Short answer: the Oriolus Mellianus. It ranks #694 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $2,400; the Flipears Arion ranks #843, rated 3.5/5, and costs $2,499, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for 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 catch: Its response wanders about 2.8 dB from target on average, so some bands stand out more than on the best in-ears.
The case for the Flipears Arion: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target. Watch for: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Buy the Oriolus Mellianus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Flipears Arion and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
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.
HiFiGo $2,400.00 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 67 against the Harman target.
Bloom Audio $2,499 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
| Oriolus Mellianus | Flipears Arion | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,400.00 | $2,499 |
| Ranked | #694 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #843 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 67 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.79 dB standard deviation | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.71 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired (3.5mm / 4.4mm) |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature | 1 Dynamic, 4 Balanced Armature, 2 Electrostatic |
| Impedance | 36 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 109 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.7 dB at 30 Hz) |
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