Sony XBA 300AP VS CrinEar Meta
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Sony XBA 300AP and CrinEar Meta are in-ear monitors. Sony XBA 300AP costs $295 while CrinEar Meta costs $250. Sony XBA 300AP is $45 more expensive. CrinEar Meta holds a decisive 1.5-point edge in reviewer scores (5.9 vs 7.4). CrinEar Meta has significantly better bass with a 1-point edge, CrinEar Meta has significantly better mids with a 2-point edge, CrinEar Meta has significantly better treble with a 2.5-point edge, CrinEar Meta has better details with a 0.5-point edge and CrinEar Meta has significantly better imaging with a 1-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Sony XBA 300AP | CrinEar Meta |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | 6 | 7 |
| Mids | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| Treble | 5 | 7.5 |
| Details | 6.5 | 7 |
| Soundstage | 6.5 | 7.4 |
| Imaging | 6 | 7 |
| Dynamics | 5.9 | 7 |
| Gaming capabilities | 6.1 | 7.5 |
Sony XBA 300AP Aggregated Review Score
Sony XBA 300AP Average Reviewer Scores
CrinEar Meta Aggregated Review Score
CrinEar Meta Average Reviewer Scores
Sony XBA 300AP Details
Driver Configuration: n/a
Tuning Type: n/a
Price (Msrp): $295
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CrinEar Meta Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+2BA
Tuning Type: n/a
Price (Msrp): $250
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Sony XBA 300AP User Review Score
Sony XBA 300AP Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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CrinEar Meta User Review Score
CrinEar Meta Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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Sony XBA 300AP Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.1Gaming Grade
BCrinEar Meta Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
7.5Gaming Grade
ASony XBA 300AP Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
B-- Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.
Average Technical Grade
B- Satisfactory technical performance. Handles basic detail retrieval adequately in most tracks. Maintains reasonable cohesion in simpler arrangements.
CrinEar Meta 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- Good technical performance. Clear separation and decent detail retrieval across various tracks. Soundstage shows reasonable width and depth.
Sony XBA 300AP Reviews
Sony XBA 300AP reviewed by: Shuwa-T
5.9
Reviewer Score
Inoffensive tuning, decent extensions Shows limitations in the soundstage depth and width
CrinEar Meta Reviews
CrinEar Meta reviewed by: Z-Reviews
2025-08-29
7
* score normalized
CrinEar Meta lands as a limited-run, $250 bass-tilted collab that’s already sold out—and feels like a “little baby bass monster” in the best way. Build is clean and understated: aluminum shells with rose-gold accents, a nice interchangeable cable, and an overbuilt hard case that embarrasses most sets at this price. The nozzles are chunky (think Chronicle’s Red/Daybreak vibes), so foam or “render”-style tips help with seal and comfort. Specs are oddly opaque—driver configuration isn’t listed anywhere—yet the package still screams more value than expected.
Tonally this is unapologetically V-shaped: elevated bass that punches on cue, crisp treble that reaches in and gets attention, and a clear midrange that can read V because the ends are lively. The stage is intimate/narrow, giving a “small loud room” energy that’s exciting but can trend fatiguing over long sessions. Crucially, it passes the body-movement test—put on a groove and there’s immediate “wiggly-wigglies”—where a safer, cleaner sibling like Daybreak can feel a bit too polite. Meta sounds less filtered, more gusto, more fun; Daybreak is the seat-belted version.
Chain matters: with spatial enhancement (think soundstage wideners on a fancy DAC), the main gripes fade and the presentation breathes, though even stock the tuning remains engaging and lively. Net take: this is the version of Daybreak many wish existed—more out of the box, more toe-tapping—so it gets the nod on sheer enjoyment. New? It was a steal at $250. Used around $200? No-brainer collector keep if that energetic, bass-forward V is the target.
CrinEar Meta reviewed by: Super* Review
8*
* score normalized
Versus similar priced IEMs this is probably the IEM I would be buying. Very nice IEM and a little bit on the contrasty side.Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube Channel
CrinEar Meta reviewed by: Smirk Audio
7.1
Reviewer Score
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CrinEar Meta reviewed by: Jays Audio
7.5
Reviewer Score
Bright-leaning all-rounder with sparkly treble sauce. Great tech for price and great accessories. Good coloration that's not vanilla and safe as other crin collabs. Can be fatiguing at higher volumes, tip dependent, rec sancai wide/regular or Softear Ultra Clear/EPZ clear tips. Jays Audio Youtube Channel
CrinEar Meta lands as a clean, balanced, slightly bright-leaning all-rounder with a distinctly sparkly treble. The top end carries a “special sauce” — sharp attack, quick decay, airy cymbal splash and strong micro-detail — creating an open sense of space with tidy separation and layering at around mid-volume (~65 dB). Bass and vocals sit at a “normal” distance: clear and resolving but not emphasized; expect punch rather than deep sub-bass rumble or chesty slam. Fit is tip-dependent: stock silicones can sound peaky; clear soft EPZ tips keep the shimmer without harshness, while “white” Tongu Senai tips smooth the treble further.
Technically, Meta punches above its $250 bracket, hanging with sets like Dusk 3.5 and Estrella for resolution and imaging despite not using ESTs. Timbre stays natural and the build/accessories feel solid. Trade-offs appear when cranking volume: the treble rise can turn fatiguing past ~75–80 dB, especially on bright, electronic-leaning tracks. Genre picks lean toward pop, J-/K-pop, rock, metal, and indie instrumentals at mid-volumes, where the upper-mid cut reins in hot mixes and the sparkle makes cymbals addictive; for hip-hop/rap/EDM, some will want more rumble, slam, and note weight.
Versus Ziigaat Estrella, it’s apples to oranges: Estrella brings more low-end authority and smoother treble with vocals popping forward, while Meta counters with a brighter, sparklier presentation better for K-/J-pop and bands. Against other bright-neutral sets (Dusk, P5+2, Brain Dance), Meta sounds fuller in the low end with a more natural, less sizzly treble; compared to Canon Pro, it’s the more energetic and less laid-back choice. For pure vocals, Volume S, EPZ P50, or Cadenza 4 remain stronger. Scaling champs like Ziigaat Odyssey and AFUL Explorer take higher volumes better but trade away some of Meta’s detail sparkle. Limited-run caveat aside, this is an easy recommendation for listeners wanting a balanced daily driver with distinct, glittery treble at sensible listening levels.
Sony XBA 300AP User Reviews
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