Summary
In the initial fit condition with vented sleeve coupling, the Sony CRE-C20 delivered above-average speech clarity in both quiet and noisy environments. Own-voice comfort tested above the category average, suggesting acceptable occlusion control for this invisible-in-ear style. However, feedback handling scored below average at 4.50/5, and music streaming is not available on this device. The overall initial fit score of 2.40/5 indicates room for improvement through further adjustment, though basic out-of-box performance provides a reasonable starting point for speech understanding.
With tuned settings (maintaining vented sleeve coupling), the CRE-C20 showed meaningful improvement across speech metrics. Speech in quiet jumped to 4.70/5 and speech in noise reached 3.20/5—both well above category averages. The overall fit score improved by over one full point to 3.43/5. Feedback handling decreased slightly to 3.90/5 with the tuned configuration, suggesting a trade-off between amplification and stability. Own-voice comfort remained consistent. These results indicate the CRE-C20 rewards users who invest time in optimizing their settings.
Lab Review Scores
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