INTRO
Let me start by saying these are my first CIEMs, and I will not be going back! Decided to take the dive during a great Black Friday sale 1964 Ears put on, so the sheer volume of orders put a massive backlog on their shop (hence the longer than desired wait time, although it was definitely worth it). I've been using these as my daily drivers for a solid 8 months and still am astounded by how great these are.
ORDERING
I did a lot of internet "window shopping" for the right ones, peeking at many other companies. Head-Fi reviews were definitely a deciding factor, as the general consensus was that 1964 Ears essentially provided a high-end user experience at a budget-oriented price in the expensive custom IEM market. 1964's website is certainly one of the best in terms of navigation and clarity of product information. Their online IEM designer tool is also an excellent way to go through the plethora of customizations available, while getting a visual preview of what the final product will look like. Once the order was processed, a link was provided to track the progress of the build (a 10-stage process which was my favourite webpage to visit every day for a few weeks in anticipation). Customer support was responsive and friendly, and emails were replied to within the next business day despite the influx of Black Friday orders. Very pleased with the experience, and these were well worth the 6-week wait.
BUILD QUALITY
Build quality is excellent. No bubbles in the main shell, beautifully buffed to a glorious shine, and the logos seem to float in the acrylic faceplates. The fit is superb and compared to universals with Comply tips which irritated my ears after a few hours, these have sat in my skull for majority of a 10-hour plane ride and have redefined comfort for me. The first round of impressions I sent in were missing some information, so the technicians requested for another round to be sent in to make sure the final product was perfect. Very glad they asked and followed through! Isolation is consequently superb, although if I contort my face in just the right way I can get the seal in my left ear to break. In practical use, the fit is perfect and seal is great!
Now, about those soft canals... These were my first customs and I was scared about comfort issues, so I opted for soft canals (an option that no longer exists for 1964 Ears as far as I know). Out of the flight case, the soft canals had a few bubbles/nicks in the surface. These imperfections don't cause any discomfort, but I am slightly concerned about long-term durability. The bores (drilled holes) through the soft composite material are more difficult to clean and some do not line up perfectly with the internal plastic sound tubes from the drivers, coming in at odd angles perhaps due to the tri-bore design and my small ears. Regardless, I have not noticed any issues as of 8 months and hope that I will have many more years of enjoyment from these!
SOUND
Only having listened to single-driver universals prior to getting these beauties, I initially had to pick my jaw off the ground the first time I took a listen. Compared to Klipsch X7is, these have much better tonality, sub-bass extension, midrange timbre and presence, and treble clarity/extension. Compared to Etymotic ER6is, these have a much less sterile presentation and are even more transparent/clear sonically while still having an extremely beautiful and musical presentation. However, I realize such comparisons aren't even fair. The V6-Stage is in a class of its own, and from what I gather from browsing the interwebs, there is not much that can compete with it in this price range. Comparable 6-driver offerings from other companies such as JH Audio and UE are all in the >$1000 range.
As cliché as it may sound, the V6-Stage has revealed nuances in my music that I never noticed before. The headroom of the impeccably tuned 6 balanced armatures in these bad boys never ceases to astound me. Unlike the previously mentioned universals that seemed to choke when the whole frequency spectrum was being forced down their single-driver throats, the V6-Stage pumps out pure, magical sound without skipping a beat. The two bass, two midrange, and two treble drivers provide a very balanced, but not completely neutral sound profile. I would have to give these a U-shaped frequency response if I had to choose a shape. Sub-bass (<60Hz) is as if there is a massive subwoofer in my head, and the slight treble boost at the top end adds a brilliant clarity and "live" sound to it. The V6-Stage certainly lives up to its moniker, as the presentation is lively and musical, and the soundstage is expansive (not at all like the compressed-in-between-your-ears sound of everything I have heard before). Bass is in no way bloated, and sounds tight and extremely well-controlled. Midrange presence and tone is also excellent, allowing vocals and instruments to cut through with clarity and accuracy without being overbearing. The treble is not perfectly smooth in some areas and does bring out some sibilance at certain times, but at this price it's a tradeoff I am willing to make.
Seemingly remarkable is how well these CIEMs scale with source material and amplification. Their tuning works well with built-in audio on my iPhone 6, providing a good sound that does not seem at all substandard. However, once paired up with higher-end equipment, these really do come into their own. Running the infamous Schiit Stack Mk.II (Magni 2/Modi 2) in combination with lossless audio, the soundstage and imaging improves dramatically, and the eerily accurate timbre and tone of instruments and voices begins to shine through. Texture of sounds springs to life, and sometimes I could swear rainbows and unicorns might pop out of my ears. The V6-Stage certainly appreciates lossless audio and is able to deftly deal with the improved sonic information, but doesn't make a huge fuss when being asked to play nicely with 320kbps MP4s either, a notable achievement.
ACCESSORIES
Comes with a solid sealed flight case (although I wish it came with a pressure relief valve since opening these on an airplane can be a bit of a struggle due to the rubber gasket). Laser-etched custom nameplate is a nice touch. Inside is a shirt clip, 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, and cleaning tool. Everything you need, nothing you don't. I also ordered a smaller zipper case which is a great addition for increased portability and decent protection. Cable has held up so far, and is fairly tangle and kink resistant with its twisted design. 90-degree jack is also a plus for durability.
SUMMARY
For not too much more than you'd pay for a universal fit multi-driver IEM, the 1964 Ears V6-Stage provides unmatched value, sonic prowess, and user experience that is unmistakably satisfying and well worth your hard-earned dollars. It may not be the Rolls-Royce of the CIEM market, but at its insane price point and few compromises, you would be a fool to pass over 1964's offering.
Let me start by saying these are my first CIEMs, and I will not be going back! Decided to take the dive during a great Black Friday sale 1964 Ears put on, so the sheer volume of orders put a massive backlog on their shop (hence the longer than desired wait time, although it was definitely worth it). I've been using these as my daily drivers for a solid 8 months and still am astounded by how great these are.
ORDERING
I did a lot of internet "window shopping" for the right ones, peeking at many other companies. Head-Fi reviews were definitely a deciding factor, as the general consensus was that 1964 Ears essentially provided a high-end user experience at a budget-oriented price in the expensive custom IEM market. 1964's website is certainly one of the best in terms of navigation and clarity of product information. Their online IEM designer tool is also an excellent way to go through the plethora of customizations available, while getting a visual preview of what the final product will look like. Once the order was processed, a link was provided to track the progress of the build (a 10-stage process which was my favourite webpage to visit every day for a few weeks in anticipation). Customer support was responsive and friendly, and emails were replied to within the next business day despite the influx of Black Friday orders. Very pleased with the experience, and these were well worth the 6-week wait.
BUILD QUALITY
Build quality is excellent. No bubbles in the main shell, beautifully buffed to a glorious shine, and the logos seem to float in the acrylic faceplates. The fit is superb and compared to universals with Comply tips which irritated my ears after a few hours, these have sat in my skull for majority of a 10-hour plane ride and have redefined comfort for me. The first round of impressions I sent in were missing some information, so the technicians requested for another round to be sent in to make sure the final product was perfect. Very glad they asked and followed through! Isolation is consequently superb, although if I contort my face in just the right way I can get the seal in my left ear to break. In practical use, the fit is perfect and seal is great!
Now, about those soft canals... These were my first customs and I was scared about comfort issues, so I opted for soft canals (an option that no longer exists for 1964 Ears as far as I know). Out of the flight case, the soft canals had a few bubbles/nicks in the surface. These imperfections don't cause any discomfort, but I am slightly concerned about long-term durability. The bores (drilled holes) through the soft composite material are more difficult to clean and some do not line up perfectly with the internal plastic sound tubes from the drivers, coming in at odd angles perhaps due to the tri-bore design and my small ears. Regardless, I have not noticed any issues as of 8 months and hope that I will have many more years of enjoyment from these!
SOUND
Only having listened to single-driver universals prior to getting these beauties, I initially had to pick my jaw off the ground the first time I took a listen. Compared to Klipsch X7is, these have much better tonality, sub-bass extension, midrange timbre and presence, and treble clarity/extension. Compared to Etymotic ER6is, these have a much less sterile presentation and are even more transparent/clear sonically while still having an extremely beautiful and musical presentation. However, I realize such comparisons aren't even fair. The V6-Stage is in a class of its own, and from what I gather from browsing the interwebs, there is not much that can compete with it in this price range. Comparable 6-driver offerings from other companies such as JH Audio and UE are all in the >$1000 range.
As cliché as it may sound, the V6-Stage has revealed nuances in my music that I never noticed before. The headroom of the impeccably tuned 6 balanced armatures in these bad boys never ceases to astound me. Unlike the previously mentioned universals that seemed to choke when the whole frequency spectrum was being forced down their single-driver throats, the V6-Stage pumps out pure, magical sound without skipping a beat. The two bass, two midrange, and two treble drivers provide a very balanced, but not completely neutral sound profile. I would have to give these a U-shaped frequency response if I had to choose a shape. Sub-bass (<60Hz) is as if there is a massive subwoofer in my head, and the slight treble boost at the top end adds a brilliant clarity and "live" sound to it. The V6-Stage certainly lives up to its moniker, as the presentation is lively and musical, and the soundstage is expansive (not at all like the compressed-in-between-your-ears sound of everything I have heard before). Bass is in no way bloated, and sounds tight and extremely well-controlled. Midrange presence and tone is also excellent, allowing vocals and instruments to cut through with clarity and accuracy without being overbearing. The treble is not perfectly smooth in some areas and does bring out some sibilance at certain times, but at this price it's a tradeoff I am willing to make.
Seemingly remarkable is how well these CIEMs scale with source material and amplification. Their tuning works well with built-in audio on my iPhone 6, providing a good sound that does not seem at all substandard. However, once paired up with higher-end equipment, these really do come into their own. Running the infamous Schiit Stack Mk.II (Magni 2/Modi 2) in combination with lossless audio, the soundstage and imaging improves dramatically, and the eerily accurate timbre and tone of instruments and voices begins to shine through. Texture of sounds springs to life, and sometimes I could swear rainbows and unicorns might pop out of my ears. The V6-Stage certainly appreciates lossless audio and is able to deftly deal with the improved sonic information, but doesn't make a huge fuss when being asked to play nicely with 320kbps MP4s either, a notable achievement.
ACCESSORIES
Comes with a solid sealed flight case (although I wish it came with a pressure relief valve since opening these on an airplane can be a bit of a struggle due to the rubber gasket). Laser-etched custom nameplate is a nice touch. Inside is a shirt clip, 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, and cleaning tool. Everything you need, nothing you don't. I also ordered a smaller zipper case which is a great addition for increased portability and decent protection. Cable has held up so far, and is fairly tangle and kink resistant with its twisted design. 90-degree jack is also a plus for durability.
SUMMARY
For not too much more than you'd pay for a universal fit multi-driver IEM, the 1964 Ears V6-Stage provides unmatched value, sonic prowess, and user experience that is unmistakably satisfying and well worth your hard-earned dollars. It may not be the Rolls-Royce of the CIEM market, but at its insane price point and few compromises, you would be a fool to pass over 1964's offering.
