Wired IEMs
CrinEar Daybreak
84Outstanding
$170
Full review dataCrinEar Daybreak vs CRINEAR Project Meta: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the CrinEar Daybreak comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: CrinEar Daybreak - Outstanding overall at around $170.
Wired IEMs
CRINEAR Project Meta
77Great
$250
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
CrinEar Daybreak leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- CrinEar Daybreak
- CRINEAR Project Meta
HearWiki score
84
77
Sound
8.8
8.2
Value
9.2
-
Price (USD)
$170
$250
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
Both shipped in 2025. These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.
- Daybreak2025
- Project Meta2025
Specifications
DaybreakProject Meta
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $250
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 77
- Released
- 2025
- 2025
- Availability
- Sold new
- Sold new
- Driver
- 1DD + 2BA tribrid
- 1DD + 2BA hybrid
- Driver type
- tribrid
- hybrid
- Driver configuration
- 1DD + 2BA
- 1DD + 2BA
- Drivers per side
- 3
- 3
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 19 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- -
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
What reviewers said
CrinEar Daybreak
The CrinEar Daybreak is a wired tribrid IEM that delivers a well-balanced, reference-style sound with a focus on accurate reproduction and natural mids. It performs admirably across various genres, though its stock cable and occasionally shouty upper mids may not suit everyone.
- Pro:Balanced, neutral-leaning tuning
- Pro:Natural and lifelike midrange
- Pro:Strong bass texture with sub-bass emphasis
- Con:Stock cable feels cheap
- Con:Can sound shouty on certain tracks
- Con:Not the most exciting or dynamic presentation
CRINEAR Project Meta
The CRINEAR Project Meta is a wired hybrid IEM featuring a 1DD + 2BA driver setup and a refined, tilted diffuse-field tuning with a tasteful bass boost. It offers excellent comfort, a compact aluminum shell, and solid accessories, making it a strong midrange-focused choice for its price. However, its limited availability may make it harder to find at retail.
- Pro:Refined midrange tuning with a tasteful bass boost
- Pro:Compact and durable aluminum shell
- Pro:Excellent comfort for extended listening
- Con:Limited availability, no longer offered at retail
- Con:May be outperformed by newer options in the same price range
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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