Short answer: the Acoustune Monitor RS ONE. Both are rated 3.5/5 for sound quality (#844 and #834 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Acoustune Monitor RS ONE costs $139.29 against $154.04 for the QoA Gimlet, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
Why pick the Acoustune Monitor RS ONE: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target. Watch for: Treble about 3 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound sharp or tiring at higher volume.
The case for the QoA Gimlet: A single dynamic IEM with a 10mm LCP diaphragm. Watch for: A 2.41 dB spread from the target shows peaks and dips that better tuned sets avoid.
Buy the Acoustune Monitor RS ONE. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $14.75 less than the QoA Gimlet.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target.
Amazon $139.29 eBay
A single dynamic IEM with a 10mm LCP diaphragm.
Amazon $154.04 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Acoustune Monitor RS ONE | QoA Gimlet | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.29 | $154.04 |
| Ranked | #844 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #834 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 67 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.46 dB standard deviation | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired (3.5mm) | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 Dynamic (9.2mm Myrinx EL) | 1 x 10mm dynamic (LCP) |
| Impedance | - | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 108 dB |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Acoustune Monitor RS ONE from bryaudioreviews, hbb, jaytiss, practiphile and superreview; the QoA Gimlet from achoreviews, aftersound, arn, fahryst, lown-fi, practiphile and pw, all via squig.link.
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