Moondrop Space Travel 2 Ultra Review – Must Read Before You Buy

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I’ve used the Moondrop Space Travel 2 Ultra for quite a while, and in this review, I’ll take you through everything — from how it looks and feels, to what it can do, how it sounds, how long the battery lasts, real-world pros/cons, and whether it’s worth your money. So let’s dive in.

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You might like: Moondrop Space Travel 2 Ultra vs Space Travel 2 vs Space Travel: what’s really different?

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My First Impressions & Design

When I first got my hands on the Space Travel 2 Ultra, I immediately recognized the design lineage — it looks a lot like the regular Space Travel 2. You get that same squared-off case (with the top open acrylic cover), and the earbuds have the familiar stem + boxier aesthetic.

The Ultra version tones things down a bit in terms of color: gray and white, more subdued vs the flashier/neon variants of the regular version.

From a build perspective, they feel solid for the price. The magnetic retention in the case is adequate (though you’ll still see occasional gripes online about earbuds popping loose if shaken aggressively) — others have noted such behavior.

Comfort has been good for me: I didn’t feel any discomfort after a couple of hours, and the Ultra seems to fit better in my ears compared to the regular Travel 2.

One thing to note: there’s no official IP rating given, so don’t count on them to survive heavy sweat or downpours without some care.

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MoonDrop Space Travel 2 Ultra: Specs

Spec	What Moondrop Claims / What I Observed
Driver	13 mm annular single-magnetic planar driver
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 6.0, and now adds
Codec Support	LDAC/SBC/AAC)
Battery	Earbuds: ~7 hours per charge (in AAC mode) Charging case: ~24 hours total (with recharges)
Latency / Gaming Mode	55 ms low-latency mode available for syncing audio & video/gaming
Noise Cancelling / ENC	Feedforward ANC (outside mic based) plus environmental noise cancellation for calls (AI/algorithm support)
App / EQ / Customization	Moondrop Link
Range / Profiles	~10 meters open environment; supports A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP profiles

So, on paper, this is a serious upgrade from the base Space Travel 2 — especially because of LDAC + the planar driver.

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Controls & App Experience

The Ultra uses touch controls, just like the regular model. But it still does not support direct volume up/down control via touch on the earbud itself. That shortcoming remains, which is disappointing given how many other brands manage it even in budget tiers. You’ll need to adjust the volume on your phone or device.

The app is a helpful companion. You get:

• Mode switching: ANC, transparency, or off
• Gain setting (low/medium/high)
• Pre-built EQ curves + shared user profiles
• Option to enable LDAC, control multipoint, etc.

In my usage, I set the gain to high because otherwise the output felt a bit weak in some scenarios. This matches what other reviewers have suggested as well. When LDAC is disabled, you may get more flexibility in EQ.

One small downside: some features in the app aren’t always obvious or seamlessly toggled (you may need to dig or discover hidden options). Also, when LDAC is active, the interactive EQ is often disabled, meaning you might be constrained to preset EQs.

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Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency: Managing Expectations

ANC Performance: Present but Basic

Let me be frank—the active noise cancellation won’t win any awards. Using only feed-forward technology (external microphones only), it manages to reduce some lower frequency rumbles but won’t compete with hybrid ANC systems found in pricier alternatives.

Moondrop clearly prioritized sound quality over aggressive noise reduction, and honestly, I respect that decision.

In practice, I found myself rarely using the ANC. The passive isolation combined with music at moderate volumes handles most environmental noise adequately, and the battery life hit from ANC (more on that later) makes it a poor trade-off.

Transparency Mode: Surprisingly Excellent

Where the Ultra genuinely impresses is its transparency mode. The natural sound reproduction and clarity caught me off guard—conversations feel natural, and environmental awareness is excellent.

I’ve comfortably kept these in during coffee shop interactions without feeling disconnected from my surroundings. For a sub-$50 product, this implementation rivals earbuds costing three times as much.

