64Audio U18 Tzar vs 3 other IEMS (Noble Katana, Campfire Andromeda & Sennheiser IE800S
About my disclaimer...The four IEMs in this article were bought by me and I have no bias to any particular manufacturer. Irrespective of whether I was sent them free in return for my honest opinion or paid for them myself what you will get will be my honest opinion.
About my opinion...Everyone has different biology including ear canal acoustics and brain burn. We have all had different audiophile careers, genre preferences and will have become accustomed to a different 'house' sound over time. We also all have differing frequencies responses as well as variations between left and right ears in some frequency areas. We will have drawn conclusions about what we consider ‘reference’ based on many factors and those can also differ. It’s for these reasons that my article is merely my own opinion and will differ from others.
About my Audiophile career...I’ve been evaluating Hi-Fi equipment since the 1990's (Speakers, amps, headphones, tape decks, turntables etc) extolling the virtues of one over the other and identifying the nuances that set them apart. Later in the early 2000s I focused more on personal Hi-Fi equipment and was deep into IEM's for the appeal of having one’s own private performance delivered directly to ones ears to the exclusion of any other sounds.
About the IEM’s selected for comparison...I explored many IEM’s and shortlisted four I liked for the purposes of this evaluation as a means of comparison. They are by no means the only considerations and there are many others I am hoping to evaluate. Most differences at this level come down to personal preferences, the shell shape and design, the quality of manufacture and the materials used and supplied cable and accessories, R & D, driver count and tuning rather than absolute audiophile dominance. The main differences will come down to individual sound signature preferences. Recommendations should not be taken too seriously. Items classified as top tier, sometimes become so due to the reviewers personal preferences or by the excitement of new ownership & brand loyalty.
About EQing... We want IEMs to sound correct out of the box. Applying EQ negates the point of travelling on the audiophile journey to seek the equipment that most perfectly reproduces sound without the need for any kind of manipulation. I’m ok with selective EQ when done as part of the digital conversion phase. This kind of EQ can be achieved if the source has a biometric EQ built into the player, or if the DAC has an integrated EQ (Such as the Shure SHA900 or the Audeze Cipher cable). Perceived differences between articulation, imagery, depth, air and detail can be more closely matched between IEM's by applying gentle EQ in the right places. This lays bare the true differences between the IEMs. At times during this evaluation I’ve applied EQ to understand better any differences in overall timing, layering and articulation.
About cables and DACs...In order to maintain a consistent set of results I have stuck with the same DAC the Shure SHA900 and sometimes the Dragonfly Red as a crosscheck. I briefly tried the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm earphone adapter cable, and the similar Moshi Integra cable enjoying good results with those with a slight preference for the Moshi. All the IEM’s have been evaluated using the bundled cables.
About my source material...All evaluations are done using a wide range of musical genres including Rock, Pop, Jazz, Electronic and Classical. There is a big emphasis on Soundtrack and Classical since I find these genres the easiest to pick out attributes of the IEM. Over the years I have earmarked a selection of tracks for testing Hi-Fi equipment some of which will push them to the limits. All music is evaluated in a lossless format and nearly all tracks are 44.100khz 16 bit.
About the U18t’s (build and packaging)...The U18t’s are well packaged and come complete with a protective composite case which also serves to neatly store the M20 and M15 Apex modules and cleaning tools. Upon un-boxing the U18t’s for the first time it was a bit of a struggle to grip the earpieces and remove them from the foam packaging material as they were flush with the surface gripping it tightly, with the foam too thick to push from underneath. There is a selection of tips to choose from, none of which I tried as I have a huge selection of tips accumulated over years and I have come to know what works best for me. The earpieces themselves are exquisitely designed, beautifully rounded for comfort and consistent with a product at this price point. It is difficult to see how they could be improved. The supplied cable is nearly perfect. It has a robust braiding in the main section which cannot be unravelled by twisting. The left/right side split section has normal twisting but the quality and rigidity is about perfect to give the sense it is unlikely to easily unravel. The cable adjuster feels reassuringly tight such that you can ‘set and forget’ it. There is a very rigid cable memory section which wraps around the ear like a pair of glasses you forget you’re wearing and the 2 pin connector terminates around a very rigid fixed plastic section which is about the right size and shape to neatly wrap around the ears. I feel the 3.5mm right angled connector whilst of a high quality is unnecessarily heavy for a cable of this type and looking at the U18t’s version 1 cable the 3.5mm connector seems less weighty. Cable microphonics is kept to a minimum for this type of cable. Overall I prefer the V2 cable for its overall build and consider it amongst the best I’ve yet seen supplied with an IEM. When the memory cable is positioned correctly, the inner metal of the earpieces rest neatly on the ear. There is a slight protrusion of the front of the earpieces and the Apex modules. Generally they are comfortable for extended listening and my preferred tips were de-cored Shure Olives over Comply cores.
About the M20 & M15 Apex modules...The included M20 & M15 Apex modules add an additional flexibility allowing you to slightly fine tune the sound. 64Audio explains that different levels of isolation are achieved using the different modules. I have also understood that the Apex modules are designed to reduce fatigue and pressure build-up over extended listening. I have noted that the Apex modules do indeed work as advertised however they will not change the overall character of the IEM’s but rather fine tune them. After experimentation I stuck with the M15 module for this evaluation preferring its attenuated bass response.
