@tmorterlaing

OK, I should have time to listen to the SM64 tomorrow. A couple of years ago they were my favorites, replacing my TF10 & W4. They were relegated to the desk drawer when the V6-Stage arrived, and of course now the A12 (both universal).

Have you tried them with some different sources? I've read the impedance of BA drivers can swing signicantly across the frequency spectrum and some amps struggle with this. With 12 BAs to drive I'm left wondering if this problem is compounded.

FWIW, having had the opportunity to demo them with the new Zana Deux and with the Yggy driving my Ember, I can say the A12 effortlessly scales to this TOTL gear.

Also, did you take the acoustic filters out of your SM64?

-Eric

@tmorterlaing

Regarding "The only thing is, I have no idea how to differentiate that."

Attending local live performances goes a long way to help with this and are just fun to experience in general. And you don't have to spend a lot of money in this pursuit. My wife commented recently how world is filled with people whose musical talent amazes, who could likely be professional but choose other ways of earning a living. Check out local pubs, community orchestra, jazz club, private and college music schools, etc. Unlike big name / big ticket performers, you can experience un-amped performers in smaller venues were you are up close to the instruments.

eldss said:

@tmorterlaing, what tips are you using? Try the Spinfits. The Complys can muddy up the sound depending on how you insert them. Check the review another user posted on tips to see his preferences for sound and they may help you.

Click to expand...

This is so true.  Last night I put my U8s in and thought the left drivers were broken because the level was so low.  I pulled it out and reinserted it and everything was fine.  I guess the foam got co.pressed weird and blocked the sound bores.

Can anyone compare k10 and a12?
I listen to R&B the most, Hip hop, pop,alternative,folks and indie
Which one should i go for?

ericr said:

@tmorterlaing

OK, I should have time to listen to the SM64 tomorrow. A couple of years ago they were my favorites, replacing my TF10 & W4. They were relegated to the desk drawer when the V6-Stage arrived, and of course now the A12 (both universal).

Have you tried them with some different sources? I've read the impedance of BA drivers can swing signicantly across the frequency spectrum and some amps struggle with this. With 12 BAs to drive I'm left wondering if this problem is compounded.

FWIW, having had the opportunity to demo them with the new Zana Deux and with the Yggy driving my Ember, I can say the A12 effortlessly scales to this TOTL gear.

Also, did you take the acoustic filters out of your SM64?

-Eric

Click to expand...

 

ericr said:

@tmorterlaing

Regarding "The only thing is, I have no idea how to differentiate that."

Attending local live performances goes a long way to help with this and are just fun to experience in general. And you don't have to spend a lot of money in this pursuit. My wife commented recently how world is filled with people whose musical talent amazes, who could likely be professional but choose other ways of earning a living. Check out local pubs, community orchestra, jazz club, private and college music schools, etc. Unlike big name / big ticket performers, you can experience un-amped performers in smaller venues were you are up close to the instruments.

Click to expand...

 
Haha eric to the rescue again! Cheers man. I used to live in Cheltenham so have been to quite a few live music things in my time haha! I didn't take the filters out of the SM64s - I found them to be pretty balanced without, so didn;t need the extra from doing that. I have found the U12s drive pretty easily - the SM64s for example are pretty high impedance, so end up having to ramp up most sources quite a lot. The U12s I can play on most devices at pretty minimal output. I know voltage and output is only one metric, but that doesnt seem to be an issue XD 
 
Have you posted your impressions of the A/U12s yet? Intrigued to know how you think they compare/ how good they are - especially as I know your benchmarks pretty well regarding other iems (from our previous interactions here haha)

ericr said:

@tmorterlaing

OK, I should have time to listen to the SM64 tomorrow. A couple of years ago they were my favorites, replacing my TF10 & W4. They were relegated to the desk drawer when the V6-Stage arrived, and of course now the A12 (both universal).

Have you tried them with some different sources? I've read the impedance of BA drivers can swing signicantly across the frequency spectrum and some amps struggle with this. With 12 BAs to drive I'm left wondering if this problem is compounded.

FWIW, having had the opportunity to demo them with the new Zana Deux and with the Yggy driving my Ember, I can say the A12 effortlessly scales to this TOTL gear.

Also, did you take the acoustic filters out of your SM64?

-Eric

Click to expand...

 
Could you also post a review of the V6-S versus the A12s? The V-6S is known to have a warm signature, so interesting to hear your comparisons on this.
 
