64 Audio - U12t (Gen 1)

The blank was left for my Zero red which is unfortunately not in my hands. I also had Mest mkii, Variations, S12, Hexa, and Wan'er. I've owned my U12t for nearly 2 years and am quite satisfied with it except for the throat sibilance from those 'n', 'h' etc sounds. Except for u12t, I got the ones from DUSK and above just recently. I most settled down on Monarch mkii, but... after I switch the Diva to the max bass mode, it blows me off... I am happy to answer your questions!

 except for the throat sibilance from those 'n', 'h' etc sounds, even more serious than on the 64 audios.

musictek is great! try absolutely everything they have on offer, no matter the price. must trys: nostalgia camelot, alphaomega omega, ve7, custom art fibae 5 do try out the cables theyre selling too and make your opinion on them based on your experience compared to reddit, asr, and reviews im guessing youre talking about the um mest ii? forget the mk 1 and 3, both are terrible. the mk2 is quite good, especially for the second hand prices theyre going for now the only 64 audio iems i like are the u12t and 18s, the latter being not versatile at all but terrific for rock. quite overpriced but at least theyre an industry giant, and for the ear pressure system

In a nutshell, Tia Trio's wow factor lies in its bass response while U12t's wow factor lies in its imaging. I found the upper treble peak on the U12t its biggest weakness and likely its most controversial aspect, but it's no worse than the IE600's upper treble exaggeration. Truth is, the 'reference-adjacent flagship' sound the U12t targeted has mostly been done better by newer IEMs such as Symphonium Helios or Subtonic Storm. Meanwhile, the Tia Trio's bass is only rivalled by (IMO) the IER-Z1R and the astronomically-priced Brise Audio Fugaku, but both have an even more coloured overall tuning. The common reviewer consensus is that 64audio's A line tends to have excessive bass that makes it sound unbalanced compared to the U line; this makes sense in a loud live session, less so in casual listening. Not exactly an issue if you plan to EQ though. If you've been EQing anyway, may I recommend the dark horse (and my own daily) that is the 7th Acoustics Supernova. Bang-on neutral bass and treble with a relaxed (some would say honky) midrange that could easily be EQed to whatever you want thanks to its smooth frequency response. Resin shell is on the medium-large side but it sits in my ear comfortably, good isolation because of the fit, but even aside from the midrange, its other weaknesses are possible 8k glariness (you need to experiment with tips) and the fact that neutral bass and treble isn't for everyone (Precog mentioned lacking resolution, I'd say it's because he's used to heaps of upper treble in most other flagships. My opinion is if that's the price to pay for balanced tonality, so be it; the resolution isn't that bad anyway). Also, while it's a sturdy resin build, it's also a very small company, so it may be difficult if something does go wrong with it.

Agreed. Incredibly versatile IEM. Some people find them too “hollow”, but others find it holographic. I loved mine, but traded it away for the U12T.

U12T. Disembodied Tyrant on the U12T is satanic bliss in HD

Aim for a used pair, they typically bottom out at 50% of MSRP around $900-$1000. Grab them if you come across a pair. I got mine used, swapped the cables and the tips of my choice and voila, I've got the Death Empress herself screaming in my ears like ASMR Alternatively, the Campfire Audio Andromeda 2020 is also a magnificent set for Metal. Also approximately 50% of MSRP used at $500, probably less.

Hi OP, they're all in the same range, more or less. The most popular ones mentioned in the comments are the most "Safe" options. ie. Harman/Meta tuned. I live near my local IEM store and I personally did not like anything in this list except the S12 Pro. Not because of the sound signature but because they all lacked detail retrieval and clarity. While the S12 Pro is pure planar, it is a bit "sharper", but being planar-driven means it will be very receptive to EQ. Everything else will not be as receptive. I have the S12 Pro and I daily the 64Audio U12T so I place immense emphasis on detail retrieval and clarity more so than quantity of bass. Quality > Quality in my case. If you're an analytical listener, the S12 Pro is your top pick. If you need more bass or less treble, jus EQ it away. I have a written a piece on the S12 Pro here [https://www.reddit.com/r/inearfidelity/comments/1h1w33s/100\_vs\_2000\_iem\_shoot\_out\_letshuoer\_s12\_pro\_vs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/inearfidelity/comments/1h1w33s/100_vs_2000_iem_shoot_out_letshuoer_s12_pro_vs/) and [https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1g7bxsi/letshuoer\_s12\_pro\_qdc\_anole\_v14\_64\_audio\_u12t/](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/comments/1g7bxsi/letshuoer_s12_pro_qdc_anole_v14_64_audio_u12t/)

Well, you asked about the the best IEM in our personal opinions. But, a serious answer: If I were you I'd steer away from the IEMS in the 5-6k INR range. They're mostly just meta/harman tuned and sound more or less identical. If you want something that lasts really long, has impeccable sound and build quality, easy to drive, and will play just about any genre really well, go for the Letshuoer S12 Pro. It's about 13k INR, more than twice your budget but packs more than twice the quality of IEMs in the 5-6k INR range. I daily the 64A U12T, and despite the S12 Pro being more than 10x cheaper, it's about 90% of the U12T. I have both, and in many instances I would reach for the S12 Pro. I use it for gaming and various listening.

Mega5ests, monarch mk3/mk2, oracle mk3, u12t used. Really depends on what you want in a sound profile

I just got the 64 audio u12t. IEM for the win bro

Happy it helped! I think pro gamers double up to block out crowd noise haha. I'm just thinking of CS pros, so my knowledge on that is limited. >Drivers, what are the pros and cons of single, dual, hybrid, etc.? I'll give the **pros** for each first. So the most common driver for IEMs out there is the balanced armature (BA) driver. It was the first major alternative to dynamic driver (DD), and allowed makers to put multiple drivers into a small form factor like the IEM. Each driver than concentrate on a specific frequency range instead, given the manufactured cared enough to put enough crossovers and tune them. Otherwise you have a bunch of drivers doing the exact same thing, defeating the purpose of having a multi-driver setup. These days it's hard to find an IEM without BA involved. Hybrids typically refer to a combination of BA and DD. One *seemingly* weakness of the BA design is its bass. Actual "weakness" is interesting and not an actual auditory weakness: [/u/oratory1990 made a great post about it](https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/comments/nk243a/comment/gzdlw80/). DD is far more forgiving, so you can have it handle the bass while the BAs handle the rest. Tribrids are usually DD, BA, and electrostatic (EST) drivers. EST on paper is very accurate which translates to great detail retrieval. DD for bass, BA for mids, and EST for highs. More recently we have quadbrids. Uncommon so multiple flavors. Usually begins with the tribrid, then adds bone conduction (BC), piezo (PZT), etc. All have their quirks in terms of sound, but I wonder if that's inherent to the drivers themselves or not. The outlier is planar magnetic drivers. On paper planars are extremely fast, can reproduce the entire spectrum very well. These days they're typically packaged in tribrid and quadbrid flavors. Of course there are other driver combos, but these are the most common. Now, the **cons** of each. In terms of sound? Nothing. There are fantastic IEMs for every driver configuration out there. 64Audio U12T is all-BA, Sony IER-Z1R is a hybrid, ThieAudio Monarch Mk. II is a tribrid, and ThieAudio Origin is a quadbrid. I think it has less to do with what kind of drivers and more to do with how the manufacture designed/tuned it. Also it depends on your preference of sound. In terms of fit? All BA tend to have few fit issues because the drivers are tiny. Hybrid/tribrid/quadbrids can have fitment issues due to the large DD--some of the most uncomfortable IEMs feature the DD (IER-Z1R, Monarch Series, etc.) Planars are large, too. Single DD IEMs tend not to have fitment issues, either. Price is an issue. EST and planar drivers are more expensive, and it reflects in the price. **Original post category examples:** Not a comprehensive list, just rattling off the top of my head. - neutral tuning: Etymotic ER4XR/ER4SR, Hidition NT6 - mild-V/U+V/U tuning: Sony IER-Z1R, ThieAudio Monarch Mk. III, Symphonium Crimson, UM MEST Mk. II - bassheads: Sony IER-Z1R, FatFreq Maestro SE, FatFreq Grand Maestro - trebleheads: Letshuoer S12 (I think people don't like "spicy" sounds...)

Hard disagree with the U12T. Nothing stood out with those iems to warrant the $2000 price tag.

Yea I don’t get them at all. They sounded pretty mid to me. Also most reviewers no longer consider them TOTL, but its not like that matters.

i was researching for my endgame stuff and this is what i think monarch mk4 ought to fit the bill, neutral with a slight treble and bass boost without the switch, bassy sound with the switch. Best of both worlds and you can just use an HSQ filter to turn down the treble if it is too spicy. I was thinking of getting em but the size scared me off. Not in the market for anything that won't fit my ears, even the Moondrop DUSK fits a little weird for me lol The best actual all rounder I think is the U12T. Inoffensive with loads of technicalities. The only con people i've seen people give is that the tonality is too neutral/boring and some others complain about ba timbre. Some say the ThieAudio Valhalla is either slightly better or worse than the U12T but mostly people talk about the shell size and its bassy signature, complaining about the treble lacking air but not detail. I love all rounders but I value bass quality the most which is why I was looking at the Z1R but fit issues scared me off so I'm just off the iem market entirely now. Using the Moondrop DUSK and anything bigger would just be a waste of money for me and my ears. I'm curious though what do you like about the Volare and how do the DUSK and Variations compare to it?

Ya I much prefer trio over u12t. Honestly the u6t would be my favourite out of all them if it had dd bass and im most likely going to find another at some point. Then volur and trio are tied for sound but the trio always fit me kinda odd. Honestly that peak sounds a bit odd at first but now I can’t go without it. I always have a 64 audio iem in the arsenal for when I crave that sound

Haaard disagree on 1. The IEMs I’ve loved the most have been All-BA. U12T, Butastur, Carmen, … I wonder if you have tried the good, branded BA’s? Unbranded stuff like the Aful Cantor is very iffy IMO. But I agree on the Sennheiser stuff, I cannot understand the religious fanaticism for the HD6xx and the 800s at all.  For some reason I’ve never liked a single planar I’ve heard…

Mind blowing might be things like U12T and MEST MKIII, but for many the $100 planars will already be mind blowing imo. $100-$200 IEM with a tuning that suits you can definitely be endgame. 

Yes, I prefer the sound of the U12T which is just as “legendary” and still better than many TOTL iems, while you can get it at $800 secondhand, and it’s way more comfy 

I have tried both U12t and IE 900, but not the Glacier. [I have made a post about it here](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/TBz9ilfcva) IE 900 has top class bass for an IEM, but it didn't impress me as much as U12t did in other areas. So, IE 900 could be an upgrade in bass, but a downgrade in everything else.

