Short answer: the Zuo Drum String Phanta. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#1001 and #988 of 1369 in-ear headphones), and the Zuo Drum String Phanta costs $189 against $199.99 for the DUNU x KOTO ITO, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the DUNU x KOTO ITO does well: Bass is boosted about 4 dB across both sub-bass and mid-bass, and it holds that level all the way down to 20 Hz, so electronic and hip-hop tracks get real weight and rumble. The catch: A Harman preference score of 64.4 in hobbyist measurements reflects a tilted, bass-heavy tuning that will feel thick to listeners who want neutral sound.
Why pick the Zuo Drum String Phanta: 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: An uneven response, 2.8 dB standard deviation from target.
Buy the Zuo Drum String Phanta. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10.99 less than the DUNU x KOTO ITO.
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Bass is boosted about 4 dB across both sub-bass and mid-bass, and it holds that level all the way down to 20 Hz, so electronic and hip-hop tracks get real weight and rumble.
Amazon $199.99 eBay
A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap.
AliExpress $189.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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
| DUNU x KOTO ITO | Zuo Drum String Phanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $189.00 |
| Ranked | #988 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones | #1001 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (median of 8 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 64 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.37 dB standard deviation | 2.75 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.58 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 2 balanced armature) | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 8mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature | 3 x dynamic drivers (1 x 10mm graphene full-range + 2 x 8mm coaxial dual dynamic bass) |
| Impedance | 37 ohms | 11 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 105 dB/mW | 101 dB |
| Weight | 0 lbs (6.5 g) per side | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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 DUNU x KOTO ITO from atechreviews, audioamigo, bassaudio, elrics, hobbytalk, jaytiss, soundignity and tonedeafmonk; the Zuo Drum String Phanta from aftersound, practiphile and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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