Short answer: the KZ EDXS. It ranks #162 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $17.09; the Moondrop Quarks ranks #183, rated 4.2/5, and costs $17.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Moondrop Quarks does well: A preference score of 76 from a very inexpensive wired in-ear is hard to beat, and it is rated above the KZ ZSN Pro X and the CCA CRA. Watch for: A 4 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can make female vocals and snare hits sound forward or slightly shouty at higher volumes.
Buy the KZ EDXS. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Moondrop Quarks and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KZ EDXS | Moondrop Quarks | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.09 | $17.99 |
| Ranked | #162 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #183 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.66 dB standard deviation | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic | 1 x 6mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 19 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB | 116 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
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- Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro vs KZ EDXS
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- Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro vs Moondrop Quarks
- KZ Taurus vs Moondrop Quarks
- TRN MT5 vs Moondrop Quarks
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
KZ EDXS: $17.09 Amazon eBay
Full KZ EDXS review and specifications →
| Released | May 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.66 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 9 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 19 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.46 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Moondrop Quarks: $17.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 76 from a very inexpensive wired in-ear is hard to beat, and it is rated above the KZ ZSN Pro X and the CCA CRA. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted about 2.2 dB over target and the low mids about 1.6 dB, giving a warm, full sound that fits warm and bass leaning tastes. At 16 ohms and 116 dB sensitivity it plays loud straight from a phone.
Cons: A 4 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can make female vocals and snare hits sound forward or slightly shouty at higher volumes. Air above 10 kHz is about 2.5 dB low and there is a 5.4 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so the top end sounds less open and airy. Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 1.8 dB below target, so the deepest notes lack a little rumble.
Full Moondrop Quarks review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 6mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 116 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.24 |
| Peak | 767 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.26 |
| Peak | 2,855 Hz | -5.9 dB | 3.31 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,604 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.27 |
| Peak | 6,302 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.61 |
| Peak | 1,492 Hz | -0.2 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +0.1 dB | 1.86 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons