CrinEar Protocol Micro Ultra-Portable DAC-Amplifier
CrinEar Protocol Micro Ultra-Portable DAC-Amplifier
4.61 / 5.0
(51) 51 total reviews
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Inspired by the flagship Protocol Max, the CrinEar Protocol Micro delivers the essential Protocol experience in a streamlined, ultra-affordable package, making high-quality portable audio more accessible than ever.
The Protocol Micro is a compact USB-C to 3.5mm DAC-amplifier that brings high-quality audio and powerful customization to your everyday listening. Built around a modified SPV4040 DAC with an ultra-low output impedance of less than 0.4Ω, it preserves the intended sound of your earphones while delivering clean, transparent playback for music, videos, games, and more. Small enough to fit in any pocket, Protocol Micro is the perfect audio upgrade for smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
What sets the Protocol Micro apart is its built-in 8-band Parametric EQ, allowing you to personalize your listening experience without relying on software during playback. Using the browser-based EQ.Hangout.Audio interface on PC or macOS, you can create and save EQ profiles directly to the device, so your preferred tuning goes wherever the dongle does.
I love the idea of a 10$ dongle with EQ that I can just keep with a pair of IEMs and not have to fuss with any EQ software. The problem is I hear a quiet but very noticeable hissing sound that I can't seem to troubleshoot (with Crinear nightfall). I hear it on my desktop or android phone, with a custom PEQ or just flat. The most frustrating part to me is that the website has an option for noise reduction that doesn't seem to work (see attached screenshot). I hope this can be fixed at some point so I don't have to go back to the apple dongle + eq software where I don't hear the hissing.
Quality product…
I already have a JM12, so that will be my baseline comparison. Also, I got my Protocol Micro from the Nightfall Bundle, so I basically got it for free.
Build:
- Loving the threaded cable. Since it is flexible and thin, you can fold the dongle for travel. Also makes it that you don't have a stiff cable dangling at the bottom of your phone when in use. The connections also feels more snug compared to my JM12.
PEQ:
- Definitely works as intended and using the graph and EQ tools has been very straightforward.
- Unfortunately, you need a PC or MacOS (does not work in Linux too) to actually connect it. Hoping for an app or more OS supports in the future.
Overall worth it for it's price.
It's a dongle dac at $10 with PEQ! If your IEM costs less than ~$150, just buy it, set it up once, and leave it! Consider it a way to re-tune an IEM on the cheap with minimal fuss.
Drawbacks:
- There's no way to change the PEQ settings on Android even via a web browser, it needs a PC with USB C. Consider it less a mobile PEQ solution and more of a set-and-forget way to retune a specific IEM.
- It doesn't support low shelf and high shelf filters. They upload in the app but silently do nothing. (Measured via audio loopback into line in and calculation of FR.)
- If you set a preamp headroom value and then push an EQ, the preamp gets reset and silently leads to clipping. Preamp must be pushed AFTER any EQ.
- There is a slight hiss, audible on high sensitivity IEMs like the Daybreak and Reference, but it's generally not annoying. I wouldn't use it on a high-end IEM like the Crinear Reference.
The next cheapest option is FiiO'2 $20 snowsky offering which may not be compatible with your phone case. It still has some level of hiss, but it fixes all of the software issues including high/low shelf support and having a working (but relatively annoying) PEQ mobile app.
The ports feel sturdy, cable seems decently strong. One mod I would do is to wrap it in electrical tape for increased durability.
Very pleased with my purchase