Short answer: the SoftEars RS10. It ranks #16 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.8/5, at $2,099.99; the Moondrop Psyche ranks #56, rated 4.6/5, and costs $2,399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the SoftEars RS10 does well: A crinacle preference score of 84, and across seven hobbyist measurements on squig.link the response stays within 0.1 dB of target from 200 Hz to 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: In squig.link measurements sub-bass sits about 3.2 dB below target from 20 to 60 Hz, so the deepest rumble in electronic and film scores is lighter than a dynamic driver delivers.
Buy the SoftEars RS10. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Moondrop Psyche 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.
Specifications Side By Side
| SoftEars RS10 | Moondrop Psyche | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,099.99 | $2,399.00 |
| Ranked | #16 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #56 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.49 dB standard deviation | 1.26 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 planar) |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x planar |
| Impedance | 25 ohms | 17.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 7Hz - 46kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 115 dB SPL/V |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How SoftEars RS10 compares with other leading options:
- Simgot EW100P vs SoftEars RS10
- SoftEars RS10 vs Moondrop Solis 2
- Moondrop Psyche vs Shuoer Cadenza 12
- Moondrop Solis 2 vs Moondrop Psyche
- CCA Rhapsody vs Tin HiFi C2
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 RS10: $2,099.99 HiFiGo eBay
Pros: A crinacle preference score of 84, and across seven hobbyist measurements on squig.link the response stays within 0.1 dB of target from 200 Hz to 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Ten balanced armature drivers per side deliver a smooth 1.49 dB standard deviation from target. It rates well above the Shuoer Cadenza 12, a rival at a similar price.
Cons: In squig.link measurements sub-bass sits about 3.2 dB below target from 20 to 60 Hz, so the deepest rumble in electronic and film scores is lighter than a dynamic driver delivers. A 5 dB peak near 7.9 kHz next to a 6.2 dB dip near 10.6 kHz can make some cymbals and sibilants stand out while the air above them fades.
Full SoftEars RS10 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.49 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 10 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 84 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 25 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.3 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 | +0.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,243 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.06 |
| Peak | 3,129 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 5,594 Hz | +4.0 dB | 3.62 |
| Peak | 828 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 137 Hz | -0.6 dB | 1.76 |
| Peak | 8,268 Hz | +1.1 dB | 5.96 |
| Peak | 3,787 Hz | -0.3 dB | 5.52 |
| Peak | 481 Hz | +0.2 dB | 2.43 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Moondrop Psyche: $2,399.00 Amazon eBay
Full Moondrop Psyche review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.26 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 planar) |
| Drivers | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x planar |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 46kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 17.5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons