Short answer: the Softears RSV MKII. It ranks #975 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $699. The Fatfreq Reference Pro SE ranks #987, rated 3.0/5, at $599, $100 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
What the Softears RSV MKII does well: Five balanced armature drivers at 7 ohms and 122 dB/Vrms make it very easy to drive from a phone or dongle. The tradeoff: 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 Fatfreq Reference Pro SE: It is a wired, closed-back in-ear that blocks outside noise passively. The tradeoff: In crinacle’s measurement it scores only 62.0 for preference, with a 3.18 dB deviation from target, so the tuning departs noticeably from what most listeners prefer.
Buy the Softears RSV MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $100 with the Fatfreq Reference Pro SE does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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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
It is a wired, closed-back in-ear that blocks outside noise passively.
FATfreq $599.00 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 | Fatfreq Reference Pro SE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $599.00 |
| Ranked | #975 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #987 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) | 62 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.46 dB standard deviation | 3.18 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.31 (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 | - |
| Drivers | 5 x balanced armature | - |
| Impedance | 7 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/Vrms | - |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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