AirPods 4vs.Project Meta
Sound & Specs Comparison
Information
Both IEMs are widely regarded in the audiophile community. See how they differ in terms of sub-bass response, upper mids, clarity, and overall tonality. Spider charts and rating breakdowns included.
Objective Comparison
Facts, details, stuff.
| General Info | AirPods 4 | Project Meta |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Apple | CrinEar |
| Country | USA | – |
| IEM Description | – | A debut IEM by Crinacle's CrinEar: a compact, full-aluminum flagship tuned to a “tilted Diffuse Field + bass boost” curve. Delivers vibrant mids, warm sub-bass, and clear treble—crafted for musical accuracy and comfort. |
| Price Level | n/a | 100 – 500 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | – | Hybrid |
| Driver Types | – | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature |
| Shell Material | – | – |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | – | – |
| Impedance (Ω) | – | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | – | – |
| Crossover | – | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 0 |
| Visit Count | 22 | 104 |
| External Reviews | 0 | 1 |
Meta Ratings
Project Meta reveals microdetails and transient responses with markedly better articulation, helping listeners uncover nuances often missed with AirPods 4. For comfort fit, It performs distinctly better (6.5 vs 5). AirPods 4 shows slightly superior build quality than Project Meta (7 vs 6.5), indicating better materials, construction precision, and overall durability. Project Meta's accessories are vastly better curated, reflecting greater attention to usability, presentation, and value-added content compared to AirPods 4.
| AirPods 4 | Project Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 5.0 | 7.0 |
| Comfort Fit | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Build Quality | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Stock Cable | – | 6.5 |
| Accessories | 1.5 | 6.0 |
Sound Characteristics
Low-frequency extension on Project Meta feels a more natural and authoritative, while AirPods 4 lacks some reach (6.3 vs 4.5). It renders bass with s greater punch and separation, where AirPods 4 sometimes feels bloated (6.3 vs 5.5). Listeners may find the low-end impact on It m more engaging during high-dynamic passages (6.7 vs 5). Male vocals and lower instruments sound a richer and better defined on It, unlike AirPods 4 which can seem hollow (6.8 vs 5.5). Instruments like violins and brass are portrayed with c more brilliance on It, while AirPods 4 sounds slightly dull (7.5 vs 6.5). With n higher resolution, It allows finer textures and room ambiance to shine more than AirPods 4 (6.3 vs 5). In complex arrangements, It separates layers d more distinctly, preventing overlap that AirPods 4 occasionally suffers (6.7 vs 5). It shows a better control of masking effects, maintaining clarity across frequency ranges better than AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). Notes on It feel n more grounded and weighty, whereas AirPods 4 can sound thin or hollow (6.3 vs 5). It hits with a more authority during transients, creating a more explosive effect than AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). Timbre on It sounds a more realistic and natural, whereas AirPods 4 feels slightly more artificial or colored (6 vs 5.5). It achieves n better tonal neutrality, avoiding colorations present in AirPods 4 (6.3 vs 5). Subtle ridges and granularity are conveyed a more clearly on It, adding life that AirPods 4 doesn’t quite match (5.5 vs 4.5).
| AirPods 4 | Project Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 4.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass Feel | 5.0 | 6.8 |
| Lower Mids | 5.5 | 7.0 |
| Upper Mids | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Lower Treble | 6.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 6.5 | 7.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Detail | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Layering | 5.0 | 6.8 |
| Masking | 5.0 | 6.3 |
| Note Weight | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Slam | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Sibilance | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Timbre Color | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| Tonality | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Texture | 4.5 | 5.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.