Short answer: the Vision Ears EXT MK II. It ranks #500 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $3,350. The AME Gaia ranks #620, rated 3.8/5, at $3,200, $150 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
What the Vision Ears EXT MK II does well: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 73 against the Harman target. The catch: Treble about 2 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Why pick the AME Gaia: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target. The tradeoff: An uneven response, 2.1 dB standard deviation from target.
Buy the Vision Ears EXT MK II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $150 saving on the AME Gaia is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 73 against the Harman target.
Vision Ears $3,350 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target.
AME official store $3,200 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
| Vision Ears EXT MK II | AME Gaia | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,350 | $3,200 |
| Ranked | #500 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #620 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 71 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.04 dB standard deviation | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.21 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired (3.5mm / 4.4mm) |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 electrostatic) | Tribrid |
| Drivers | 1 x 9.2mm dynamic + 1 x 6mm dynamic + 4 x electrostatic | 1 Dynamic, 4 Balanced Armature, 4 Electrostatic |
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 Vision Ears EXT MK II from faxepremium, kazi, silicagel and tonedeafmonk; the AME Gaia from dchpgall, eliseaudio and jaytiss, all via squig.link.
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How Vision Ears EXT MK II compares with other leading options: