Short answer: the Etymotic ER2XR. It ranks #469 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $149.99; the BGVP NS10 ranks #617, rated 3.8/5, at $149.99. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
Why pick the Etymotic ER2XR: Bass and midrange track the target closely in oratory1990’s measurement, with sub-bass only about 3 dB shy and a smooth 2.3 dB deviation overall, earning a preference score of 73. Watch for: Treble is muted, about 4 to 6 dB under target from 3 to 10 kHz with a 12 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so cymbals and the sense of air are subdued.
What the BGVP NS10 does well: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Buy the Etymotic ER2XR. It is rated higher for sound quality than the BGVP NS10 at the same price, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Bass and midrange track the target closely in oratory1990’s measurement, with sub-bass only about 3 dB shy and a smooth 2.3 dB deviation overall, earning a preference score of 73.
B&H Photo Video $149.99 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER2XR | BGVP NS10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $149.99 |
| Ranked | #469 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #617 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 71 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.26 dB standard deviation | 2.44 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.23 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.09 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 8 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 2 x dynamic + 8 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 15 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/mW | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (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 Etymotic ER2XR from aden, atechreviews, audioamigo, boizoff, dentreviews, hobbytalk, hu-fi, jacstone, listener, nymz, precog, soundignity, superreview, theaudiostore, therollo9, treblewellxtended and yoshiultra; the BGVP NS10 from hu-fi, ianfann and soundcheck39, all via squig.link.
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