Short answer: the Oriolus Isabellae. It ranks #217 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $600. The Fearless Audio S8Z ranks #247, rated 4.0/5, at $589, $11 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Oriolus Isabellae: A single 9.8mm dynamic driver earns a preference score of 75 from crinacle, and squig.link measurements show a 3.2 dB upper bass lift that gives a warm, punchy foundation without bloating the mids. Watch for: Across hobbyist measurements a 7 dB peak near 11.2 kHz adds sparkle that can tip into sibilance or splash on bright recordings.
Why pick the Fearless Audio S8Z: Eight balanced armatures earn a preference score of 74 in crinacle’s measurement, a solid result against the Harman target. The tradeoff: The Oriolus Isabellae and SoftEars RSV both rate higher at a similar price.
Buy the Oriolus Isabellae. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $11 you would save on the Fearless Audio S8Z does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Oriolus Isabellae | Fearless Audio S8Z | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $600.00 | $589.00 |
| Ranked | #217 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #247 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 74 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.14 dB standard deviation | 2.32 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 9.8mm dynamic | 8 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 30 ohms | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB | 113 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Oriolus Isabellae:
- Moritz Dragon vs Oriolus Isabellae
- EPZ 550 vs Oriolus Isabellae
- Oriolus Isabellae vs Hisenior Mega5EST 7th Anniversary Edition
- Fearless Audio S8Z vs Hisenior Mega5EST 7th Anniversary Edition
- Fearless Audio S8Z vs ISN Audio EBC80
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
Oriolus Isabellae: $600.00 Shenzhenaudio eBay
Pros: A single 9.8mm dynamic driver earns a preference score of 75 from crinacle, and squig.link measurements show a 3.2 dB upper bass lift that gives a warm, punchy foundation without bloating the mids. The upper mids sit right on target, so vocals come through clearly, and the tuning suits warm and V-shaped tastes. At 30 ohms and 113 dB sensitivity it runs well from a phone, and it rates higher than the DUNU Zen and Unique Melody MEXT.
Cons: Across hobbyist measurements a 7 dB peak near 11.2 kHz adds sparkle that can tip into sibilance or splash on bright recordings. The presence band sits 2.2 dB low with a dip near 6.1 kHz, softening some edge on vocals and snare.
Full Oriolus Isabellae review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.14 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 9.8mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 75 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 30 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.2 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 | +3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 164 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.57 |
| Peak | 811 Hz | +3.0 dB | 0.93 |
| Peak | 2,118 Hz | -3.7 dB | 1.06 |
| Peak | 4,046 Hz | +2.7 dB | 0.56 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,820 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.00 |
| Peak | 4,929 Hz | -1.9 dB | 5.54 |
| Peak | 6,128 Hz | +1.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,633 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.73 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Fearless Audio S8Z: $589.00 Linsoul eBay
Pros: Eight balanced armatures earn a preference score of 74 in crinacle’s measurement, a solid result against the Harman target. At 26 ohms and 113 dB/mW sensitivity it gets loud from a phone without a dedicated amp, and it rates higher than the DUNU Zen and Unique Melody MEXT, both of which cost more.
Cons: The Oriolus Isabellae and SoftEars RSV both rate higher at a similar price. An all balanced armature design with no dynamic driver may not satisfy listeners who want the most physical bass impact.
Full Fearless Audio S8Z review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2019 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.32 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 8 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 113 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.1 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 | +3.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -3.3 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 798 Hz | +3.1 dB | 1.05 |
| Peak | 2,781 Hz | +2.8 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 1,658 Hz | -2.0 dB | 1.90 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,915 Hz | -1.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,256 Hz | +1.9 dB | 5.97 |
| Peak | 4,544 Hz | -0.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 42 Hz | -0.2 dB | 2.50 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons