FiiO FH5 vs InEar StageDiver SD5

Short answer: the InEar StageDiver SD5. Both are rated 3.0/5 for sound quality (#394 and #393 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the InEar StageDiver SD5 costs $845 against $1,138.53 for the FiiO FH5, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.

Why pick the FiiO FH5: In oratory1990’s measurement the bass and low mids sit only 0.6 to 1.4 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass guitar have a warm, full body without bloating. The catch: Presence between 3 and 6 kHz runs about 7.3 dB under target, with a 9.6 dB dip near 4.7 kHz, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and distant.

Why pick the InEar StageDiver SD5: With a very high 120 dB sensitivity it reaches loud levels from any phone or stage monitor pack with almost no volume needed. Watch for: Its response deviates about 3.2 dB from target on average, an uneven tuning that colors many recordings.

Buy the InEar StageDiver SD5. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $293.53 less than the FiiO FH5.

Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.

Specifications Side By Side

Related Headphone Comparisons

More worthwhile head-to-heads for FiiO FH5:

• Sennheiser IE 900 vs FiiO FH5
• FiiO FH5 vs DUNU DK4001
• FiiO FH5 vs Westone MACH 80
• FiiO FH5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1
• InEar StageDiver SD5 vs DUNU DK4001

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 FH5: $1,138.53 Amazon eBay

Pros: In oratory1990’s measurement the bass and low mids sit only 0.6 to 1.4 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass guitar have a warm, full body without bloating. The hybrid design pairs a 10mm dynamic driver with 3 balanced armatures, and the 19 ohm impedance and 112 dB/mW sensitivity mean a phone or dongle drives it easily. Sub-bass is slightly lifted by 0.8 dB, which suits warm and bassy tastes.

Cons: Presence between 3 and 6 kHz runs about 7.3 dB under target, with a 9.6 dB dip near 4.7 kHz, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and distant. Air above 10 kHz is down about 3.2 dB, which takes some sparkle off cymbals. A preference score of 61 and an uneven response with a 2.96 dB deviation leave it behind the HIFIMAN RE2000 for tonal accuracy.

Full FiiO FH5 review and specifications →

Back	Closed
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	2.96 dB standard deviation
Driver Type	Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature)
Drivers	1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature
Form Factor	In-ear
Frequency Response	15Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ)
Impedance	19 ohms
Sensitivity	112 dB/mW
Sub-bass Extension	Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.7 dB at 30 Hz)
Tonal Tilt	-1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)
Weight	0 lbs (8 g) per earbud

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.5 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	-2.4 dB	0.70
Peak	3,870 Hz	+6.6 dB	1.63
Peak	191 Hz	-2.7 dB	1.11
Peak	1,347 Hz	-1.8 dB	1.19
Peak	9,899 Hz	+2.5 dB	2.75
High shelf	10,000 Hz	-1.8 dB	0.70
Peak	69 Hz	+0.9 dB	1.61
Peak	122 Hz	-0.6 dB	2.38
Peak	6,634 Hz	-1.7 dB	6.00
Peak	5,997 Hz	+1.5 dB	6.00

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the FiiO FH5 (oratory1990 measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • FiiO FH5 vs DUNU DK4001
  • FiiO FH5 vs Sennheiser IE 900
  • FiiO FH5 vs Westone MACH 80
  • FiiO FH5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1

InEar StageDiver SD5: $845.00 Thomann eBay

Pros: With a very high 120 dB sensitivity it reaches loud levels from any phone or stage monitor pack with almost no volume needed. Its preference score of 61 in crinacle’s measurement puts it level in rating with the FiiO FH5, which costs more.

Cons: Its response deviates about 3.2 dB from target on average, an uneven tuning that colors many recordings. Such high sensitivity can also reveal background hiss from noisy sources, and the Shanling ME700 matches its rating for considerably less.

Full InEar StageDiver SD5 review and specifications →

Back	Closed
Built-in Microphone	No
Connection	Wired
Deviation From Target	3.23 dB standard deviation
Form Factor	In-ear
Frequency Response	10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified)
Harman Preference Score	61 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ)
Sensitivity	120 dB
Tonal Tilt	-0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter)

EQ preset to match the Harman target

Set a preamp of -6.8 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	+1.9 dB	0.70
Peak	175 Hz	-4.2 dB	0.67
Peak	4,577 Hz	+7.1 dB	1.51
Peak	731 Hz	+2.8 dB	2.02
Peak	6,942 Hz	-3.4 dB	3.18
High shelf	10,000 Hz	+1.2 dB	0.70
Peak	1,575 Hz	-2.7 dB	1.84
Peak	1,000 Hz	+1.5 dB	3.37
Peak	2,757 Hz	+1.4 dB	3.24
Peak	488 Hz	+0.4 dB	2.81

• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • AutoEQ results for the InEar StageDiver SD5 (crinacle measurement)
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • InEar StageDiver SD5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti
  • InEar StageDiver SD5 vs DUNU DK4001