Short answer: the ISN Audio Neo 5. It ranks #855 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $289. The ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II ranks #919, rated 3.3/5, at $279, $10 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the ISN Audio Neo 5: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 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.
Why pick the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II: 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 ISN Audio Neo 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $10 with the ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target.
Penon Audio $289.00 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
| ISN Audio Neo 5 | ZiiGaat x Fresh Reviews Arete II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $289.00 | $279.00 |
| Ranked | #855 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #919 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 65 (median of 10 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.28 dB standard deviation | 2.50 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.92 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 DD + 4 BA (1 x 10mm dynamic driver + 4 Knowles balanced armature) | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 26 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB | 104 dB |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 ISN Audio Neo 5 from dl, iemocean, isaiahse, soundignity 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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