Wired IEMs
Bose QuietComfort 20
Not yet scored
$300
Full review dataBose QuietComfort 20 vs CrinEar Reference: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the Bose QuietComfort 20 vs CrinEar Reference, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Wired IEMs
CrinEar Reference
86Outstanding
$350
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
CrinEar Reference leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- Bose QuietComfort 20
- CrinEar Reference
HearWiki score
-
86
Sound
-
9.1
Value
-
8.9
Price (USD)
$300
$350
Specifications
QuietComfort 20Reference
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $300
- $350
- HearWiki score
- Not scored
- 86
- Released
- 2013
- 2026
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Sold new
- Driver
- dynamic
- 2DD + 3BA hybrid
- Driver type
- dynamic
- hybrid
- Driver configuration
- -
- 2DD + 3BA
- Driver size
- -
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 5
- Frequency response
- 20 Hz - 20 kHz
- -
- Impedance
- 4 Ω
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- -
- 104 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- Yes
- -
- Transparency mode
- Yes
- -
- Weight
- 42.5 g
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- -
- Connector
- -
- 4.4 mm balanced
- Microphones
- 4
- -
- Microphone type
- MEMS
- -
What reviewers said
Bose QuietComfort 20
The Bose QuietComfort 20 is a wired in-ear headphone with active noise cancellation, designed to reduce ambient sound for focused listening. It features a lightweight build, a transparency mode for hearing your surroundings, and a detachable cable for convenience. With a dynamic driver and a wide frequency response, it aims to deliver balanced audio in a portable form.
- Pro:Effective active noise cancellation for a wired in-ear design
- Pro:Transparency mode allows ambient sound when needed
- Pro:Lightweight at 42.5g for comfortable extended wear
- Con:Wired-only connectivity may limit modern device compatibility
- Con:4-ohm impedance could demand more from some sources
- Con:No USB-C support for charging or digital audio
CrinEar Reference
The CrinEar Reference is a wired in-ear monitor with a hybrid 2DD + 3BA driver setup, offering a balanced and detailed sound signature. It features a detachable 4.4mm balanced cable and relies on a tight seal for passive isolation, making it a strong choice for critical listening at its price point.
- Pro:Hybrid driver configuration delivers rich, layered sound
- Pro:Detachable 4.4mm balanced cable for flexible connectivity
- Pro:Good passive isolation from proper eartip seal
- Con:No active noise cancellation, so external noise isn't fully blocked
- Con:Requires a balanced source to fully utilize the 4.4mm connector
- Con:Fit may be finicky for some users to achieve optimal seal
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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