Short answer: the Simgot ET142. Both are rated 3.8/5 for sound quality (#573 and #576 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Simgot ET142 costs $249.99 against $259 for the Kiwi Ears Halcyon, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the Kiwi Ears Halcyon: The median of 16 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 71 with a 2.07 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: Presence sits about 3.4 dB low with a 6.5 dB dip near 6.1 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The case for the Simgot ET142: The median of 17 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 71 with a 2.07 dB spread. The tradeoff: A 7.9 dB peak near 7.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the Simgot ET142. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $9.01 less than the Kiwi Ears Halcyon.
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The median of 16 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 71 with a 2.07 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $259.00 eBay
The median of 17 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 71 with a 2.07 dB spread.
Amazon $249.99 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
| Kiwi Ears Halcyon | Simgot ET142 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $259.00 | $249.99 |
| Ranked | #576 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #573 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature + 1 x MEMS | 1 x 12.5mm planar + 1 x piezoelectric |
| Impedance | 29 ohms | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | 118 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (median of 16 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 71 (median of 17 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.07 dB standard deviation | 2.07 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
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 Kiwi Ears Halcyon from aden, aftersound, atechreviews, audioamigo, avishai, bassaudio, dchpgall, dl, ducbloke, elrics, flare, hobbytalk, lumerion, silicagel, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk; the Simgot ET142 from atechreviews, audioamigo, csi-zone, dl, fahryst, gadgetrytech, hbb, hu-fi, jaytiss, kazi, koi, kuping-sensi, obodio, practiphile, pw, soundcheck39 and soundignity, all via squig.link.
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