Wired IEMs
CrinEar Daybreak
84Outstanding
$170
Full review dataCrinEar Daybreak vs Moondrop Aria: 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
Moondrop Aria
68Good
$120
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
CrinEar Daybreak leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- CrinEar Daybreak
- Moondrop Aria
HearWiki score
84
68
Sound
8.8
7.3
Value
9.2
6.4
Price (USD)
$170
$120
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
The CrinEar Daybreak is 4 years newer, but it is 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. For 4 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Daybreak20254 yr newer
- Aria2021
Specifications
DaybreakAria
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $120
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 68
- Released
- 2025
- 2021
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 1DD + 2BA tribrid
- 10 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- tribrid
- dynamic
- Driver configuration
- 1DD + 2BA
- -
- Driver size
- -
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 3
- 1
- Frequency response
- -
- 5 Hz - 36 kHz
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 32 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- 122 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- Companion app
- -
- No
- Custom EQ
- -
- No
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- none
- Weight
- -
- 12 g
- USB-C
- -
- 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
Moondrop Aria
The Moondrop Aria is a wired dynamic in-ear monitor delivering a balanced, slightly warm sound signature with a touch of extra punch. It's easy to drive from phones, well-built, and offers a removable 2-pin cable, though its passive isolation is only average and it lacks any onboard controls.
- Pro:Balanced, warm tuning with good detail
- Pro:Easy to drive thanks to high sensitivity
- Pro:Solid build quality
- Con:Weak passive isolation
- Con:No playback controls
- Con:Cable prone to tangling and noise
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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