Short answer: the Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1084 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $449; the Shure SE535 ranks #1107, rated 2.4/5, and costs $499, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the Truthear Nova ranks #2 at $169.99.
What the Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch does well: Bass is lifted about 2.6 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 4.1 dB low with a 5.8 dB dip near 6.5 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Why pick the Shure SE535: Its very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity means it gets loud from any phone or laptop with little effort. Watch for: In oratory1990’s measurement presence runs about 8.6 dB low and air about 8 dB low, with a 12.6 dB dip near 11.7 kHz, so detail and sparkle are subdued and the sound turns dark.
Buy the Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Shure SE535 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Bass is lifted about 2.6 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Linsoul $449.00 eBay
Its very high 119 dB/mW sensitivity means it gets loud from any phone or laptop with little effort.
B&H Photo Video $499.00 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
| Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch | Shure SE535 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $499.00 |
| Ranked | #1084 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1107 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic | 3 x balanced armature (2 woofers + 1 tweeter) |
| Impedance | 12 ohms | 36 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 44kHz | 18Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (median of 12 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 54 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.93 dB standard deviation | 3.86 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 60 Hz (-8.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Sensitivity | - | 119 dB SPL/mW |
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