Short answer: the FiiO FH5. It ranks #393 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $1,138.53; the Westone MACH 80 ranks #406, rated 2.8/5, and costs $1,299.99, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
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 tradeoff: 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 Westone MACH 80: Eight balanced armature drivers split across two low, two mid and four high units, with a 104 dB sensitivity that works from a phone. The catch: A preference score of 59 in crinacle’s measurement means most listeners will hear a noticeably colored sound for the money.
Buy the FiiO FH5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Westone MACH 80 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FH5 | Westone MACH 80 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,138.53 | $1,299.99 |
| Ranked | #393 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #406 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 61 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 59 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.96 dB standard deviation | 3.46 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.08 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.7 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature | 8 x balanced armature (2 low, 2 mid, 4 high) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms | 66 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB/mW | 104 dB (1 kHz) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (8 g) per earbud | - |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How FiiO FH5 compares with other leading options:
- Sennheiser IE 900 vs FiiO FH5
- FiiO FH5 vs InEar StageDiver SD5
- FiiO FH5 vs DUNU DK4001
- FiiO FH5 vs Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1
- Westone MACH 80 vs Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1
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
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Westone MACH 80: $1,299.99 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Eight balanced armature drivers split across two low, two mid and four high units, with a 104 dB sensitivity that works from a phone. It is rated higher than the Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1 and Fidue A91 Sirius.
Cons: A preference score of 59 in crinacle’s measurement means most listeners will hear a noticeably colored sound for the money. The Sennheiser IE 900 is rated higher at about the same price.
Full Westone MACH 80 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.46 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 8 x balanced armature (2 low, 2 mid, 4 high) |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 66 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB (1 kHz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.1 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 | +4.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 207 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 4,083 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.18 |
| Peak | 2,033 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.24 |
| Peak | 871 Hz | +0.8 dB | 2.51 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,776 Hz | +3.7 dB | 1.58 |
| Peak | 5,653 Hz | -3.6 dB | 5.91 |
| Peak | 6,697 Hz | +1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,034 Hz | -1.0 dB | 5.63 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons