NOT a chu replacement, so there must be difference in some sense

I understand the complaints from ppls about the sub $20 chifi scene atm, but this is moondrop, this is an icon level chifi company, their new releases shouldn't be underestimated

side note - chu = shit cable, shit build, shit QC lan = detachable cable, all metal build, unknown QC

Edit: I bought it anyway to try bc it looks cool and it's chump change, just waiting on delivery

3

maXXXjacker t1_j979y00 wrote

I thought the Chu was aight with a good seal and running through ifi gear the bass boost made it nice and thumpy. Sure other sets might be better for the price of a LAN but I get a new waifu and good sound to enrich my... laifu? lol, i tried, I'll see myself out.

I have one on the way and will give it a spin as soon as it arrives.

2

SlavJerry t1_j97y6ey wrote

it's over all "better chu" by fixed stuff like lack of bass, too much treble, detachable cable, butter cable(?), better case

but still, I questioning the price

1

Tycho-Crater t1_jaanwor wrote

The Chu.was the first Moondrop product I purchased. Neutrally tuned? Perhaps. For me it is one of the most fatiguing pair of IEMs that is now collecting dust in a drawer after only a handful of sessions while I usually really enjoy to buy,.try and drive new IEMs.

Had no quality issues with them but was very much underwhelmed, even "for the price". No way that I am going to burn more of my hair cells on the LAN..

1

DCharlo t1_j9a9rc4 wrote

also, this would be a successor to the moondrop ssr/ssp, not the chu

1