Wired IEMs
CrinEar Daybreak
84Outstanding
$170
Full review dataCrinEar Daybreak vs Sennheiser IE 80S BT: 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
Sennheiser IE 80S BT
40Weak
$190
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 7 measures.
- CrinEar Daybreak
- Sennheiser IE 80S BT
HearWiki score
84
40
Sound
8.8
7.3
Noise cancelling
-
0.0
Battery
-
3.5
Calls
-
7.7
Value
9.2
-
Price (USD)
$170
$190
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 7 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 7 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Daybreak20257 yr newer
- IE 80S BT2018
Specifications
DaybreakIE 80S BT
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $190
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 40
- Released
- 2025
- 2018
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- 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
- -
- 10 Hz - 20 kHz
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- -
- Bluetooth
- -
- 5.0
- Codecs
- -
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, LHDC
- Multipoint pairing
- -
- No
- Wireless range
- -
- 10 m
- Battery life
- -
- 6 h
- Battery incl. case
- -
- 340 h
- Full charge time
- -
- 90 min
- Wireless charging
- -
- No
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- ANC type
- -
- none
- Transparency mode
- -
- No
- Companion app
- -
- No
- Custom EQ
- -
- No
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- Google Assistant, Siri
- Weight
- -
- 30 g
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- -
- Yes
- Microphones
- -
- 2
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
Sennheiser IE 80S BT
The Sennheiser IE 80S BT is a wireless neckband-style in-ear that builds on the wired IE 80S heritage, offering a full-bodied, clear sound with adjustable bass. It supports a wide range of high-quality Bluetooth codecs, including aptX HD and aptX Low Latency, and weighs just 30 grams for comfortable all-day wear. While its six-hour battery life is modest and it lacks features like ANC or an app, it's aimed at audiophiles who value sound quality over extra conveniences.
- Pro:Excellent codec support including aptX HD and LHDC
- Pro:Full-bodied, clear sound with adjustable bass
- Pro:Lightweight 30g neckband design
- Con:Short 6-hour battery life on a single charge
- Con:No active noise cancellation or transparency mode
- Con:No app support or custom EQ
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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