So what about the sound ? (First impressions)... First impressions are that they produce a detailed, airy, analytical and fast sound leaving nothing vague or uncertain in their presentation, the bass is tight and well extended to the sub bass where it has amongst the most convincing of full bodied presentations a little north of neutral. There is an abundance of sparkle also north of neutral, the imagery enables precise placement of instruments and sound effects both horizontally and vertically in the expansive soundstage with sounds seeming to just ‘pop’ into being in a remarkably magical way. The U18t’s are uncompromising with high frequency detail and seem to emphasise the overall tuning of a recording whether bright, neutral or dark. Immediately you are able to identify every nuance together with the studio or concert hall acoustics. Occasionally some tracks sound sparkly & thin with less emphasis on the mid-highs and more in the upper-highs. Rarely notes with very high frequency harmonics can have slightly bright sounding edges. There is an abundance of texture and detail, the well extended dynamic range pushing deep into the highest frequencies and beyond providing unprecedented air and shaping, particularly in acoustics and harmonics that is rarely experienced in an IEM. There is a very real sense of feeling the instruments such as strings, kick drums and canastas. The U18t’s take the music, strip and lay bare every nuance of detail that can be extracted. The mid range doesn’t seem to be lacking either; vocals are detailed but not thin sounding but not quite neutral either being slightly warmer but still with bright edging. Sibilance is there where expected and there has been no shaping to attenuate this in its presentation. Strings and brass are richly detailed and at times harsh and uncompromising. Layering is about perfect with everything sounding orderly and correct with even the most demanding of passages.
So what about the Apex modules...? Comparing the sound profiles of the 2 modules I found the M20’s to have more sub-bass, bass and low-mid response, with slightly attenuated responses at the treble end upwards from 11.5k. Overall I found the effect more distinct at the low end, whereas the changes at the high end were more subtle. The M20 module reduces slightly the sense of air without altering the overall character of the signature. Overall I preferred the M15 as it sounded a little more balanced with its more restrained low end but subtle effect on the highs, counter intuitively bringing out the mids a little more.
So what about after extended listening...? It takes a little time to adjust to the deeply focused and analytical U18t’s when compared to some of the more ‘relaxed’ sounding IEM’s. It’s worth it because once the ‘Brain Burn’ is complete you are left with such a transparent and lifelike presentation that you can forget sometimes you are actually listening to IEM’s. You are rewarded with a totally immersive, engaging, visceral and lifelike experience. Imagery is stepped up a level, speed, detail and soundstage, all present in abundance, thinness and brightness at times still there but more distant, with only the occasionally harshness still apparent in strings and horns in some recordings but giving every sound a clear edge and texture.
So whats going on here...? The sub & lower bass are a little emphasised, the lower-mids are presented fairly neutrally, in the highs there is no compromise or trade-off around the 5-7khz to control sibilance where there may even be some slight intensity. Some slight attenuation from 8.5k until 11k possibly accounting for the occasional sense of ‘thinness’. From there upwards it seems there is notably less drop-off than any of the other IEMs upwards towards 15k and into the ultrasonic range which accounts for the abundance of ‘air’ but also the slight tizziness in some tracks on high-hats, cymbals and brass for example. This may be the trade-off required to achieve this kind of shaping and transparency.
So are they Neutral...? Not far off; when comparing the presentation of the U18t’s to the other IEMs and also to room speakers, I found them closer in overall balance of bass, mids and highs than several other IEMs and also closer in overall character to floor-standers and open backed headphones like Grados. In overall balance they give some perception of neutral, however I found them to be a little sub-bass to low-mid emphasised, a little mid-high recessed and a little high-high emphasised. Overall a most compelling tuning providing some added weight, warmth and sparkle but leaning towards neutral/mainstream hybrid rather than studio reference.
About the U18t’s (Overall)...64Audio have shoe-horned 18 drivers into each earpiece configured as 8 low, 8 mid, 1 high-mid and 1 ‘tia’ high, a fine feat of engineering. Like a sports car manufacturer incorporating more cylinders and cubic capacity to achieve more power and refinement. If you are the owner of such a vehicle you may not be using all the power all the time, but it’s nice to know its available when called on. But how does this translate to the U18t’s in providing a smoother cleaner more articulate sound? Well not at all really since one is an engine the other is an IEM! But the U18t’s do indeed manage sub-bass impeccably and have perfect timing and articulation with their 8 bass drivers in each earpiece. There are no issues with the mids either, sounding natural and perfectly articulate. The high-mid and tia drivers also seem to be extracting plenty of detail and even more sparkle. It is difficult to imagine how they could be improved whilst still retaining their very compelling tuning but I do find some tracks sounding a little bright and tizzy, and at times even with the M15 modules the bass can be a little hot. This surely is a symptom of this level of detail and focus that is bringing out both the best and the worst in those recordings and could be what is making them sound to me amongst the most exciting and addictive IEM’s yet. Mostly I love them for their staggering and life-like presentation with the impeccably clean bass, clean mids, airy highs and expansive soundstage. They are absolutely top tier IEMs and they have a richness of sound and refinement to match.
Defining words: Airy, grand, articulate, wide, detailed, fast, analytical, razor sharp, transparent, complete.
So what about the Campfire Andromeda’s? One needs to be very cautious when switching to these after extended listening to the U18t’s as the immediate impression may be one of slightly veiled highs but more rounded mids. This would be a mistake as when identifying differences by doing A/B tests any differences will be exaggerated as ones brain is identifying the differences between the IEM’s rather than an accurate ‘reference’. It is best to give plenty of time to adjust to the different sound signature before evaluating.
General impressions are of an extremely balanced and well rounded tuning. There is imagery, detail and fluidity in abundance. There is a slightly more mid-centric warmth to the presentation. When other IEM’s have peaks and troughs, the Andromeda’s seem to forge a more average route through the sound signature without drawing attention to any particular frequencies apart from having overall slightly attenuated highs. The Campfire Andromeda signature is neutral to warm/mid-centric providing air, sparkle and intimacy to its presentation with no over-arching or fatiguing emphasis is in any specific frequency area. They are extremely well rounded, appealing and non-fatiguing for extended listening sessions. The imagery, timing and articulation are all excellent; sometime the sub-bass notes can be absorbed when there is a lot going on owing to the slightly less sub-bass energy in favour of more subtlety which I find to be pleasing and relaxing. The soundstage is wide and deep with a good sense of vertical spacing, high-hats and cymbals are less distinct. Sometimes the warm, smooth, silky mids can be slightly dominant and this is highlighted when there are passages involving the high-mids and treble. They deal with strings, trumpets and high-hats more forgivingly but with hardly any loss of detail. These are amongst the most balanced and engaging of IEMs.
Defining words: Smooth, warm, mid-centric, balanced, natural, detailed, accurate soundstage, subtle sparkle.
Comparing the Andromeda’s to the U18t’s...I found them to have slightly less sensitivity at the very lowest sub-bass registers, but then upwards of those all the way to 200hz there seemed to be incredibly even and linear response with slightly more energy between 200hz and 1k which accounts for the warmer more mid-centric presentation. The Andromeda’s followed a similar path to the U18t’s but with more energy between 8.5k and 11.5k and less from 13k upwards. This was reflected in the listening experience with the Andromeda’s sounding warmer with slightly fuller sounding high-mids and low-highs whereas the U18t’s a little thinner but more detailed and sparkly with greater air.
So it would seem that both IEMs are well balanced but with the U18t’s having the more complete sub-bass and overall brighter more analytical presentation. There seems to be just as much detail with the Andromeda’s just more subtle and at times slightly more veiled when there is a lot going on. After extended listening to the Andromeda’s you could reach the conclusion that everything is present and correct and all sounds life-like and transparent.
So what about the Noble Katana’s...? There is a good sense of overall balance, with a fair perception of neutral, the correct balance of bass, mid-range and treble. There is a slight low-treble emphasis. Vocals are detailed, textured and well rounded. The soundstage is natural, not expansive or intimate and the imagery is excellent. The sub-bass registers are outstanding with the perfect balance of sub-bass to bass balance. There is a good sense overall that they are bright enough. The Katana had no problems presenting and sustaining heavy and subtle sub-bass without bloating the bass or mid range to any extent. They have a well considered tuning giving a good overall sense of balance and order. There is a pleasing visceral sense to many of the effects and instruments owing to their excellent articulation, layering and tuning. Extended listening rewards the listener as they become more intimate and engaging without any sense of lacking in any area. The main ingredients are their impeccable sub bass and bass balance along with their sharp analytical but slightly more intimate presentation, subtle air and great timing.
Defining words: Detailed, bold, dynamic, sharp, focused, intimate, balanced but analytical.
Comparing the Katanas to the U18t’s... They are less airy than the U18t’s with a little more focus on shaping vocals and strings preferring the lower-highs to the mid-highs and high-highs. I found the Katanas to have the bass and sub-bass to lean more towards neutral and they took a different approach with the treble with emphasis on the lower-highs than the upper-highs and whilst this seemed to assist in providing more rounding and placement of instrument timbre it also created a soundstage slightly more intimate which was most engaging. There was an abundance of detail and timbre around instruments such as strings and woodwind, however the slight emphasis in this area seemed to trade off a little the sparkly end of their presentation. I think the tuning is giving a slight sibilant edge to some vocals and also providing a little more detail around strings, a signature with more shaping in the highs to give the impression of a slightly more neutral but analytical signature. Overall the presentations are quite different in particular from the high-mids upwards but both engaging.
Initial impressions diminish as time passes and ‘brain-burn’ completes you are rewarded with the perception of an absolutely complete audiophile experience. When that happens everything sounds in its right place with no sense of lacking and only slight emphasis in the low-treble. In comparison to the U18t’s which feel a little quicker and have a slightly more visceral (feel) with high intensity effects, whereas the Katanas feel a little more conventional and natural but slightly edgy in its overall presentation due to its uncompromising lower-highs. The U18t’s have slightly more energy around 3300hz. The U18t’s manage to uncover a shade more presence and instrument placement, with a wider more transparent soundstage. The Katanas emphasis on the highs (but not as much the sparkly end) of the treble accounts for its analytical and detailed presentation without seeming to lose any mid range or bass response. Slightly less airy, slightly tighter more neutral sub bass, sharper more definition around the lower highs. In its approach to detail and intensity the Katanas are somewhere between the U18t’s and both the Andromeda’s and IE800S’s often sounding completely life-like and transparent but being a little less dramatic than the U18t’s but more so than both the Andromeda’s and IE800S’s.
So what about the Sennheiser IE800S...? The IE800S’s pack plenty of punch at the low end with good, tight sub-bass and bass a plenty, but with real air and texture for example around piano hammer clunks, strings and bass drums are slightly exaggerated. Many will find this bass presentation very appealing. The mids are incredibly evenly presented and there seems to be some sibilance control here in the low-highs. There is plenty of subtle air and sparkle, which is more apparent in quieter passages not dominated by the lows and mids. The IE800S’s seem to have a frequency response which extends well into the ultrasonics but is sometimes overshadowed by the lows and mids. Imagery, depth and placement of instruments in the soundstage is impeccable despite its comparatively more recessed highs and these IEMs rewards the listener with extended listening much like the other IEMs. There are no issues with timing or articulation despite its single dynamic driver. The emphasised bass, attenuated low- treble but well extended highs make for a most engaging and polite experience.
Defining Words: Warm, smooth, addictive, textured, dynamic, organic.
Comparing the IE800S’s to the U18t’s... The IE800S’s sound more veiled, particularly in sections dominated by mids and lows. Much like the U18t’s they have outstanding imagery for depth, horizontal and vertical instrument placement. There is less air and sparkle, and a notable reduction in sensitivity between 5.5 and 7.5k which accounts for its slightly less focused and smoother presentation with vocals, strings and brass particularly in the sibilant area. I think this shaping may also be contributing to a slightly warmer presentation around the lower mids. From 8k upwards there is an abundance of sensitivity occasionally overshadowed by the slightly more intense but well textured bass response.
The IE800S’s can easily be EQ’d to reduce a little the bass response and increase a little the response between 5.5 and 7.5k producing spectacular results; however that would be robbing from its overall character of which I have come to greatly appreciate after evaluating the previous IE800 model and liking them. Note the silicon tips may also change a little the characteristics and tame a little that bass response and bring out a little more sparkle.
Extended listening of the IE800S’s immerses the listener in what becomes a transparent lifelike listening experience, rarely bothered by the emphasised bass response which many will love. This and their clever shaping in the highs result in a most engaging and non-fatiguing sound which competes confidently with the many of the top tier IEMs but providing a more mainstream tuning.
So which is the favourite...? All four are absolutely top tier IEMs I enjoy listening to for different reasons. On a sound level there is very little to choose between them apart from tuning. They all have different recipes (64 Audio U18t’s have 18 BA drivers, Noble Katanas have 9 BA, Campfire Andromeda’s have 5 BA and the Sennheiser IE800S’s have just 1 dynamic). They all deliver top levels of articulation and they can all be EQ’d to produce similar signatures bridging the differences between them. In addition all four can satisfy the demanding audiophile who patiently allows their brain to adjust to the ‘signature’ without switching backwards and forwards between them.
The Katana’s are as coherent and articulate in nearly all areas but I have a slight preference for the U18t’s sound signature, larger soundstage and sublime imagery. The Andromeda’s are more neutral than the IE800S’s and give a wonderfully warm and textured sound. The IE800S’s I could characterise as a slightly more mainstream tuning compared to the Andromeda’s in that many will appreciate the slightly emphasised bass, excellent isolation (with the complys tips) and the discrete design, and they are every bit as articulate as there multi-driver competitors which is highlighted particularly after applying EQ.
With the U18T’s I more often noticed how vivid and real things sounded often acknowledging new ideas and textures in familiar tracks. On the other hand at times some recordings sounded thin in the highs, harsh, tizzy and sibilant compared to some of the other more forgiving IEMs. As time passed more things began falling into place with undesirable artefacts seeming fewer and farther apart, with things seeming more natural. After extended time with the U18t’s I found them to present the music in the most, engaging, visceral and lifelike manner. They force you to sit up and take notice. They evoked a similar feeling as when listening to Grado’s, or Focals in that sounds just pops into being like a hologram. This is quite an achievement for an IEM and is largely what sets them apart.
I had a tough time picking a favourite and there are other candidates I could have included, however having explored the U18t’s though they are the winner for me. I feel that they are giving me as complete and refined an experience as I have yet had from an IEM more akin to open backed headphones or floor-standing speakers. There is a factor in how the U18t’s deliver the sound that has been difficult to articulate which is simply not as evident with the other IEMs and you may have noticed words like visceral, holographic, pop and texture which allude best to this. Even after ‘Brain Burn’ is completed the U18t’s are still the IEM’s that make me sit up the most taking note of the transparency. This may well be down to the ‘tia’ driver delivering more ‘air’ than any of the other IEMs. There is still room for further refinement but wonder if any adjustments to the tuning might lose some of the magic. Often you forget you’re wearing them at all imagining instead you’re listening to a high end system or live performance. A most engaging recipe I would characterise them as more mainstream than neutral.
About my disclaimer...The four IEMs in this article were bought by me and I have no bias to any particular manufacturer. Irrespective of whether I was sent them free in return for my honest opinion or paid for them myself what you will get will be my honest opinion.
About my opinion...Everyone has different biology including ear canal acoustics and brain burn. We have all had different audiophile careers, genre preferences and will have become accustomed to a different 'house' sound over time. We also all have differing frequencies responses as well as variations between left and right ears in some frequency areas. We will have drawn conclusions about what we consider ‘reference’ based on many factors and those can also differ. It’s for these reasons that my article is merely my own opinion and will differ from others.
About my Audiophile career...I’ve been evaluating Hi-Fi equipment since the 1990's (Speakers, amps, headphones, tape decks, turntables etc) extolling the virtues of one over the other and identifying the nuances that set them apart. Later in the early 2000s I focused more on personal Hi-Fi equipment and was deep into IEM's for the appeal of having one’s own private performance delivered directly to ones ears to the exclusion of any other sounds.
About the IEM’s selected for comparison...I explored many IEM’s and shortlisted four I liked for the purposes of this evaluation as a means of comparison. They are by no means the only considerations and there are many others I am hoping to evaluate. Most differences at this level come down to personal preferences, the shell shape and design, the quality of manufacture and the materials used and supplied cable and accessories, R & D, driver count and tuning rather than absolute audiophile dominance. The main differences will come down to individual sound signature preferences. Recommendations should not be taken too seriously. Items classified as top tier, sometimes become so due to the reviewers personal preferences or by the excitement of new ownership & brand loyalty.
About EQing... We want IEMs to sound correct out of the box. Applying EQ negates the point of travelling on the audiophile journey to seek the equipment that most perfectly reproduces sound without the need for any kind of manipulation. I’m ok with selective EQ when done as part of the digital conversion phase. This kind of EQ can be achieved if the source has a biometric EQ built into the player, or if the DAC has an integrated EQ (Such as the Shure SHA900 or the Audeze Cipher cable). Perceived differences between articulation, imagery, depth, air and detail can be more closely matched between IEM's by applying gentle EQ in the right places. This lays bare the true differences between the IEMs. At times during this evaluation I’ve applied EQ to understand better any differences in overall timing, layering and articulation.
About cables and DACs...In order to maintain a consistent set of results I have stuck with the same DAC the Shure SHA900 and sometimes the Dragonfly Red as a crosscheck. I briefly tried the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm earphone adapter cable, and the similar Moshi Integra cable enjoying good results with those with a slight preference for the Moshi. All the IEM’s have been evaluated using the bundled cables.
About my source material...All evaluations are done using a wide range of musical genres including Rock, Pop, Jazz, Electronic and Classical. There is a big emphasis on Soundtrack and Classical since I find these genres the easiest to pick out attributes of the IEM. Over the years I have earmarked a selection of tracks for testing Hi-Fi equipment some of which will push them to the limits. All music is evaluated in a lossless format and nearly all tracks are 44.100khz 16 bit.
About the U18t’s (build and packaging)...The U18t’s are well packaged and come complete with a protective composite case which also serves to neatly store the M20 and M15 Apex modules and cleaning tools. Upon un-boxing the U18t’s for the first time it was a bit of a struggle to grip the earpieces and remove them from the foam packaging material as they were flush with the surface gripping it tightly, with the foam too thick to push from underneath. There is a selection of tips to choose from, none of which I tried as I have a huge selection of tips accumulated over years and I have come to know what works best for me. The earpieces themselves are exquisitely designed, beautifully rounded for comfort and consistent with a product at this price point. It is difficult to see how they could be improved. The supplied cable is nearly perfect. It has a robust braiding in the main section which cannot be unravelled by twisting. The left/right side split section has normal twisting but the quality and rigidity is about perfect to give the sense it is unlikely to easily unravel. The cable adjuster feels reassuringly tight such that you can ‘set and forget’ it. There is a very rigid cable memory section which wraps around the ear like a pair of glasses you forget you’re wearing and the 2 pin connector terminates around a very rigid fixed plastic section which is about the right size and shape to neatly wrap around the ears. I feel the 3.5mm right angled connector whilst of a high quality is unnecessarily heavy for a cable of this type and looking at the U18t’s version 1 cable the 3.5mm connector seems less weighty. Cable microphonics is kept to a minimum for this type of cable. Overall I prefer the V2 cable for its overall build and consider it amongst the best I’ve yet seen supplied with an IEM. When the memory cable is positioned correctly, the inner metal of the earpieces rest neatly on the ear. There is a slight protrusion of the front of the earpieces and the Apex modules. Generally they are comfortable for extended listening and my preferred tips were de-cored Shure Olives over Comply cores.
About the M20 & M15 Apex modules...The included M20 & M15 Apex modules add an additional flexibility allowing you to slightly fine tune the sound. 64Audio explains that different levels of isolation are achieved using the different modules. I have also understood that the Apex modules are designed to reduce fatigue and pressure build-up over extended listening. I have noted that the Apex modules do indeed work as advertised however they will not change the overall character of the IEM’s but rather fine tune them. After experimentation I stuck with the M15 module for this evaluation preferring its attenuated bass response.
So what about the sound ? (First impressions)... First impressions are that they produce a detailed, airy, analytical and fast sound leaving nothing vague or uncertain in their presentation, the bass is tight and well extended to the sub bass where it has amongst the most convincing of full bodied presentations a little north of neutral. There is an abundance of sparkle also north of neutral, the imagery enables precise placement of instruments and sound effects both horizontally and vertically in the expansive soundstage with sounds seeming to just ‘pop’ into being in a remarkably magical way. The U18t’s are uncompromising with high frequency detail and seem to emphasise the overall tuning of a recording whether bright, neutral or dark. Immediately you are able to identify every nuance together with the studio or concert hall acoustics. Occasionally some tracks sound sparkly & thin with less emphasis on the mid-highs and more in the upper-highs. Rarely notes with very high frequency harmonics can have slightly bright sounding edges. There is an abundance of texture and detail, the well extended dynamic range pushing deep into the highest frequencies and beyond providing unprecedented air and shaping, particularly in acoustics and harmonics that is rarely experienced in an IEM. There is a very real sense of feeling the instruments such as strings, kick drums and canastas. The U18t’s take the music, strip and lay bare every nuance of detail that can be extracted. The mid range doesn’t seem to be lacking either; vocals are detailed but not thin sounding but not quite neutral either being slightly warmer but still with bright edging. Sibilance is there where expected and there has been no shaping to attenuate this in its presentation. Strings and brass are richly detailed and at times harsh and uncompromising. Layering is about perfect with everything sounding orderly and correct with even the most demanding of passages.
So what about the Apex modules...? Comparing the sound profiles of the 2 modules I found the M20’s to have more sub-bass, bass and low-mid response, with slightly attenuated responses at the treble end upwards from 11.5k. Overall I found the effect more distinct at the low end, whereas the changes at the high end were more subtle. The M20 module reduces slightly the sense of air without altering the overall character of the signature. Overall I preferred the M15 as it sounded a little more balanced with its more restrained low end but subtle effect on the highs, counter intuitively bringing out the mids a little more.
So what about after extended listening...? It takes a little time to adjust to the deeply focused and analytical U18t’s when compared to some of the more ‘relaxed’ sounding IEM’s. It’s worth it because once the ‘Brain Burn’ is complete you are left with such a transparent and lifelike presentation that you can forget sometimes you are actually listening to IEM’s. You are rewarded with a totally immersive, engaging, visceral and lifelike experience. Imagery is stepped up a level, speed, detail and soundstage, all present in abundance, thinness and brightness at times still there but more distant, with only the occasionally harshness still apparent in strings and horns in some recordings but giving every sound a clear edge and texture.
So whats going on here...? The sub & lower bass are a little emphasised, the lower-mids are presented fairly neutrally, in the highs there is no compromise or trade-off around the 5-7khz to control sibilance where there may even be some slight intensity. Some slight attenuation from 8.5k until 11k possibly accounting for the occasional sense of ‘thinness’. From there upwards it seems there is notably less drop-off than any of the other IEMs upwards towards 15k and into the ultrasonic range which accounts for the abundance of ‘air’ but also the slight tizziness in some tracks on high-hats, cymbals and brass for example. This may be the trade-off required to achieve this kind of shaping and transparency.
So are they Neutral...? Not far off; when comparing the presentation of the U18t’s to the other IEMs and also to room speakers, I found them closer in overall balance of bass, mids and highs than several other IEMs and also closer in overall character to floor-standers and open backed headphones like Grados. In overall balance they give some perception of neutral, however I found them to be a little sub-bass to low-mid emphasised, a little mid-high recessed and a little high-high emphasised. Overall a most compelling tuning providing some added weight, warmth and sparkle but leaning towards neutral/mainstream hybrid rather than studio reference.
About the U18t’s (Overall)...64Audio have shoe-horned 18 drivers into each earpiece configured as 8 low, 8 mid, 1 high-mid and 1 ‘tia’ high, a fine feat of engineering. Like a sports car manufacturer incorporating more cylinders and cubic capacity to achieve more power and refinement. If you are the owner of such a vehicle you may not be using all the power all the time, but it’s nice to know its available when called on. But how does this translate to the U18t’s in providing a smoother cleaner more articulate sound? Well not at all really since one is an engine the other is an IEM! But the U18t’s do indeed manage sub-bass impeccably and have perfect timing and articulation with their 8 bass drivers in each earpiece. There are no issues with the mids either, sounding natural and perfectly articulate. The high-mid and tia drivers also seem to be extracting plenty of detail and even more sparkle. It is difficult to imagine how they could be improved whilst still retaining their very compelling tuning but I do find some tracks sounding a little bright and tizzy, and at times even with the M15 modules the bass can be a little hot. This surely is a symptom of this level of detail and focus that is bringing out both the best and the worst in those recordings and could be what is making them sound to me amongst the most exciting and addictive IEM’s yet. Mostly I love them for their staggering and life-like presentation with the impeccably clean bass, clean mids, airy highs and expansive soundstage. They are absolutely top tier IEMs and they have a richness of sound and refinement to match.
Defining words: Airy, grand, articulate, wide, detailed, fast, analytical, razor sharp, transparent, complete.
So what about the Campfire Andromeda’s? One needs to be very cautious when switching to these after extended listening to the U18t’s as the immediate impression may be one of slightly veiled highs but more rounded mids. This would be a mistake as when identifying differences by doing A/B tests any differences will be exaggerated as ones brain is identifying the differences between the IEM’s rather than an accurate ‘reference’. It is best to give plenty of time to adjust to the different sound signature before evaluating.
General impressions are of an extremely balanced and well rounded tuning. There is imagery, detail and fluidity in abundance. There is a slightly more mid-centric warmth to the presentation. When other IEM’s have peaks and troughs, the Andromeda’s seem to forge a more average route through the sound signature without drawing attention to any particular frequencies apart from having overall slightly attenuated highs. The Campfire Andromeda signature is neutral to warm/mid-centric providing air, sparkle and intimacy to its presentation with no over-arching or fatiguing emphasis is in any specific frequency area. They are extremely well rounded, appealing and non-fatiguing for extended listening sessions. The imagery, timing and articulation are all excellent; sometime the sub-bass notes can be absorbed when there is a lot going on owing to the slightly less sub-bass energy in favour of more subtlety which I find to be pleasing and relaxing. The soundstage is wide and deep with a good sense of vertical spacing, high-hats and cymbals are less distinct. Sometimes the warm, smooth, silky mids can be slightly dominant and this is highlighted when there are passages involving the high-mids and treble. They deal with strings, trumpets and high-hats more forgivingly but with hardly any loss of detail. These are amongst the most balanced and engaging of IEMs.
Defining words: Smooth, warm, mid-centric, balanced, natural, detailed, accurate soundstage, subtle sparkle.
Comparing the Andromeda’s to the U18t’s...I found them to have slightly less sensitivity at the very lowest sub-bass registers, but then upwards of those all the way to 200hz there seemed to be incredibly even and linear response with slightly more energy between 200hz and 1k which accounts for the warmer more mid-centric presentation. The Andromeda’s followed a similar path to the U18t’s but with more energy between 8.5k and 11.5k and less from 13k upwards. This was reflected in the listening experience with the Andromeda’s sounding warmer with slightly fuller sounding high-mids and low-highs whereas the U18t’s a little thinner but more detailed and sparkly with greater air.
So it would seem that both IEMs are well balanced but with the U18t’s having the more complete sub-bass and overall brighter more analytical presentation. There seems to be just as much detail with the Andromeda’s just more subtle and at times slightly more veiled when there is a lot going on. After extended listening to the Andromeda’s you could reach the conclusion that everything is present and correct and all sounds life-like and transparent.
So what about the Noble Katana’s...? There is a good sense of overall balance, with a fair perception of neutral, the correct balance of bass, mid-range and treble. There is a slight low-treble emphasis. Vocals are detailed, textured and well rounded. The soundstage is natural, not expansive or intimate and the imagery is excellent. The sub-bass registers are outstanding with the perfect balance of sub-bass to bass balance. There is a good sense overall that they are bright enough. The Katana had no problems presenting and sustaining heavy and subtle sub-bass without bloating the bass or mid range to any extent. They have a well considered tuning giving a good overall sense of balance and order. There is a pleasing visceral sense to many of the effects and instruments owing to their excellent articulation, layering and tuning. Extended listening rewards the listener as they become more intimate and engaging without any sense of lacking in any area. The main ingredients are their impeccable sub bass and bass balance along with their sharp analytical but slightly more intimate presentation, subtle air and great timing.
Defining words: Detailed, bold, dynamic, sharp, focused, intimate, balanced but analytical.
Comparing the Katanas to the U18t’s... They are less airy than the U18t’s with a little more focus on shaping vocals and strings preferring the lower-highs to the mid-highs and high-highs. I found the Katanas to have the bass and sub-bass to lean more towards neutral and they took a different approach with the treble with emphasis on the lower-highs than the upper-highs and whilst this seemed to assist in providing more rounding and placement of instrument timbre it also created a soundstage slightly more intimate which was most engaging. There was an abundance of detail and timbre around instruments such as strings and woodwind, however the slight emphasis in this area seemed to trade off a little the sparkly end of their presentation. I think the tuning is giving a slight sibilant edge to some vocals and also providing a little more detail around strings, a signature with more shaping in the highs to give the impression of a slightly more neutral but analytical signature. Overall the presentations are quite different in particular from the high-mids upwards but both engaging.
Initial impressions diminish as time passes and ‘brain-burn’ completes you are rewarded with the perception of an absolutely complete audiophile experience. When that happens everything sounds in its right place with no sense of lacking and only slight emphasis in the low-treble. In comparison to the U18t’s which feel a little quicker and have a slightly more visceral (feel) with high intensity effects, whereas the Katanas feel a little more conventional and natural but slightly edgy in its overall presentation due to its uncompromising lower-highs. The U18t’s have slightly more energy around 3300hz. The U18t’s manage to uncover a shade more presence and instrument placement, with a wider more transparent soundstage. The Katanas emphasis on the highs (but not as much the sparkly end) of the treble accounts for its analytical and detailed presentation without seeming to lose any mid range or bass response. Slightly less airy, slightly tighter more neutral sub bass, sharper more definition around the lower highs. In its approach to detail and intensity the Katanas are somewhere between the U18t’s and both the Andromeda’s and IE800S’s often sounding completely life-like and transparent but being a little less dramatic than the U18t’s but more so than both the Andromeda’s and IE800S’s.
