Short answer: the ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#399 and #440 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII costs $399 against $429.90 for the EarAcoustic Audio SPA Limited Edition, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the EarAcoustic Audio SPA Limited Edition: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: Treble about 2 dB above target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound sharp or tiring at higher volume.
What the ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII does well: The median of 11 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 1.68 dB spread. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 4.4 dB low with a 6 dB dip near 4.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $30.90 less than the EarAcoustic Audio SPA Limited Edition.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target.
HiFiGo $429.90 eBay
The median of 11 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 1.68 dB spread.
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Specifications Side By Side
| EarAcoustic Audio SPA Limited Edition | ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $429.90 | $399.00 |
| Ranked | #440 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #399 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 11 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.12 dB standard deviation | 1.68 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.18 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.54 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced Armature | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 6 x balanced armature | 2 x 8mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | - | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 101 dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 EarAcoustic Audio SPA Limited Edition from atechreviews, ducbloke and hobbytalk; the ThieAudio Hype 4 MKII from aftersound, atechreviews, bassaudio, ducbloke, eliseaudio, joycesreview, koi, practiphile, precog, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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