Also, on the sockets option, I guess most have chosen the recessed option? Most 3rd party manufacturers have an option for recessed sockets?

borez said:

 
 
.... on the sockets option, I guess most have chosen the recessed option? Most 3rd party manufacturers have an option for recessed sockets?

Click to expand...

 
 
I have had recessed sockets (on UM Miracle) and non-recessed (MG6 Pro) - I absolutely hated not having the option on the latter, and sure enough, the cable pins suffered because of it (and because of another reason I won't go into here).
 
Anyway, the point is that there is a good reason for choosing recessed.
 
However, if you are the kind of person who can't resist buying expensive aftermarket cables, then there is a small chance that some of the expensive aftermarket cables may have oversized plugs, which may not fit into the socket recesses of the CIEM.
 
Every customer has different priorities.  Personally, having had both types, I would go for recessed every single time. But that's just me.
 
 
As for CIEM makers at least offering recessed sockets, it used to be that some were either too lazy or too reluctant to offer this option. But now that 3D printing is becoming ever more common for CIEM shell production, it's 100% as easy for a maker to print a recessed version as it is to print a non-recessed version, so I think we will see almost every CIEM maker eventually (when they can afford to buy 3D printing equipment) offering recessed as a standard option.
 
64 Ears does have 3D printing equipment, of course

borez said:

   
Could you also post a review of the V6-S versus the A12s? The V-6S is known to have a warm signature, so interesting to hear your comparisons on this.
 
Also, on the sockets option, I guess most have chosen the recessed option? Most 3rd party manufacturers have an option for recessed sockets?

Click to expand...

 
not a fan of recessed sockets which actually limits the choice of after market cables.  had a pair of v6 for coming to 2 years without pins breaking off despite changing several pairs of cables.  didn't even carry the pair in a hard case and had it thrown around in the backpack.  the issue here is getting a good pair of cables by a reputable manufacturer that uses quality pin plugs.

Decided to send 1964 a message via e-mail to switch from a cable with microphone to the standard cable. Hope this will speed things up considerably.
Still a lot of silence regarding the U1, and never got a reply regarding the membrane either, just hope they'll ship them before the extremely busy holiday season.

@ericr, why did you let me try your U12?! Dang you.
 
Gah, my wallet says no but my addiction says yes.

uncle e1 said:

   
not a fan of recessed sockets which actually limits the choice of after market cables.  had a pair of v6 for coming to 2 years without pins breaking off despite changing several pairs of cables.  didn't even carry the pair in a hard case and had it thrown around in the backpack.  the issue here is getting a good pair of cables by a reputable manufacturer that uses quality pin plugs.

Click to expand...

 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm coming from a Westone UM3X, and I've always had the infamous loose connection (the IEM just pops off from the cable!). When something becomes loose, would this be more of a loose male, or female connectors?
 
Would be inclined to think that it's the latter (e.g. female connectors). How do you protect the connections, apart from being gentle on the cable replacements? Do you use some form of Loctite (or nail polish), just to keep things together?

borez said:

   
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm coming from a Westone UM3X, and I've always had the infamous loose connection (the IEM just pops off from the cable!). When something becomes loose, would this be more of a loose male, or female connectors?
 
Would be inclined to think that it's the latter (e.g. female connectors). How do you protect the connections, apart from being gentle on the cable replacements? Do you use some form of Loctite (or nail polish), just to keep things together?

Click to expand...

 
If you follow the earlier comments of those who were contemplating to try out different cables, some struggled to take the 2 pin connectors out (even resorted to using small pliers over cloth to take it out). The stock cables from 64ears are really tight fitting, and pins looks sturdy.

is somone using A12 for stage / live performance here? I'm interested to hear about the bass in live situation. Am about to take the plunge but after reading reviews and postings of some member here, I'm thinking of A8 as alternative to A12. 

I received my A6 yesterday - first pairs of CIEMs - getting used to the fit, and starting to really fall in love with the sound. 
 

 
 
 

nardkumz said:

is somone using A12 for stage / live performance here? I'm interested to hear about the bass in live situation. Am about to take the plunge but after reading reviews and postings of some member here, I'm thinking of A8 as alternative to A12. 

Click to expand...

From all of my research, it seems as though they recommend the a8 specifically when bass is required (bass player, drums, dj). The bass response is the same in both models, but there is less mid and treble in the a8. Just what I have gathered.