Short answer: the iBasso IT01S. It ranks #362 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $89.95. The BGVP DN3 ranks #380, rated 3.2/5, at $74.99, $14.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the iBasso IT01S: A Harman score of 66 in Crinacle’s measurement shows the tuning lands reasonably close to what most listeners prefer. The tradeoff: Deviation from the target averages 2.84 dB, so the response is not especially smooth.
What the BGVP DN3 does well: A dynamic driver and balanced armature hybrid that adds about 3.6 dB of bass between 60 and 200 Hz in squig.link measurements, giving rock and pop extra punch and body. Watch for: Treble swings from a 4.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz to a 6.3 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals can sound splashy one moment and muted the next.
Buy the iBasso IT01S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $14.96 with the BGVP DN3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| iBasso IT01S | BGVP DN3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.95 | $74.99 |
| Ranked | #362 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #380 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation | 3.13 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | 109 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0 lbs (8 g) per earbud | 0 lbs (5 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 43kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to iBasso IT01S:
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- iBasso IT01S vs FiiO FH3
- iBasso IT01S vs Shure SE215
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
iBasso IT01S: $89.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A Harman score of 66 in Crinacle’s measurement shows the tuning lands reasonably close to what most listeners prefer. The 16 ohm impedance and 109 dB/mW sensitivity mean a phone can drive it to loud levels. At 8 g per earbud with a 10mm dynamic driver, it is a light, simple wired set.
Cons: Deviation from the target averages 2.84 dB, so the response is not especially smooth. Without an inline microphone it cannot be used for calls, and the KZ PR1 has a higher rating.
Full iBasso IT01S review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.84 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 43kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (8 g) per earbud |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.7 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 | +3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 169 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.49 |
| Peak | 918 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.10 |
| Peak | 9,169 Hz | +3.5 dB | 2.61 |
| Peak | 3,523 Hz | +2.8 dB | 4.61 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,075 Hz | -6.1 dB | 5.81 |
| Peak | 6,349 Hz | +3.1 dB | 5.89 |
| Peak | 4,021 Hz | +2.0 dB | 5.78 |
| Peak | 2,467 Hz | -0.5 dB | 5.37 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
BGVP DN3: $74.99 HiFiGo eBay
Pros: A dynamic driver and balanced armature hybrid that adds about 3.6 dB of bass between 60 and 200 Hz in squig.link measurements, giving rock and pop extra punch and body. Sub-bass holds within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz. At 19 ohms and 109 dB/mW it plays loud from any phone, and each earpiece weighs just 5 g. It rates higher than the Shure SE215 while costing less.
Cons: Treble swings from a 4.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz to a 6.3 dB dip near 9.9 kHz, so cymbals can sound splashy one moment and muted the next. A 2.1 dB lift in the low mids thickens vocals slightly. The KZ ZSX rates higher for less money, and the iBasso IT01S rates higher still for a small step up.
Full BGVP DN3 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.13 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 1 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.20 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (5 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 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 | +5.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 87 Hz | -4.9 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 7,222 Hz | +6.8 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 767 Hz | +3.5 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 2,101 Hz | -5.8 dB | 2.36 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,481 Hz | -6.5 dB | 5.34 |
| Peak | 3,346 Hz | +2.4 dB | 3.76 |
| Peak | 5,859 Hz | +2.6 dB | 4.87 |
| Peak | 7,355 Hz | -2.0 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons