Short answer: the Sonic Memory SM2. It ranks #42 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $249; the Kinera Freya 2.0 ranks #71, rated 4.6/5, and costs $269, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Sonic Memory SM2 does well: Tuned close to the Harman target that most listeners prefer in blind tests (preference score 83). The catch: The rating reflects sound quality only; comfort, build and noise isolation are not part of the score.
The case for the Kinera Freya 2.0: Six hobbyist measurements on squig.link give it a preference score of 81.2 and a smooth 1.31 dB deviation. Watch for: The air band above 10 kHz falls about 3.4 dB short, with a 4.8 dB dip near 10.7 kHz, so recordings lose a little openness and shimmer.
Buy the Sonic Memory SM2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Kinera Freya 2.0 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Tuned close to the Harman target that most listeners prefer in blind tests (preference score 83).
e-earphone (JP) eBay
Six hobbyist measurements on squig.link give it a preference score of 81.2 and a smooth 1.31 dB deviation.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonic Memory SM2 | Kinera Freya 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $269.00 |
| Ranked | #42 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #71 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 81 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.24 dB standard deviation | 1.31 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.09 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 7mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | - | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 105 dB |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (3.6 g) per earbud |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Sonic Memory SM2 from lumerion, recode and therollo9; the Kinera Freya 2.0 from fahryst, hu-fi, soundcheck39, tedthepraimortis, tonedeafmonk and vortexreviews, all via squig.link.
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