Short answer: the FiiO FA9, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #403 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $499.99; the Kinera Skuld ranks #411, rated 2.7/5, and costs $550, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 450 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Why pick the FiiO FA9: Six balanced armatures per side and sensitivity of 110 to 113 dB/mW make it easy to drive from a phone, with an impedance switch between 16 and 32 ohms to tune the match with a source. The catch: oratory1990’s measurement shows presence averaging 6.8 dB below target with a 9.6 dB dip near 3.4 kHz, so vocals and lead instruments sound pushed back and lack clarity.
Why pick the Kinera Skuld: Five balanced armatures and 120 dB sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels easily from a phone. Watch for: Hobbyist measurements on squig.link show the presence region about 7.5 dB under target with a 9.7 dB dip near 5.5 kHz, which makes vocals and guitars recessed and dull.
Buy the FiiO FA9. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Kinera Skuld and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FA9 | Kinera Skuld | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $550.00 |
| Ranked | #403 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #411 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.22 dB standard deviation | 3.57 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 6 x balanced armature | 5 x balanced armature |
| Sensitivity | 110/113 dB/mW | 120 dB |
| Weight | 0 lbs (6.2 g) per earpiece | - |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms (switchable to 32 ohms) | 23 ohms |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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- Kinera Skuld vs Shure SE535
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
FiiO FA9: $499.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Six balanced armatures per side and sensitivity of 110 to 113 dB/mW make it easy to drive from a phone, with an impedance switch between 16 and 32 ohms to tune the match with a source. Each earpiece weighs just 6.2 g. Bass and low mids sit at or slightly above target, which suits listeners who like a warm, smooth balance, and it is rated above the pricier Kinera Skuld.
Cons: oratory1990’s measurement shows presence averaging 6.8 dB below target with a 9.6 dB dip near 3.4 kHz, so vocals and lead instruments sound pushed back and lack clarity. Sub-bass runs about 3.7 dB under target, so electronic music has less low rumble than the specs suggest.
Full FiiO FA9 review and specifications →
| Released | 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 6 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms (switchable to 32 ohms) |
| Sensitivity | 110/113 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (6.2 g) per earpiece |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.6 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 | +2.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 182 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.55 |
| Peak | 2,946 Hz | +5.3 dB | 1.88 |
| Peak | 1,302 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.48 |
| Peak | 7,001 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.83 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,655 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.14 |
| Peak | 4,276 Hz | -2.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,231 Hz | +3.0 dB | 5.93 |
| Peak | 6,241 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kinera Skuld: $550.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Five balanced armatures and 120 dB sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels easily from a phone. Bass and low mids sit within about 1 dB of target, giving a full, warm midrange that suits listeners who prefer a dark, relaxed sound. The closed in-ear design isolates well from outside noise.
Cons: Hobbyist measurements on squig.link show the presence region about 7.5 dB under target with a 9.7 dB dip near 5.5 kHz, which makes vocals and guitars recessed and dull. Sub-bass also falls about 4 dB short, so electronic music lacks rumble. The FiiO FA9 carries a higher rating for less money.
Full Kinera Skuld review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.57 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 5 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 120 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.9 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 | +5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,986 Hz | +5.8 dB | 0.19 |
| Peak | 151 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.39 |
| Peak | 1,435 Hz | -5.0 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 3,102 Hz | -3.4 dB | 4.12 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 697 Hz | +0.5 dB | 1.91 |
| Peak | 294 Hz | -0.3 dB | 1.56 |
| Peak | 4,766 Hz | -1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,372 Hz | +1.6 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons