Short answer: the Sony MDR-EX800ST, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1149 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.1/5, at $253.87; the Shure SE425 ranks #1171, rated 1.9/5, and costs $299, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones, and the Truthear Nova, ranked #2 at $169.99, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Why pick the Sony MDR-EX800ST: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 7.9 dB low with an 11.8 dB dip near 3.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The case for the Shure SE425: Two balanced armature drivers with a 22 ohm impedance and 109 dB/mW sensitivity, so it plays loud from a phone without an amplifier. Watch for: A preference score of 48 in crinacle’s measurement places its tuning far from what most listeners prefer, so expect a clearly colored sound.
Buy the Sony MDR-EX800ST. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Shure SE425 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
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 $253.87 eBay
Two balanced armature drivers with a 22 ohm impedance and 109 dB/mW sensitivity, so it plays loud from a phone without an amplifier.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony MDR-EX800ST | Shure SE425 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $253.87 | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #1149 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1171 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 16mm dynamic | 2 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 22 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB/mW | 109 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 28kHz | 20Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (7 g) | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.07 dB standard deviation | 4.17 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.37 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.59 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-8.5 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Back | - | Closed |
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