Short answer: the TRN MT5. It ranks #171 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $14.99; the Moondrop Quarks ranks #183, rated 4.2/5, and costs $17.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Moondrop Quarks: A preference score of 76 from a very inexpensive wired in-ear is hard to beat, and it is rated above the KZ ZSN Pro X and the CCA CRA. Watch for: A 4 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can make female vocals and snare hits sound forward or slightly shouty at higher volumes.
Buy the TRN MT5. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Moondrop Quarks and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| TRN MT5 | Moondrop Quarks | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 | $17.99 |
| Ranked | #171 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #183 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic | 1 x 6mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB | 116 dB/Vrms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (4.9 g) per earbud | - |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for TRN MT5:
- Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro vs TRN MT5
- KZ EDXS vs TRN MT5
- TRN MT5 vs CCA Polaris
- KZ EDXS vs Moondrop Quarks
- Kinera Celest Wyvern Pro vs Moondrop Quarks
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Headphones In Full
TRN MT5: $14.99 Amazon eBay
Full TRN MT5 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.63 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 112 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.28 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (4.9 g) per earbud |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Moondrop Quarks: $17.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 76 from a very inexpensive wired in-ear is hard to beat, and it is rated above the KZ ZSN Pro X and the CCA CRA. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted about 2.2 dB over target and the low mids about 1.6 dB, giving a warm, full sound that fits warm and bass leaning tastes. At 16 ohms and 116 dB sensitivity it plays loud straight from a phone.
Cons: A 4 dB peak near 2.9 kHz can make female vocals and snare hits sound forward or slightly shouty at higher volumes. Air above 10 kHz is about 2.5 dB low and there is a 5.4 dB dip near 11.9 kHz, so the top end sounds less open and airy. Sub-bass under 60 Hz is about 1.8 dB below target, so the deepest notes lack a little rumble.
Full Moondrop Quarks review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 6mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 116 dB/Vrms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.6 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 170 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +2.9 dB | 0.24 |
| Peak | 767 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.26 |
| Peak | 2,855 Hz | -5.9 dB | 3.31 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,604 Hz | +0.9 dB | 3.27 |
| Peak | 6,302 Hz | -1.1 dB | 4.61 |
| Peak | 1,492 Hz | -0.2 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +0.1 dB | 1.86 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons