Short answer: the KZ EDX Pro X. It ranks #202 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $15.99; the CCA Polaris ranks #334, rated 4.1/5, at $13. The price gap is small enough that the sound-quality ranking should decide it.
What the KZ EDX Pro X does well: A $16 single dynamic IEM that measures among the best budget models (score 78 across six measurements), with a tight 1.51 dB spread from the target and full sub-bass to 20 Hz. The catch: The light plastic shell and basic cable reflect the price, and KZ’s published impedance and sensitivity figures vary between listings.
The case for the CCA Polaris: The median of 7 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 75 with a 1.98 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.9 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 3.3 dB low with a 5 dB dip near 5.9 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the KZ EDX Pro X. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $2.99 you would save on the CCA Polaris does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
A $16 single dynamic IEM that measures among the best budget models (score 78 across six measurements), with a tight 1.51 dB spread from the target and full sub-bass to 20 Hz.
Amazon $15.99 eBay
The median of 7 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 75 with a 1.98 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.9 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Linsoul $13.00 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
| KZ EDX Pro X | CCA Polaris | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15.99 | $13.00 |
| Ranked | #202 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #334 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Harman Preference Score | 78 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 75 (median of 7 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.51 dB standard deviation | 1.98 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.33 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.07 (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 (-3.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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 KZ EDX Pro X from ankramutt, avishai, lown-fi, musicafe, obodio and tdl; the CCA Polaris from fernandagunsan, koi, kuping-sensi, obodio, pw, soundignity and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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