Short answer: the Etymotic ER3SE, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #430 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.0/5, at $149.99. The 1MORE Quad Driver ranks #438, rated 1.7/5, at $119.69, $30.30 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the Truthear Nova instead, ranked #2 at $169.99.
The Etymotic ER3SE is the better-sounding option. A single balanced armature at 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW reaches comfortable volume from any phone or laptop without an amp. The catch: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass sits 9.9 dB below target and falls 6 dB short as high as 67 Hz, so bass lines sound thin and lack weight.
What the 1MORE Quad Driver does well: The hybrid design combines one dynamic driver with three balanced armatures, and the 32 ohm impedance and 99 dB sensitivity let it run easily from a phone. The tradeoff: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 6 dB under target and a 10.5 dB dip near 8.8 kHz dulls cymbals and detail, while the air region is boosted by 4.2 dB, which makes the top end uneven.
Buy the Etymotic ER3SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $30.30 saving on the 1MORE Quad Driver is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic ER3SE | 1MORE Quad Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $119.69 |
| Ranked | #430 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #438 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.18 dB standard deviation | 4.49 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 67 Hz (-9.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-8.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature | 1 x dynamic + 3 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 22 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 99 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Etymotic ER3SE compares with other leading options:
- Master & Dynamic MW07 vs Etymotic ER3SE
- 1MORE Penta Driver vs Etymotic ER3SE
- Etymotic ER3SE vs KZ ASX
- Etymotic ER2SE vs Etymotic ER3SE
- KZ ASX vs 1MORE Quad Driver
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
Etymotic ER3SE: $149.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A single balanced armature at 22 ohms and 102 dB/mW reaches comfortable volume from any phone or laptop without an amp. Its tuning lines up best with listeners who lean toward a neutral or warm taste rather than a bass-heavy one. It carries a higher rating than the pricier Westone W10.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement sub-bass sits 9.9 dB below target and falls 6 dB short as high as 67 Hz, so bass lines sound thin and lack weight. The treble drops 9.5 dB under target from 6 to 10 kHz with a 13.8 dB dip near 11.8 kHz, leaving cymbals and detail dull, and a preference score of 49 with 4.18 dB of deviation means most listeners hear it as colored. There is no built-in microphone for calls.
Full Etymotic ER3SE review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.18 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 67 Hz (-9.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.73 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 | +6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,528 Hz | +7.4 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 1,942 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 206 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 837 Hz | +1.9 dB | 1.72 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,498 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.74 |
| Peak | 1,388 Hz | -0.3 dB | 3.82 |
| Peak | 6,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 4,933 Hz | -0.6 dB | 3.44 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
1MORE Quad Driver: $119.69 Amazon eBay
Pros: The hybrid design combines one dynamic driver with three balanced armatures, and the 32 ohm impedance and 99 dB sensitivity let it run easily from a phone. It includes a built-in microphone for calls. The tuning leans warm, with bass about 4.3 dB above target, which suits listeners who like a thick low end.
Cons: Treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 6 dB under target and a 10.5 dB dip near 8.8 kHz dulls cymbals and detail, while the air region is boosted by 4.2 dB, which makes the top end uneven. Low mids run about 3.9 dB hot, adding bloat to male vocals and bass guitar, and sub-bass is down 4.5 dB so the deepest rumble is thin. The preference score of 45 and a rating below the BASN Bmaster show the tuning is a poor match for most tastes.
Full 1MORE Quad Driver review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 3 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 45 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 40 Hz (-8.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 | +8.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 105 Hz | -6.9 dB | 0.37 |
| Peak | 8,263 Hz | +6.3 dB | 1.29 |
| Peak | 1,031 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 346 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.61 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,463 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.45 |
| Peak | 6,085 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.92 |
| Peak | 2,047 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.71 |
| Peak | 1,391 Hz | -0.3 dB | 2.85 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons