Short answer: the Kinera Verdandi. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#396 and #441 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Kinera Verdandi costs $1,199.99 against $1,400 for the Hercules Audio Noah, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Hercules Audio Noah: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: Treble about 4 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
The case for the Kinera Verdandi: The median of 12 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 1.86 dB spread. The catch: A 4.1 dB peak near 1.6 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the Kinera Verdandi. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $200.01 less than the Hercules Audio Noah.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 against the Harman target.
Zeppelin & Co $1,400 eBay
The median of 12 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 1.86 dB spread.
Amazon $1,199.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Hercules Audio Noah | Kinera Verdandi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,400 | $1,199.99 |
| Ranked | #441 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #396 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 12 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.74 dB standard deviation | 1.86 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.69 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic | 1 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x bone conduction |
| Impedance | - | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 105 dB |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (7 g) per earpiece |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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 Hercules Audio Noah from aden, audioamigo, boizoff, dl, eliseaudio, iemocean, jaytiss, kazi, koi, pw and superreview; the Kinera Verdandi from animagus, dl, eliseaudio, elrics, harutohiroki, jaytiss, kazi, lumerion, mmagtech, silicagel, timmyv and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Kinera Verdandi: