5 Best Earbuds for Music Lovers in Singapore (2026)

1. Kagami by Zerest Audio — Best for Music Lovers on a Budget

Price: Under SGD $120 | Driver : Dual 10mm titanium composite dynamic driver + 1 Balanced Armature Available at: zerestaudio.com

If you've been resigned to choosing between spending $300+ on flagship earbuds or settling for muddy single-driver budget options, the Kagami is worth your attention. Built by Singapore-based audio brand Zerest Audio, it's one of the few earbuds at this price point to feature a true dual driver configuration — one driver dedicated to bass and mids, one handling the upper frequencies.

The result is cleaner separation than you'd expect at this price. Acoustic guitar strings have texture. Bass lines sit underneath the mix rather than drowning it. The IPX5 waterproof rating and USB-C fast charging make it practical for daily use, and Bluetooth 5.3 means a stable connection even on the MRT.

Best for: Indie, math rock, lo-fi, acoustic, and vocal-heavy genres. Any music where detail and clarity matter more than artificial bass boost.

What it does well: Dual driver separation, value for money, local SG brand with 12-month warranty Where it's not the strongest: No active noise cancellation

2. Sony WF-1000XM6 — Best Premium Pick

Price: SGD $479 | Driver: Single 8.4mm dynamic driver

Sony's flagship earbuds launched in Singapore in March 2026 and remain the benchmark for premium wireless audio. The newly developed 8.4mm driver uses a soft-edge surround for deeper bass and a rigid dome for clearer highs — a single driver, but a very well-engineered one. Pair that with LDAC support, DSEE Extreme upscaling, and 32-bit processing via the Integrated Processor V2, and you have earbuds that make the most of every source. Noise cancellation is best-in-class, improved by 25% over the XM5.

Best for: Commuters who want premium sound and ANC in one package Note: At SGD $479, you're partly paying for the ANC tech and ecosystem — purely on driver quality, the gap to well-tuned budget options narrows considerably.

3. Technics EAH-AZ100 — Best for Audiophiles

Price: SGD $469 (on sale from ~$399 at select retailers) | Driver: Single 10mm magnetic fluid driver

The Technics takes a different approach — instead of stacking drivers, it engineers one exceptional one. The proprietary 10mm magnetic fluid driver fills the space between the driver magnet and voice coil with an oil-type liquid containing magnetic particles, dramatically reducing mechanical friction and distortion. The result is a wide, natural soundstage that feels unusually open for an in-ear. Audiophile reviewers consistently call out its "reference-quality" top end and imaging. It won multiple awards in 2025 and remains a favourite for serious listeners.

Best for: Classical, jazz, acoustic, and high-resolution streaming. Listeners who want minimum distortion over punchy bass. Note: Comfort becomes an issue after extended wear for some users — worth demoing in-store if possible. Jaben at The Adelphi stocks them.

4. Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro — Best for Android / Samsung Users

Price: SGD $349 | Driver: Dual driver — 11mm dynamic woofer + 5.5mm planar tweeter

Samsung's 2026 flagship uses a genuine dual driver setup: a wider 11mm woofer (nearly 20% larger than the previous generation) handles bass and mids, while a 5.5mm planar tweeter takes care of the high frequencies. Each driver has its own dedicated amplifier. The result is controlled bass, clear separation, and a fuller soundstage than previous Galaxy Buds. For Samsung Galaxy users, the SSC codec unlocks 24-bit / 96kHz audio — a meaningful upgrade for lossless streaming.

Best for: Android/Samsung users, spatial audio, pop and electronic music Note: The best audio features require a Galaxy device to unlock fully.

5. KZ ZAR — Best Budget Audiophile IEM

Price: ~SGD $80–100 | Driver: Hybrid 1DD + 7BA (8 drivers per ear, 16 total)

KZ is a well-established name in the budget IEM community, and the ZAR is their most ambitious driver configuration: one dynamic driver for bass paired with seven balanced armature drivers covering the midrange and treble. That's 16 drivers total across both ears. The dynamic driver handles low-end weight in a way that pure balanced armature setups can struggle with, while the BA drivers deliver layered detail and resolution that surprises at this price.

The tuning is U-shaped — boosted bass and treble, slightly scooped mids — which suits EDM, pop, and electronic music well, though it's less ideal for flat critical listening. These are wired only, but for pure at-home listening sessions, they outperform most wireless options at twice the price.

Best for: Home critical listening sessions, audiophiles who prioritise driver technology over convenience Note: Wired only. Not suited for commuting or sport.

Quick Comparison

The Honest Answer: Do You Need to Spend $300+?

Not necessarily. The law of diminishing returns hits audio hard. The jump from a $20 generic single-driver earbud to a well-tuned dual driver earbud at $50–60 is dramatic and immediately audible. The jump from $150 to $400 is real, but narrower than the marketing suggests.

For most music lovers who aren't mixing tracks professionally, a dual driver earbud with good tuning — like the Kagami — handles 90% of what a $350 flagship does, at a fraction of the price. The remaining 10% is premium noise cancellation, ecosystem integration, and the name on the case.

Spend where it matters for you. But don't assume price equals sound quality.

Where to Buy in Singapore

• Kagami by Zerest Audio: www.zerestaudio.com — ships locally, 12-month warranty
• Sony WF-1000XM6: Sony official stores, Lazada, Shopee, Challenger, Harvey Norman
• Technics EAH-AZ100: Jaben (The Adelphi), FairPrice, Treoo.com, authorised Technics dealers
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro: Samsung Online Store, Lazada, Shopee, Best Denki, Courts
• KZ ZAR: Lazada, Shopee, or direct from KZ's official store