Short answer: the iBasso IT04. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#344 and #350 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the iBasso IT04 costs $499 against $509 for the Kinera Norn, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the iBasso IT04: A preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement puts the IT04 in solid, listenable territory for an in-ear. The catch: A score of 69 trails the best in-ears, so the tuning is noticeably off the Harman target in places.
Why pick the Kinera Norn: A bassy, energetic tuning with roughly 3 to 4 dB of extra sub-bass and bass, still 4.7 dB above target at 30 Hz, so electronic and hip-hop tracks hit with real rumble. Watch for: A 5 dB peak near 1.7 kHz in squig.link measurements pushes vocals and guitars forward, which can sound shouty on bright recordings.
Buy the iBasso IT04. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10 less than the Kinera Norn.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| iBasso IT04 | Kinera Norn | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.00 | $509.00 |
| Ranked | #344 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #350 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.79 dB standard deviation | 2.23 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB | 110 dB |
| Weight | 0 lbs (13 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Impedance | - | 32 ohms |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for iBasso IT04:
- FiiO FD5 vs iBasso IT04
- iBasso IT04 vs Fearless Audio S8F
- FiiO FD5 vs Kinera Norn
- Kinera Norn vs Fearless Audio S8F
- 7Hz Eternal vs Shanling ME500
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 IT04: $499.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement puts the IT04 in solid, listenable territory for an in-ear. The 110 dB sensitivity means it is easy to drive from a phone or dongle without a dedicated amp. At 13 g with a hybrid of one 10mm dynamic driver and three balanced armatures, it is light and uses a driver mix aimed at bass weight plus detail.
Cons: A score of 69 trails the best in-ears, so the tuning is noticeably off the Harman target in places. The FiiO FD5 has a higher rating at a similar price, which makes it the safer pick if the Harman fit matters most. It is wired only, with no wireless option.
Full iBasso IT04 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.79 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (13 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 | +2.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 230 Hz | -5.1 dB | 0.53 |
| Peak | 4,860 Hz | +5.6 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 770 Hz | +3.6 dB | 0.27 |
| Peak | 1,536 Hz | -4.0 dB | 1.44 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,235 Hz | -2.5 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 5,832 Hz | +1.4 dB | 4.39 |
| Peak | 2,978 Hz | +1.5 dB | 5.39 |
| Peak | 3,642 Hz | -0.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kinera Norn: $509.00 Kinera eBay
Pros: A bassy, energetic tuning with roughly 3 to 4 dB of extra sub-bass and bass, still 4.7 dB above target at 30 Hz, so electronic and hip-hop tracks hit with real rumble. The midrange and treble track the target within about 2 dB up to 10 kHz, and a 5.2 dB lift above 10 kHz adds air. A preference score of 69 from crinacle and a 2.2 dB standard deviation point to an even response overall. It matches the rating of the HIFIMAN RE2000 for noticeably less and rates above the Fearless Audio S8F.
Cons: A 5 dB peak near 1.7 kHz in squig.link measurements pushes vocals and guitars forward, which can sound shouty on bright recordings. Listeners who want a neutral low end will find the bass boost too much. The FiiO FD5 rates higher at nearly the same price.
Full Kinera Norn review and specifications →
| Released | May 2026 (5 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.9 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 | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 995 Hz | +16.1 dB | 0.43 |
| Peak | 1,544 Hz | -16.9 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 6,828 Hz | +3.6 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 206 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.61 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,707 Hz | -3.2 dB | 5.83 |
| Peak | 2,442 Hz | +1.7 dB | 3.97 |
| Peak | 5,574 Hz | +2.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 1,827 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.83 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons