Disclaimer: I would like to formally thank Crinear for providing us with a unit in exchange for an impartial and honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank them for their generosity and trust in THL.
Summary:
Crinear’s sophomore release has a lot to live up to. In this case, the hype was deserved. The Daybreak, regardless of price, has a flawless and near-faultless midrange that makes acoustic recordings sound eerily lifelike. Imaging is precise and well-placed for its price.
However, there are distinct timbral weaknesses, resulting in some uncaniness in snare strikes and kick drums, alongside weak, pillowy dynamics.
Pros:
+ Premium unboxing experience for a Chi-Fi product.
+ Flawless midrange tuning with near-faultless rendition of intimate recordings and voicings
+ Ultra-linear and fast, incisive upper-treble
Cons:
– Slight timbral honkiness amidst drum strikes and percussive elements
– Weak, pillowy macrodynamics lack impact or heft
– Brittle instead of porous treble, resulting in a perceived loss in clarity
Introduction
Crinnacle’s reputation precedes itself. The ‘measurebator’ god himself, he’s an iconoclast to many, a polarising figure to others. Gone are his heydays of reviewing the churn-and-burn model that is chi-fi and major hi-fi brands.
Today, he’s bravely ventured into the global audiophile arena in the capacity of a distributor, running a bricks-and-clicks business, ‘Hangout Audio’.
Going one step further, he’s launched his brand, Crinear, based on his finessed preferential curves: flavored iterations of the IEF Preference 2025, with calculated rises and troughs.
The mere minutes it took to sell out his virgin release, the Meta, is a reflection of his globe-spanning influence and the respect audiophiles accord to him. Alas, that was a limited run of IEMs that is unlikely to be released ever again. Today, we’re reviewing its more affordable little sibling, the Daybreak.
This time around, the Daybreak is priced at a more modest $179, featuring a stacked driver count of five: two balanced armatures, two microplanar tweeters, and one dynamic driver. More importantly, this is a mainstay release and will be sold in batches.
The Crinear Daybreak will be available to purchase on Crinear’s very own store, Hangout Audio.
Technology
Tuned with intention
Meticulously tuned using the Brüel & Kjær Type 5128, the Daybreak is a cutting-edge IEM that closely aligns with the IEF Preference 2025 curve: a clear evolution of the Population-Averaged Diffuse Field target.
Fully custom driver array
Every driver has been custom-designed, from its micro-planar tweeter to its dynamic driver woofer, offering listeners a revelatory auditory experience.
Unboxing
Typically, Chi-Fi earphones are not revered for their packaging. The Daybreak’s sleek, all-black cardboard box with its bold typeface in white immediately leaves a lasting impression. An impressive first start.
Inside the box, you’ll find:
- Crinear Daybreak IEMs
- High-purity, silver-plated copper cable with swappable terminations (4.4mm, 3.5mm)
- Crinear-branded magnetic flip leather case
- Pre-attached roadie wrap
- Silicon eartip (S, M and L)
- Crinear warranty card and instruction manual
The entire unboxing was a premium experience that belies its manufacturing origin. The included accessories are top-notch, especially the magnetic flip leather case with its soft and lustrous grain. Crinear deserves two thumbs up for this careful curation of awesome accessories.
Design and Build
The Daybreak has a svelte and subtle design with a precise machining aesthetic. Firstly, the Daybreak’s faceplates feature gleaming bevels with a silver edge, emulating the clinically black-polished bevels (or anglage) found in haute horology.
The Daybreak’s nozzles are fashioned from aluminium, strengthening a weak point that may be prone to breakage or damage if not cared for properly.
On the inner chassis (where the nozzle comes into contact with the ear), it’s entirely fabricated with slow-pour, solid resin for a crack-proof and robust exterior. While not immediately obvious to the naked eye, the inner shell has an amber colourway — a fitting choice for a product named ‘daybreak’.
Overall, the Daybreak is a well-designed IEM that boasts a contemporary appearance, executed to a high standard.
Comfort and Ergonomics
The Daybreak is a modestly sized IEM — small enough for comfortable wear, large enough to contain its sizeable driver array. With a nozzle with a small circumference of 5.98mm, the Daybreak should fit comfortably for most audio enthusiasts.
The standard headshake test failed to displace or move the Daybreak from its snug, stationary position in my ear canals. Your mileage may vary, but discomfort was a non-existent issue. It’s predominantly resin build is featherlight and fuss-free for protracted listening sessions.
There is a prominent pinhole-sized vent situated parallel to the length of the nozzles to alleviate the buildup of chambered pressure generated from the dynamic driver woofers. In practice, there is little ambient noise ingress, save for the occasional violent gust of wind, which all IEMs are susceptible to.
Cable Quality
The Daybreak’s silver-plated cable is ‘blinged out’, looking extra ‘silvery’ to my eyes, contrasted by machined hardware embellishments, featuring the same ‘anglage’ style bevels and steps. The coherent design language is appreciated.
The actual cable is, unfortunately, stiff and prone to memory. It isn’t a problem when worn outdoors, but it’s a touch cumbersome when it isn’t carefully spooled for storage. Coil it clumsily and expect to spend 5-10 minutes attempting to undo the damage.
On the termination end, there is a 4-pin receptacle for swapping your termination of choice, with a visible groove on the female end and a notch on the male end (termination). Once your chosen termination is snapped into place, there is a threaded collar to fasten and secure it in place.
Given that a threaded lock system is somewhat rare in the Chi-Fi world, this is a welcome inclusion, reassuring me that my termination isn’t just going to fall clean off.
While the cable’s malleability could be improved, the theming and termination system is top-notch.
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