Short answer: the GoldPlanar GL-AMT16. It ranks #863 of 1369 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $1,499; the Penon Impact ranks #995, rated 3.2/5, and costs $2,499, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the GoldPlanar GL-AMT16 does well: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: About 3 dB less bass than the Harman target below 150 Hz, which can sound thin on pop, hip hop and electronic music.
What the Penon Impact does well: A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap. The tradeoff: Treble about 5 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Buy the GoldPlanar GL-AMT16. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Penon Impact and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target.
Linsoul $1,499.00 eBay
A published AutoEQ preset corrects its response toward the Harman target, so a few minutes of EQ setup closes most of the gap.
Penon Audio $2,499.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 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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Specifications Side By Side
| GoldPlanar GL-AMT16 | Penon Impact | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $2,499.00 |
| Ranked | #863 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones | #995 of 1369 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 64 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.90 dB standard deviation | 2.87 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.56 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Driver Type | AMT | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 15.5mm folded diaphragm Air Motion Transformer (AMT) driver | 14 drivers (10 balanced armatures + 4 electrostatic drivers) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 21 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB | 112 dB |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 50kHz | 10Hz - 70kHz |
| Weight | 0 lbs (14 g) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the GoldPlanar GL-AMT16 from hu-fi, silicagel and tonedeafmonk; the Penon Impact from ducbloke, eliseaudio, tgx78 and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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