Short answer: the ZiiGaat Arete. Both are rated 3.9/5 for sound quality (#287 and #281 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the ZiiGaat Arete costs $211.65 against $228 for the Fearless Audio Shangri-la, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Fearless Audio Shangri-la does well: Its four balanced armatures and 10mm dynamic driver produce bass that stays flat to target down to 20 Hz, with a 1.6 dB lift through the upper bass and low mids that suits warm and bass-leaning tastes. Watch for: Across hobbyist measurements a 5.4 dB dip near 3.2 kHz pulls vocals and lead instruments back slightly, which can make them sound less forward and articulate.
Buy the ZiiGaat Arete. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $16.35 less than the Fearless Audio Shangri-la.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fearless Audio Shangri-la | ZiiGaat Arete | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $228.00 | $211.65 |
| Ranked | #281 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #287 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 73 (median of 10 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation | 1.88 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 22 ohms | 9 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB @ 1kHz | 108 dB |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Fearless Audio Shangri-la compares with other leading options:
- 7Hz Timeless II vs Fearless Audio Shangri-la
- DUNU DN142 vs Fearless Audio Shangri-la
- 7Hz Timeless II vs ZiiGaat Arete
- TRN Azure Dragon vs ZiiGaat Arete
- Tanchjim Fola vs ZiiGaat Arete
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
Fearless Audio Shangri-la: $228.00 Linsoul eBay
Pros: Its four balanced armatures and 10mm dynamic driver produce bass that stays flat to target down to 20 Hz, with a 1.6 dB lift through the upper bass and low mids that suits warm and bass-leaning tastes. It carries a preference score of 73 from crinacle, and squig.link measurements show treble that adds a touch of sparkle without big spikes, peaking only 4 dB near 7.8 kHz. At 22 ohms and 112 dB sensitivity it plays loud from a phone.
Cons: Across hobbyist measurements a 5.4 dB dip near 3.2 kHz pulls vocals and lead instruments back slightly, which can make them sound less forward and articulate. It rates a little below the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 and Shuoer S12 Pro, both of which cost less.
Full Fearless Audio Shangri-la review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB @ 1kHz |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 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 | +0.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 207 Hz | -2.5 dB | 1.09 |
| Peak | 9,163 Hz | +4.5 dB | 4.14 |
| Peak | 3,186 Hz | +4.0 dB | 4.44 |
| Peak | 825 Hz | +1.7 dB | 2.19 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,120 Hz | -3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 68 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.24 |
| Peak | 1,643 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.21 |
| Peak | 8,089 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.76 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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ZiiGaat Arete: $211.65 Amazon eBay
Full ZiiGaat Arete review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.88 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 10 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 9 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons