The QoA Matador ranks #432 out of 1253 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: QoA
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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#432 QoA Matador: $235 eBay
Pros: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 74 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, 1.9 dB standard deviation from target.
Is the QoA Matador right for you?
Buy it if
- your taste runs warm: it scores 81 for that sound.
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 3.2 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 15 points.
Skip it if
- you want the best value: the higher-rated EPZ G10 costs about $211 less.
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.94 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic, 2 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.0 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 74.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 542 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.85 |
| Peak | 1,325 Hz | -2.7 dB | 3.94 |
| Peak | 2,554 Hz | +2.6 dB | 3.51 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.2 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 7,492 Hz | -3.1 dB | 6.00 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -5.0 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 39.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -7.9 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | -2.1 dB | 2.44 |
| Peak | 542 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.86 |
| Peak | 1,325 Hz | -2.7 dB | 3.95 |
| Peak | 2,554 Hz | +2.6 dB | 3.51 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.2 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 7,492 Hz | -3.1 dB | 6.00 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.6 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 22.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -10.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 24 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.96 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -2.1 dB | 1.34 |
| Peak | 1,325 Hz | -2.9 dB | 2.68 |
| Peak | 2,589 Hz | +3.8 dB | 4.21 |
| Peak | 5,016 Hz | +4.8 dB | 0.54 |
| Peak | 7,420 Hz | -3.2 dB | 4.66 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 94 out of 100, up from 81.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.69 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | +1.0 dB | 1.03 |
| Peak | 537 Hz | +1.6 dB | 1.29 |
| Peak | 1,377 Hz | -2.4 dB | 3.76 |
| Peak | 2,673 Hz | +3.1 dB | 3.24 |
| Peak | 5,331 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.70 |
| Peak | 7,559 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -5.2 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 72.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.39 |
| Peak | 541 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.82 |
| Peak | 1,324 Hz | -2.7 dB | 3.94 |
| Peak | 2,554 Hz | +2.6 dB | 3.51 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.2 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 7,492 Hz | -3.1 dB | 6.00 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 85 out of 100, up from 28.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -8.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.53 |
| Peak | 540 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.02 |
| Peak | 1,334 Hz | -3.0 dB | 3.52 |
| Peak | 1,656 Hz | -1.2 dB | 5.11 |
| Peak | 2,718 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.9 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 6,871 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -5.8 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 4 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 82 out of 100, up from 66.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.1 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | -1.5 dB | 2.91 |
| Peak | 84 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.01 |
| Peak | 373 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.48 |
| Peak | 1,142 Hz | -1.2 dB | 1.38 |
| Peak | 1,301 Hz | -3.4 dB | 3.47 |
| Peak | 2,764 Hz | +2.4 dB | 2.18 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.8 dB | 0.58 |
| Peak | 6,947 Hz | -3.4 dB | 5.62 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the QoA Matador 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 4 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 4 measurements from the squig.link databases of aftersound, bassaudio, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.