{"rewrite":{"id":"r_a6541dfd587ad8850bc01e94","clusterId":"c_ba127f556b0a853da3415412","slug":"moondrop-on-why-it-cuts-profit-to-build-collab-earphones","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"MOONDROP on Why It Cuts Profit to Build Collab Earphones","summary":"MOONDROP co-founder Shuiyue and VP Xu Dali spoke at ChinaJoy 2026 about the brand's origins and its approach to collaboration products. The company says it prioritizes research and development, customizes designs and sound for each IP, and often turns down offers when staff lack familiarity with the property.","whyItMatters":"The interview explains how a niche audio brand built a reputation for elaborate IP collaborations by prioritizing product quality over profit margins.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe company was founded in 2015 after Shuiyue, then an audio reviewer on bilibili, found no in-ear headphones that satisfied him and decided to make his own. He chose the flat inner-ear style because he disliked inserting canal-type earphones. The first product sold well.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMOONDROP\u0026#39;s mascot, Shuiyue Youki, began as a character Shuiyue drew for himself because he liked manga, and it ended up on the packaging. The brand name itself comes from his name and his wife\u0026#39;s name containing the characters for water, moon, and rain.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollaborations started with small IPs and grew as rights holders approached the company. The team now exceeds 300 people, with over 100 dedicated to R\u0026amp;D. Shuiyue said the company turns down offers when employees do not understand the IP well enough to make a good product.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"MOONDROP's founders explain at ChinaJoy 2026 why they cut into profits for collab earphones: R\u0026D comes first, and they only take on IPs their staff genuinely know. https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999902/20260802001/","twitterPost":"MOONDROP on collab earphones: R\u0026D gets most revenue, staff must know the IP, and they'll cut profit rather than compromise. Interview at ChinaJoy 2026. https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999902/20260802001/","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"MOONDROP's founders explain the thinking behind their elaborate collaboration earphones, from the brand's 2015 origin to why they reject some IP offers. The interview covers their R\u0026D focus and the challenges of pushing designs past rights holders.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999902/20260802001/\",\"title\":\"水月雨（MOONDROP）は，なぜ利益を削ってまでコラボ製品を作り込むのか。ブランドの成り立ちとこだわりを聞いた［CJ2026］\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":6263,"outputTokens":622,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1786031503,"createdAt":"2026-08-06T15:30:18.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-06T15:43:48.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T15:30:18.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_ba127f556b0a853da3415412","canonicalTitle":"水月雨（MOONDROP）は，なぜ利益を削ってまでコラボ製品を作り込むのか。ブランドの成り立ちとこだわりを聞いた［CJ2026］","representativeArticleId":"a_a54c392e0f1cb907b7092772","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"水月\",\"徐大力\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-02T03:43:36.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-02T03:43:36.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-06T15:44:12.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999902/20260802001/","title":"水月雨（MOONDROP）は，なぜ利益を削ってまでコラボ製品を作り込むのか。ブランドの成り立ちとこだわりを聞いた［CJ2026］"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["水月","徐大力"],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}