On-Ear
JLab JBuddies Folding Gen 2
67Good
$15
Full review dataJLab JBuddies Folding Gen 2 vs Moondrop Old Fashioned: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Moondrop Old Fashioned comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 80. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Moondrop Old Fashioned - Outstanding overall at around $23.
On-Ear
Moondrop Old Fashioned
80Outstanding
$23
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Moondrop Old Fashioned leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- JLab JBuddies Folding Gen 2
- Moondrop Old Fashioned
HearWiki score
67
80
Sound
5.5
7.2
Value
8.3
9.5
Price (USD)
$15
$23
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Moondrop Old Fashioned is 3 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- JBuddies Folding Gen 22023
- Old Fashioned20263 yr newer
Specifications
JBuddies Folding Gen 2Old Fashioned
- Type
- On-Ear
- On-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $15
- $23
- HearWiki score
- 67
- 80
- Released
- 2023
- 2026
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 30 mm dynamic
- 3× 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 30 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 3
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 32 Ω
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 109 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- Controls
- buttons
- buttons
- Weight
- 95 g
- -
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Foldable
- Yes
- -
- Detachable cable
- No
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- No
- Connector
- -
- 3.5 mm
What reviewers said
JLab JBuddies Folding Gen 2
These are a budget-friendly, wired on-ear headphone designed specifically for kids, with a focus on safety and comfort. They feature a volume-limiting design to protect young ears, a lightweight and foldable build, and a tuned sound that prioritizes clarity over heavy bass. Ideal for children's everyday use, they offer a practical and simple listening experience.
- Pro:Volume-limiting design protects hearing
- Pro:Lightweight and foldable for easy portability
- Pro:Soft padding for comfortable wear
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Sound signature is restrained, lacking deep bass
- Con:Non-detachable cable limits replacement options
Moondrop Old Fashioned
The Moondrop Old Fashioned is a budget-friendly, semi-open on-ear headphone with a triple 40mm dynamic driver setup that delivers clear, well-tuned sound with a focus on vocals. It's easy to drive and comfortable for casual listening, though its open design means noticeable sound leakage and a significant roll-off in sub-bass frequencies. Overall, it offers strong value for its price, especially for those who prioritize midrange clarity over deep bass.
- Pro:Excellent tuning and vocal clarity for the price
- Pro:Comfortable fit for extended listening sessions
- Pro:Easy to drive with any device thanks to high sensitivity
- Con:Very limited sub-bass response with roll-off below 100 Hz
- Con:Semi-open design leads to sound leakage and poor isolation
- Con:Modest technical performance compared to pricier models
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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