Short answer: the Oriolus Mellianus. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#348 and #349 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Oriolus Mellianus costs $2,400 against $2,900 for the Noble Audio Sultan, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
The case for the Noble Audio Sultan: Bass extends on target to 20 Hz with about 2.6 dB of extra midbass in HypetheSonics’ measurement, giving a warm, full low end, and its 2.4 dB average deviation is fairly smooth. Watch for: A 7.4 dB dip near 3.2 kHz and a 3.4 dB shortfall across 3 to 6 kHz recess vocals and the attack of guitars and pianos.
Why pick the Oriolus Mellianus: Ten balanced armature drivers per side earn a preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement, with an overall balance that is neither warm nor bright. The tradeoff: Its response wanders about 2.8 dB from target on average, so some bands stand out more than on the best in-ears.
Buy the Oriolus Mellianus. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $500 less than the Noble Audio Sultan.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Noble Audio Sultan | Oriolus Mellianus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,900.00 | $2,400.00 |
| Ranked | #349 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #348 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.41 dB standard deviation | 2.79 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic | 10 x balanced armature |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Impedance | - | 36 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 109 dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Oriolus Mellianus compares with other leading options:
- Oriolus Mellianus vs qdc Anole VX
- Oriolus Mellianus vs 64 Audio Tia Trio
- Noble Audio Sultan vs qdc Anole VX
- Unique Melody MEST Fortune vs Noble Audio Sultan
- Kinera Loki Divine Mark vs Noble Audio Sultan
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
Noble Audio Sultan: $2,900.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: Bass extends on target to 20 Hz with about 2.6 dB of extra midbass in HypetheSonics’ measurement, giving a warm, full low end, and its 2.4 dB average deviation is fairly smooth. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 2.6 dB above target without sharp peaks, so cymbals keep sparkle without harshness. It rates higher than the 64 Audio Tia Trio.
Cons: A 7.4 dB dip near 3.2 kHz and a 3.4 dB shortfall across 3 to 6 kHz recess vocals and the attack of guitars and pianos. The Oriolus Mellianus earns the same rating for noticeably less money.
Full Noble Audio Sultan review and specifications →
| Released | May 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.41 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.7 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 | -1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 3,280 Hz | +7.0 dB | 2.31 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.94 |
| Peak | 7,074 Hz | -3.3 dB | 1.84 |
| Peak | 798 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.55 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 69 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 9,606 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.32 |
| Peak | 120 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.39 |
| Peak | 4,645 Hz | -0.8 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Oriolus Mellianus: $2,400.00 HiFiGo eBay
Pros: Ten balanced armature drivers per side earn a preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement, with an overall balance that is neither warm nor bright. At 36 ohms and 109 dB sensitivity it runs easily from a phone or a small dongle, and the closed shell blocks outside noise like any sealed in-ear.
Cons: Its response wanders about 2.8 dB from target on average, so some bands stand out more than on the best in-ears. The Noble Audio Kadence rates clearly higher while costing less.
Full Oriolus Mellianus review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.79 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 36 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 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 | +8.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 53 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.32 |
| Peak | 5,072 Hz | +5.8 dB | 3.24 |
| Peak | 1,500 Hz | -7.2 dB | 1.62 |
| Peak | 1,299 Hz | +2.8 dB | 0.31 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,645 Hz | +2.0 dB | 2.59 |
| Peak | 3,608 Hz | -3.4 dB | 5.78 |
| Peak | 2,734 Hz | +1.7 dB | 3.83 |
| Peak | 4,344 Hz | +1.8 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons