Those who read my reviews for a while know that I really love bold experiments, and if these experiments also give some positive result, so it's generally wonderful. Therefore, to the company's products I looked very long ago, and towards the end of the year I had a chance to review their former flagship model U12.
In general, 64 Audio is far from being a newcomer to the high-end IEM market. For many years they have been working in the field of custom headphones and have achieved recognition both among professional musicians and in the wide circles of audiophile public. Approximately a couple of years ago (I do not remember a specific date), they began to promote ADEL technology - special sound filters, the result turned out to be very good, but these filters were further developed, and APEX modules used in their latest developments appeared. It is this filter and equipped with the 12 drivers that came to my review.
Of course, the model with 12 radiators in each ear (oh, after all, not so long ago 6 drivers seemed to be the height of luxury) could not be cheap, it did not happen, , and the custom version made on the mold of your ears will cost all 2000. At the same time, the company does not stop, they developed a new technology for creating headphones without internal sound guides and announced two new models with its use. 18-drivers Tzar will cost $ 3,000 (regardless of the case version) and 4-driver hybrids tia Fourté - 3600. In general, progress is an expensive phenomenon, and R & D companies have to pay customers.
However, let's return to our 12 drivers, they really do not sound like anything else.
Specifications
- Emitters: 12 × with balanced armature
- Crossover: three-way, 4 emitters per lane
- Impedance: 16Ω @ 1 kHz
- Sensitivity: 115 dB / mW
- Frequency range: 10 Hz - 20 kHz
- Sound insulation: -20 dB with APEX m20 module
- Cable: interchangeable, 120 cm
Packing and delivery kit
The box of these headphones is simple, but this is the case where for simplicity lies a thought out design. The packaging is made in the form of a "pencil" stretched vertically, the outer "dust jacket" is made of a nice cardboard with the soft-touch effect. On the back there is a small history of the company, in which the origin of the number 64 in the title is revealed (my programming side was upset that it was not 2 to 6 degrees, but the musician side was pleased), just below is the APEX technology description. Underneath this cover is a main box of dense red cardboard, containing a package with 3 pairs of foam nozzles and a plastic case with headphones. In the case there are special projections for winding wires and compartments, fixing the headphones, so that it protects its contents reliably. Also inside, you will find a clothes clip for fixing the cable to the clothes and a cleaning tool. We also took care of the tablet of the dehydrator, which must be unpacked and inserted into a special retainer inside the case.
In general, for this point a solid five, product designers obviously do not get their salaries for nothing, the presentation of the product at 64 Audio is clearly made in its own and unlike anything else.
Design and comfortable wearing
For 12 emitters, the headphones are surprisingly small. It's hard to believe that in a fairly compact package of black hypoallergenic plastic hides so many "armatures". By the way, I will note the thoughtfulness of the form and the successful choice of color for the station wagon - the glossy black looks really good. Lovers of the same beauty can take their soul on the custom version, where traditionally there is a choice of different colors and feyspletov. A universal model on the outside only the manufacturer's logo and APEX modules carry.
Thanks to an ergonomic shape and a fairly long spout, the universal model fits well into most ears, which is also a good achievement for a model with 4 separate ducts. Sound insulation at U12 is slightly worse than average, and, in general, this is a good result considering that acoustic design can be considered half-open. For normal transport and street, these headphones are quite suitable, but in the metro, perhaps, is not enough. However, this is standard for the IEM, I'm not sure that it makes sense to repeat this in each review.
The wire at the headphones, of course, is replaceable, standard two-pin connectors are used, so fans of third-party solutions will easily find a replacement. The stock cable is not bad, in black silicone insulation, it is soft and not noisy, it does not harden in the cold and is very inclined to tangling.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening.
- NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, Fiio X7 and theBit OPUS # 2 as portable players
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 48 hours.
To begin, I will tell you a little about how this very technology APEX works. 64 Audio rightly noted that any headphones in the IEM form-factor has one drawback, which follows from their own dignity. All radiators in such solutions operate on a closed volume, which affects both the sound and the user's hearing.
How are usually multi-turn armatures? Several emitters are placed in the headphone body, which, through special tubes, are output through the sound guide to the auditory canal. Thus, all the drivers work in a very small volume, so the air inevitably impedes the progress of the membrane. Of course, the reinforcing radiators are not so affected by this negative influence, as dynamic, but still the effect takes place. Therefore, the first task of APEX technology is to increase the internal volume of air. For this, a free space is used inside the headphone housing, through a separate sound guide the cavity inside the case is connected to the auditory channel, increasing the available volume. In addition, the 64 Audio headphones use a special filter, which further opens access from this internal cavity to the outside through a special porous material. These filters are called APEX modules and allow you to achieve open sound, practically without losing noise isolation. In addition, according to the developers, these modules reduce air pressure in the cavity of the auditory canal, which helps protect the hearing from overloads. In addition, 64 Audio offer plug-in modules that allow you to slightly tune the feed.
By the sound of the impact of this innovation is really noticeable, I do not particularly pokrivlyu soul, saying that the U12 sound unlike any other model in a similar form factor.
For U12, the company's engineers chose a slightly darkened sound with a slight emphasis on low frequencies and a smooth "musical" pitch of the rest of the band. First, after more traditional models, the sound of this one seems less detailed, but after getting used to it you realize that in fact all the details are there, but they are not accented in the same way as in other IEMs.
The bass in these headphones is very impressive, it goes deep and has a good weight for the reinforcement model, but thanks to the presence of APEX - does not put pressure on the eardrums. It's quite difficult to explain to those who did not listen, but the LF in this model is really original. For lovers of brain massage, this model does not work, but for high-quality music, the bass here is really worthy, despite its massiveness, it keeps in its place and does not muffle other frequencies. The resolution is not prohibitive, but quite good, the bass sounds are slightly merged, which fits into the overall concept of the sound of headphones. U12 confidently build a low-frequency base, while not pulling attention to this range. It turns out a bit paradoxical situation - headphones with darkened feed, but without domination of low frequencies.
The middle frequencies are also slightly smoothed, they do not have a characteristic for the typical reinforcing models of the emphasis in the microcontrast and careful separation of everything, instead the U12 emphasize the openness of the sound, the volume and the wholeness of the pitch, often called "musicality". In general, to listen to the smallest giver of recordings, U12 is not suitable, but they are tolerant to the quality of recording. Flaws of information and mastering you will hear, but they are not set on the forefront, like other reinforcing models. Remarkably U12 can transmit emotions, they are very embossed and outlined. As I wrote above, headphones very well build an imaginary scene, it is obtained exactly the width that is needed, plus they do not have the effect of clamping, typical for typical IEM. Especially it surprises against the background of other headphones with a dark feed, they usually have a very intimate and closed scene. The depth is also good, although not prohibitive, because of the softening of the sound there is no sharp separation of plans into the depths, they pass into each other smoothly. Localization of tools and transfer of their character - at a level corresponding to the price category.
The upper frequencies also bear the influence of half-openness. In general, to describe the supply of headphones from 64 Audio is quite difficult, usually the softened supply means a muddy and listless sound with low detail, and dark sound is also traditionally typical for models with poor RF processing, but U12 as a whole does not correspond to anything of this. This model has a well-developed high-frequency range, with both attacks and fades worked out, moreover, there is a small peak on the high-frequency crossover that adds expressiveness to it, but the headphones are absolutely not sharp. In general, and here APEX makes itself felt, making the sound more comfortable for perception.
I will not give comparisons, since the U12 sound so differently that it is possible to compare them only with other models from 64 Audio, and I have not had such an opportunity so far. Judging by the reviews on the Internet, their U10 model is also interesting, offering a more even frequency response with a slightly lower prevalence of low frequencies, while retaining all the strengths of the branded sound.
Compatibility
On the one hand, the headphones are tolerant to the quality of the source and recording, they do not exaggerate their flaws, and even 16Ω with a sensitivity of 115 dB / mW - the load is not heavy, but, of course, for top IEM, a source is needed that can open them first of all in resolution and other characteristics. Therefore, to use these headphones with inexpensive players or smartphones - the idea is not the most reasonable, they need to select a player with a neutral feed and a bias in technicality. Of the available options, the Cayin N5 proved to be good, of the more expensive models - Fiio X7 with AM3 amplifier and Questyle QP1R. From the tops - OPUS # 2. It's interesting enough with U12 and Lotoo Paw Gold, but this bunch on some tracks may sound unnecessarily massive on LF, losing the other advantages of these headphones.
Genre U12 is quite versatile, taking into account the personal tastes of the potential owner. Especially brilliant they succeed in those styles, where a broad scene and a massive sound are needed simultaneously (as an example - symphonic metal). To the quality of recording, they are sensitive moderately, somewhere by 7 points on a 10-point scale.
Traditionally, several tracks for example
Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu . Who said that the soundtrack to the game can not get a Grammy? Even if this track took 5 years, it was written as the title theme for the brilliant Civilization IV, released in 2005, and the award "found the hero" only in 2010 after the release of the album "Calling All Dawns". A magnificent example of modern World Music is the translated "Swine Our" translated into Swahili by Ron Ragin and a gospel choir from South African Soweto. The volume, characteristic for U12, allows them to perfectly convey this track.
Witherscape - Marionette . One of the main secrets that cause the problematic choice of good headphones for heavy metal is the fact that most of such music is very poorly recorded. In pursuit of the "right" sound, the recordings are subjected to compression both during the mixing stage and during mastering, which often gives ridiculous results like Death Magnetic from Metallica, amused fans of DR3. In the "Mastered for iTunes" version, the dynamic range was adjusted to 7, but this saved the material, which was spoiled still at the stage of reduction. Therefore, any metal album for which a good producer is taking deserves close attention, and there are not so many good specialists in the recording of various "heavyweight" like Dan Swanö. Naturally, Dan could not come up to the record of his own project album through his sleeves, so in addition to the standard version, a "full dynamic mix" was released, pleasing DR13, and demonstrating what a really good record means. Naturally, to enjoy all the nuances of such recordings without high-quality headphones is simply impossible, and the U12 shows itself well on this track, giving the necessary effect for recording and massiveness.
Celldweller - Switchback . Perhaps the most famous track, which was released from the pen of the main project of Clayton. Fingers on both hands will not be enough to count all the films and series, in the soundtrack of which entered this song. I included it in this review as an example of a material very suitable for the U12 - their weight and surround scene perfectly complement the sound of this track.
conclusions
Very interesting headphones, with atypical for multi-turn fittings feed. U12 combine incongruous and offer the user at the same time a detailed and nenapryagayuschy sound. At first glance (or rumor?) It seems that the headphones are unnecessarily dark, but after a little getting used to it you realize that in fact they are just not sharp where it is not necessary, and their real detail is at a very good level. APEX technology proved (personally for me) its consistency, and I'm looking forward to other new products of the company.
The article is based on materials .
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