Short answer: the ZiiGaat Estrella. Both are rated 4.4/5 for sound quality (#97 and #114 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the ZiiGaat Estrella costs $269.10 against $298.98 for the Etymotic EVO, 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 catch: 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.
What the ZiiGaat Estrella does well: The median of 8 squig.link measurements shows one of the smoothest responses around, a 1.3 dB spread with a preference score of 79.0. Watch for: Presence is about 3 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz, with a 4.7 dB dip near 5.8 kHz, so vocals and snare attack lose some bite and edge.
Buy the ZiiGaat Estrella. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $29.88 less than the Etymotic EVO.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Etymotic EVO | ZiiGaat Estrella | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $298.98 | $269.10 |
| Ranked | #114 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #97 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 8 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.89 dB standard deviation | 1.30 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.53 (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 (+1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 3 x balanced armature | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 47 ohms | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 99 dB SPL at 0.1V, 1kHz | 108 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (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
ZiiGaat Estrella: $269.10 Amazon eBay
Pros: The median of 8 squig.link measurements shows one of the smoothest responses around, a 1.3 dB spread with a preference score of 79.0. Its two 10 mm dynamic drivers lift sub-bass and bass 1 to 1.6 dB above target, adding a gentle warm thump without muddying the mids, which sit almost exactly on target. A 6.1 dB lift in the air band near 11.5 kHz brings out sparkle and a sense of space at the top.
Cons: Presence is about 3 dB low between 3 and 6 kHz, with a 4.7 dB dip near 5.8 kHz, so vocals and snare attack lose some bite and edge. At 7 ohms it can pick up hiss or a shifted tonal balance on sources with high output impedance, so a clean, low-impedance output suits it best.
Full ZiiGaat Estrella review and specifications →
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.30 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 8 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons