Short answer: the EarSonics ES2, though neither ranks well in its class. Both are rated 1.0/5 for sound quality (#448 and #449 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the EarSonics ES2 costs $289.99 against $657.57 for the Final Audio F3100, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the EarSonics ES2 does well: Two balanced armature drivers and a very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels from any phone or dongle with little effort. The tradeoff: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of only 29, one of the furthest from the Harman target among in-ears, so its tonal balance will sound off to most listeners without EQ.
Why pick the Final Audio F3100: The single balanced armature has a 42 ohm load that suits phones and dongles without needing a separate amp. Watch for: Oratory1990’s measurement gives a preference score of only 25 with 5.83 dB of deviation, and sub-bass sits 12.8 dB below target, falling 6 dB short at 80 Hz, so bass has almost no weight.
Buy the EarSonics ES2. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $367.58 less than the Final Audio F3100.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| EarSonics ES2 | Final Audio F3100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $289.99 | $657.57 |
| Ranked | #448 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #449 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 29 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 25 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 6.14 dB standard deviation | 5.83 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +1.83 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 2 x balanced armature | 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 26.5 ohms | 42 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 119 dB/mW | 106 dB |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 80 Hz (-15.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for EarSonics ES2:
- Etymotic ER4SR vs EarSonics ES2
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 vs EarSonics ES2
- EarSonics ES2 vs Westone W20
- EarSonics ES2 vs Westone Pro X50
- Final Audio F3100 vs Westone Pro X50
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Headphones In Full
EarSonics ES2: $289.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Two balanced armature drivers and a very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels from any phone or dongle with little effort. The closed in-ear design isolates well from outside noise.
Cons: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of only 29, one of the furthest from the Harman target among in-ears, so its tonal balance will sound off to most listeners without EQ. The Oriolus Finschi Hifi rates higher and costs less, and the Westone W20 matches its rating for less money.
Full EarSonics ES2 review and specifications →
| Released | 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 6.14 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 2 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 29 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 26.5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 119 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 231 Hz | -6.1 dB | 0.40 |
| Peak | 4,946 Hz | +6.9 dB | 0.22 |
| Peak | 1,862 Hz | -9.7 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 2,685 Hz | +5.9 dB | 2.30 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.05 |
| Peak | 1,238 Hz | -0.5 dB | 4.83 |
| Peak | 940 Hz | +0.3 dB | 3.33 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | -0.4 dB | 4.68 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Final Audio F3100: $657.57 Amazon eBay
Pros: The single balanced armature has a 42 ohm load that suits phones and dongles without needing a separate amp. Its tuning fits listeners who favor a diffuse-field, studio-flat style of balance over a bass-forward one. It matches the rating of the Westone Pro X50.
Cons: Oratory1990’s measurement gives a preference score of only 25 with 5.83 dB of deviation, and sub-bass sits 12.8 dB below target, falling 6 dB short at 80 Hz, so bass has almost no weight. A 7.7 dB dip near 5.3 kHz next to a 5.7 dB peak around 8.3 kHz makes the treble uneven, with vocals recessed and sibilance accented. The Audio-Technica ATH-E70 and Mackie MP-360 rate higher and cost less.
Full Final Audio F3100 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 5.83 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 25 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 42 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 80 Hz (-15.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +1.83 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 271 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 5,071 Hz | +7.3 dB | 2.62 |
| Peak | 2,119 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.90 |
| Peak | 3,249 Hz | -6.8 dB | 4.17 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,619 Hz | -4.0 dB | 1.94 |
| Peak | 6,111 Hz | +2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 73 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.14 |
| Peak | 133 Hz | -0.5 dB | 1.86 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons