A big shout out to Miter’s Joey Lee for sending us samples of some of the company’s newly-released cases for this overview. We truly appreciate your support.
Introduction
I’ve been using Miter’s third-party cases to store my portable audio equipment for several years now, and without question, these are some of the best investments I’ve made in the hobby.
As such, this is not going to be a comparative review as much as it is an overview and demonstration of what I’ve been using, and a refresher on some of the different types of top-quality cases this unassuming company continues to produce year-on-year.
Based in the picturesque city of Namyangju, South Korea, Miter was founded in 2014 as a small, bespoke case maker for portable devices. The Miter brand itself was only created a few years later, as the company expanded its product range, supplying the corporate market, and launching a range of popular children’s school bags.
I first became aware of its portable audio products when I started looking for a safe, compact, and cost-effective way to store a DAP and a couple of IEMs at home and on the go. You’d think a quick Google search for “Portable Audio Case” would yield a solid list of results, but alas, back then I could not find a single one fit for purpose other than some obscure Japanese products and very expensive leather-clad options.
That’s when I discovered Miter’s interesting-looking DAP Case on Amazon, which seemed to have been designed for my exact use-case. A few clicks and several weeks later, it proved to be just the case I was looking for.
The original DAP Case
Miter’s original DAP Case, unconventionally called ‘Miter Carrying case for DAP + Earphone’, is based on a hinged clamshell design that makes it both compact (17.5cm x 9.5cm x 7cm) and somewhat bulky at the same time.
Made of a stiff canvas-like ‘PU leather’ plasticated cover material that feels both resilient and smooth to the touch, close inspection reveals excellent workmanship throughout, a feature I’d come to appreciate in every new Miter product I’ve used since.
Opening the case reveals two equally sized sections, one with a fixed cover for storing your IEMs, cables or smaller accessories, and the other with a removable cover for housing a DAP. Miter includes a small rectangular divider in each compartment that fixes itself to the plush inner lining of the case and allows you to subdivide the compartments based on how you use them.
The DAP compartment also includes a clever built-in kickstand that, when folded up, can be used to access the DAP without removing it from the case.
In the other compartment, Miter includes a small removable felt pouch, useful for keeping small accessories like tips and adapters, and an elastic band that you can use as an extra safety measure to keep the case from accidentally opening while closed (trust me, you’ll want to use this).
As hinted at earlier, both compartments are covered with a velvet-like lining, ensuring none of your precious gear gets scratched or damaged in storage. The same lining is used to keep the two halves of the box connected together, like binding in a book, and aside from a tendency to attract dust and fluff, this looks and works very well indeed.
Today I use the Miter DAP case to store my high-end Sony system, comprising the original WM1Z DAP and IER-Z1R IEMs, along with a USB cable and spare tips. If find it ideal if you have a modestly-sized IEM and cable collection and want a one-stop, well made, beautifully designed and finished case to keep it in.
Aside from equally niche and even more expensive solutions from the likes of Dignis and Van Nuys, there’s nothing quite as ready-made for keeping a small, portable head-fi system stored and safe like the Miter DAP case.
Bigger and better
As my IEM collection grew in size, I started looking for different ways to keep the collection safe. While I loved how the Miter DAP Case was a solid solution for a compact system, it didn’t make sense to have multiple DAP cases, especially if I wanted a case primarily suited to IEMs.
Miter’s Multi IEM and DAP case (for want of a better name, that’s what they call it) was the natural solution. More than just a bigger version of the original, the case is instead a completely new design for protecting your larger portable gear collection.
Measuring 26cm x 18.5cm x 5.5cm, the case is large enough to feel roomy but small enough to feel compact. The inside compartment, which measures roughly half a centimeter less in all dimensions due to the frame thickness, is lined with a black suede-like material to protect your gear from spills and scuffs.
Miter supplies three Velcro-edged partitions – two longer and three smaller dividers – that you can use for different configurations, depending on your gear. You also get a larger divider, wrapped in the same material as the case itself, that serves as a cover for the contents inside, or as a handy, sturdy tray for when the case is open.
This nonprescriptive approach means you don’t have to limit yourself to keeping only certain types of gear inside, and as long as the height of the gear doesn’t exceed the height of the compartment, you can store almost anything you like in the case with the lid closed.
