64Audio
Next on the list is one of the largest in-ear manufacturers anywhere in the world today: 64Audio. Fresh off the successes of their U/A18Tzar and Tia Fourte IEMs, they’ve refreshed a large majority of their line-up to include the widely-acclaimed Tia – or tubeless, open-backed – drivers; instilling outstanding clarity and top-end extension into every one of their models from the bottom up (bar the U/A2e). At CanJam, 64Audio showcased the U2e, the U3t, the U6t, the N8t, the U12t, the Tia Trio and the aforementioned flagships. I managed to audition three of the six new releases and – although I was generally impressed by all three – I did have a clear favourite.
64Audio U6t: I initially auditioned the U6t expecting a full and natural-sounding monitor. The original U6 was one of my favourites off their old line-up because of its organicity and sub-bass performance. The only gripe I had was its lacklustre treble extension, which made me all the more excited when I found out it was going to be refreshed with a Tia driver inside. But, the U6t – to my surprise – distances itself quite aggressively from its Tia-less predecessor. In place of a richer signature is now a bright, crisp and clarity-focused IEM. What was once a wet and thick low-end is now more textured and neutrally-placed. With a greater emphasis on the upper-bass as well as the Tia-fuelled upper-treble lift, the U6t is more melodious and airy down low – rather than subtly guttural as its predecessor was.
This tightness in the bass particularly affects the vocal region. Although presence is palpable due to an upper-midrange bump, the U6t loves vocal clarity – minimising harmonic richness and body. Without an accentuated mid-bass to support its articulation, the U6t renders female vocals with excellent cleanliness, but leaves chestier instruments – such as male vocals – sounding raspier. The Tia driver is in full effect here, endowing the U6t with the now-signature upper-treble lift to fully expand its stage. It greatly benefits micro-detail retrieval and spaciousness, but it – to me – leaves the overall signature in need of more weight. There is some degree of warmth in the lower-midrange, but the U6t definitely leans toward brighter territories. Though, despite this tuning decision, the U6t is still a technical achiever. Like I said, its clarity, speed and vocal presence are all incredibly strong. A U6 successor it is not, but a clean-sounding piece, it sure is.
64Audio N8t: But, the N8t is where I truly fell in love. The idea of a Tia-equipped U8 had been brewing in my head for months then, and witnessing it announced as an 8-plus-1 hybrid IEM developed in collaboration with Nathan East only fuelled that fantasy further. Once I finally got the chance to hear it, it absolutely did not disappoint. Although it faces some stiff competition now in the form of Empire Ears’ new hybrids, the N8t is definitely up there with some of the best I’ve ever heard. Unlike the former’s rumbly-er and more centrally-focused bass response, the N8t presents its low-end with a grander ambience and a richer touch; a more analog feel. But, that’s not to say that it isn’t technically capable either. Despite the bass’s inherent wetness, articulation is one of its strongest qualities. Bass notes become dead-easy to discern and it decays beautifully as well. A bloom accompanies transient response without veil, mating technical performance with musicality in an incredibly charming manner.
The N8t’s dynamic driver also emanates gorgeous warmth into the midrange. Vocals and instruments alike gain a palpable sense of body, as well as a warmer and more organic tone. Again, the Tia driver aerates the entire stage whilst tremendously boosting detail retrieval and clarity, but the N8t is equipped with a more controlled variant. Compared to the rest of the line-up, the Tia driver in the N8t exhibits the most restraint; accomplishing its technical tasks without tampering with tone. Because of this, instruments cut through the richness of the stage with aplomb, tempered against the black background of the stage. And yet, the IEM retains its tube-like signature at all times; evoking a vintage and timeless panache with modern technicality. The N8t is a true winner in my eyes, and an IEM I’d love to see modelled after as an example of Tia drivers tuned just right. Balancing a voluminous bass, an organic midrange and an effortlessly detailed treble is no easy task, but the N8t pulls it off in stunning fashion. This is an IEM I’d definitely love to take a closer look at in the future, and my clear winner at the 64Audio table.
64Audio U12t: The U12t is a deserved successor to the U12. Although the Tia-driver gives it an airiness and a crispness that its predecessor did not have, the U12t is still a sub-bass-driven IEM that shines through rumble. Textured, layered and guttural all describe its low-end; choosing to focus more on definition and growl, rather than richness or bloom. And yet, that sub-bass becomes a source of body for the midrange as well. Vocal presence – unlike the U12t – is placed just above the low-end, making it a tad more versatile than its predecessor. Although it’s more of an all-round IEM, bass enthusiasts will still find plenty to love in its well-textured and kinetic lows.
The U12t has the cleaner midrange; emphasising articulation, clarity and crispness. It does sacrifice some of the original U12’s warmth and body, but it’s a presentation that fans of the U18t – for example – will enjoy. Upper treble is – as expected – elevated via the Tia driver, but it’s a decently reserved lift; not as calmed as the N8t, but less bright compared to the U6t. The U12t preserves its predecessor’s width, while the boost in vocal presence slightly compromises depth. It’s less theatre-like, but you get more engagement in return. The U12t is an admirable all-round IEM. Although it loses some of its predecessor’s warmth, its near-w-shape is refreshing in the high-end IEM market. Fans of the U12 who desire a brighter and more engaging signature should definitely take a look at its Tia-equipped counterpart.
Music Sanctuary’s Project K
Due to several substantial revisions currently taking place within Project K’s Soundwriter project, the sound impressions previously located within this chapter have been removed, because of outdated and potentially invalid information. My thoughts on the Project K Soundwriter will be linked here in the future once the project is finalised. Apologies for any inconveniences caused.
With eight full tables at their disposal, Singaporean powerhouse Music Sanctuary’s endless array of custom IEMs and cables was the clear highlight of the entire show floor. And yet, no other booth attracted as much attention as the one ominously labelled: Project K. Officially unveiled at CanJam Singapore 2018, Project K is a collaborative affair between Music Sanctuary and a potential myriad of manufacturers across the globe. The initiative aims to push the boundaries of both technical and musical performance, by way of enhancements made throughout the entire signal chain. From DAP modifications, to custom cabling concoctions, to revamped custom IEMs, Project K is the personification of Music Sanctuary’s age-old motto: For audiophiles, by audiophiles.
16 Responses
Hey Neil,
I talked about the Major quite a bit in my e-earphone article here: https://theheadphonelist.com/e-earphone-japan/4/. I’m afraid I can’t say much more without another audition, but I have talked to FAudio about a potential collaboration with the Major.
I can’t really speak to the comparisons you’re asking for, because I haven’t listened to them side-by-side with the Major. I can say that the Major is a step above its single-DD’ed brethren like the Dita Dream or the Sennheiser IE800S, but I don’t know whether it’s on par with technical giants like the Fourté. In terms of staging for example, the Fourté definitely has a more transparent stage. But when you take into account how much the Fourté sacrifices tonally in the process, all of a sudden the Major sounds like the more enjoyable option. Really, it’s too complex of a comparison for me to speak blindly on without an A/B audition, so you’ll have to wait on that.
To put it simply, I think the Major punches considerably above its price, but we have to be realistic too. 😉
Given the Major’s tonal balance, it would work really well with hip-hop and house music. When you start talking about R&B and vocals, it really depends on what kind of R&B you listen to and what you look for from vocals. If the kind of R&B you listen to is more dreamy and vibe-y ala Miguel, for example, I think the Major would work really well. If it’s more pop-oriented ala John Legend, then it depends on how you like your bass. I think the Major’s low-end is guttural, visceral and placed just right, but with those genres of tracks, it may outshine the vocals a bit – not in presence, but in engagement and musicality.
If you want vocals to be the clear focus of the ensemble, the Major isn’t perhaps for you. But then again, none of the TOTLs you mentioned do that either, so I’m guessing that’s not what you’re fully looking for. In terms of vocal clarity, the Major performs really well. Its treble is a touch darker and smoother than the Fourté’s, so instruments aren’t as crisp as the ones on there. But as a result, the Major is more pleasing to listen to and less metallic-sounding. If you want more body and wetness with your vocals, the Major isn’t too much for that. The Major’s vocals are on the cleaner side, but again, they’re very refined-sounding, so they won’t come across lean at all.
My top three universal IEMs (i.e. IEMs that aren’t available in custom form, so the Legend X and U12t aren’t included) at the moment would probably be the Major, Earsonics’ Grace and Jomo Audio’s Trinity Brass. I love the Major for the reasons I described on my e-earphone article. Earsonics’ Grace has a wonderfully elegant, refined, gorgeous signature that my colleague Nic so accurately described in his review: https://theheadphonelist.com/earsonics-grace/. And, the Trinity to me fuses technical performance and musicality in such a wonderful way. It’s a fun-sounding, coherent and engaging piece with an effortless and not-showy technical foundation underneath.
I posted the comment in the wrong article haha sorry
Hey deezel I am really interested in the faudio major can you describe the signature more, what other iems does it compete against interms of the totl(fourte, legend x, solaris, u12t,trio) and would rnb, vocals, hippop and house work well with the iem, thanks, also what are your favourite top 3 iems regardless of price in universal
all is OK, it was a communication problem due to surplus of work 🙂
I now have a copy of the Soundwriter
Thank you Daniel
I asked you this question because I bought these iems in March and the long wait without any real answer leads me to fear that their manufacture will be canceled.
Best regards
Patrick
Hello Patrick,
Unfortunately, the Soundwriter is currently going through several major revisions. I took down the Soundwriter section in the article to avoid spreading outdated and inaccurate information, but you’ll certainly hear from us once any new info comes to light.
Best regards,
Daniel
Hi Deezel
Do you have any informations about the soundwriter?
Hi Daniel
That makes sense. Buying iems blind is always a little unnerving. Thanks very much for your clear and quick response!
Cheers
Adrian
Hi Adrian,
The retuned W900 is more treble-focused overall, but that shouldn’t be read as an exacerbation of the the original W900’s problems. The old W900 had a lower-treble spike that was very clearly out of place compared to the rest of the frequency response. With the upper-treble lift, the general treble region is now accentuated, but it’s more linear and – therefore – more realistic. It’s still not natural in terms of tone – and the IEM’s whole tonal balance is now brighter as a result – but the increased coherence makes it at least neutral to the ear.
In my opinion, the new W900 is a better buy than the original. The original is fatiguing because of its incoherence, while the new one fairs better in terms of linearity. The neutral tone is definitely in the vein of 64Audio’s U18Tzar or Jomo Audio’s house sound, but it’s surely a more-easily-liked signature than the original had.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Daniel
Hi Deezel
Thanks for your impressions of the event. Im interested in your impressions of the retuned aaw w900. From the sounds of it, the changes have not fixed the treble timbre and have made the signature brighter and more treble focused overall. Would that be fair? Aaw are saying that the retuning improves the soundstage and treble detail.
I have an opportunity to purchase the w900 for a good price but wondering whether to get the retuned version or the original. I have heard the w500 (which i liked alot – particularly its bass impact and stage width although found it a little artificial sounding), but i understand they are quite different tunings. I also liked the texture and body of the bass on the ax3.
Even though its not quite your cup of tea, do u prefer the retuned or original w900? I prefer slightly warm, natural sound with the great bass texture and body of the other aaw models.
Thanks
Adrian
Hi Deezel
Thanks for your impressions of the event. Im interested in your impressions of the retuned aaw w900. From the sounds of it, the changes have not fixed the treble timbre and have made the signature brighter and more treble focused overall?
I have an opportunity to purchase the w900 for a good price but wondering whether to get the retuned version or the original. I have heard the w500 (which i liked alot – particularly its bass impact and stage width but also found it a little artificial sounding), but i understand they are quite different tunings. I also liked the texture and body of the bass on the ax3.
Thanks
Adrian
Hi All im rookie here. Good article! Thx! Thx!
Hi Surya,
The entire Soundwriter write-up is a comparison against the U18t; unfortunately I can’t get any more specific without an extended listen between the two. The N8t is a much warmer, richer and bodied IEM than the U18t. The U18t is cleaner and clearer, while the N8t has a bold, voluminous bass, a butter-y midrange and a more controlled treble. It looks like what you’re looking for is an emphasis on technical performance, with moderate body from the bass, so for your preferences, I’d recommend the Soundwriter.
All of PWAudio’s are as pliant and ergonomic as Effect Audio and PlusSound’s offerings. The only aspect in which they differ is in the feel or touch of the insulation; EA and PS’s insulations are softer to the touch. But, in usability alone, they’re pretty equal. The 1950s’ insulation was still pre-production, so I can’t comment.
Hi deezel, thanks for replying.
How would the n8t and sound writer compare to the A18 tzar. I was looking top midrange and treble performance, clean speration and layering and also slightly boosted but accurate bass. I listen to pop, edm and acoustic covers both male and female vocals mostly. An i am looking for a custom.
Recommendations deeply appreciated.
Btw how is the ergonomics and pliability of the wires of saladin and 1950s say compared to the latest from effect audio and plussound.
Best Regards,
Surya
Hi Surya,
Thanks so much for your kind words! My top three IEMs there in terms of overall performance and personal preference were the N8t, the Soundwriter and the Vision Ears Erlkonig. But, the three most surprisingly impressive (especially in terms of value-for-money) were the AAW A3H, the Jomo Type X and a tie between the FIBAE ME and Model X.
Cable-wise, my top three were the Saladin+, the Janus D and the 1950s. I love the Saladin+ for its warm, bodied and natural tone, mated with great imaging and stage stability. The Janus D isn’t as warm as the Saladin+ in tone, but it does have a natural timbre balanced skilfully with strong technical performance and finesse in its note release. The 1950s is absolutely a cost-no-object item, but its open stage, colourless tone and bass performance have made it an almost must-have for me. I’ve honestly never heard the Phantom sound as good.
Hi deezel,
Thanks for you excellent coverage of canjam SG. Could you rate your top three fav iems and top three fav cables. Just to sum up your overall expwriences during Can jam.
Thanks
Best Regards,
Surya