Short answer: the FiiO FA7S, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1170 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.9/5, at $947.19. The Empire Ears EVR Mk2 ranks #1206, rated 1.6/5, at $899, $48.19 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, so if sound quality matters, consider the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII instead, ranked #1 at $999.
What the FiiO FA7S does well: Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle. Watch for: Crinacle’s measurement yields a preference score of just 48 with a 3.7 dB spread around the target, a poor tonal result at a flagship price.
What the Empire Ears EVR Mk2 does well: Its tonal tilt of +0.59 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. Watch for: Its 4.61 dB spread from the target means a noticeably uneven response.
Buy the FiiO FA7S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $48.19 you would save on the Empire Ears EVR Mk2 does not close the gap.
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Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle.
Amazon $947.19 eBay
Its tonal tilt of +0.59 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright.
Bloom Audio $899.00 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
| FiiO FA7S | Empire Ears EVR Mk2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $947.19 | $899.00 |
| Ranked | #1170 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1206 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 44 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.72 dB standard deviation | 4.61 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.89 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.59 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 6 x balanced armature | 3 x balanced armature, 2 x electrostatic |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 3 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0 lbs (8.4 g) per earbud | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 100kHz |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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