Short answer: the Fearless Audio S8Z. It ranks #392 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $589. The FiiO FH9 ranks #594, rated 3.8/5, at $559.99, $29.01 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Fearless Audio S8Z: Eight balanced armatures earn a preference score of 74 in crinacle’s measurement, a solid result against the Harman target. Watch for: The Oriolus Isabellae and SoftEars RSV both rate higher at a similar price.
Why pick the FiiO FH9: A hybrid flagship with a 13.6mm DLC dynamic driver and six Knowles balanced armatures. The tradeoff: A 2.35 dB spread from the target shows peaks and dips that better tuned sets avoid.
Buy the Fearless Audio S8Z. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $29.01 you would save on the FiiO FH9 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Eight balanced armatures earn a preference score of 74 in crinacle’s measurement, a solid result against the Harman target.
Linsoul $589.00 eBay
A hybrid flagship with a 13.6mm DLC dynamic driver and six Knowles balanced armatures.
Amazon $559.99 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fearless Audio S8Z | FiiO FH9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $589.00 | $559.99 |
| Ranked | #392 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #594 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 71 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.32 dB standard deviation | 2.35 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.14 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 8 x balanced armature | 1 x 13.6mm dynamic + 6 x Knowles balanced armature |
| Impedance | 26 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB/mW | 108 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Fearless Audio S8Z: