The Vortex Reference ranks #892 out of 1291 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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#892 Vortex Reference: $3,300.00 Bloom Audio $3,300.00 eBay
Pros: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 66 against the Harman target.
Cons: Treble about 2 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones. An uneven response, 2.5 dB standard deviation from target.
Is the Vortex Reference right for you?
Buy it if
- you are sensitive to bright or sharp treble (treble sits 2.0 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 24 points.
Skip it if
- you want the best value: the higher-rated EPZ G10 costs about $3,276 less.
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.45 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 DD + 2 Passive MEMS) |
| Drivers | 2 x dynamic drivers (including 8mm Al-Mg dome woofer) + 2 x passive MEMS tweeters |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 23 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.75 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 66.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 188 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.77 |
| Peak | 715 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.91 |
| Peak | 1,783 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.68 |
| Peak | 3,358 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.73 |
| Peak | 6,200 Hz | +3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Neutral 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 30.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.68 |
| Peak | 714 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.79 |
| Peak | 1,787 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.72 |
| Peak | 3,358 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.73 |
| Peak | 6,200 Hz | +3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 10.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -11.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 181 Hz | -6.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 714 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.83 |
| Peak | 3,102 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.23 |
| Peak | 3,742 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.13 |
| Peak | 4,951 Hz | -4.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,562 Hz | +2.0 dB | 4.21 |
Warm 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 74.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.0 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.81 |
| Peak | 718 Hz | +2.3 dB | 3.63 |
| Peak | 1,837 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 3,364 Hz | +5.2 dB | 3.69 |
| Peak | 5,003 Hz | -3.4 dB | 6.00 |
Bass 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 71.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 211 Hz | -4.4 dB | 0.82 |
| Peak | 710 Hz | +2.1 dB | 3.50 |
| Peak | 1,783 Hz | -1.3 dB | 2.69 |
| Peak | 3,358 Hz | +6.0 dB | 2.74 |
| Peak | 6,200 Hz | +3.0 dB | 6.00 |
Bright 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 86 out of 100, up from 19.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 179 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.65 |
| Peak | 711 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.69 |
| Peak | 1,827 Hz | -2.0 dB | 2.64 |
| Peak | 3,240 Hz | +4.0 dB | 4.40 |
| Peak | 3,832 Hz | +1.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +4.0 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 7,644 Hz | -1.3 dB | 1.25 |
V-shaped 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 3 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 81 out of 100, up from 63.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 225 Hz | -2.9 dB | 0.79 |
| Peak | 678 Hz | +1.8 dB | 3.94 |
| Peak | 1,820 Hz | -1.7 dB | 2.06 |
| Peak | 3,354 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.50 |
| Peak | 5,882 Hz | +4.5 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the Vortex Reference 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 3 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 3 measurements from the squig.link databases of bloomaudio, dchpgall and joycesreview. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.
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