Short answer: the KZ Vader. It ranks #143 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $34.99; the KZ Vader Pro ranks #197, rated 4.3/5, and costs $36.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KZ Vader does well: The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 79 with a 1.48 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.9 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The tradeoff: A 6.6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
The case for the KZ Vader Pro: The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.57 dB spread. Watch for: A 4.5 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the KZ Vader. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KZ Vader Pro and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 79 with a 1.48 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.9 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Linsoul $34.99 eBay
The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 78 with a 1.57 dB spread.
Amazon $36.99 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| KZ Vader | KZ Vader Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $34.99 | $36.99 |
| Ranked | #143 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #197 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 78 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.48 dB standard deviation | 1.57 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.44 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.45 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 3 x dynamic | 3 x dynamic |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | - | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 106 dB/mW |
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 Vader from boizoff, jacstone and obodio; the KZ Vader Pro from bassyalexander, musicafe and pw, all via squig.link.
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for KZ Vader: