30+yr fingerstyle tinkerer here. The dynamics of percussive playing are extremely difficult to reproduce with IEMs. Very fast transients and woodiness needed simultaneously. I have a long list of test tracks with Hedges, Bensusan, Leeb, McKee, TE, etc (Calum's very cool!) and still chasing a good all-rounder. My first 64a will be arriving soon so I'm looking forward to seeing what that brings
Wow. Didn't take that long at all to find a fellow fingerstyle guitarist of the same age range!
I agree with you on the part of percussive playing, but I don't think that it's too hard to ask for that "zing" when it comes to acoustic guitars. Which 64a model did you get?
Btw Kotaro Oshio's older stuff is pretty amazing too.
As an acoustic guitar player, I can't shake off the slightly muted sound that the A18s delivers. It makes it much apparent that I'm listening to a recording, or at least sounds like the sound source is from behind a veil or curtain (try Calum Graham's 'Tabula Rasa' and 'Grace'). The heavy mid-bass emphasis also exaggerates the thickness of the bass notes from guitars.
Can't argue about the top-end extension - that's probably the tia driver. But quite a significant treble section before that (mid-treble? Sorry rather new to these terms) comes off lacking the "live sound" factor that I enjoy. Even the significantly cheaper ER4XR manages to pull that off. I believe that the A18s is more suited to vocal/rock/EDM types, less so for instrumentals.
I'm now wondering if the A18t would tick the boxes missing from the A18s, or if 64A's newer models would. On that note, the promo video seems to be showcasing something like an estat driver..
If that bite with strings is what you're looking for, the A18t sounds right up your alley. The A18s indeed has a more relaxed mid-treble. As an engineer, I love that dip because it allows me to colour, say, cymbals, snares and strings without getting distracted by their transients. Whereas, when I'm playing drums, I need the bite that the A18t gives me. It just goes to show how different jobs require different tools, even within one person. Hopefully, you'll be able to sort something out with 64 Audio and get the IEM that you truly want/need.
Unfortunately given the rather dead-end route that customs seem to be, I doubt I can work something out with 64 Audio apart from simply purchasing a separate A18t new (ouch wallet). That's unless @64Audio has anything otherwise to add?
30+yr fingerstyle tinkerer here. The dynamics of percussive playing are extremely difficult to reproduce with IEMs. Very fast transients and woodiness needed simultaneously. I have a long list of test tracks with Hedges, Bensusan, Leeb, McKee, TE, etc (Calum's very cool!) and still chasing a good all-rounder. My first 64a will be arriving soon so I'm looking forward to seeing what that brings
i just picked up U12 Adel model with S1 and B1 modules. pretty impressive tiny light IEMs. i am just wondering the more expensive TIA model is a lot improvement? works really well with chord hugo first gen. it was about 600 USD all in i think it is ok deal. i figured can't lose much money if i don't like it. i listend to the u12 and then the noble savant ii sounds so little detail vs that one. but still not bad for 1/3 the price. so probably get rid the savant II. i think soon i can ditch all my full size cans and just keep the iems. it may not be as good as my lcd-xc but it's so much smaller and easier to wear.
I had the U12 Adel before upgrading to U12t via Fir Audio. The newer version is a big step up over the Adel from my memory in terms of dynamics and resolution. It's not worth paying the extra to upgrade to the U12t in your scenario though since the B stock was just going for around $1,100 a few days back which was a steal.
Wow. Didn't take that long at all to find a fellow fingerstyle guitarist of the same age range!
I agree with you on the part of percussive playing, but I don't think that it's too hard to ask for that "zing" when it comes to acoustic guitars. Which 64a model did you get?
Btw Kotaro Oshio's older stuff is pretty amazing too.
Haha, just joined this thread couple of days ago to read up on my new acquisition, Noir. Good timing post!
I guess zing can be had but I hate it when it sounds like they are using 009s on expensive guitars, lol.
I like Oshio's earlier works too, "Dramatic" and "Starting Point." Among Japanese guitarists, I tend to prefer Masaaki Kishibe, Isato Nakagawa, Michio Ogawa, and more recently Satoshi Gogo. These guys seem more musical to me.
Hi all, recently got hold of some Nio's, using comply memory foam tips and MX15. Very nice so far. A little bit recessed/dark, had a look at the frequency response and saw the dip around 3500Hz. Added soom eq via roon and the sound opened up nicely.
Anyone else using eq with tia iems?
Any suggestions for tips?
Unfortunately given the rather dead-end route that customs seem to be, I doubt I can work something out with 64 Audio apart from simply purchasing a separate A18t new (ouch wallet). That's unless @64Audio has anything otherwise to add?
I had the U12 Adel before upgrading to U12t via Fir Audio. The newer version is a big step up over the Adel from my memory in terms of dynamics and resolution. It's not worth paying the extra to upgrade to the U12t in your scenario though since the B stock was just going for around $1,100 a few days back which was a steal.
1100 USD for a B stock u12T? not bad. here in canada used ones on audio mart is around that.
the u12 adel is really really powerful sounding and to me super detailed already. i think it is more detailed than hd800s even. i need to get a cheap ebay tidal account again to test some of my techno collection on there to see how i like the u12. i used sony z7 for a while for electronic music with hugo and it's great. i think everything sounds good through the hugo. didn't have time to run the u12 through other gears i have yet and also need to get a better cable for it than the stock cable.
Discount code 11DB7 seems to work on 64 audio products at hifi headphones. Brings the Nio down to £1274 ish. Assume it doesn’t get corrected at checkout. Should also work on other 64 audio iems. Not in a position right now, but if I were I would be talking myself very hard out of ordering the nio.
1100 USD for a B stock u12T? not bad. here in canada used ones on audio mart is around that.
the u12 adel is really really powerful sounding and to me super detailed already. i think it is more detailed than hd800s even. i need to get a cheap ebay tidal account again to test some of my techno collection on there to see how i like the u12. i used sony z7 for a while for electronic music with hugo and it's great. i think everything sounds good through the hugo. didn't have time to run the u12 through other gears i have yet and also need to get a better cable for it than the stock cable.
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The dynamics of percussive playing are extremely difficult to reproduce with IEMs. Very fast transients and woodiness needed simultaneously. I have a long list of test tracks with Hedges, Bensusan, Leeb, McKee, TE, etc (Calum's very cool!) and still chasing a good all-rounder. My first 64a will be arriving soon so I'm looking forward to seeing what that brings
. Lets wait for the Big announcement I will make it tomorrow!