So what about the Sennheiser IE800S...? The IE800S’s pack plenty of punch at the low end with good, tight sub-bass and bass a plenty, but with real air and texture for example around piano hammer clunks, strings and bass drums are slightly exaggerated. Many will find this bass presentation very appealing. The mids are incredibly evenly presented and there seems to be some sibilance control here in the low-highs. There is plenty of subtle air and sparkle, which is more apparent in quieter passages not dominated by the lows and mids. The IE800S’s seem to have a frequency response which extends well into the ultrasonics but is sometimes overshadowed by the lows and mids. Imagery, depth and placement of instruments in the soundstage is impeccable despite its comparatively more recessed highs and these IEMs rewards the listener with extended listening much like the other IEMs. There are no issues with timing or articulation despite its single dynamic driver. The emphasised bass, attenuated low- treble but well extended highs make for a most engaging and polite experience.
Defining Words: Warm, smooth, addictive, textured, dynamic, organic.
Comparing the IE800S’s to the U18t’s... The IE800S’s sound more veiled, particularly in sections dominated by mids and lows. Much like the U18t’s they have outstanding imagery for depth, horizontal and vertical instrument placement. There is less air and sparkle, and a notable reduction in sensitivity between 5.5 and 7.5k which accounts for its slightly less focused and smoother presentation with vocals, strings and brass particularly in the sibilant area. I think this shaping may also be contributing to a slightly warmer presentation around the lower mids. From 8k upwards there is an abundance of sensitivity occasionally overshadowed by the slightly more intense but well textured bass response.
The IE800S’s can easily be EQ’d to reduce a little the bass response and increase a little the response between 5.5 and 7.5k producing spectacular results; however that would be robbing from its overall character of which I have come to greatly appreciate after evaluating the previous IE800 model and liking them. Note the silicon tips may also change a little the characteristics and tame a little that bass response and bring out a little more sparkle.
Extended listening of the IE800S’s immerses the listener in what becomes a transparent lifelike listening experience, rarely bothered by the emphasised bass response which many will love. This and their clever shaping in the highs result in a most engaging and non-fatiguing sound which competes confidently with the many of the top tier IEMs but providing a more mainstream tuning.
So which is the favourite...? All four are absolutely top tier IEMs I enjoy listening to for different reasons. On a sound level there is very little to choose between them apart from tuning. They all have different recipes (64 Audio U18t’s have 18 BA drivers, Noble Katanas have 9 BA, Campfire Andromeda’s have 5 BA and the Sennheiser IE800S’s have just 1 dynamic). They all deliver top levels of articulation and they can all be EQ’d to produce similar signatures bridging the differences between them. In addition all four can satisfy the demanding audiophile who patiently allows their brain to adjust to the ‘signature’ without switching backwards and forwards between them.
The Katana’s are as coherent and articulate in nearly all areas but I have a slight preference for the U18t’s sound signature, larger soundstage and sublime imagery. The Andromeda’s are more neutral than the IE800S’s and give a wonderfully warm and textured sound. The IE800S’s I could characterise as a slightly more mainstream tuning compared to the Andromeda’s in that many will appreciate the slightly emphasised bass, excellent isolation (with the complys tips) and the discrete design, and they are every bit as articulate as there multi-driver competitors which is highlighted particularly after applying EQ.
With the U18T’s I more often noticed how vivid and real things sounded often acknowledging new ideas and textures in familiar tracks. On the other hand at times some recordings sounded thin in the highs, harsh, tizzy and sibilant compared to some of the other more forgiving IEMs. As time passed more things began falling into place with undesirable artefacts seeming fewer and farther apart, with things seeming more natural. After extended time with the U18t’s I found them to present the music in the most, engaging, visceral and lifelike manner. They force you to sit up and take notice. They evoked a similar feeling as when listening to Grado’s, or Focals in that sounds just pops into being like a hologram. This is quite an achievement for an IEM and is largely what sets them apart.
I had a tough time picking a favourite and there are other candidates I could have included, however having explored the U18t’s though they are the winner for me. I feel that they are giving me as complete and refined an experience as I have yet had from an IEM more akin to open backed headphones or floor-standing speakers. There is a factor in how the U18t’s deliver the sound that has been difficult to articulate which is simply not as evident with the other IEMs and you may have noticed words like visceral, holographic, pop and texture which allude best to this. Even after ‘Brain Burn’ is completed the U18t’s are still the IEM’s that make me sit up the most taking note of the transparency. This may well be down to the ‘tia’ driver delivering more ‘air’ than any of the other IEMs. There is still room for further refinement but wonder if any adjustments to the tuning might lose some of the magic. Often you forget you’re wearing them at all imagining instead you’re listening to a high end system or live performance. A most engaging recipe I would characterise them as more mainstream than neutral.
