Kiwi Ears Aether VS CrinEar Daybreak
Aggregated Scores from Top Experts & Community
Kiwi Ears Aether Aggregated Review Score
Kiwi Ears Aether Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
6.8Mixed Reviews
CrinEar Daybreak Aggregated Review Score
CrinEar Daybreak Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.4Generally Favorable
Kiwi Ears Aether Details
Driver Configuration:
Tuning Type: n/a
Price (Msrp): $170
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
CrinEar Daybreak Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+2BA+2micro-planar
Tuning Type: IEF Neutral with bass boost
Price (Msrp): $169.99
Support our free service! Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra:
Kiwi Ears Aether User Review Score
Kiwi Ears Aether Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
Based on 0 user reviews
No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!
CrinEar Daybreak User Review Score
CrinEar Daybreak Average User Scores
Average User Score:
Based on 1 user reviews
7.4Generally Favorable
Kiwi Ears Aether Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.9Gaming Grade
ACrinEar Daybreak Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.2Gaming Grade
A-Kiwi Ears Aether Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A-- Competent tonal approach with minor technical flaws. Noticeable but not distracting quirks. Decent genre versatility.
Average Technical Grade
A- Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval in most tracks. Soundstage has reasonable width and depth. Handles moderate complexity without congestion.
CrinEar Daybreak Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.
Average Technical Grade
A-- Above average technicalities. Handles separation and detail adequately in simpler tracks, but complex passages remain challenging. Soundstage is modestly sized with acceptable imaging.
Kiwi Ears Aether Reviews
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by: Jays Audio
7
Reviewer Score
Clean, balanced, with slight air boost in the treble. Bass sounds like a DD with great texture. Cheaper better tuned P5+2. Not as smooth as Timeless 2 with more dynamic contrast with a slight sizzle from the treble boost. Good value for a planar. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by: Gizaudio Axel
6.5
Reviewer Score
Balanced sound with clean bass, smooth mids, and detailed treble. Great clarity, wide soundstage, and natural timbre for a planar. Bass might be a bit light, and treble can be a little forward for some. One of the best planar IEMs out there. The treble is smoother and easier on the ears than most planars.Gizaudio Axel original ranking
Gizaudio Axel Youtube Channel
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by: Jaytiss
7.9
Reviewer Score
Not for bassheads, but one of the best planars I've ever heard. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by: Super* Review
6*
* score normalized
A little bit spicy in the treble (like the other planars). Relaxed upper mid-range. Warmer tuning than S12. It's a decent IEMSuper* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by:
Fresh Reviews
6.5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming Score
Kiwi Ears Aether reviewed by: Z-Reviews
6.8
* score normalized
CrinEar Daybreak Reviews
CrinEar Daybreak reviewed by: Jays Audio
7
Reviewer Score
Here we go again. Very similar tuning as P50 and SL224. Less vocal centric vs P50s, but more bassy and all-rounded. Slightly slightly less technical than SL224. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
The CrinEar Daybreak offers a balanced, clean, and non-fatiguing sound signature, functioning effectively as an all-rounder. Every frequency region is solid, delivering a smooth presentation without harshness or overwhelming warmth. The bass provides a slight sub-bass rumble and integrates cleanly into the mids, avoiding bleed, though it lacks significant impact, slam, or deep texture. Similarly, the mid-range and vocals are well-separated and forward enough, free from congestion or odd timbre, but don't specialize. The treble has enough extension and air, avoiding darkness or excessive sharpness, but misses out on micro-detail, sparkle, and expansive staging. It’s a decent, inoffensive performer across the board, described aptly as a "very good vanilla ice cream cone".
Technically, the Daybreak is competitive but not class-leading. Sets like the Meta, Ziigaat Crescent, Kiwi Ears Astral, Simgot EM6L, or TruthEar Nova offer slightly better detail retrieval, imaging, and resolution. Its main challenge comes from remarkably similar competitors, particularly the EPZ P50 and SLIIVO SL224, which share nearly identical tuning, driver configurations, and technical performance around the same $160-$180 price point. The P50 leans slightly more vocal-centric, while the SL224 offers marginally better bass texture and treble detail (though costing more). If you already own either, the Daybreak becomes largely redundant. Against alternatives like the bassier, more dynamic Ziigaat Odyssey ($200), the Daybreak feels safer but less engaging at higher volumes. Compared to Harman-tuned sets like the Supermix 4, Chopin, or Nova, the Daybreak boasts fuller tonality and less fatigue but gives up some layering and detail.
Ultimately, the Daybreak is a competent, well-packaged all-rounder at $170, delivering a balanced and inoffensive listen suitable for any genre library. However, it fails to stand out uniquely in a crowded field. Its sound signature is replicated almost exactly by the existing P50 and SL224. While it earns a half recommendation as a solid option for those seeking a non-fatiguing all-rounder who *don't* own those twins, it's unlikely to become a favorite due to its lack of distinctive character. Value is decent, but alternatives offer more specialization or technical prowess for similar or lower cost.
CrinEar Daybreak reviewed by: Jaytiss
7.4
Reviewer Score
Lacks silky treble, but it's fine. But fine isn't good enough. Jaytiss Youtube Channel
The CrinEar Daybreak features a metal nozzle and metal faceplate with comfortable contours, though the fit is noted as a bit dainty and small. Isolation is practically non-existent, and the fit isn't particularly secure. The included cable looks nice and photographs well, featuring interchangeable terminations for versatility, but its chin slider moves too easily and isn't recommended for those needing a functional one. The case is deemed aesthetically pleasing and feels good, though not especially premium, magnetically shutting with adequate space.
Sonically, the Daybreak leans boring and somewhat sterile or dry. It offers nice bass and a lot of upper mids, which are done decently with a standard 3K peak. However, the combination of this upper-mid focus and an incisive peak around 8K contributes to a perceived harshness and sharpness, lacking in overall detail retrieval. Graph comparisons reveal its signature has significantly more upper mids and often more bass than competitors like the Moondrop Dusk or TruthEar Nova, resulting in a less engaging listen. Sets like the Defiant, Chopin, and Performer 7 are cited as more engaging alternatives at similar or lower prices, with the Defiant specifically recommended over the Daybreak. Even the Punch Audio martillo and Moondrop Meteor, sharing driver configurations, are considered more fun or better tuned.
Ultimately, the Daybreak is a solid A-minus IEM, well-packaged and a commendable first effort for the brand, but it's not hypeworthy or a benchmark. It lacks imagination and falls short against numerous compelling alternatives around its price point, such as the Performer 7, ZOS Defiant, Chopin, or discounted planar options like the Aether. While a good value, especially if found on sale via Linsoul or the used market, its piercing upper mids and failure to truly excel make it hard to fully recommend over the competition.
CrinEar Daybreak reviewed by: Super* Review
8*
* score normalized
Spot-on tonality. Everything sounds very natural and not contrasty. Vocal texturing is above average. Low-contrast sound signature. Bass is not that tight.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
The CrinEar Daybreak lands at $170 as the second IEM from Crinacle, positioned as a more accessible follow-up to the limited-edition Meta. This tribrid features a single dynamic driver, two balanced armatures, and two micro planars handling the highs. The build includes compact, semi-custom dark smoky resin shells offering good stability and comfort, though the molding might be slightly aggressive for some. The included cable provides swappable terminations (3.5mm and 4.4mm) but is noted for being somewhat stiff and kink-prone. Accessories are solid for the price, including a leatherette case and multiple tip options, with the stock silicones recommended for optimal fit due to the slightly longer nozzle.
Sonically, the Daybreak delivers what the review calls the best tonal balance yet within the popular "new meta" tuning category. Its frequency response is described as exceptionally neutral and natural from the mid-bass upwards, creating a low-contrast, chill, and non-fatiguing listen with forward, textured vocals and non-existent sibilance. However, this comes with trade-offs: the bass lacks ultimate tightness and slam, and the treble exhibits a light, wispy quality (likened to cotton candy) that lacks some bite and definition. While technical performance like imaging is solid, it doesn't stand out as exceptional.
In direct comparisons with six competitors around $200 (including the Meta, Binary x Chopin, EPZ P50, Ziigaat Lush, Truthear Pure, and Kiwi Ears KE4), the Daybreak consistently ranked highest for tonality. It was praised as a modern benchmark for natural tuning at its price. However, it fell behind in bass physicality and treble incisiveness. Ultimately rated a strong four stars, the Daybreak is highlighted as an excellent choice for those prioritizing a refined, natural midrange and easy listening experience over sheer technical prowess or visceral impact, earning the label of a "modern-day Etymotic ER2XR" with far better comfort.
CrinEar Daybreak reviewed by: IEMRanking AI
7
Reviewer Score
The CrinEar Daybreak delivers a well-balanced sound signature tuned to the IEF Preference 2025 curve, offering natural tonality with a controlled bass boost and detailed mids. While the stock narrow-bore tips exacerbate a 10-11kHz treble peak—causing fatigue for some—switching to wide-bore tips (like Divinus Velvet or Dunu S&S) significantly tames harshness and enhances openness. The bass is warm and extended, though kick drums lack punch, and bass guitars occasionally sound overly thick.
Comfort and accessories are weak points: the pseudo-custom resin shells fit securely but suffer from suboptimal nozzle angling, causing ear fatigue during extended use. The package includes only three silicone tips and one foam pair—insufficient for refining the treble—and the cable feels plasticky with awkward shape memory. Despite these flaws, its technical performance rivals $300+ IEMs, making it a strong value.
Kiwi Ears Aether User Reviews
"This is an example review"
Pros
- Example pro 1
- Example pro 2
Cons
- Example con 1
- Example con 2
Be the first to share your experience!
CrinEar Daybreak User Reviews
A well-toned, easy-listening IEM that excels at midrange clarity even if it doesn’t dazzle technically.