At the cost of an SE100, you can get a WM1A plus a K mod from Music Sanctuary. In terms of resolution, extension both ways and imaging precision, it’s not far off from the likes of the SP1000; stage expansion is probably the only area where the SP1000 wins
clearly. Its warmer, more bodied timbre will stray somewhat from A&K’s cleaner and more neutral tendencies, but that makes it a better pairing with the A18t. All of my files are copied off of iTunes or lossless downloads and I've had no issues whatsoever with tagging, etc. Battery life is an absolute highlight of the WM1A (I only charge it once every three days if in constant use) and I
heavily prefer the more rugged 4.4mm plug than A&K's 2.5mm plug. I've had
numerous bad experiences with that format in particular.
The Phantom is a
vastly different IEM compared to the A18t. The A18t is very clarity-focused with heavy emphases on micro-detail retrieval, speed and transient attack. The Phantom greatly emphasises naturalness in tone and bodily resolution. The A18t will immediately sound more fun, exciting and crisp, but the Phantom to me represents a truer listening experience; more life-like. Now, contrary to popular belief, life-liked-ness or realism in tone will not be universally desired. I'm sure
many will prefer the fast, clean and crisp response of the A18t's, while others will prefer the Phantom's more humane and organic tone. I - for one - think they're both great for different purposes; almost like an HD800 vs. Audeze ordeal.
The A18t is unique in that it devotes drivers in the TWFK family to mids and bass. Typically, you'd see CL's or ED's down low. They have larger diaphragms for greater robustness and impact, but are slower and less resolving as a result. TWFK's are faster and cleaner, but their small size limits impact. So, to make up for this, 64Audio apply many of them in a semi-Tia configuration (as discussed on this thread previously) to increase the effective surface area of the drivers; combining the speed and cleanliness of the TWFK's with sufficient impact and physicality. Plus, eight CL drivers would simply
not fit in an IEM. The A12t is where you'll find them, which is I assume why it has a more robust low-end. Only a single Tia driver is required as removing the drivers lid turns it into a freely radiating diaphragm. This reduces resonance and distortion, which increases its effective signal to great heights. More effort is then put into controlling the driver as the acoustics around it matter much more than usual, but that's why Tia as a technology is so revolutionary. I hope I didn't get anything wrong there.
