Short answer: the FiiO FH7S. It ranks #375 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.2/5, at $299.99; the Etymotic ER4XR ranks #387, rated 3.0/5, at $299. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the FiiO FH7S does well: Oratory1990 measured bass about 4.6 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass lines hit with real weight for a hybrid built around a 13.6mm dynamic driver and four balanced armatures. The tradeoff: Low mids run 2.4 dB hot on top of the bass lift, which can make male vocals and bass instruments thick.
Why pick the Etymotic ER4XR: Upper mids sit within 0.5 dB of the Harman target and low mids within 0.4 dB, so vocals and instruments come through clearly and naturally. Watch for: Sub-bass is about 7.2 dB under target and bass is 2.6 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines lack weight and rumble.
Buy the FiiO FH7S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $0.99 with the Etymotic ER4XR does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| FiiO FH7S | Etymotic ER4XR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #375 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #387 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.76 dB standard deviation | 3.06 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 13.6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 45 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0 lbs (9 g) per earbud | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for FiiO FH7S:
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 vs FiiO FH7S
- Fearless Audio S6Rui vs FiiO FH7S
- Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 vs Etymotic ER4XR
- Etymotic ER4XR vs Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
- Cayin Fantasy vs Etymotic ER4XR
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 FH7S: $299.99 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: Oratory1990 measured bass about 4.6 dB above the Harman target, so kick drums and bass lines hit with real weight for a hybrid built around a 13.6mm dynamic driver and four balanced armatures. Treble is close to target, and an 18 ohm impedance makes it easy to drive from a phone despite the 104 dB/mW sensitivity. It suits warm, bassy tastes.
Cons: Low mids run 2.4 dB hot on top of the bass lift, which can make male vocals and bass instruments thick. A 6.1 dB peak near 8 kHz can make cymbals and sibilants sharp. The Tin HiFi P1 Max and FiiO FD5 both have higher ratings.
Full FiiO FH7S review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.76 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 13.6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (9 g) per earbud |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.4 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 | +0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 174 Hz | -4.7 dB | 0.67 |
| Peak | 5,596 Hz | +4.4 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 779 Hz | +3.3 dB | 1.24 |
| Peak | 2,065 Hz | +1.6 dB | 3.03 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,961 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.23 |
| Peak | 3,138 Hz | -1.8 dB | 4.83 |
| Peak | 6,273 Hz | +2.3 dB | 5.99 |
| Peak | 5,471 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Etymotic ER4XR: $299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Upper mids sit within 0.5 dB of the Harman target and low mids within 0.4 dB, so vocals and instruments come through clearly and naturally. Oratory1990’s measurement gives a preference score of 62, and the single balanced armature driver suits listeners who want a neutral, analytical presentation without added bass.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 7.2 dB under target and bass is 2.6 dB low, so kick drums and bass lines lack weight and rumble. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is 5.4 dB low, with an 8.6 dB dip near 6.7 kHz, which dulls cymbals. A 45 ohm impedance makes it a bit harder to drive than most phone-friendly earphones, and the FiiO FH7S has a higher rating.
Full Etymotic ER4XR review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.06 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 16kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 45 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.0 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 | +5.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,978 Hz | +6.4 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 1,623 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.52 |
| Peak | 164 Hz | -1.4 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 806 Hz | +2.6 dB | 1.14 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,344 Hz | -1.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,183 Hz | +1.0 dB | 5.99 |
| Peak | 4,894 Hz | -0.6 dB | 4.37 |
| Peak | 1,333 Hz | -0.2 dB | 4.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons