64 Audio Tia Trió

Quick Introduction​

First and foremost, I didn't buy this unit. It is actually a demo unit in a local audio store near my place, which is called 'Beyond The Music' located in South Jakarta. I gave a listen to the unit for almost an hour straight, and I can already get a grasp of what 64 Audio Tia Trio has to offer.

If you wanna see my IEM Ranking List, you can access it for free here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15FKnagMKxWUSA5DNRIoFAAwpUCSuceocMoMJGIPUqo8/edit?usp=sharing

Build & Fit​

The overall build is great and the shell feels sturdy. My only problem with the build is within the cable quality. It certainly doesn't feel premium and gets tangled too easily. Not to mention, the fit was a bit awkward. I can't use it for a long period of listening, because I simply feel uncomfortable wearing this. I think it's due to the size of the shell for being too big and bulky for my small Asian ears.

Frequency Response (Source)​

64 Audio Tia Trio is a neutral-ish sounding IEM with a considerable amount of bass boost.

Sound Quality​

Source: Tempotec Sonata E44, using the 3.5 single-ended port, with music playing on USB Audio Player Pro through my Samsung Galaxy A32.

Tonality/Tuning​

Low/Bass​

The bass of 64 Audio Tia Trio is simply amazing without being too overwhelming. It has a great punch, but it's more of a mid-bass-oriented kind of punch. That said, the bass doesn't really hit that deep and lacks a tad of sub-bass impact. Fortunately, it's the only downside of the Tia Trio in terms of bass for me. For the rest, it simply does the job really well. It has a great texture and is also well-controlled, leaving the vocals untouched. The bass also has a decent speed for a dynamic driver when listening to rock tracks such as Step Up by Inori Minase or The Rumbling by SiM.

Mid/Vocal​

The mids of 64 Audio Tia Trio is also great. It's smooth, organic, sweet, and also natural at the same time. Although there's some smoothing going on, the vocals remain clear and also clean without sounding veiled or congested. Not to mention, it is very well-controlled and well-defined too. There are no hints of sibilance when listening to poor recorder tracks like Kamisama Hajimemashita by Hanae.

The vocal balance is also great on this thing. It can represent the thickness of male vocals and the sweetness of female vocals really well. I tend to listen to female vocal songs lately, like Hikari by Lilas Ikuta for example, and 64 Audio Tia Trio has represented the heavenly vocal of the artist really well.

High/Treble​

Last but not least, let's talk about the treble. If there are two words to describe the treble on this thing, it would be airy and extended. When listening to tracks that have a lot of percussion such as Wonder Caravan by Inori Minase, I immediately noticed that the treble of Tia Trio is very extended and also being airy at the same time. This kind of treble makes the overall sound spacious and open.

The good thing is that it represents the airiness of the treble without being harsh or fatiguing, and the reason is that the treble presence around 4-6 kHz is not being pushed/boosted. 64 Audio Tia Trio can give you just the right amount of sparkle of the treble without being harsh or unnatural sounding. But still, if you're a treble-head, I doubt that the treble on Tia Trio will satisfy you enough.

Overall, the tonality of 64 Audio Tia Trio is warm neutral that is smooth and organic. I'm sure that the safe tonality of Tia Trio will suit a lot of people. Despite that, the Tia Trio can still be an energetic and fun-sounding set. Truly all-rounder.

Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio is highly coherent despite running a hybrid configuration.

The sound of 64 Audio Tia Trio is simply complete. Do you want punchy bass? Tia Trio has it. Do you want organic, smooth, and sweet vocals? Tia Trio has it. Do you want an extended and airy treble with the right amount of sparkle? Tia Trio has it.

Technicality​

When it comes to technicality, 64 Audio Tia Trio is no slouch either. When listening to tracks that have a lot of instruments such as Queen of the Night by Wagakki Band and also Campanella by Kenshi Yonezu, all of the elements of the song are represented really well. The separation, especially layering, is definitely one of the best if not the best I've ever heard. The 3d imaging is also great, I can easily pinpoint instruments and notice where they are coming from. The soundstage of the Tia Trio doesn't disappoint either, because it has a good depth and width.

Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio has a good retrieval. For example, in the track, Cinderella by Cider Girl and Campanella by Kenshi Yonezu, I can hear a lot of details, mainly percussions, that I didn't notice on my beloved Tin T2 Plus.

Quick Comparisons​

64 Audio Tia Trio ($2300) vs Thieaudio Monarch MKII ($1000)​

Both of the sets pursue the same sound signature, which is neutral with a bass boost. However, the bass on Thieaudio Monarch MKII has less quantity than 64 Audio Tia Trio. However, Monarch MKII has a deeper bass but with a less mid-bass punch.

The mids are similar between these two. Both have a smooth, sweet, and organic kind of profile. However, the female vocals of Monarch MKII are more forward and clear but with the price of male vocals. The male vocals sound thinner on Monarch MKII, while the Tia Trio has more thickness to it.

When it comes to the treble, they are different from each other. Monarch MKII has more air on the treble than Tia Trio (although Tia Trio is already being airy). However, the treble of Tia Trio is more forward and sparkling, while Monarch MKII has more smoothing but oddly has more micro details.

Not to mention, since the treble of those sets is done by different types of drivers, I hear a different sensation between those two. The treble of Monarch MKII has represented the timbre of electrostatic drivers really well. It's super airy with high speed but lacks weight notes overall. On the other hand, I can't seem to notice the plasticy treble timbre of a poorly-tuned balanced armature that can be seen in many hybrid KZ sets, which is a plus point for Tia Trio. Due to those differences, the treble of the Tia Trio still sounds more natural to my ears, while the Monarch MKII is more incoherent sounding because of the noticeable electrostatic timbre.

When we're talking about the technicalities, I believe that Thieaudio Monarch MKII is better in almost every single aspect, but not by a large margin. The biggest difference that I notice is that the Monarch MKII sounds more transparent, open, and spacious at the same time. That said, Monarch MKII gives a more sense of space and holographic soundstage, and also better 3d imaging as well. Moreover, due to the open and clear sound of Monarch MKII, it does a tad better in terms of resolution than the Tia Trio.

I noticed that Monarch MKII has a better detail retrieval than Tia Trio.

The transient speed of Thieaudio Monarch MKII is also superior to the Tia Trio when listening to violins and flutes. On the track called The World's End by Yui Horie, it is very noticeable. However, on the same track, I feel like Tia Trio has better layering than Monarch MKII. On the Tia Trio, the bass and violin sound very well separated, while on Monarch MKII, I can still notice that those instruments are a bit jumbled together.

Conclusion​

All in all, I think that the 64 Audio Tia Trio is a very excellent set to have. It sounds very organic and smooth, which is a great candidate for those of you who are looking for an IEM that is safe for long listening sessions. Despite that, the Tia Trio can still be energetic and also fun-sounding for EDM, pop, or rock tracks. That said, the Tia Trio is an all-rounder that can suit almost all genres you're listening to. Not to mention, 64 Audio Tia Trio does a great job in terms of technicalities as well.

However, you might want to consider buying this. At this point in time, there are a lot of IEMs that are technically better but with a lower price such as the Thieaudio Monarch MKII. But still, if you're into the sound signature of the Tia Trio, it is very worth the buy, but don't expect it to be the best price-to-performance set out there.

My current reference among the IEMs is the U12T from 64 Audio. I was all the more curious to see how the Tia Trio compares to the U12T.

The scope of delivery of the Trio is identical to that of the U12T with the difference of a rectangular transport box in contrast to the round leather case (but the newest Trio models comes also with the leather case!). I don't find the rectangular box as elegant, but more practical as there is simply more space available. I did not use the silicone and foam tips for the review. For the most part, I used the JVC Spiraldots here, which sounded best with the Trio. More on that later.

Since the Trio uses fewer drivers than the U12T, it's a bit lighter in weight and even more comfortable to wear. The shape is almost identical.



The Trio has a dynamic driver for the bass, a BA driver for the mids and the typical 64 Audio Tia driver for the treble. The U12T has 12 drivers, but only BA drivers, also for the bass range.

For testing, I used the Shanling M8 high-end DAP. Both IEMs are very easy to drive and the low gain is quite sufficient. There is very little change in tonal balance between balanced and unbalanced modes. With both, I prefer unbalanced a bit more, as they act fuller and rounder. The 4.4mm is slightly more energetic.

The U12T is a reference IEM with a neutral tuning with slight bass emphasis. The Trio is described by 64 Audio as the "perfect balance between reference sound and personal hifi" and I think that sums it up very well overall. Unlike the U12T, the Trio has a slight V shape tuning with a slightly higher bass level and slightly boosted treble, resulting in a more energetic, more dynamic sound compared to the U12T.



The bass has the typical dynamic punch and seems a bit "fatter" in the midbass area. The U12T has an incredibly good punch for a BA bass, but the Trio beats it in this discipline, even if not clear (because "punch" is something that also the U12T delivers!). But the bass of the U12T is faster and more audible down to the subbass. It seems more controlled and cleaner. However, the Trio is really fun with metal, if the U12T acts too tame and honest in some recordings. The strong punch doesn't spread to other frequencies the way it does with the Legend X. Despite its strength, it always remains controlled and the mids untouched.

The mids seem a bit more direct with the Trio. Vocals play more "in your face". The slight treble boost makes everything seem a bit more lively and energetic. One has the feeling that it is more transparent than the U12T. But if you compare directly, it's not like that. The U12T can resolve finer nuances in the mids better and seems more controlled and audible in the highs. You can already sense individual sibilants in the Trio, where the U12T still acts very smoothly. Nevertheless, the Trio is not a very bright IEM, but an IEM with a slight tendency to the bright side. The U12T, on the other hand, is a slightly warm IEM. The latter has the more "cautious" tuning that fits almost all recordings. The Trio by its more energetic appearance, however, can give somewhat darker recordings the necessary "something".

In terms of spatiality, I can attest to the Trio's very good imaging in width and depth for an IEM, with laser-accurate pin point localization of individual sound events. Since the U12T illuminates the mids a bit more, it wins in the depth staggering. However, I can't think of any other IEM that can hold a candle to both.

There are some IEMs, e.g. the VE Elysium, which I prefer to hear with Comply tips than with silicone tips. The reason is a bit too sibilant highs. Foam dampens here somewhat. However, it no longer sounds so airy. With the two 64s, however, I want to hear the full potential of the absolutely terrific acting Tia drivers and therefore reach for silicone. The 64s achieve the best sound with the normal SpiralDots and the SpiralDots++. Azla Xelastec also work very well but take away minimal airiness. With the two 64s I do not have to dampen anything with foam, there is nothing annoying!

These are already two very hot caliber in the product range of 64 Audio. The U12T remains for me the absolute all-rounder. However, the Trio complements this very well with its fun tuning with the incredibly good bass range, which conjures up a super punch. With some thinner and warmer recordings, I prefer the Trio, which virtually "breathes life" into these recordings. With both IEMs together, you'll most likely cover even more than you'll ever need. Whoever can afford both should listen to them in peace. You can't make a mistake with either one. But the decision for a Trio or U12T I can not take from anyone. If you want the absolute neutral reference, I can recommend the U12T. If you want a more fun tuning and still want to feel the status of "reference", you should go for the Trio. Both are priced in similar spheres. I have not been able to hear the Fourte yet, but it will probably sound too bright and thin for me as the measurements show. The Trio is still totally fine for me in terms of bright presentation. Less bass than a U12T or brighter than a Trio, however, I would not want an IEM. I am curious what else we can expect from 64 Audio in the near future. For me, the manufacturer with the best IEMs on the market.

Preamble:
64 Audio holds a unique place for me, having taken my CIEM virginity more than 3 years ago (Wow time flies when you're preoccupied with critical listening every kilobuck iem you can get your hands on) I've hands down owned more of their products (Empire taking a second place) than every other brand out there, so obviously they're doing something I really do like their house sound.Of course price has always been an issue with their higher end lineup, but it's 64 Audio. I'll buy open boxed/used if I have to.To date Trio is the highest in the lineup I've had the opportunity to listen to and I would say it commands that price point and backs it up (Of course there are some caveats that I personally have given the market).

I've always been a pure BA boi for most of my audiophile journey, despite loving sweet DD bass. The draw of BAs being their speed in comparison, texture and decay be damned and all that. Then of course I found BA's better for mids and treble as well, I tried dabbling in hybrids, but bass bleed and coherency issues always pushed me back. The introduction of Tribrids brought me back, but between owning the Valkyrie and some mixed reviews in the initial batch, I cooled down to it again. It wasns't until the DMagic and MEST caught my eye, being a fan both, I realized that I just can't go back to BA bass, which coupled with coherency issues being more or less resolved puts me squarely in the hybrid arena with DD bass. Most of the all, the QDC and UM implementations really fall into my cup of tea without saying.

Design + Testing and other things:
I noticed that the shell was different compared to the U series, this combined with the huge reduction in driver count compared to the u12t and the others a much better fit due to a more snug fit outside my canal as well as a much lighter weight. I still wish there was a lip to hold on to dips and a deeper insertion, but otherwise it's par for the course for my left ear. This took a bit more power to drive and I pushed to 45 on high gain on the 1A 4.4 output.

Bass:
@Colors can attest to the crap eating grin on my face when I was going through more bass heavy tracks. Subbass extends deep, I actually thought the rumble was an external sound as opposed to coming from the DD for a couple seconds. Mid bass has excellent impact and slam, harder than the MEST, but not hitting my fatigure threshold at all. Despite all this bass, there is no bleed at all into the mids at all. Feels like the Apex is helping a lot since this kind of bass on another iem would make me rant to no end. If the u12t is well represented quality bass, the MEST being fun quality bass, the Trio is FUN quality bass (The Spongebob song kinda FUN). It has AUTHORITY, it RUMBLES and it SLAMS.

Mids:
My experience with triple driver trbrids has been limited to the Valkyrie, so I honestly didn't expect much from the Trio's mids given that. Mids from a single BA driver? Sacrilegious! It would be thin at best and scooped out at worse. The to my utter amazement, was neither of those. 64 managed to make full bodied vocals come out from a single BA driver, no compromise at all which resulted in a bit more listening than needed. they're positioned slightly forward so that vocals come across as clear and more promiment. This leads to more of that Spongebob FUN with none of the issues I have with forward mids. Perhaps more of that Apex magic? I don't think I've ever had any issues or fatigure with 64 models that use Apex.

Treble:
I'm going to keep this short, otherwise I'm going to be going on about good Tia Treble is forever. So uh, Tia Treble gud. That trademark Tia smoothness is also present, but this time affords some air and sparkle without any sibilance. FUN and smooth! I've always felt it was one or the other, but this is balanced in a good way that meshes with what they want to achieve in terms of a FUN signature.

Conclusion:
Overall, the Trio is a W signature, similar to the MEST, but with a bigger emphasis on FUN and EXCITMENT, dialing both up to 11. It does it with only 3 drivers which is an impressive feat, since rare is the day 3-5 driver count iems end up being super impressive. If this signature was done on the MEST, I would most likely find it fatiguing for long listening sessions which more or less necessitates the inclusion of Apexon the Trio. And my impression line up with my experince with the tech being implemented, The MEST is lively enough by itself, but really takes a backseat to Trio. The biggest difference would the resolution, the MEST just takes that with no problem with more drivers handling the frequencies. For me, the Trio ends being similar enough to the MEST with the soundstage falling behind for a higher price point and I really can't see getting it as compliment or even over the MEST. If I still had the u12t, I would definitely be considering the Trio though.

Inversely with the price of the Trio having gone down, I would recommend going for it over the MEST if you're willing to push the price a little bit.