The larger Miter Classic is a worthwhile upgrade over the original DAP case if you have a larger DAP, or want to keep more than two IEMs in the case. It’s made of the same excellent material, built around a very sturdy shell, and the finishing is of the highest possible quality, down to the last stitch.
The included fold-up DAP slider is a clever gimmick, and the partitions, while not perfect, make the case sturdier than most of the other cases I’ve seen.
All square
If you’ve read some of my previous reviews then you may have already come across my write-up of Miter’s square DAP + Earphone case. I won’t repeat too much of that review here, but rather summarise the basics so you know how it fits into the range.
Measuring 18.3cm x 18.9cm x 5cm (admittedly not a perfect square), the square case tips the scales at a solid 431g, implying a robustness that matches its appearance. Much like its predecessors, the square case boasts a rigid exterior and a magnetic latch that effortlessly disengages while steadfastly securing a folded lid.
Inside there’s another lid of sorts – a detachable, solid tray made with the same faux canvas material. This tray provides a cushioned but solid surface to place your IEMs, DAPs, and other accessories when the case is open, a clever and somewhat underappreciated ‘feature’ that haven’t seen in other cases.
For me, the versatility of the square DAP case configuration is a standout feature. Depending on your storage needs, it offers multiple setups. The basic arrangement partitions the case vertically, further dividing each section horizontally into four evenly-sized compartments. In this setup, you can comfortably house four IEMs, even those with bulky aftermarket cables. There’s ample space for maneuverability and the option to keep your IEMs within protective carry pouches.
To add a DAP, simply remove one of the smaller partitions. The right-hand section features the same DAP kickstand from the original and large cases, but since it’s foldable, you don’t need to use it if you don’t want to, and it doesn’t affect the placement of DAPs or IEMs in the partition.
Like its predecessors, the square case is available in both black (though it appears more gray) and blue color options. These cases not only have a comfortable footprint but also a slightly greater height than the large case, allowing you to effortlessly expand your collection while maintaining tidy and cost-effective organisation.
IEMs only?
The most recent addition to Miter’s Classic case brand is the Miter IEM case, or, as it’s listed on Amazon, the ‘IEM Earphone Cable Jack Accessory Earbuds’ case. This clamshell ‘puck’ case is similar in shape and size to the cases you can expect to get with some higher-end IEMs, only made from the same ‘PU leather’ material common to Miter’s other cases.
The IEM case, as I’ll call it here, also features an attached lid with a magnetic latch, and is more oblong than round, measuring 9 cm x 8.5cm x 5cm. Inside you’ll find a felt-lined interior soft enough to protect your favourite IEMs from scratching, along with an elasticated ‘pocket’ inside the lid for storing smaller accessories like tips and dongle cables.
I’m not quite sure if I’d actually use the IEM case to keep IEMs, even though it has plenty of room for today’s larger IEMs and thick cables. It’s a case equally adept at storing smaller accessories, like audio dongles, SD cards, tips and cleaning materials, and if all else fails, makes for a great little jewelry case for your significant other. In fact, pro tip, order one or two of these cases along with your larger Miter cases, and when they arrive, make a big show of how you bought these new cases for your wife or partner to keep their goodies in.
Jokes aside, I can see this smaller case being an ideal companion to the larger cases, with the only downside that it doesn’t actually fit inside any of the larger cases for added protection.
Closing thoughts
From humble beginnings, and amid strong competition from flashy case makers, Miter has quietly introduced a dedicated line of storage cases for the modern portable audiophile.
While I tend to use the square case more than the others (I have four of them now!), I find the combination of all four case types perfect for my overall storage needs: the original case for my Sony system, the square cases for pairing larger, modern DAPs with flagship IEMs, the large case for overflow or rarely-used gear, and the IEM case for various accessories, bits and bytes.
All four cases are expertly made, featuring a solid core for maximum impact protection, resilient Italian-made material, and soft interiors that will never scratch your expensive gear. They’re also understated in looks, and shouldn’t attract any unwanted stares unlike their leather competitors.
I have it on good authority that Miter will also introduce a companion travel-friendly case in the near future, which is something I look forward to for taking some of my less-flashy gear with me on the road.
If you’re after an affordable, attractive, robust and versatile solution for storing and/or carrying your precious portables, Miter’s Classic cases are my personal rec.
