Short answer: the Letshuoer Sonata. Both are rated 4.2/5 for sound quality (#259 and #284 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Letshuoer Sonata costs $2,300 against $2,599 for the Softears Karma, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the Letshuoer Sonata: A tribrid flagship with isobaric dynamic woofers that measures well (score 77) with a tight 1.54 dB spread from the target. The catch: Very expensive for a score that budget IEMs match, and treble sits about 2.2 dB below target.
Why pick the Softears Karma: The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 76 with a 1.80 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.4 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: Its 1.80 dB spread is less even than the best measured sets.
Buy the Letshuoer Sonata. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $299 less than the Softears Karma.
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A tribrid flagship with isobaric dynamic woofers that measures well (score 77) with a tight 1.54 dB spread from the target.
Letshuoer $2,300.00 eBay
The median of 6 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 76 with a 1.80 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.4 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
HiFiGo $2,599.00 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
| Letshuoer Sonata | Softears Karma | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300.00 | $2,599.00 |
| Ranked | #259 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #284 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Tribrid | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 bone conduction + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 MEMS) |
| Drivers | 2 x isobaric dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x electrostatic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x bone conduction + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x MEMS |
| Impedance | 22 ohms | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB SPL/mW | 122 dB/V |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.54 dB standard deviation | 1.80 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.69 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.7 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Frequency Response | - | 8Hz - 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 Letshuoer Sonata from audioamigo, hbb, iemocean, practiphile, superreview and tonedeafmonk; the Softears Karma from aftersound, audioamigo, dchpgall, precog, samreviews and takeitslow7, all via squig.link.
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