Short answer: the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko. It ranks #94 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $99; the Moondrop Kato ranks #127, rated 4.3/5, and costs $99.99, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko does well: A preference score of 79 in oratory1990’s measurement, with bass and mids from 20 Hz to 3 kHz held within about 1.4 dB of target, so the low end is full and extends deep. Watch for: Air above 10 kHz rises 7.1 dB over target with a 5.6 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, which can make cymbals and hi-hats sound splashy.
Buy the 7Hz Salnotes Dioko. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Moondrop Kato and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| 7Hz Salnotes Dioko | Moondrop Kato | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.00 | $99.99 |
| Ranked | #94 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #127 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 78 (median of 34 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.85 dB standard deviation | 1.70 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.6mm planar magnetic | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL/V | 123 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How 7Hz Salnotes Dioko compares with other leading options:
- Moondrop Ultrasonic vs 7Hz Salnotes Dioko
- 7Hz Salnotes Dioko vs Oriveti Bleqk Dynabird
- 7Hz Salnotes Dioko vs Tanchjim Mino
- 7Hz Salnotes Dioko vs Fosi Audio IM4
- Moondrop Kato vs Twistura Beta
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
7Hz Salnotes Dioko: $99.00 Linsoul eBay
Pros: A preference score of 79 in oratory1990’s measurement, with bass and mids from 20 Hz to 3 kHz held within about 1.4 dB of target, so the low end is full and extends deep. The 14.6 mm planar magnetic driver and 16 ohm impedance give an unusual driver type at a modest price. It rates on par with the Sennheiser IE 200.
Cons: Air above 10 kHz rises 7.1 dB over target with a 5.6 dB peak near 11.9 kHz, which can make cymbals and hi-hats sound splashy. A 6.6 dB dip near 3.8 kHz pulls vocals back. The Truthear x Crinacle Zero RED costs less and earns a much higher rating.
Full 7Hz Salnotes Dioko review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.85 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.6mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,080 Hz | +4.4 dB | 2.65 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +3.8 dB | 0.75 |
| Peak | 1,486 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -1.1 dB | 1.50 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.03 |
| Peak | 5,928 Hz | +2.7 dB | 5.58 |
| Peak | 2,772 Hz | +1.0 dB | 4.20 |
| Peak | 655 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.91 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Moondrop Kato: $99.99 Amazon eBay
Full Moondrop Kato review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.70 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 34 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 123 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons