Crinear Reference

[Redacted]

Surely scoring is an arbitrary assignment of numbers to indicate reactive merit - does it need to anything more?
And the score is, I assume, an audio test and does not take into account long-term reliability - I can tell folk that a lot of the cables with IEMs are fairly fragile, but usually easily replaceable....

 

[zonk]

It isn’t broken. A 10 means ideal in every respect. I actually like that they’re using the full scale, instead of the usual reviewer inflation where everything gets an 8–10.
And you can see the scores are improving over time — though a cynic might say that makes sense, given that their sponsor sells the newer stuff.

Every week there is a new best, and then again a new best. It's just to keep the business going. I don't trust people who have financial interests and doing reviews.

The development of IEMs have reached a point where even the 20€/$ ones are able to hit the harman or meta curve almost perfectly. If you spend more, you get better cables, probably fancier looking shells etc.

 

[pier25]

I feel like their scoring system is broken if they’re declaring something to be the best and giving it 75%

One of the best IEMs they've heard, so far. Not the best possible IEM that has ever existed.

They have multiple reviewers though. One of them gave the Reference a score of 8 in terms of sound:

listener's IEM Ranking List

listener's ranking list for audiophile in-ear monitors (IEMs), where they rank IEMs in terms of Overall performance, Sound performance, and individual metrics like Bass, Midrange, Treble, X-Factor, Comfort, and Value.

headphones.com

 

[zonk]

One of the best IEMs they've heard, so far. Not the best possible IEM that has ever existed.

They have multiple reviewers though. One of them gave the Reference a score of 8 in terms of sound:

listener's IEM Ranking List

listener's ranking list for audiophile in-ear monitors (IEMs), where they rank IEMs in terms of Overall performance, Sound performance, and individual metrics like Bass, Midrange, Treble, X-Factor, Comfort, and Value.

headphones.com

I am sorry I cannot agree to this list at all. It's the ranking list of the user "listener". Some IEMs of the list I know very well and I totally disagree. Only one thing that really amuse me is the ranking of the Subtonic Storm that costs 6000$. There was a discussion on here about the Subtonic Storm.

 

[Redacted]

I am sorry I cannot agree to this list at all. Some IEMs of the list I know very well and I totally disagree. Only one thing that really amuse me is the ranking of the Subtonic Storm that costs 6000$. There was a discussion on here about the Subtonic Storm.

I don't agree with most made-up clickbait. I am happy Mr Cheapo. In a given day, I bet I play more music than most "kit reviewers".

 

[Somafunk]

I am sorry I cannot agree to this list at all. It's the ranking list of the user "listener". Some IEMs of the list I know very well and I totally disagree. Only one thing that really amuse me is the ranking of the Subtonic Storm that costs 6000$. There was a discussion on here about the Subtonic Storm.

Of course you disagree, I, myself may very well disagree with some/many of their judgments but that’s due to the fact that what I hear, what you hear, what others hear is totally dependent on fit, ear canal shape and volume, personal preferences for bass, midrange, treble etc.

To say you disagree is rather stating the obvious and of no surprise

 

[zonk]

Of course you disagree, I, myself may very well disagree with some/many of their judgments but that’s due to the fact that what I hear, what you hear, what others hear is totally dependent on fit, ear canal shape and volume, personal preferences for bass, midrange, treble etc.

To say you disagree is rather stating the obvious and of no surprise

Meanwhile this forum seems to be full of subjectivists and people that try to push certain products or companies.

 

[Somafunk]

Meanwhile this forum seems to be full of subjectivists and people with financial interests that support certain products or companies.

Surely you mean this forum (You mean ASR?) is rather objective in nature, with very minimal/ if any at all financial interests in pushing audio gear

 

[shinbojan]

The development of IEMs have reached a point where even the 20€/$ ones are able to hit the harman or meta curve almost perfectly. If you spend more, you get better cables, probably fancier looking shells etc.

Recommend us some then. I would gladly try them.

 

[zonk]

Surely you mean this forum (You mean ASR?) is rather objective in nature, with very minimal/ if any at all financial interests in pushing audio gear

maybe to say financial interests is not correct, but pushing certain products I would say yes. I changed my post accordingly. Seller that use this forum to push their business.

 

[Redacted]

I overpaid and bought product X. So, my wallet proves I'm right.

 

[pier25]

I am sorry I cannot agree to this list at all. It's the ranking list of the user "listener". Some IEMs of the list I know very well and I totally disagree.

I don't agree either. These are subjective opinions after all.

 

[beeface]

One of the best IEMs they've heard, so far. Not the best possible IEM that has ever existed.

This approach doesn’t make any sense. It’d be like a movie reviewer gives a great movie four and a half stars instead of five just in case a better movie came along one day

 

[beeface]

It isn’t broken. A 10 means ideal in every respect. I actually like that they’re using the full scale, instead of the usual reviewer inflation where everything gets an 8–10.
And you can see the scores are improving over time — though a cynic might say that makes sense, given that their sponsor sells the newer stuff.

The point of product reviews is to offer consumer advice, not fulfil the purpose of a ranking system

It gets more ridiculous when these guys are giving themselves a hundred and one possible scores with the decimal ratings

Pink panther rating scale is perfect tbh

 

[pier25]

This approach doesn’t make any sense. It’d be like a movie reviewer gives a great movie four and a half stars instead of five just in case a better movie came along one day

They aren't reserving anything. What they consider the best IEM released, so far, doesn't mean the absolute best way to listen to audio.

 

[beeface]

They aren't reserving anything. What they consider the best IEM released, so far, doesn't mean the absolute best way to listen to audio.

What is, then?

 

[Somafunk]

What is, then?

It is the best for their personal listening - nothing more, nothing less, find a reviewer that “gells” with your style

My ears and listening preferences for iems’s don’t really “gell” with Resolves preferences, nor Listener’s preferences but they are compatible with Precogvision’s preferences- we both like the Sony XBA-N3 and Symphonium Meteor

 

[zonk]

Recommend us some then. I would gladly try them.

7Hz x Crinacle Zero 2
Truthear Gate

I would add the following to the list as well:
Kiwi Ears Cadenza 2
Truthear Pure

I personally listen to IEMs with a Qudelix 5k and use EQ. A few IEMs that I use the most:
- Simgot EW300
- Truthear Nova
- KZ PRX

There are so many IEMs available. In the AutoEQ-App are 1600 IEMs listed. It's simply too much.

 

[shinbojan]

I've recently tried the Pure and Cadenza 2. No, they're not on the same level as the Reference, but they offer a better price-to-performance ratio.
I haven't had the chance to try the others since they're not available where I live, and importing them would mean paying an additional 30% in VAT and customs duties. Thanks for posting.

 

[gzost]

What is, then?

An IEM or headphone that either fully hits that particular reviewer's head-related transfer function or, more likely, that they EQ to this. A 10.0/10.0 is a score that would only be for one particular reviewer, and necessarily be lower for the others.