Dom Isaac
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2013
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thank you!CP-100 size should fit for all 64 Audio IEMs.
thank you!CP-100 size should fit for all 64 Audio IEMs.
Ortofone tips works for me!CP-100 size should fit for all 64 Audio IEMs.
A brief review – against the grain
I’ve been auditioning the U18t, Fourte and A6.
Background: I’m a musicphile, marveling at the technology, but never shunning good music if its reproduction isn’t perfect.
U18t – way, way too revealing. Every little sibilance or recoding imperfection is fleshed out to the point of harshness. If you’re blessed with a sensitive ear, the experience will quickly turn unpleasant. Perhaps those IEMs are superb for mixing or stage monitoring or listening to impeccably mixed high-res files; but a poor choice for any other application.
Fourte – at first impression, stunning! Round and warm and harmonious. Listening further on brings moments of utter brilliance; hidden background riffs that are brought to the fore and induce a smile of revelation. It tackles sudden frequency change with aplomb…However, after a while it becomes obvious the rendition deviates from the original intent of the producer. Not by much; not drastically; but it’s there. Something a tad too “round”.
I’m in the market for CIEM so I wouldn’t purchase the Fourte. But my suggestion for a potential buyer is to spend long hours in their company and firmly establish whether its unique sound signature would suite you in the long-run.
A6 – the true surprise here. No, it doesn’t daze at first blush, nor is its soundstage the widest or deepest, although not a weakling on either. But a moment later, it all clicks together: a supremely balanced and rich sound reproduction that immediately hits the sweet spot and never lets go. Nothing was “too much”; nothing stuck out; just an enjoyable, warm and occasionally wonderful, experience.
Interestingly enough, I concurrently sampled the entire JH line. The A6 trumped the Layla, Roxanne and anything below.
The only question I’m left with is how it stacks against the A12t. 64 Audio maintains the latter is the big brother, delivering a similar sound signature but even more competently.
Anyone mind commenting?
A brief review – against the grain
I’ve been auditioning the U18t, Fourte and A6.
Background: I’m a musicphile, marveling at the technology, but never shunning good music if its reproduction isn’t perfect.
U18t – way, way too revealing. Every little sibilance or recoding imperfection is fleshed out to the point of harshness. If you’re blessed with a sensitive ear, the experience will quickly turn unpleasant. Perhaps those IEMs are superb for mixing or stage monitoring or listening to impeccably mixed high-res files; but a poor choice for any other application.
Fourte – at first impression, stunning! Round and warm and harmonious. Listening further on brings moments of utter brilliance; hidden background riffs that are brought to the fore and induce a smile of revelation. It tackles sudden frequency change with aplomb…However, after a while it becomes obvious the rendition deviates from the original intent of the producer. Not by much; not drastically; but it’s there. Something a tad too “round”.
I’m in the market for CIEM so I wouldn’t purchase the Fourte. But my suggestion for a potential buyer is to spend long hours in their company and firmly establish whether its unique sound signature would suite you in the long-run.
A6 – the true surprise here. No, it doesn’t daze at first blush, nor is its soundstage the widest or deepest, although not a weakling on either. But a moment later, it all clicks together: a supremely balanced and rich sound reproduction that immediately hits the sweet spot and never lets go. Nothing was “too much”; nothing stuck out; just an enjoyable, warm and occasionally wonderful, experience.
Interestingly enough, I concurrently sampled the entire JH line. The A6 trumped the Layla, Roxanne and anything below.
The only question I’m left with is how it stacks against the A12t. 64 Audio maintains the latter is the big brother, delivering a similar sound signature but even more competently.
Anyone mind commenting?
A brief review – against the grain
I’ve been auditioning the U18t, Fourte and A6.
Background: I’m a musicphile, marveling at the technology, but never shunning good music if its reproduction isn’t perfect.
U18t – way, way too revealing. Every little sibilance or recoding imperfection is fleshed out to the point of harshness. If you’re blessed with a sensitive ear, the experience will quickly turn unpleasant. Perhaps those IEMs are superb for mixing or stage monitoring or listening to impeccably mixed high-res files; but a poor choice for any other application.
Fourte – at first impression, stunning! Round and warm and harmonious. Listening further on brings moments of utter brilliance; hidden background riffs that are brought to the fore and induce a smile of revelation. It tackles sudden frequency change with aplomb…However, after a while it becomes obvious the rendition deviates from the original intent of the producer. Not by much; not drastically; but it’s there. Something a tad too “round”.
I’m in the market for CIEM so I wouldn’t purchase the Fourte. But my suggestion for a potential buyer is to spend long hours in their company and firmly establish whether its unique sound signature would suite you in the long-run.
A6 – the true surprise here. No, it doesn’t daze at first blush, nor is its soundstage the widest or deepest, although not a weakling on either. But a moment later, it all clicks together: a supremely balanced and rich sound reproduction that immediately hits the sweet spot and never lets go. Nothing was “too much”; nothing stuck out; just an enjoyable, warm and occasionally wonderful, experience.
Interestingly enough, I concurrently sampled the entire JH line. The A6 trumped the Layla, Roxanne and anything below.
The only question I’m left with is how it stacks against the A12t. 64 Audio maintains the latter is the big brother, delivering a similar sound signature but even more competently.
Anyone mind commenting?
Well this isn't what I wanted to hear. I asked around in different threads here and most said the fourte ie more revealing and maybe brighter than the u18t. I have very sensitive ears and can pick up sibilance pretty quickly as I'm about to buy the 18t I'm quite lost here. I cant audition them so relying solely on reviews can cost me a lot of cash. Maybe I'll just stick to my Westone w80 hoping to find a great TOTL that wins most. This is an audio64 thread after so I expect some bias but, most described the u18t as musically enjoyable , not harsh or bright.A brief review – against the grain
I’ve been auditioning the U18t, Fourte and A6.
Background: I’m a musicphile, marveling at the technology, but never shunning good music if its reproduction isn’t perfect.
U18t – way, way too revealing. Every little sibilance or recoding imperfection is fleshed out to the point of harshness. If you’re blessed with a sensitive ear, the experience will quickly turn unpleasant. Perhaps those IEMs are superb for mixing or stage monitoring or listening to impeccably mixed high-res files; but a poor choice for any other application.
Fourte – at first impression, stunning! Round and warm and harmonious. Listening further on brings moments of utter brilliance; hidden background riffs that are brought to the fore and induce a smile of revelation. It tackles sudden frequency change with aplomb…However, after a while it becomes obvious the rendition deviates from the original intent of the producer. Not by much; not drastically; but it’s there. Something a tad too “round”.
I’m in the market for CIEM so I wouldn’t purchase the Fourte. But my suggestion for a potential buyer is to spend long hours in their company and firmly establish whether its unique sound signature would suite you in the long-run.
A6 – the true surprise here. No, it doesn’t daze at first blush, nor is its soundstage the widest or deepest, although not a weakling on either. But a moment later, it all clicks together: a supremely balanced and rich sound reproduction that immediately hits the sweet spot and never lets go. Nothing was “too much”; nothing stuck out; just an enjoyable, warm and occasionally wonderful, experience.
Interestingly enough, I concurrently sampled the entire JH line. The A6 trumped the Layla, Roxanne and anything below.
The only question I’m left with is how it stacks against the A12t. 64 Audio maintains the latter is the big brother, delivering a similar sound signature but even more competently.
Anyone mind commenting?
I also get confused with comments about Fourte is brighter than U18t. I own both and use them daily. Both of them don't present harsh trebles or sibilance to my ears. But I do know that ear tips make a huge difference. With any silicone tips including SpinFit, both Fourte and U18t sound very bright with too much/powerful trebles, which I cannot bear. To my ears, the stock foam tips are the best. I tried various Comply tips but I found that they did not fit well. The stock foam tips look very similar to Comply but they are different. I bought a bunch from 64 Audio.Well this isn't what I wanted to hear. I asked around in different threads here and most said the fourte ie more revealing and maybe brighter than the u18t. I have very sensitive ears and can pick up sibilance pretty quickly as I'm about to buy the 18t I'm quite lost here. I cant audition them so relying solely on reviews can cost me a lot of cash. Maybe I'll just stick to my Westone w80 hoping to find a great TOTL that wins most. This is an audio64 thread after so I expect some bias but, most described the u18t as musically enjoyable , not harsh or bright.
Well this isn't what I wanted to hear. I asked around in different threads here and most said the fourte ie more revealing and maybe brighter than the u18t. I have very sensitive ears and can pick up sibilance pretty quickly as I'm about to buy the 18t I'm quite lost here. I cant audition them so relying solely on reviews can cost me a lot of cash. Maybe I'll just stick to my Westone w80 hoping to find a great TOTL that wins most. This is an audio64 thread after so I expect some bias but, most described the u18t as musically enjoyable , not harsh or bright.
I fully agree. I'm sure that my Fourte is a production version. To my ears, Fourte is richer, warmer, bassier and smoother than U18t. Both are quite enjoyable and musical. That's why I ended up owning both. They are not competing but complementing each other. Depending on players, tracks, and my mood, I choose which one to use.Honestly, to me, the Fourte is thinner-sounding compared to the U18t because of its lighter mid-bass. The Fourte was much richer, warmer, bassier and smoother when I auditioned a pre-production unit at CanJam SG 2016, but many (myself included) have reported that the final production tuning abandons this completely. I may have to listen again to make sure. Though, regardless of the Fourte, I can confirm that the U18t is indeed musically enjoyable without harshness or sibilance. It would be unwise to equate brightness to harshness, because many bright IEMs can avoid sharpness through mindful tuning, esp. in the lower-treble and upper-midrange. The U18t is tonally bright due to a relaxed lower-midrange, a raised upper-midrange and a generously accentuated upper-treble. It's this upper-treble lift that introduces the U18t's sense of openness and air, as well as the open-backed nature of the Tia driver. But, because of its controlled upper-midrange rise and a neutral lower-treble, the U18t is airy yet teeming in headroom. The mid-bass energy it has also prevents it from sounding too thin. Harshness of course can be introduced through tip or source selection - foam tips are best for subduing treble - but even silicone ones like the Final Audio tips work brilliantly with the U18t; zero harshness.