Short answer: the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II. Both are rated 3.3/5 for sound quality (#919 and #909 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II costs $279 against $299 for the Hidizs MS5, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the Hidizs MS5: Lower mids sit within about 0.7 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The catch: Presence sits about 3.4 dB low with a 12.7 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
What the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II does well: Bass through the low mids stays within 1 dB of target and extends flat to 20 Hz, so bass is deep and controlled rather than bloated. The tradeoff: The 3 to 10 kHz range sits about 5 to 6 dB below target with a 9.7 dB dip near 6.5 kHz, so vocals lose clarity, guitars and snares lack bite, and the sound can feel veiled; hobbyist measurements give it a Harman preference score of 65.3.
Buy the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $20 less than the Hidizs MS5.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Lower mids sit within about 0.7 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
Amazon $299.00 eBay
Bass through the low mids stays within 1 dB of target and extends flat to 20 Hz, so bass is deep and controlled rather than bloated.
Amazon $279.00 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Hidizs MS5 | ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.00 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #909 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #919 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 5.3 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (13.6 g) | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (median of 12 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 65 (median of 10 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.71 dB standard deviation | 2.50 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 104 dB |
| 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 Hidizs MS5 from aden, bryaudioreviews, dchpgall, digaoreviews, fahryst, hbb, kazi, practiphile, pw, silicagel, timmyv and tonedeafmonk; the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II from aden, atechreviews, audioamigo, bassaudio, bloomaudio, boizoff, dl, hbb, jaytiss, joycesreview, practiphile and pw, all via squig.link.
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