Short answer: the Softears Studio 2, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1233 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 1.2/5, at $152. The HIFIMAN RE800 ranks #1282, rated 1.0/5, at $99, $53 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the Truthear Nova ranks #2 at $169.99.
The case for the Softears Studio 2: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Presence sits about 12.6 dB low with a 15.6 dB dip near 5.3 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
What the HIFIMAN RE800 does well: A wired in-ear with a single 9.2mm dynamic driver, 60 ohm impedance and a rated 5Hz to 20kHz frequency response. Watch for: A tonal tilt of +2.30 makes it sound bright and thin.
Buy the Softears Studio 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $53 you would save on the HIFIMAN RE800 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
Amazon $152.00 eBay
A wired in-ear with a single 9.2mm dynamic driver, 60 ohm impedance and a rated 5Hz to 20kHz frequency response.
HIFIMAN $99.00 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 Studio 2 | HIFIMAN RE800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $152.00 | $99.00 |
| Ranked | #1233 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1282 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 2 x balanced armature | 1 x 9.2mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 86 ohms | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 127 dB/Vrms | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 40kHz | 5Hz - 20kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 40 (median of 11 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 24 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.68 dB standard deviation | 5.44 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.78 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +2.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 42 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (14.5 g) |
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