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 | – | – |
| Driver Types | – | – |
| Shell Material | – | – |
| Cable | – | – |
| Technical | ||
|---|---|---|
| Freq Range | – | – |
| Impedance (Ω) | – | – |
| Sensitivity (dB) | – | – |
| Crossover | – | – |
| Platform Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| Comments | 0 | 0 |
| Visit Count | 36 | 96 |
| External Reviews | 0 | 1 |
Meta Ratings
Project Meta reveals microdetails and transient responses with significantly better articulation, helping listeners uncover nuances often missed with AirPods 4. For comfort fit, It performs measurably better (6.5 vs 5). Even under close inspection, AirPods 4 maintains a softly cleaner, more seamless design — whereas Project Meta occasionally reveals minor imperfections. Project Meta’s bundled components feel vastly more premium, suggesting a stronger focus on user satisfaction and long-term value.
| 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
Project Meta delivers m deeper and more extended sub-bass, reaching lower frequencies with greater authority than AirPods 4 (6 vs 4.5). It renders bass with a greater punch and separation, where AirPods 4 sometimes feels bloated (6 vs 5.5). The bass in It feels s more physical and textured, with improved rumble and body compared to AirPods 4 (6.5 vs 5). It achieves a better warmth and coherence in the lower mids, bringing more realism to guitars and cellos (6.5 vs 5.5). Upper mids are a more resolving and expressive on AirPods 4, revealing emotion and articulation better than Project Meta (6 vs 5.5). Project Meta provides n more refined lower treble, resolving fine detail and air with greater finesse than AirPods 4 (7.5 vs 6.5). With n higher resolution, It allows finer textures and room ambiance to shine more than AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). In complex arrangements, It separates layers a more distinctly, preventing overlap that AirPods 4 occasionally suffers (6.5 vs 5). It shows a better control of masking effects, maintaining clarity across frequency ranges better than AirPods 4 (5.5 vs 5). Notes played through It feel n weightier and fuller, giving a more satisfying impact than those from AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). Percussion and quick attacks feel a more physical and punchy on It, adding excitement over AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). It renders timbres with a better harmonic balance, preserving the character of instruments more accurately than AirPods 4 (6 vs 5.5). The overall tonality of It is a more balanced and cohesive, offering a sound signature that feels better tuned than AirPods 4 (6 vs 5). The grain and surface of instruments are rendered a more vividly by It, while AirPods 4 feels flatter (5.5 vs 4.5).
| AirPods 4 | Project Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Sub Bass | 4.5 | 6.0 |
| Bass | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| Bass Feel | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Lower Mids | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Upper Mids | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Lower Treble | 6.5 | 7.5 |
| Upper Treble | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Sound Stage Width | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Detail | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Layering | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Masking | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Note Weight | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Slam | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Sibilance | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Timbre Color | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| Tonality | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Texture | 4.5 | 5.5 |
Tonal Signature
// Nothing to compare yet.