The Shanling Sono ranks #659 out of 1061 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: Shanling
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 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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#659 Shanling Sono Discontinued eBay
Pros: A hybrid with two dynamic drivers and a balanced armature. Measurements show full sub-bass to 20 Hz (score 67 across five measurements).
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Treble sits about 2.2 dB above target, so it can sound bright. Bass sits about 3.0 dB above target, a bass heavy balance. A 2.53 dB spread from the target shows peaks and dips that better tuned sets avoid.
Is the Shanling Sono right for you?
Buy it if
- you like extra bass (about +3 dB below 150 Hz versus the 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 20 points.
Skip it if
- you are treble-sensitive (treble sits about 2.2 dB above target).
- you want to buy it new: it is discontinued.
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.53 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 2 x dynamic + 1 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 67 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.30 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.7 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: 87 out of 100, up from 67.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.6 dB | 1.19 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -6.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 928 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.55 |
| Peak | 3,041 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.58 |
| Peak | 4,425 Hz | -4.3 dB | 3.41 |
| Peak | 6,060 Hz | +3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -2.8 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 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 89 out of 100, up from 36.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -10.3 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.54 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -6.5 dB | 0.63 |
| Peak | 337 Hz | -0.8 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 921 Hz | +1.3 dB | 1.51 |
| Peak | 3,045 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.59 |
| Peak | 4,429 Hz | -4.3 dB | 3.44 |
| Peak | 6,060 Hz | +3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -1.8 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 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 18.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -12.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 182 Hz | -8.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,201 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 4,748 Hz | -6.6 dB | 5.21 |
| Peak | 6,065 Hz | +2.4 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.59 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -1.0 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 Warm match with this EQ: 88 out of 100, up from 68.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.7 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 183 Hz | -6.4 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 340 Hz | -0.9 dB | 2.87 |
| Peak | 878 Hz | +1.6 dB | 2.15 |
| Peak | 2,857 Hz | -1.6 dB | 4.52 |
| Peak | 4,419 Hz | -5.6 dB | 1.69 |
| Peak | 5,981 Hz | +3.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -4.5 dB | 5.94 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -3.7 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: 89 out of 100, up from 64.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.8 dB | 1.12 |
| Peak | 189 Hz | -6.6 dB | 0.72 |
| Peak | 930 Hz | +1.2 dB | 1.57 |
| Peak | 3,039 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.58 |
| Peak | 4,423 Hz | -4.3 dB | 3.40 |
| Peak | 6,060 Hz | +3.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 8,000 Hz | -3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -5.6 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 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 87 out of 100, up from 28.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -10.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 179 Hz | -6.6 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 5,945 Hz | +5.5 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 5 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 88 out of 100, up from 69.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 23 Hz | +1.7 dB | 1.23 |
| Peak | 183 Hz | -5.3 dB | 0.71 |
| Peak | 5,886 Hz | +6.0 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Shanling Sono 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 atechreviews, bedrock, boizoff, harpo and vsg. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.