Short answer: the Symphonium Meteor, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1160 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.0/5, at $599; the FiiO FA7S ranks #1170, rated 1.9/5, and costs $947.19, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII ranks #1 at $999.
The case for the Symphonium Meteor: Bass is lifted about 2.3 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 8.5 dB low with a 12.7 dB dip near 5.0 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Why pick the FiiO FA7S: Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle. Watch for: Crinacle’s measurement yields a preference score of just 48 with a 3.7 dB spread around the target, a poor tonal result at a flagship price.
Buy the Symphonium Meteor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the FiiO FA7S 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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Bass is lifted about 2.3 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Headphones.com $599 eBay
Six balanced armature drivers per side at 18 ohms and 111 dB/mW make it very easy to drive from a phone or a small dongle.
Amazon $947.19 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
| Symphonium Meteor | FiiO FA7S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $947.19 |
| Ranked | #1160 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1170 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 4 x balanced armature | 6 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 9.7 ohms | 18 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 111 dB/Vrms | 111 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 21kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 49 (median of 17 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 48 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.54 dB standard deviation | 3.72 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.52 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.89 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.6 dB at 30 Hz) | - |
| Weight | - | 0 lbs (8.4 g) per earbud |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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