Wired IEMs
CrinEar Reference
86Outstanding
$350
Full review dataCrinEar Reference vs Etymotic hf2: which should you buy?
Specs, scores and condensed review verdicts for the CrinEar Reference vs Etymotic hf2, side by side. Where a product has no HearWiki score yet, not enough reviews have been aggregated to rate it.
Wired IEMs
Etymotic hf2
Not yet scored
$180
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.
- CrinEar Reference
- Etymotic hf2
HearWiki score
86
-
Sound
9.1
-
Value
8.9
-
Price (USD)
$350
$180
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 Reference is 16 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 16 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Reference202616 yr newer
- hf22010
Specifications
Referencehf2
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $350
- $180
- HearWiki score
- 86
- Not scored
- Released
- 2026
- 2010
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 2DD + 3BA hybrid
- balanced armature
- Driver type
- hybrid
- balanced-armature
- Driver configuration
- 2DD + 3BA
- -
- Driver size
- 10 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 5
- 1
- Sound signature
- -
- neutral-warm
- Impedance
- 16 Ω
- -
- Sensitivity
- 104 dB/mW
- -
- Controls
- -
- buttons
- Voice assistant
- -
- No
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- -
- Connector
- 4.4 mm balanced
- -
- Microphones
- -
- 1
What reviewers said
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
Etymotic hf2
The Etymotic hf2 is a wired in-ear monitor built around a single balanced-armature driver, tuned for a neutral-warm sound that prioritizes accuracy. It offers strong passive noise isolation and includes an in-line mic with a single button for call and playback control on compatible devices.
- Pro:Accurate, neutral-warm tuning
- Pro:Strong passive noise isolation
- Pro:Balanced armature driver for detail
- Con:No active noise cancellation
- Con:Wired design limits portability
- Con:Single-button control may be limited
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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