Short answer: the Kiwi Ears Ember. It ranks #88 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $135. The Moondrop Starfield 2 ranks #102, rated 4.4/5, at $129.99, $5.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Moondrop Starfield 2: Seven squig.link measurements give the Starfield 2 a preference score of 78.6, with mids and presence all within about 1 dB of target so vocals and instruments sound open and well defined. The catch: Sub-bass falls about 2.5 dB short at 30 Hz, so the deepest rumble is lighter than on bassier sets.
Buy the Kiwi Ears Ember. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $5.01 with the Moondrop Starfield 2 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Ember | Moondrop Starfield 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $135.00 | $129.99 |
| Ranked | #88 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #102 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.61 dB standard deviation | 1.65 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 19 ohms | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW | 122 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Kiwi Ears Ember compares with other leading options:
- Final Audio A4000 vs Kiwi Ears Ember
- Kiwi Ears Ember vs Shuoer S12
- Kiwi Ears Ember vs Meze Alba
- Dita Prelude vs Kiwi Ears Ember
- Moondrop Starfield 2 vs Tanchjim Fission
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Kiwi Ears Ember: $135.00 Linsoul eBay
Full Kiwi Ears Ember review and specifications →
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.61 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Moondrop Starfield 2: $129.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Seven squig.link measurements give the Starfield 2 a preference score of 78.6, with mids and presence all within about 1 dB of target so vocals and instruments sound open and well defined. Midbass sits 1.7 dB above target for warmth without masking detail. At 15 ohms and 122 dB/Vrms it gets loud from any phone or dongle.
Cons: Sub-bass falls about 2.5 dB short at 30 Hz, so the deepest rumble is lighter than on bassier sets. Air runs 3.9 dB high with a 6.6 dB peak near 8.1 kHz, which can make cymbals and esses sound hot, and the low 15 ohm impedance can let high output impedance sources shift its tuning.
Full Moondrop Starfield 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.65 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 24kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons