The MOONDROP RAYS are wired USB-C gaming IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) with customizable sound and mic support. Finished in a striking, peacock-like colorway, these in-ears feature built-in DSP (Digital Signal Processing) contained in their mic cable, so you can tune them with a parametric EQ, access game-specific presets, and store your presets so they remain active after switching devices.
Our Verdict
The MOONDROP RAYS aren't designed for sports and fitness. While they have a relatively comfortable and stable fit, their wired design means they can easily get snagged on things as you jog or work out. They're not rated for protection against water or dust damage either.
Comfortable fit.
Limited physical controls.
The MOONDROP RAYS are passable for travel. They're comfortable, stable, and come with a nice hard case for easy transport. Plus, their wired design makes them a good pairing with in-flight entertainment systems. They're let down by their poor noise isolation performance, though, which can introduce sounds like engine rumble and train horns into your audio.
Comfortable fit.
Poor noise isolation.
The MOONDROP RAYS are passable for office work. They're comfortable and stable buds that should get you through long workdays, and their wired design means you don't need to worry about the battery running out. Their built-in mic renders your voice in an understandable way, while separating it quite well from your background, making them a good choice for calls in a pinch. That said, the passive noise isolation provided by their in-ear fit isn't very good, so you'll be able to hear your co-workers chat around you.
DSP sound tuning options.
Built-in mic within cable.
Poor noise isolation.
Limited physical controls.
The MOONDROP RAYS can only be used wired, so they're not suitable for this use case.
The MOONDROP RAYS are decent for wired gaming. They have a warm yet balanced tuning that should bring out enemy footsteps and your teammate's comms equally well. Plus, there's plenty of scope for customization via the onboard parametric EQ and presets, including game-specific tunings. They're comfortable enough to be worn for gaming marathons too, so long as you take the time to find the correct ear tip size. Their built-in mic also renders your voice in an easily understandable way, while separating it well from moderately busy backdrops. There's even a small range of mic controls to adjust volume and playback, which is rare with wired IEMs.
DSP sound tuning options.
Built-in mic within cable.
Comfortable fit.
Poor noise isolation.
Limited physical controls.
No USB-C mic support with consoles.
The MOONDROP RAYS are good for audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response generally follows their warm sound profile, with only small deviations in the bass and treble ranges. Our unit's L/R drivers were well-matched in terms of phase and amplitude too, resulting in an even stereo image. One selling point of these IEMs is their tuning capabilities: the onboard DSP lets you customize the sound via a parametric EQ and presets, and you can even save presets to use them when you switch devices.
The MOONDROP RAYS have poor noise isolation. While they have an in-ear fit that provides some passive isolation in the treble range, their silicone ear tips mean they lack bass and mid-range isolation, leaving you at the mercy of passing cars and chattering roommates. That said, you could easily upgrade their noise isolation by purchasing foam ear tips from a third party. They don't leak much audio, though, so you likely won't bother others around you unless you blast your tunes in close proximity to them.
The MOONDROP RAYS have an okay microphone performance. The built-in mic's recording quality is good enough to render your voice in an easily understandable way, though it can sound a little unnatural at times. The mic can separate your mic well from moderately busy backgrounds too, like a shared dorm room, though intelligibility gets lost in the face of louder background sounds, like a passing train.
The MOONDROP RAYS have excellent frequency response consistency. As long as you take the time to pick out the right pair of ear tips, you'll be rewarded with consistent audio delivery between listening sessions.
Performance Usages
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The MOONDROP RAYS come in one color variant: 'Green'. We took a photo of our unit's label for you to see. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphone Comparisons
The MOONDROP RAYS are wired IEMs geared towards gaming. They stand out from other wired, gaming-oriented earbuds because their cable features tuning capabilities and a built-in mic with voice handling. While they're not marketed for gaming, the MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK offers a similarly adjustable experience, with a parametric EQ and presets built into the cable, though they lack a web app interface. While both IEMs offer a warm default sound and solid mic quality, the RAYS has a more comfortable fit, whereas the DUSK's foam ear tips provide better noise isolation. If you're willing to forgo mic support and tuning in favor of a reference-like default tuning, the CrinEar Reference will suit gamers who prefer a more clinical sound with little bass emphasis. They're a little pricier, but they're built from premium materials and feature the best noise isolation of the bunch with their foam tips. If mic support is a non-negotiable, you can always add an aftermarket cable with an inline mic.
Open to over-ears? Check out our best gaming headsets and best wired headphones. Or check out our best earbuds for gaming for more wired and wireless in-ears.
If you tend to play single-player titles and are happy applying EQ through a third-party app, the Sennheiser IE 200 can be a good alternative to the MOONDROP RAYS. They have a very balanced sound out of the box, with a subdued bass, while the MOONDROP have a warmer sound with a more pronounced low-end. That said, given they're available for around the same price, the MOONDROP's built-in EQ and mic support make them a better-rounded pickup for most people, especially if you like to game online.
The TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO and the MOONDROP RAYS are both wired IEMs from the Chi-Fi market. While the TRUTHEAR retail for less than the MOONDROP, the MOONDROP's tuning features and mic support make them worth the additional outlay if you like to game online or take calls. The MOONDROP are also more comfortable for most people, though their default tuning is a little darker in the treble range compared to the TRUTHEAR. That said, the TRUTHEAR's foam ear tips contribute to a better noise isolation performance.
The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK and the MOONDROP RAYS are both solid options if you're looking for IEMs with sound customization possibilities that also feature an in-line mic. However, given the RAYS are available at a much lower price point and offer similar features, they're likely a better value pickup for most people. Both offer a parametric EQ with presets, though you might find the RAYS web app-based interface easier to use. They have similarly warm default sound profiles too. While the RAYS is better built and its mic has better noise handling, the DUSK comes with foam ear tips that provide better noise attenuation across the frequency range.
The CrinEar Reference and the MOONDROP RAYS are both wired IEMs, but they have different strengths and sit at different price points. The CrinEar are better built, using premium materials. Their default tuning is also very well-aligned with our target and features a more subdued bass range, making them a good fit for those who prefer a very clinical sound. That said, for gaming, you might prefer the MOONDROP for its customizable EQ DSP and in-line mic, which offer some flexibility to work with different game types.
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