Short answer: the Fir Audio e12. Both are rated 3.2/5 for sound quality (#379 and #377 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Fir Audio e12 costs $1,799 against $2,099.99 for the SoftEars Cerberus, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Fir Audio e12 does well: A big, energetic V shaped tuning in HypetheSonics’ measurement, with sub-bass about 4 dB and bass about 5.5 dB above target for heavy, physical kick drums and synth lines. The catch: A 9.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 6 to 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sharp and fatiguing at higher volume.
The case for the SoftEars Cerberus: A seven driver hybrid with a dynamic woofer, four balanced armatures and two electrostatic tweeters, tuned with a warm, relaxed balance. The catch: Treble runs about 4 to 6 dB below target from 3 to 16 kHz, with a 9.8 dB dip near 6.1 kHz, so cymbals, string texture and vocal consonants sound dim and distant.
Buy the Fir Audio e12. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $300.99 less than the SoftEars Cerberus.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Fir Audio e12 | SoftEars Cerberus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,799.00 | $2,099.99 |
| Ranked | #379 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #377 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.66 dB standard deviation | 2.89 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x 12mm dynamic | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 5 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 104 dB/100mV |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How SoftEars Cerberus compares with other leading options:
- 64 Audio Tia Trio vs SoftEars Cerberus
- 64 Audio A12t vs SoftEars Cerberus
- 64 Audio U12t vs SoftEars Cerberus
- SoftEars Cerberus vs HIFIMAN RE2000 Pro
- 64 Audio A12t vs Fir Audio e12
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
Fir Audio e12: $1,799.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: A big, energetic V shaped tuning in HypetheSonics’ measurement, with sub-bass about 4 dB and bass about 5.5 dB above target for heavy, physical kick drums and synth lines. Mids stay close to target from 1 to 6 kHz, so vocals are not buried under the bass. It suits listeners who want a fun, bass forward sound from a single 12 mm dynamic driver.
Cons: A 9.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 6 to 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sharp and fatiguing at higher volume. The extra 5.5 dB of bass also thickens the low mids on acoustic and vocal recordings, and the 64 Audio A12t rates slightly higher at a similar price.
Full Fir Audio e12 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.66 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 12mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.4 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 | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 806 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 172 Hz | -3.5 dB | 1.00 |
| Peak | 3,777 Hz | +8.8 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 5,026 Hz | -5.7 dB | 0.80 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,514 Hz | -2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,361 Hz | +2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 2,239 Hz | -0.9 dB | 4.08 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
SoftEars Cerberus: $2,099.99 HiFiGo eBay
Pros: A seven driver hybrid with a dynamic woofer, four balanced armatures and two electrostatic tweeters, tuned with a warm, relaxed balance. Across seven hobbyist measurements on squig.link, bass sits within a decibel of target from 60 to 200 Hz and sub-bass stays within 6 dB down to 20 Hz, so low notes keep their weight. The subdued top end suits listeners who find most in-ears fatiguing. Its 5 ohm impedance and 104 dB per 100 mV sensitivity mean a phone drives it easily.
Cons: Treble runs about 4 to 6 dB below target from 3 to 16 kHz, with a 9.8 dB dip near 6.1 kHz, so cymbals, string texture and vocal consonants sound dim and distant. The 64 Audio A12t rates higher for slightly less money. A preference score of 64 from crinacle and a 2.9 dB standard deviation point to an uneven overall response.
Full SoftEars Cerberus review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.89 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 80kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB/100mV |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
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 | -0.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,728 Hz | +6.5 dB | 0.79 |
| Peak | 262 Hz | -2.4 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 1,896 Hz | -2.8 dB | 1.34 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.67 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,226 Hz | -2.4 dB | 5.45 |
| Peak | 5,402 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.97 |
| Peak | 989 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.73 |
| Peak | 662 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.16 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons