Short answer: the Etymotic EVO. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#114 and #107 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Etymotic EVO costs $298.98 against $328 for the Melody Wings Neptune, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Etymotic EVO: Three balanced armature drivers deliver a flat, uncolored midrange, with the 1 to 3 kHz region within 0.5 dB of the Harman target and a preference score of 78. The tradeoff: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 3.3 dB under target and the 60 to 200 Hz region 1.5 dB under, so kick drums and bass lines have less weight than most listeners prefer.
The case for the Melody Wings Neptune: Across 6 squig.link measurements it scores 78.9 with a 1.48 dB spread, and its bass and mids stay within about 1 dB of target, so voices and instruments keep a natural balance. The catch: The 5.6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make sibilance and bright recordings sound edgy at higher volumes.
Buy the Etymotic EVO. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $29.02 less than the Melody Wings Neptune.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic EVO | Melody Wings Neptune | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298.98 | $328.00 |
| Ranked | #114 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #107 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.89 dB standard deviation | 1.48 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 1 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 1 x bone conduction |
| Impedance | 47 ohms | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB SPL at 0.1V, 1kHz | 108 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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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 EVO: $298.98 Amazon eBay
Pros: Three balanced armature drivers deliver a flat, uncolored midrange, with the 1 to 3 kHz region within 0.5 dB of the Harman target and a preference score of 78. Response is smooth, with a standard deviation of 1.89 dB around target. The deep-insertion wired design is passive noise isolating, and the 47 ohm impedance still works from a phone or dongle.
Cons: Bass is lean, with sub-bass about 3.3 dB under target and the 60 to 200 Hz region 1.5 dB under, so kick drums and bass lines have less weight than most listeners prefer. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.5 dB low and the response drops 7.4 dB near 11.9 kHz, which makes cymbals and air sound dull. Sensitivity of 99 dB at 0.1V is modest, so volume needs more headroom than the most efficient earphones.
Full Etymotic EVO review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.89 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 47 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB SPL at 0.1V, 1kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.5 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 | +0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,788 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 6,507 Hz | +4.6 dB | 1.49 |
| Peak | 197 Hz | -1.4 dB | 1.38 |
| Peak | 64 Hz | +1.9 dB | 0.98 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 819 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.66 |
| Peak | 1,255 Hz | -0.9 dB | 3.19 |
| Peak | 4,378 Hz | -0.7 dB | 4.42 |
| Peak | 7,270 Hz | -1.7 dB | 5.95 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Melody Wings Neptune: $328.00 Bloom Audio eBay
Pros: Across 6 squig.link measurements it scores 78.9 with a 1.48 dB spread, and its bass and mids stay within about 1 dB of target, so voices and instruments keep a natural balance. Treble rises 1.7 dB above target from 6 to 10 kHz and 5.6 dB in the air band, giving cymbals and strings plenty of detail and openness for listeners who like a crisp top end. A sensitivity of 108 dB/mW means it runs well from a phone.
Cons: The 5.6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make sibilance and bright recordings sound edgy at higher volumes. A 3.8 dB dip near 6.3 kHz sits right beside it, which leaves the upper treble slightly uneven, and it costs more than the equally rated Binary 1900 and DUNU Falcon Ultra.
Full Melody Wings Neptune review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.48 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 1 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 1 x bone conduction |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons