I finally put my impressions together for these two wonderful IEM's I was lucky enough to audition.
64 Audio Review with Tia Fourte' and U18 Tzar
U18 Tzar:
Both the Fourte and U18 Tzar had great build quality, had a small size factor with a great cable and high quality connections. I used my own Spin Fits because I have always had good luck with them, and I didn’t even use the included tips. I kind of wish I would have tried some foam tips with the Fourte due to its (IMO) way too much treble. However I do not like the inconvenience with foam tips and the U18 was just right with Spin Fits and was my preference by a significant degree.
Both seemed to get along well with any source I fed them with, even my Galaxy S7 Edge did a fine job of driving either set. I preferred the light aluminum/silver colored Apex module over the darker one due to it was able to give an airier sound with more expansive sound staging. The dark module did give it more bass response and body but I preferred the airier sound of the silver one, (I think that is the M15?)
The first thing that stuck out at me with the U18 was as advertised on 64 Audio’s web page was its startling
“out-of-this-world depth and soundstage”. This is very addicting and was unlike any IEM I have ever heard. I thought my vented Sony MDR 7550 excelled at this but the Tzar was on another level. The Tzar certainly has depth, width and height well beyond the outside of my ears, almost in a spooky kind of way how good it was.
The U18 is very balanced to my ears with no part calling attention to itself, unlike the Fourtes treble which seemed to be exaggerated to me. The vocals could be very breathy when called for and so real. The tone is fast, light, airy with great separation and air around instruments in space, with non-fatiguing crisp extended highs as well as all different voices and instruments emerging from a deep dark black background. This gave an exciting presentation but was very refined and smooth without any sibilance.
Micro-detail with fast treble detail, attack and decay were just right. Texture was astounding with realistic deep, slamming, tight bass with absolutely no bleed into the lower mids. With acoustic pieces, it portrayed the acoustic space of the venue with realism and depth with this out of your head experience.
These IEM’s are some of the only ones for me where High Rez really popped, especially any thing up to my highest rez 24/192. I have struggled to hear what Hi Rez was all about, but not with these, it is really very obvious with most cuts.
I haven’t heard many IEM’s that could keep up with all different kinds of music without a hiccup, and having world class depth and soundstage they were most like a VERY good set of open cans. In my notes I had written down numerous times: awesome separation, layering, micro-detail, so real, tight bass, great decay, texture, outstanding depth/width/height. Bright-dark-smooth-dynamic, flowing, clean, refined.
Tia Fourte':
So alive! Slamming bass but not overshadowing anything, with exciting, crisp, great, extended highs. However, as indicated prior, a little too much treble for me. Also, the Fourte didn’t have quite the expansive out of this world soundstage and depth as the U18. It is smooth, and the music flows like crazy, and has excellent separation, layering, micro detail as well as the U18. And it maybe might have a bit more body in the mids than the Tzar. Unfortunately the treble (for me) is a deal breaker, and the possible fix with foam tips for me is just too inconvenient to hassle with.
Conclusion:
It was very difficult to send these on to the next participant, and I have been working on how I am going to be able to afford a set of the U18 Tzar and cannot wait for it to happen. At times I suffer from Tinnitus and according to Roman with 64 Audio, the apex module is a controlled vent, so it’s not a fully closed system as other IEMs, so people experience less pressure and may experience less harmful loud music that might contribute to Tinnitus.
I want to give a big shout out of thanks to
@Barra and 64 Audio for working together to make this tour possible.
