Wired IEMs
CrinEar Daybreak
84Outstanding
$170
Full review dataCrinEar Daybreak vs Shanling ME500: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the CrinEar Daybreak vs Shanling ME500, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Wired IEMs
Shanling ME500
Not yet scored
$270
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
- Shanling ME500
HearWiki score
84
-
Sound
8.8
-
Value
9.2
-
Price (USD)
$170
$270
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 6 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 6 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Daybreak20256 yr newer
- ME5002019
Specifications
DaybreakME500
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $270
- HearWiki score
- 84
- Not scored
- Released
- 2025
- 2019
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 1DD + 2BA tribrid
- 3-driver hybrid
- Driver type
- tribrid
- hybrid
- Driver configuration
- 1DD + 2BA
- -
- Driver size
- -
- 10 mm
- Drivers per side
- 3
- 3
- Frequency response
- -
- 20 Hz - 40 kHz
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 18 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- 111 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- ANC type
- -
- none
- Transparency mode
- -
- No
- Companion app
- -
- No
- Custom EQ
- -
- No
- Wear detection
- -
- No
- Controls
- -
- none
- Water resistance
- -
- none
- Detachable cable
- -
- Yes
- USB-C
- -
- No
- Connector
- -
- MMCX
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
Shanling ME500
The Shanling ME500 is a wired universal IEM with a hybrid triple-driver setup, delivering a balanced and warm sound. Its solid brass construction and MMCX connectors provide durability and flexibility for cable swapping, making it a solid choice for audiophiles on a budget.
- Pro:Balanced, warm sound signature
- Pro:Sturdy brass build quality
- Pro:Detachable MMCX cables
- Con:No inline controls or microphone
- Con:Lacks active noise cancellation
- Con:No app support or EQ customization
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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