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Sound Quality

This is where the Ultra really shines (in my view). The use of planar drivers in this price segment is rare, and it brings audible improvements in clarity, nuance, and tonal balance over the regular Space Travel 2 (which uses dynamic drivers).

Here are my key takeaways:

Tonal Signature & Detail

• The sound from the Ultra feels cleaner, more refined. I filled up playlists ranging from jazz, acoustic, pop, to complex electronic tracks, and the Ultra delivered with better separation, clarity, and less muddiness, especially in denser mixes.
• The treble is bright without crossing into harshness. I didn’t suffer from sibilance in most tracks, and even busy, high-frequency passages held together well.
• In the midrange, vocals and instruments felt more natural. Acoustic textures, guitars, male/female voices — all sounded more lifelike to me.
• The bass is controlled. It’s not full-blown, wall-shaking bass, but it is much tighter and more accurate than what I experienced on the regular ST2. You still get punch, but without the sloppy bloom. Some reviewers call this more precise bass over “bloat” in the ST2.
• The overall soundstage/imaging is more open than I expected for TWS earbuds in this class. I could localize instrument positions, and there was a pleasant sense of spatial separation in stereo mixes.

That said, don’t expect them to compete with flagship studio-level IEMs or over-ear desktop gear. They do their best within constraints. And if you’re a basshead who craves deep sub-bass rumble, the Ultra may not fully satisfy you without EQ tweaks.

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Battery Performance & Usage

Battery life is decent but not exceptional. In my testing, with normal usage (balanced volume, occasional mode switches, no constant ANC), I got around 7 hours from the earbuds alone (matching Moondrop’s claim for AAC mode). With the case, the total jumps to ~24 hours.

However, a few caveats:

• If you enable LDAC + ANC simultaneously, battery life drops significantly (some users report under 3 hours)
• With just LDAC (no ANC), I found battery life still respectable (4–5 hours in some real-world situations), depending on volume.
• Also, the battery claims are usually measured under ideal lab conditions (moderate volume, no temperature extremes). In real life, battery drain may vary.

So, the Ultra is good for a full workday or commute, but if you push both costlier features (LDAC + noise cancelling) hard, it will shorten your runtime.

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Strengths & Weaknesses (What Surprised Me & What Disappointed)

Strengths

1. Sound quality leap — The planar driver really makes a difference. Clarity, separation, and tonal balance are noticeably improved over ST2.
2. LDAC support — For devices that support it, you can access higher-resolution streaming.
3. Transparency mode — Excellent for everyday interaction without removing earbuds.
4. Customization via app — Good mix of preset and shared EQs, plus gain control.
5. Low-latency mode — 55 ms is solid for casual mobile gaming/video use.
6. Value proposition — For a ~$40 (or similar) price point, what you get is really compelling when compared to many rivals.

Weaknesses / Trade-offs

1. No on-tone volume control — It feels like a basic feature that should have been possible by now.
2. ANC is modest — It won’t compete with higher-end flagship ANC solutions; limitations of feedforward design show up in complex ambient noise.
3. Battery hit with full features — Using LDAC + ANC wears the battery out quicker than ideal.
4. EQ / feature limitations with LDAC — Some features (interactive EQ, multipoint) may be disabled when LDAC is enabled.
5. No waterproofing / IP rating — Be cautious in sweaty or wet environments.
6. Design quirks — The case’s topless design (acrylic open) and sometimes fiddly insertion/removal have been criticized in reviews of the regular ST2 and others assume similar behaviour with Ultra.

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Who Should Buy These?

These are perfect for:

• Budget-conscious audiophiles wanting maximum sound quality under $50
• Android users who can utilize LDAC
• Those who prioritize sound quality over features
• Anyone curious about planar magnetic technology without the typical investment

They’re less suitable for:

• Users requiring all-day battery life with high-quality codecs
• iPhone users (no LDAC support)
• Fitness enthusiasts (no IP rating)
• Those needing strong ANC for commuting

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