Moondrop Space Travel 2 vs. Space Travel 1: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Moondrop's original Space Travel true wireless earbuds made waves in the budget audio segment by offering a surprisingly balanced sound signature reminiscent of their more premium wired IEMs. Now, with the release of the Moondrop Space Travel 2, the question for many budget-conscious audiophiles is clear: what's new, what's improved, and is it worth upgrading or choosing over the acclaimed original? Let's break down the key differences to help you decide.

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Key Takeaway: The Moondrop Space Travel 2 significantly improves upon its predecessor with a more satisfying bass response, drastically longer battery life, and a more practical charging case design (with a lid!). While it appears to shed the ANC and app control features of the original, its core audio performance and usability enhancements make it a compelling upgrade and a very strong contender in the ultra-budget TWS market, prioritizing sound and endurance.

Sound Quality: Refined or Reimagined?

Moondrop's VDSF Target tuning is a consistent theme, and both Space Travel models adhere to a generally neutral-bright sound. However, there are notable differences:

Moondrop Space Travel 1: Offered a balanced, articulate sound for its price, often described as neutral with a slight bass boost. Some users found the bass to be a bit lean or lacking in punch in its default "Reference" mode, though a "Basshead" mode was available via the app (with minimal perceived difference for some). Treble was generally clean but could sometimes lack extensive sparkle.
Moondrop Space Travel 2: The most significant upgrade in the Space Travel 2 is arguably its improved bass response. It delivers a more satisfying low-end, with better sub-bass rumble and a more impactful mid-bass punch. This enhancement makes genres like pop, electronic, and hip-hop more engaging without sacrificing Moondrop's signature clarity in the mids and highs. The overall tuning remains balanced, but with a more robust foundation.
Verdict: If you found the original Space Travel lacking a bit in the low-end, the Space Travel 2 offers a clear and welcome improvement here. It retains the vocal clarity and treble extension that Moondrop is known for, but with added warmth and thump.

Design and Build: Practicality Takes Center Stage

Both models share a lightweight, compact plastic construction. However, a crucial design flaw of the original has been addressed:

Moondrop Space Travel 1: Featured an often-criticized open-top charging case, lacking a lid. This meant earbuds could occasionally fall out, and dust/lint could easily accumulate inside, making it less ideal for pocket carry. The earbuds themselves had a simple stem design.
Moondrop Space Travel 2: While retaining a similar compact and lightweight earbud design, the Space Travel 2 introduces a much-needed charging case with a lid. This is a significant practical improvement, enhancing portability and protecting the earbuds from loss and grime. The aesthetic remains functional and discreet.
Verdict: The Space Travel 2's case redesign is a major win for everyday usability and durability.

Features and Functionality: A Trade-off?

This is where the direct comparison reveals some interesting strategic choices by Moondrop.

Moondrop Space Travel 1: Surprisingly, the original Space Travel boasted Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 35dB, a transparency mode, and support for the Moondrop Link app, allowing for EQ presets (Monitor, Reference, Basshead) and customizable touch controls. It used Bluetooth 5.3.
Moondrop Space Travel 2: The Space Travel 2 upgrades its Bluetooth connectivity to Bluetooth 6.0, offering potentially more stable and efficient wireless performance. However, based on available information and common industry practices for hitting aggressive price points, it appears to have omitted Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and app support. Its focus shifts to optimizing core sound and battery life.
Battery Life: This is another area of substantial improvement for the Space Travel 2.
- Space Travel 1: Approximately 4 hours on the earbuds, with an additional 12 hours from the case (total 16 hours).
- Space Travel 2: Boasts a significantly improved ~7 hours on the earbuds (AAC codec), and an impressive ~24 hours from the charging case (total ~31 hours). This is a game-changer for extended listening.
Microphone Quality: Both models offer adequate microphone performance for calls in quiet environments, consistent with most budget TWS earbuds.
Verdict: The Space Travel 2 makes a clear trade-off: it sacrifices ANC and app customization for vastly improved battery life and a newer Bluetooth standard. If ANC and EQ control via an app were crucial for you, the original might still hold a niche. However, for sheer endurance, the Space Travel 2 is the clear winner.

Price and Value Proposition

Both iterations of the Space Travel earbuds remain firmly in the ultra-budget category, typically priced around $25-$30 USD.

Space Travel 1: Offered exceptional value for its sound quality and the inclusion of ANC at its price.
Space Travel 2: Continues to offer incredible value, now with a more robust bass response, a more user-friendly case, and greatly extended battery life. The removal of ANC and app features might be seen as a downgrade for some, but for others, the core improvements outweigh these omissions, especially given the marginal effectiveness of ANC on many budget TWS devices.

Conclusion: Which Space Travel is Right for You?

The Moondrop Space Travel 2 represents a thoughtful evolution from its predecessor. While it streamlines the feature set by apparently dropping ANC and app support, it makes significant strides where it counts most for many users in this price bracket: enhanced sound quality (especially bass), a vastly improved battery life, and a much more practical charging case design. If you prioritize raw audio performance, battery longevity, and convenience in an ultra-affordable TWS package, the Space Travel 2 is the definitive choice and a worthy upgrade. If, however, basic ANC and app-based EQ customization are non-negotiable for your budget earbuds, the original Space Travel might still be appealing, provided you can live with its shorter battery life and quirky case. For most, the Space Travel 2 delivers a more refined and enjoyable everyday listening experience.