Short answer: the Softears RSV MKII. It ranks #975 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $699; the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti ranks #1014, rated 2.9/5, and costs $750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Softears RSV MKII: Five balanced armature drivers at 7 ohms and 122 dB/Vrms make it very easy to drive from a phone or dongle. Watch for: The bass lift spills into the low mids at 1.4 dB over target while presence sits 3.0 dB down with a 4.7 dB dip near 6.1 kHz, so the sound leans thick and vocals lose some clarity, for a preference score of 63.2 across 13 squig.link measurements.
The case for the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti: The dual phase push-pull design uses two dynamic drivers (9.8mm and 8.8mm) per side, and the manufacturer quotes a very wide 5 Hz to 45 kHz range. The catch: A preference score of 60 and a 2.97 dB deviation from the target mean the tonal balance is noticeably off for most listeners.
Buy the Softears RSV MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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Five balanced armature drivers at 7 ohms and 122 dB/Vrms make it very easy to drive from a phone or dongle.
Amazon $699.00 eBay
The dual phase push-pull design uses two dynamic drivers (9.8mm and 8.8mm) per side, and the manufacturer quotes a very wide 5 Hz to 45 kHz range.
Amazon $750.00 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
| Softears RSV MKII | Audio-Technica ATH-CK2000Ti | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $750.00 |
| Ranked | #975 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1014 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 63 (median of 13 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 60 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.46 dB standard deviation | 2.97 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.77 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.1 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 5 x balanced armature | 2 x dynamic (9.8mm + 8.8mm, dual phase push-pull) |
| Impedance | 7 ohms | 10 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/Vrms | 100 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 45kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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