Short answer: the Apple AirPods Pro 3. It ranks #780 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $199; the Sound Rhyme SR6 ranks #887, rated 3.4/5, at $198. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the Apple AirPods Pro 3: Sub-bass sits about 3 dB above the Harman target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link and still reaches 30 Hz with a slight lift, so bass lines and electronic drops carry real rumble. The tradeoff: A 6.4 dB dip near 3.4 kHz pulls vocals and guitars back, while a 6.3 dB peak near 8 kHz and about 6 dB of extra air above 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound splashy.
The case for the Sound Rhyme SR6: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 66 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: An uneven response, 2.3 dB standard deviation from target.
Buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $1 with the Sound Rhyme SR6 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Sub-bass sits about 3 dB above the Harman target in hobbyist measurements on squig.link and still reaches 30 Hz with a slight lift, so bass lines and electronic drops carry real rumble.
Amazon $199.00 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 66 against the Harman target.
Penon Audio $198.00 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
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Sound Rhyme SR6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.00 | $198.00 |
| Ranked | #780 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #887 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 68 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 66 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.43 dB standard deviation | 2.33 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.58 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.77 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | True wireless | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Quad-brid (1 DD + 2 BA + 2 Planar + 1 Bone Conduction) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5.55 g) per earbud | - |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (24 with case, ANC on, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP57 | - |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 10mm dynamic driver (LCP) + 2 x balanced armatures (2389D) + 2 x micro planar drivers + 1 x piezoelectric bone conduction driver |
| Impedance | - | 33 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 106 dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 10Hz - 40kHz |
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 Apple AirPods Pro 3 from digaoreviews, ducbloke, listener, silicagel and superreview; the Sound Rhyme SR6 from audioamigo, breampike, flare, jaytiss, practiphile and soundcheck39, all via squig.link.
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