Short answer: the Rose Technics QT9 MK3. Both are rated 4.5/5 for sound quality (#82 and #72 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Rose Technics QT9 MK3 costs $280.99 against $296.65 for the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
Why pick the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II: Seventeen hobbyist measurements on squig.link give its ten balanced armature drivers a preference score of 80.0, with bass, low mids and upper mids all within about 0.6 dB of target. Watch for: Presence and treble both sit roughly 3.5 dB below target with a 5.1 dB dip near 7.1 kHz, so attacks on piano and percussion can sound softened.
Buy the Rose Technics QT9 MK3. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $15.66 less than the Kiwi Ears Orchestra II.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kiwi Ears Orchestra II | Rose Technics QT9 MK3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $296.65 | $280.99 |
| Ranked | #72 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #82 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (median of 19 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 80 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.38 dB standard deviation | 1.45 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 15 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/mW | 104 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Kiwi Ears Orchestra II:
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- Kiwi Ears Orchestra vs Kiwi Ears Orchestra II
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- Rose Technics QT9 MK3 vs Sony WF-1000XM6
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
Kiwi Ears Orchestra II: $296.65 Amazon eBay
Pros: Seventeen hobbyist measurements on squig.link give its ten balanced armature drivers a preference score of 80.0, with bass, low mids and upper mids all within about 0.6 dB of target. The air band lifts about 4.3 dB above 10 kHz, adding openness and a sense of space to orchestral and acoustic recordings. At 15 ohms and 110 dB/mW it runs comfortably from a phone.
Cons: Presence and treble both sit roughly 3.5 dB below target with a 5.1 dB dip near 7.1 kHz, so attacks on piano and percussion can sound softened. Sub-bass trails target by 1.3 dB, so it lacks some of the deep rumble of a good dynamic driver.
Full Kiwi Ears Orchestra II review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2025 (11 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.38 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (median of 19 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Rose Technics QT9 MK3: $280.99 HiFiGo eBay
Full Rose Technics QT9 MK3 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.45 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.27 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons