Short answer: the FiiO FD5. It ranks #631 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $495.27; the QoA Margarita ranks #731, rated 3.6/5, at $494.10. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the FiiO FD5: A warm, punchy 12mm dynamic in-ear with a preference score of 70, bass about 4 dB above target and flat sub-bass to 20 Hz. The tradeoff: The bass boost spills into the low mids by about 2 dB, which can thicken male vocals and make dense mixes sound slightly congested.
The case for the QoA Margarita: A tribrid with a dynamic driver, a balanced armature and two Sonion electrostatic tweeters. Watch for: Treble sits about 4.1 dB below target, a dark, relaxed balance.
Buy the FiiO FD5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1.17 you would save on the QoA Margarita does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
A warm, punchy 12mm dynamic in-ear with a preference score of 70, bass about 4 dB above target and flat sub-bass to 20 Hz.
Amazon $495.27 eBay
A tribrid with a dynamic driver, a balanced armature and two Sonion electrostatic tweeters.
HiFiGo $494.10 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 FD5 | QoA Margarita | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $495.27 | $494.10 |
| Ranked | #631 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #731 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 70 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 69 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.40 dB standard deviation | 2.42 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.45 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 12mm dynamic | 1 x dynamic + 1 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 61 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0 lbs (11 g) per earbud | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the FiiO FD5 from dchpgall, hbb, jaytiss, precog, recode, rg and superreview; the QoA Margarita from hbb, hu-fi, ianfann and musicafe, all via squig.link.
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