Short answer: the Final Audio A4000. Both are rated 4.5/5 for sound quality (#61 and #88 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Final Audio A4000 costs $125 against $135 for the Kiwi Ears Ember, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Final Audio A4000: A preference score of 80 and a deviation of only 1.67 dB from target make this one of the most accurate single dynamic driver in-ears available at its price. The tradeoff: Treble runs about 6 to 7 dB above target from 6 to 16 kHz in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with an 8.7 dB peak near 8.7 kHz that can make bright recordings sharp.
Buy the Final Audio A4000. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10 less than the Kiwi Ears Ember.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Final Audio A4000 | Kiwi Ears Ember | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $125.00 | $135.00 |
| Ranked | #61 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #88 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.67 dB standard deviation | 1.61 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 6mm dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 18 ohms | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 110 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0 lbs (18 g) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Final Audio A4000:
- Final Audio A4000 vs Shuoer S12
- Final Audio A4000 vs Simgot EM6L
- Final Audio A4000 vs Kefine Quatio
- Kiwi Ears Ember vs Shuoer S12
- Kiwi Ears Ember vs Moondrop Starfield 2
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
Final Audio A4000: $125.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 80 and a deviation of only 1.67 dB from target make this one of the most accurate single dynamic driver in-ears available at its price. Sub-bass holds within 1 dB of target down to 20 Hz, and a 3 dB lift in the upper bass adds warmth and punch. It matches the Shuoer S12 in rating while costing less, and at 18 g it is very light.
Cons: Treble runs about 6 to 7 dB above target from 6 to 16 kHz in hobbyist measurements on squig.link, with an 8.7 dB peak near 8.7 kHz that can make bright recordings sharp. Listeners sensitive to sibilance may find it fatiguing at high volume. At 100 dB/mW it needs a bit more volume than very sensitive in-ears, though phones still drive it.
Full Final Audio A4000 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.67 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 6mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (18 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.9 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 | +0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 831 Hz | +3.0 dB | 1.09 |
| Peak | 177 Hz | -1.6 dB | 1.02 |
| Peak | 6,348 Hz | -3.7 dB | 2.04 |
| Peak | 2,022 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.11 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,639 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.54 |
| Peak | 3,246 Hz | -2.0 dB | 3.75 |
| Peak | 4,630 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.78 |
| Peak | 2,482 Hz | +0.9 dB | 5.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kiwi Ears Ember: $135.00 Linsoul eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Ember review and specifications →
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.61 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons