Short answer: the Shuoer S12 Pro. It ranks #390 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $142.39; the TRI i3 MK3 ranks #528, rated 3.9/5, and costs $169, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Shuoer S12 Pro: A 14.8mm planar magnetic driver delivers a gentle bass lift, about 2 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz, with sub-bass nearly on target, for a preference score of 74. Watch for: Treble from 6 to 16 kHz runs 3 dB or more above target, with a 6 dB peak near 8.2 kHz, so cymbals and sibilance can sound bright at volume.
The case for the TRI i3 MK3: The median of 14 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.04 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: Presence sits about 5.3 dB low with an 8.3 dB dip near 6.9 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Shuoer S12 Pro. It is rated higher for sound quality than the TRI i3 MK3 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.
A 14.8mm planar magnetic driver delivers a gentle bass lift, about 2 dB above target from 60 to 200 Hz, with sub-bass nearly on target, for a preference score of 74.
Amazon $169.00 AliExpress $142.39 Lowest eBay
The median of 14 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 72 with a 2.04 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Shuoer S12 Pro | TRI i3 MK3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $142.39 | $169.00 |
| Ranked | #390 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #528 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 72 (median of 14 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.18 dB standard deviation | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.19 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.8mm planar magnetic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x balanced armature + 1 x 10mm planar |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 21 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
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 Shuoer S12 Pro from aftersound, atechreviews, audioamigo, cammyfi, cqtek, dl, flare, gadgetrytech, hbb, hobbytalk, hoods, ianfann, jaytiss, kazi, lestat, lown-fi, mmagtech, musicafe, practiphile, riz, soundcheck39, soundignity, suporsalad, theaudiostore, therollo9, timmyv, treblewellxtended and vortexreviews; the TRI i3 MK3 from aden, arn, atechreviews, audioamigo, boizoff, eplv, flare, iemocean, jaytiss, koi, sl0the, soundcheck39, timmyv and tonedeafmonk, all via squig.link.
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