Short answer: the Softears Karma. It ranks #206 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.2/5, at $2,599; the Unique Melody MEST Fortune ranks #315, rated 3.9/5, and costs $2,699, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Softears Karma is the better-sounding option.
Buy the Softears Karma. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Unique Melody MEST Fortune and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Softears Karma | Unique Melody MEST Fortune | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,599.00 | $2,699.00 |
| Ranked | #206 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #315 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 72 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.80 dB standard deviation | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 bone conduction + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 MEMS) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 3 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x bone conduction + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x MEMS | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 3 x bone conduction |
| Impedance | 7 ohms | 10 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/V | 107 dB |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Softears Karma:
- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs Softears Karma
- Softears Karma vs qdc Gemini
- Unique Melody MEST Fortune vs Noble Audio Sultan
- qdc Gemini vs Unique Melody MEST Fortune
- Kinera Loki Divine Mark vs Unique Melody MEST Fortune
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
Softears Karma: $2,599.00 HiFiGo eBay
Full Softears Karma review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2026 (4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.80 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 bone conduction + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 MEMS) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x bone conduction + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x MEMS |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Unique Melody MEST Fortune: $2,699.00 HiFiGo eBay
Full Unique Melody MEST Fortune review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 3 bone conduction) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 3 x bone conduction |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 35kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 72 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 10 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 107 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.31 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons