Short answer: the Apos Rock Lobster. It ranks #990 of 1369 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $9.99; the QoA Mimosa ranks #1040, rated 3.1/5, at $9. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
The case for the Apos Rock Lobster: A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap. The tradeoff: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Why pick the QoA Mimosa: About 3 dB more bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, for listeners who want a fuller low end. Watch for: An uneven response, 2.5 dB standard deviation from target.
Buy the Apos Rock Lobster. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $0.99 you would save on the QoA Mimosa does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap.
Apos eBay
About 3 dB more bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, for listeners who want a fuller low end.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Apos Rock Lobster | QoA Mimosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 9.99 | 9.00 |
| Ranked | #990 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones | #1040 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 63 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.43 dB standard deviation | 2.52 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.95 (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 (+1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm liquid crystal polymer (LCP) dynamic driver | 1 DD + 1 Planar (1 x 10mm dynamic driver + 1 x 6mm micro-planar driver) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB | 102 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (3.2 g) (per earbud) |
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 Apos Rock Lobster from aden, audioamigo, awsmdanny, boizoff, jaytiss, lestat and tonedeafmonk; the QoA Mimosa from bassaudio, gadgetrytech, hu-fi, kazi, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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