Introduction – After searching around for a bass CIEM, I came across 64 Audio (formerly known as 1964 Ears) on Head-Fi from people reviews. This is also my first time hearing about the ADEL technology and how it can prevent hearing damage. I like good bass with a warm, dynamic, and immersive sound so I went with the Custom A8. It is an "enhanced bass" custom iem that features 8 BA drivers: 4-low, 2-mid, and 2-high with a quad core design and 3-way passive crossover.
Unboxing – The 64 Audio A8 comes in a small box with a 64 Audio logo. Inside the box you’ll find a crush-proof case, small dehumidifier box, wax cleaning tool, shirt clip, and a 64 Audio sticker. The A8 is inside the crush proof case with its cable wrap around nicely.
Crush Proof Case
Build Quality - Outstanding! Amazing build quality for a CIEM with smoothness everywhere. There is no bubble anywhere on the shell or faceplate. Perfect! The custom artworks “PEACE” and “LOVE” in Chinese on the faceplates are really good, well worth the $100 extra that I spent for the custom arts.
I chose the silver for the cable color over the black because I think silver looks way better, and it does. I also went with 64” cable length instead of 48”. The quality of the cable is really good, and a lot better than what I thought it would be. The cable is not too stiff, not too flexible, and does not tangle up.
The fit was very good, both earpieces seal my ears without issue. It is also very comfortable wearing these A8 for a long period of time. 64 Audio really did a great job on these 3D printed custom shells.
Cleaning Tool
Sound Quality - I am using the Creative G5 which hooked up to my Chord Mojo DAC / Amp for my A8. The Creative G5 is a DAC / Amp device but I’m not using its DAC / Damp. I’m using the G5 just mainly for the Bass boost and SBX Surround. So basically I’m bypassing the DAC / Amp on the G5, and only using the DAC / Amp on the Mojo.
I’m going to compare the A8 with the Aurisonics ASG-2.5, since both are tuned for Bass.
Bass: With 4 BA drivers for Bass, the A8 bass dig deep, hard, and has really good detail. The layering and the detail of the Bass on the A8 is phenomenal, whereas the ASG-2.5 doesn’t have as much detail. Both have good punch and sub-bass. The A8 bass is faster an quicker whereas the 2.5 is a bit slower.
Obviously the ASG-2.5 has more bass quantity due to its bass dial control. It is basically a Bass EQ attached to the 2.5. The A8 doesn’t have that so you can’t really increase the bass on the A8. But as soon as you do a Bass boost on the A8, such as the Creative G5 that I’m using right now, it can go as big as the bass on the ASG-2.5 with the bass port fully open (max bass).
I have no idea how 64 Audio did it, but they nailed it with the A8 for bass.
Mids: Vocals are smooth and laid back. The mids on the A8 don’t get overpower by the bass, whereas on the ASG-2.5, as soon as you increase the bass, it will dominate the mids and trebles.
Trebles – The trebles are clear, detail, and a bit airy. I really like how this is a Bass CIEM but I can still get the airiness in the treble. The trebles on the A8 is more detail compare to the ASG-2.5.
Soundstage - The soundstage on the A8 is one word, amazing. It is surreal. If you have listened to the HD800 headphone, you will know that the soundstage is huge, which is the same effect as the A8 together with the ADEL module. I’m not saying the A8 soundstage is as big as the HD800, but it’s the effect when you put on the HD800 the first time is the same as when you put on these A8. I don’t know how 64 Audio and the ADEL module do it, but together they nailed it.
Gaming – I am including a small part of the review for gaming because there are people that play games and looking for a good Headphone / CIEM. Besides listening to music, I also play games such as Diablo 3, World of Warcraft, Battlefield, CoD, etc…
Without any 3D surround processing, the A8 has a large soundstage and that helps to pinpoint the directions such as gunshot. But as soon as I turned on OutOfYourHead software by Darin Fong (if you never heard about it, I highly recommend to check it out), my jaw dropped, the 3D surround is through the roof. It is so good that nothing on the market right now can beat it, not even Dolby Headphone nor SBX surround can touch it. Together with the insane imaging, layering, and detail of the A8, I can pinpoint where all the sounds are coming from. If you’re playing a lot of FPS games, I would highly recommend the A8 together with the OutOfYourHead software. I never heard 3D surround this good in my life.
