Short answer: the NF Acous NA20. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#711 and #721 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the NF Acous NA20 costs $119 against $127.99 for the TRN Whale Shark, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
The case for the NF Acous NA20: The median of 11 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 69 with a 2.31 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.8 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: A 9.2 dB peak near 11.5 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Why pick the TRN Whale Shark: A warm, bassy hybrid in-ear with three dynamic drivers and a planar, bass 3.3 dB above target and upper mids almost on target. The catch: A 6.3 dB dip near 6.1 kHz followed by a 6.5 dB peak near 8.1 kHz makes cymbals and sibilance uneven, and air above 10 kHz runs 4.6 dB hot for an extra sharp shimmer.
Buy the NF Acous NA20. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $8.99 less than the TRN Whale Shark.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
The median of 11 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 69 with a 2.31 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.8 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Amazon $119.00 eBay
A warm, bassy hybrid in-ear with three dynamic drivers and a planar, bass 3.3 dB above target and upper mids almost on target.
Amazon $127.99 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| NF Acous NA20 | TRN Whale Shark | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.00 | $127.99 |
| Ranked | #711 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #721 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (3 dynamic + 1 planar magnetic) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 3 x dynamic + 1 x planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB/mW | 110 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 9Hz - 40kHz | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (median of 11 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 69 (median of 8 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.31 dB standard deviation | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.25 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
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 NF Acous NA20 from arn, audioamigo, cqtek, ducbloke, joycesreview, koi, lumerion, obodio, practiphile, pw, theaudiostore, tonedeafmonk and treblewellxtended; the TRN Whale Shark from atechreviews, audioamigo, dvewlsh, eplv, jaytiss, musicafe, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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