Design and fit
Selecting and configuring your own N8 is as simple as can be. Jump on to 64 Audio’s website, navigate to custom IEMs, choose N8 from the scrolling options, and start designing using the interactive CIEM designer.
You can choose any of the listed combinations of shell colour, faceplate design, custom artwork, and cable types (either 2-pin clear/black or IPX clear/black), or you can contact the design team if you have any specific customisation requests.
“While aesthetics is important for some artists more than others, we have an almost infinite ability to customise the CIEMs’ appearance, especially when the user uploads their own custom artwork,” says Filipp. “Some performers integrate their CIEMs’ appearance into their costume design for a tour, like the Tiffany & Co. set we made for Beyonce. It is something that isn’t possible with retail universal IEMs, which are cosmetically invariable, so we encourage customers to really have fun designing their own customs.”
While not quite as sophisticated as some true 3D custom designers I’ve seen online, 64 Audio’s live rendering of what your custom design will look like (including what it might look like with your own artwork), is fairly accurate, as you can see in the screen grab of my design below.
The standard design options are vast, from solid colour to translucent, and even totally clear shells, a choice of dozens of solid, translucent, glitter, wood, specialty and two new premium faceplate options (mirror gold and rose gold), and also a choice of silver and gold logos, rhinestones and clock gear designs. With N8, you get a special logo choice, Nathan East’s initials, as shown above.
If you’d like to upload your own artwork, you can do so direct from the designer, and even have it placed in a specific position on the faceplate. Note that you lose the option of adding 64 Audio or Nathan East’s signature logo to the design, depending on your faceplate choices, so keep that in mind if these are important to you.
I think you’ll agree that the final product, complete with naturally-sourced purple Paua abalone faceplates, set against glossy solid gloss black shells (inspired by the recently-released Volür universal IEM) is absolutely stunning.
As mentioned earlier, I had some initial discomfort, with the fit being a touch too large for my small ear canals, but once corrected, they fit like a glove. What I will say is that there’s still some pressure in the ear – or, at least, I can feel that I have foreign objects in my ears while using them, and that’s perfectly normal.
Custom IEMs are invasive, there’s no getting around it, and usually sit quite a bit deeper inside your ear canals than universals with tips (especially since I like my universals with a shallow fit). But after a few days’ use, your ears become accustomed to the feel, and you should be able to use your customs for hours on end without discomfort. Should you have any pain whatsoever, even after several hours, chances are the fit isn’t optimal, and you should get them looked at.
The flipside of the tighter fit is that isolation is incredible. I literally can’t hear any loud external sounds further out than a few metres, and even people speaking closer to me are almost completely drowned out when I have N8 in my ears. The seal is so good that eating while listening doesn’t make any difference, and I also don’t get any feedback from my footsteps when walking. These are easily the most isolating IEMs I’ve used, even more so than active noise cancelling, which is not the case with any of my other customs or universals.
Build quality on these IEMs is excellent. The resin feels super solid, the lacquer is evenly spread, and silky smooth to the touch. Even the placement of the internal wax-guard mesh has been carefully considered so as not to impede performance or aesthetics. N8 is as lovingly crafted as it’s tuned, and the harmony between form and function very much resonates with how much I value both.
Packaging and accessories
Before we get info the good stuff, a quick word about packaging and accessories. Unlike 64 Audio’s retail-focused universal IEMs, N8 ships in a smaller, simpler box with a fold-up lid revealing a puck-like aluminium case inside. This heavyset case contains the entire package – the IEMs, rolled into the cable, and a set of Apex modules and a cleaning tool pressed into foam cutouts in the lid.
It’s simple, smart and professional, befitting a product designed for professionals. It would have been nice to have some further customisations on the case, like an engraved name or logo, although I’m sure 64 Audio would accommodate that if asked. Also, while the cable itself is perfectly functional and sounds good, there’s an extra charge if you want it terminated with a 4.4mm balanced plug, something I feel should be included as standard – although I understand that 3.5mm is far more common for professional use.
Continue to sound impressions…
