Short answer: the BLON Shu. It ranks #893 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $2.49; the Kinera x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix ranks #924, rated 3.3/5, and costs $5, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The case for the BLON Shu: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 66 against the Harman target. Watch for: Treble about 4 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Why pick the Kinera x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 65 against the Harman target. The catch: An uneven response, 2.3 dB standard deviation from target.
Buy the BLON Shu. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Kinera x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 66 against the Harman target.
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A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 65 against the Harman target.
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Specifications Side By Side
| BLON Shu | Kinera x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 2.49 | 5.00 |
| Ranked | #893 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #924 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 65 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.73 dB standard deviation | 2.27 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.49 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Tribrid (1 DD + 2 BA + 2 Micro-Planar) |
| Drivers | Dual dynamic driver (1 x 10mm + 1 x 6mm composite diaphragm) | 1 x 7mm dynamic driver + 2 x custom balanced armature + 2 x micro planar drivers |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 118 dB/Vrms | 103 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20,000Hz | 20Hz - 40,000Hz |
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 BLON Shu from audioamigo, kuping-sensi and soundignity; the Kinera x Elise Audio Dark Phoenix from pw, vortexreviews and vsg, all via squig.link.
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