The Padsmith IEM ranks #612 out of 1253 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Prices 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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#612 Padsmith IEM: $119 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 71 against the Harman target.
Cons: Treble about 3 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones. An uneven response, 2.2 dB standard deviation from target. Discontinued.
Is the Padsmith IEM right for you?
Buy it if
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 2.9 dB below target).
- you want sub-bass rumble that reaches down to 20 Hz.
- you are happy to use EQ: our preset lifts its Harman match by about 14 points.
Skip it if
- you want to buy it new: it is discontinued.
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.23 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic + 2 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.39 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 85 out of 100, up from 71.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 150 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.71 |
| Peak | 3,036 Hz | +1.9 dB | 5.00 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +4.3 dB | 0.95 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -4.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 40.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -7.3 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.8 dB | 2.68 |
| Peak | 136 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.63 |
| Peak | 690 Hz | +1.0 dB | 2.31 |
| Peak | 1,586 Hz | -1.3 dB | 3.56 |
| Peak | 3,036 Hz | +1.9 dB | 4.99 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +4.3 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 7,563 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -5.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 21.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.9 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.5 dB | 3.42 |
| Peak | 162 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.67 |
| Peak | 688 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.84 |
| Peak | 1,563 Hz | -1.4 dB | 4.12 |
| Peak | 2,504 Hz | +1.1 dB | 5.72 |
| Peak | 3,158 Hz | +5.2 dB | 1.41 |
| Peak | 4,207 Hz | -1.4 dB | 4.97 |
| Peak | 5,853 Hz | +3.9 dB | 6.00 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -3.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 79.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +2.3 dB | 2.19 |
| Peak | 71 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 144 Hz | -2.8 dB | 0.77 |
| Peak | 710 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.11 |
| Peak | 1,639 Hz | -1.4 dB | 3.94 |
| Peak | 3,165 Hz | +2.3 dB | 3.95 |
| Peak | 5,762 Hz | +4.4 dB | 3.63 |
| Peak | 7,714 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 67.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.7 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 25 Hz | +1.6 dB | 1.59 |
| Peak | 81 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.26 |
| Peak | 174 Hz | -2.9 dB | 0.80 |
| Peak | 678 Hz | +0.9 dB | 2.10 |
| Peak | 1,585 Hz | -1.3 dB | 3.55 |
| Peak | 3,036 Hz | +1.9 dB | 4.99 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +4.3 dB | 0.95 |
| Peak | 7,564 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -6.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 82 out of 100, up from 28.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -7.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 139 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.63 |
| Peak | 4,553 Hz | +5.9 dB | 1.10 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -6.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 76 out of 100, up from 63.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,419 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Padsmith IEM measures across the audible range, against the Harman in-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 5 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: median of 5 measurements from the squig.link databases of audioamigo, awsmdanny, gadgetrytech, jaytiss and koi. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.