Conclusion – After listening to the A8 for couple days now, and I can tell you that I can’t live without the ADEL module. It is like a god sent. Together with the big, deep, and detail Bass of the A8, it is one of the best CIEM out there for BassHeads and as well as people who want good Bass but with the refinement of the mids and trebles. Now I can’t wait for the MAM module (manual) from 64 Audio for my A8.
Unboxing – The 64 Audio A8 comes in a small box with a 64 Audio logo. Inside the box you’ll find a crush-proof case, small dehumidifier box, wax cleaning tool, shirt clip, and a 64 Audio sticker. The A8 is inside the crush proof case with its cable wrap around nicely.
Crush Proof Case
Build Quality - Outstanding! Amazing build quality for a CIEM with smoothness everywhere. There is no bubble anywhere on the shell or faceplate. Perfect! The custom artworks “PEACE” and “LOVE” in Chinese on the faceplates are really good, well worth the $100 extra that I spent for the custom arts.
I chose the silver for the cable color over the black because I think silver looks way better, and it does. I also went with 64” cable length instead of 48”. The quality of the cable is really good, and a lot better than what I thought it would be. The cable is not too stiff, not too flexible, and does not tangle up.
The fit was very good, both earpieces seal my ears without issue. It is also very comfortable wearing these A8 for a long period of time. 64 Audio really did a great job on these 3D printed custom shells.
Cleaning Tool
Sound Quality - I am using the Creative G5 which hooked up to my Chord Mojo DAC / Amp for my A8. The Creative G5 is a DAC / Amp device but I’m not using its DAC / Damp. I’m using the G5 just mainly for the Bass boost and SBX Surround. So basically I’m bypassing the DAC / Amp on the G5, and only using the DAC / Amp on the Mojo.
I’m going to compare the A8 with the Aurisonics ASG-2.5, since both are tuned for Bass.
Bass: With 4 BA drivers for Bass, the A8 bass dig deep, hard, and has really good detail. The layering and the detail of the Bass on the A8 is phenomenal, whereas the ASG-2.5 doesn’t have as much detail. Both have good punch and sub-bass. The A8 bass is faster an quicker whereas the 2.5 is a bit slower.
Obviously the ASG-2.5 has more bass quantity due to its bass dial control. It is basically a Bass EQ attached to the 2.5. The A8 doesn’t have that so you can’t really increase the bass on the A8. But as soon as you do a Bass boost on the A8, such as the Creative G5 that I’m using right now, it can go as big as the bass on the ASG-2.5 with the bass port fully open (max bass).
I have no idea how 64 Audio did it, but they nailed it with the A8 for bass.
Mids: Vocals are smooth and laid back. The mids on the A8 don’t get overpower by the bass, whereas on the ASG-2.5, as soon as you increase the bass, it will dominate the mids and trebles.
Trebles – The trebles are clear, detail, and a bit airy. I really like how this is a Bass CIEM but I can still get the airiness in the treble. The trebles on the A8 is more detail compare to the ASG-2.5.
Soundstage - The soundstage on the A8 is one word, amazing. It is surreal. If you have listened to the HD800 headphone, you will know that the soundstage is huge, which is the same effect as the A8 together with the ADEL module. I’m not saying the A8 soundstage is as big as the HD800, but it’s the effect when you put on the HD800 the first time is the same as when you put on these A8. I don’t know how 64 Audio and the ADEL module do it, but together they nailed it.
Gaming – I am including a small part of the review for gaming because there are people that play games and looking for a good Headphone / CIEM. Besides listening to music, I also play games such as Diablo 3, World of Warcraft, Battlefield, CoD, etc…
Without any 3D surround processing, the A8 has a large soundstage and that helps to pinpoint the directions such as gunshot. But as soon as I turned on OutOfYourHead software by Darin Fong (if you never heard about it, I highly recommend to check it out), my jaw dropped, the 3D surround is through the roof. It is so good that nothing on the market right now can beat it, not even Dolby Headphone nor SBX surround can touch it. Together with the insane imaging, layering, and detail of the A8, I can pinpoint where all the sounds are coming from. If you’re playing a lot of FPS games, I would highly recommend the A8 together with the OutOfYourHead software. I never heard 3D surround this good in my life.
Conclusion – After listening to the A8 for couple days now, and I can tell you that I can’t live without the ADEL module. It is like a god sent. Together with the big, deep, and detail Bass of the A8, it is one of the best CIEM out there for BassHeads and as well as people who want good Bass but with the refinement of the mids and trebles. Now I can’t wait for the MAM module (manual) from 64 Audio for my A8.
