Short answer: the Noble Audio Tux 5, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1140 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.1/5, at $1,300. The FiiO FA7S ranks #1170, rated 1.9/5, at $947.19, $352.81 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII ranks #1 at $999.
Why pick the Noble Audio Tux 5: It uses 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature. The tradeoff: A Harman score of 51 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
Why pick the FiiO FA7S: Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle. The catch: Crinacle’s measurement yields a preference score of just 48 with a 3.7 dB spread around the target, a poor tonal result at a flagship price.
Buy the Noble Audio Tux 5. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $352.81 saving on the FiiO FA7S is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
It uses 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature.
Noble Audio $1,300.00 eBay
Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle.
Amazon $947.19 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
| Noble Audio Tux 5 | FiiO FA7S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,300.00 | $947.19 |
| Ranked | #1140 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1170 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature | 6 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 10.7 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 51 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.47 dB standard deviation | 3.72 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.89 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Back | - | Closed |
| Sensitivity | - | 111 dB/mW |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (8.4 g) per earbud |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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