Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join listener for an abridged history of the popular theory of tuning IEMs, one that explains why the discourse around “neutral” in IEMs is considerably more fraught than it should be, and why the CrinEar Reference makes that impossible to ignore anymore.
Buy the CrinEar Reference: headphones.com/products/crinear-reference-in-ear-headphones
Read listener's review of the Reference: headphones.com/blogs/reviews/crinear-reference-we-have-arrived
Discuss the CrinEar Reference on our forum: forum.headphones.com/t/crinear-reference-measurements-official-discussion
Support us by buying headphones at headphones.com
Headphone Power Calculator: headphones.com/pages/headphones-power-calculator
Check out our Headphone Ranking Lists: headphones.com/pages/ranking-lists
Check out our forum: forum.headphones.com
Read more headphone, IEM, amp, and DAC Reviews: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles
Our Editorial Policy: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles/About
Join our Discord server: go.headphones.com/discord
How to read the new measurements:
youtube.com/watch?v=QWS-hIzI1KU
Why you shouldn’t use AutoEQ: youtube.com/watch?v=s0nZCXyDTz4
The 10 stages of headphone measurements
youtu.be/LrIoNMeo_GI
Sound quality in headphones explained: youtu.be/Km2DNLbB-6o?si=DkKz5tAnv42Tg9FF
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Bass vs. "Neutral"
04:36 - Etymotic "Neutral"
05:43 - Harman "Neutral"
09:52 - IEF "Neutral"
14:48 - New Meta
20:31 - Neutral
24:19 - Conclusion
Join listener for an abridged history of the popular theory of tuning IEMs, one that explains why the discourse around “neutral” in IEMs is considerably more fraught than it should be, and why the CrinEar Reference makes that impossible to ignore anymore.
Buy the CrinEar Reference: headphones.com/products/crinear-reference-in-ear-headphones
Read listener's review of the Reference: headphones.com/blogs/reviews/crinear-reference-we-have-arrived
Discuss the CrinEar Reference on our forum: forum.headphones.com/t/crinear-reference-measurements-official-discussion
Support us by buying headphones at headphones.com
Headphone Power Calculator: headphones.com/pages/headphones-power-calculator
Check out our Headphone Ranking Lists: headphones.com/pages/ranking-lists
Check out our forum: forum.headphones.com
Read more headphone, IEM, amp, and DAC Reviews: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles
Our Editorial Policy: Headphones.com/TheAudioFiles/About
Join our Discord server: go.headphones.com/discord
How to read the new measurements:
youtube.com/watch?v=QWS-hIzI1KU
Why you shouldn’t use AutoEQ: youtube.com/watch?v=s0nZCXyDTz4
The 10 stages of headphone measurements
youtu.be/LrIoNMeo_GI
Sound quality in headphones explained: youtu.be/Km2DNLbB-6o?si=DkKz5tAnv42Tg9FF
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Bass vs. "Neutral"
04:36 - Etymotic "Neutral"
05:43 - Harman "Neutral"
09:52 - IEF "Neutral"
14:48 - New Meta
20:31 - Neutral
24:19 - Conclusion










