Project Metavs.Variations
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 | Project Meta | Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | CrinEar | Moondrop |
| Country | – | China |
| 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. | Moondrop Variations is a hybrid in-ear monitor combining electrostatic, balanced armature, and dynamic drivers for a precise and immersive listening experience. Known for its balanced, reference-style tuning with tight bass, clean mids, and extended treble, it’s a favorite among audiophiles who crave clarity and technical performance. Ideal for detail lovers and those seeking a high-fidelity sound signature. |
| Price Level | 100 – 500 | 500 – 1.000 |
| Housing & Driver | ||
|---|---|---|
| Driver Config | Hybrid | Tribrid |
| Driver Types | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature | Dynamic Driver + Balanced Armature + Electrostatic |
| Shell Material | – | Copper |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | – | 9-40,000 Hz |
| Impedance (Ω) | – | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | – | – |
| Crossover | – | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 1 |
| Visit Count | 104 | 85 |
| External Reviews | 1 | 3 |
Meta Ratings
Project Meta reveals microdetails and transient responses with slightly better articulation, helping listeners uncover nuances often missed with Variations. For comfort fit, Variations performs subtly better (7 vs 6.5). The stock cable of Project Meta is clearly higher in quality (6.5 vs 5.5), offering improvements in flexibility, tactile feedback, and resistance to microphonics.
| Project Meta | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Comfort Fit | 6.5 | 7.0 |
| Build Quality | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Stock Cable | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| Accessories | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Sound Characteristics
Variations translates bass vibrations into a a more visceral experience, while Project Meta lacks this tactile feedback (8.5 vs 6.7). The lower midrange on It blends a more smoothly into the bass region, avoiding the disconnect found in Project Meta (7.5 vs 6.8). In the upper mids, It sounds m clearer and more articulate, highlighting vocals and lead instruments better than Project Meta (8 vs 6.2). The upper treble of It extends c further, offering more sparkle and openness than Project Meta (8 vs 6.8). The stereo field on It feels c wider and more holographic, whereas Project Meta sounds more intimate (7.5 vs 6.3). With s higher resolution, It allows finer textures and room ambiance to shine more than Project Meta (8 vs 6.3). It keeps competing frequencies under control a more effectively, reducing sonic congestion compared to Project Meta (7 vs 6). The note presentation is a fuller and more tactile on It, giving instruments a stronger physical presence than Project Meta (8 vs 6.3). It delivers dynamic shifts with a greater impact, making Project Meta sound comparatively tame (8.5 vs 6). It controls harsh sibilant peaks a more effectively, making vocals smoother than on Project Meta (9 vs 6.5). It renders timbres with a better harmonic balance, preserving the character of instruments more accurately than Project Meta (7.5 vs 6). Tonality on It is a more coherent and refined, yielding a more pleasing overall signature than Project Meta (7 vs 6.3). It renders texture m more precisely, making instrument surfaces and vocal grain more palpable than Project Meta (7.5 vs 5.5).
| Project Meta | Variations | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Bass Feel | 6.8 | 8.5 |
| Lower Mids | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| Upper Mids | 6.5 | 8.0 |
| Lower Treble | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 7.0 | 8.0 |
| Sound Stage Width | 6.5 | 7.5 |
| Detail | 6.5 | 8.0 |
| Layering | 6.8 | 7.0 |
| Masking | 6.3 | 7.0 |
| Note Weight | 6.5 | 8.0 |
| Slam | 6.0 | 8.5 |
| Sibilance | 6.5 | 9.0 |
| Timbre Color | 6.0 | 7.5 |
| Tonality | 6.5 | 7.0 |
| Texture | 5.5 | 7.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.