Short answer: the Shuoer S12. It ranks #62 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $129; the Kefine Quatio ranks #99, rated 4.4/5, at $129. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the Shuoer S12: A planar magnetic driver is unusual in an in-ear and gives a Harman score of 80 with a smooth 1.62 dB deviation. The tradeoff: A 4.2 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilants slightly sharp, and treble from 6 to 10 kHz runs about 1.6 dB hot.
Why pick the Kefine Quatio: In the median of 13 squig.link measurements it scores 78.8 with a smooth 1.38 dB spread and no treble peak above 1.5 dB, so cymbals and sibilance never turn harsh. Watch for: A 4 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and presence about 2.5 dB under target push vocals slightly back and soften attack.
Buy the Shuoer S12. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Kefine Quatio at the same price, 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| Shuoer S12 | Kefine Quatio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $129.00 | $129.00 |
| Ranked | #62 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #99 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 79 (median of 13 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation | 1.38 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.8mm planar magnetic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 8mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW | 107 dB |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Shuoer S12:
- Final Audio A4000 vs Shuoer S12
- Shuoer S12 vs Simgot EM6L
- Kiwi Ears Ember vs Shuoer S12
- Kefine Quatio vs Queen of Audio Ryusei
- Kefine Quatio vs ArpegEar Hane
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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Shuoer S12: $129.00 Amazon AliExpress eBay
Pros: A planar magnetic driver is unusual in an in-ear and gives a Harman score of 80 with a smooth 1.62 dB deviation. Bass is lifted about 1.9 dB, adding warmth and punch, while the upper mids and treble stay close to target. The 16 ohm impedance is easy to drive from a phone, and it matches the Final Audio A4000 on rating.
Cons: A 4.2 dB peak near 8.2 kHz can make cymbals and sibilants slightly sharp, and treble from 6 to 10 kHz runs about 1.6 dB hot. Presence from 3 to 6 kHz sits 2.4 dB under target with a 3.3 dB dip near 3.75 kHz, so vocals can lose some forwardness. The 102 dB per mW sensitivity asks for a bit more volume than efficient rivals.
Full Shuoer S12 review and specifications →
| Released | 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.62 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 14.8mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 80 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.5 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 | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 776 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.76 |
| Peak | 162 Hz | -2.3 dB | 0.89 |
| Peak | 2,097 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.90 |
| Peak | 3,690 Hz | +3.8 dB | 1.44 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,122 Hz | +1.6 dB | 5.71 |
| Peak | 7,230 Hz | -0.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | -0.3 dB | 2.35 |
| Peak | 65 Hz | +0.2 dB | 2.13 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Kefine Quatio: $129.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: In the median of 13 squig.link measurements it scores 78.8 with a smooth 1.38 dB spread and no treble peak above 1.5 dB, so cymbals and sibilance never turn harsh. Bass rises about 1.8 dB above target with full extension to 20 Hz, giving a warm, full low end that suits bass lovers. Its 32 ohm, 107 dB load is easy to drive from a phone.
Cons: A 4 dB dip near 3.6 kHz and presence about 2.5 dB under target push vocals slightly back and soften attack. The air band runs 1.3 dB low, so it sounds less airy and spacious than brighter rivals, and the equally rated 7Hz Salnotes Dioko costs less.
Full Kefine Quatio review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.38 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 1 x 8mm dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 79 (median of 13 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.50 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons