Short answer: the Fatfreq Hayabusa. It ranks #268 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $1,999; the qdc Gemini ranks #391, rated 4.0/5, and costs $2,137, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Fatfreq Hayabusa does well: A preference score of 76 in crinacle’s measurement places its tuning reasonably close to the Harman target most listeners prefer. Watch for: The response is uneven, at 1.94 dB standard deviation from target, so some frequency regions stand out or fall back.
Why pick the qdc Gemini: Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 74, and it is rated above the ThieAudio V16 Divinity and the Noble Audio Kadence. The catch: Presence from 3 to 6 kHz falls almost 6 dB short of target, with a dip of about 9.6 dB near 5.5 kHz, which dulls vocal clarity and attack on guitars and snares.
Buy the Fatfreq Hayabusa. It is rated higher for sound quality than the qdc Gemini and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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A preference score of 76 in crinacle’s measurement places its tuning reasonably close to the Harman target most listeners prefer.
FATfreq $1,999.00 eBay
Crinacle’s measurement gives it a preference score of 74, and it is rated above the ThieAudio V16 Divinity and the Noble Audio Kadence.
Shenzhenaudio $2,137.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Fatfreq Hayabusa | qdc Gemini | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999.00 | $2,137.00 |
| Ranked | #268 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #391 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 74 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.94 dB standard deviation | 2.23 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.29 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Driver Type | - | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | - | 8 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | - | 25 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 112 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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