**Introduction** I attended an audio show and had the chance to listen to over 30 IEMs. Rather than going too deep on every single one, I wanted to highlight the 3 IEMs that truly impressed me and share some rapid-fire thoughts on the rest. Do note that these are my subjective impressions, and the rapid-fire takes might not convey everything. **64 Audio U12t** 64 Audio was the brand I had looked forward to the most at the show. And U12t was easily the best IEM I heard there. The first thing that caught my attention was its imaging and soundstaging, it was one of the few IEMs that gave me a true sense of holographic staging. I really liked the treble tuning, it was extended, crisp, and avoided being sibilant. The midrange was on the warmer, lusher side, with upper mids slightly recessed for my taste. I hadn’t expected the bass to sound this good coming from BAs. It was detailed, hit hard, but decayed a tad faster than typical DDs. **Softears Enigma** At first, I thought it was just another ridiculously overpriced IEM that would sound mediocre. But I was wrong, the bass quality was pretty good, better than U12t. I didn’t feel anything special about the mids, they were neither shouty nor recessed. I sensed a dip around 5-6 kHz, as I am quite sensitive to peaks there. This made vocals much smoother to listen to, but there was a lack of excitement, so vocals weren’t the strong suit of this IEM. But it was the treble that hooked me and made me want to keep listening. The treble had an 'ethereal' quality. It felt lighter, extended, refined, and more importantly, exciting. Because of this, I just kept listening and ended up staying longer than I had planned, it was that good. **64 Audio U4s** This is basically a 'baby U12t', with a dynamic driver for the bass, giving it a proper bass thump. It had all the qualities I mentioned in U12t, but the overall technical prowess was slightly lower. I am still confused whether I preferred U12t’s faster bass response or U4s meatier bass response, nevertheless it was good. The midrange had similar qualities to what I described in U12t impressions. But the treble performance was a slight downgrade compared to U12t, it was on the splashier side with touch less refinement. **Top Performers in:** **Bass** * 64 Audio Volur * Sennheiser IE 900 **Mid-range** * 64 Audio U12t/U4s * Mega5EST **Treble** * Softears Enigma * 64 Audio U12t **Rapid-fire impressions** **64 Audio Fourte** * Emphasized bass * Recessed vocals * Non-offensive treble * No wow factor * Overpriced **64 Audio Trio** * Recessed mids, but not as much as Fourte * Non-offensive treble * Third best 64 Audio IEM for me **64 Audio U18t** * Treble presentation didn’t work for me * Not as good as U12t **64 Audio Volur** * Best bass I’ve ever heard in an IEM * Treble is quite peaky **64 Audio Nio** * Darkest among the 64 Audio lineup I’ve tried * Not my preferred sound signature **64 Audio Solo** * Best planar IEM I heard at the show * Bass quality wasn’t the best compared to others * Technical performance not up to the price **ThieAudio Monarch MK3** * Chonky shell, but still comfortable to wear * Emphasized yet controlled bass * Treble was slightly peaky * No wow factor **Sony IER Z1R** * Uncomfortable to wear, lacks proper seal * Because of that, bass suffered, I had to hold it with my hands to get the best seal * Bass quality is great (not the best I’ve heard, can’t say much due to poor fit) **Sennheiser IE 900** * Vocals sounded stuffy, weird, and recessed * One of the best bass I heard at the show after 64 Audio Volur * Lacking in detail and imaging for the price **Sennheiser IE 600** * Better tonality than IE 900, especially in the upper mids * Again, not the best in technical performance **Mega5EST** * Most normal-sounding IEM I heard at the show * Quite bassy for this type of mid-range * Not the best in subjective qualities **Dunu Da Vinci** * Similar impression to Mega5EST * This type of sound signature doesn’t work well with such a bass boost **Letshuoer Cadenza 12** * Fairly neutral with a bass boost * Lacks the wow factor * Treble was slightly on the harsher side **Elysian Pilgrim** * Non-offensive sound signature * Treble is a bit forward and spicy * Lacks excitement **Softears RSV** * Bass quality was good * Vocals sounded strained * Nothing special about the treble **Softears Volume S** * Non-offensive, but somewhat shouty on some songs * Slightly peaky treble (in some songs) **Softears Studio 4** * Sounded okay (but in a good way) * Nothing particularly special **FATfreq Maestro Mini** * Driver flex * Too much bass (works well with engaging songs) * Treble not refined **FATfreq Scarlet Mini** * Driver flex * Even more bass (too much on top of the already excessive bass of Maestro Mini) **FATfreq Grand Maestro** * Didn’t felt as bassy as compared to others * Faced similar fit issues like the IER Z1R **Campfire Audio Andromeda Emerald Sea** * Warm sounding with non-offensive treble * Didn’t felt anything special about the rest **Campfire Audio Trifecta** * Very weird sounding (that’s what I wrote in the notes:) * Overpriced for what it is * But looks stunning though **Campfire Audio Astrolith** * Too much treble * Again, overpriced **Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon** * Best sounding Campfire Audio IEM in my opinion * Bass quality was good * Mids sounded recessed * Energetic treble response

Yes!! I like 64 Audio U12t and Softears Enigma. I’m not a fan of the SuperMix 4’s tuning, but I always use EQ. If you know how to EQ, it’s a great set that punches above its price.

Headphones: OG HE-6> Susvara=Utopia> Sr-009> HD580=He-500 I would say the Susvara is objectively my best headphone, but my heart still belongs to the He-6. The Sr-009 is a beast and can easily outperform any of my headphones; However, it's very recording/genre specific. IEM: EE Odin> IER-Z1R> Shure KSE-1500= Audeze LCD-i4 > 64audio u12t Fallen out from the IEM game a while ago after getting my Odin. It's still head and shoulders above anything I own and is still my go to to this day. The Z1R's bass does feel thicker than the Odin's, as well as the 1500 being more detailed than it; However as an entire package, nothing quite beats the Odin for me. P.S. I completely feel you on the LCD-4s man. Loved their sound but they were just not practical in the long run :(

Is that a MMCX connector on that? I thought they all came with 2-pins? My U12T has 2-pins. MMCX is the superior connector!

I own a bunch of IEMs including several high end sets. Currently I believe the best set I own is the 64 Audio U12t, but the sets I use the most often are the SeeAudio Yume and Dunu SA6. I use those two sets the most because I often spend several hours wearing IEMs and find them comfortable and non-fatiguing. The tunings of both also align extremely well with my preferences.

The low cost iems definitely have a place in terms of providing a great tonality on an ultra low budget. I like what the truthear gate and bunny DSP bring to the audio world just as much as my u12t

It depends on how you define “legendary” but by most accounts, it is one. There are IEMs that are technically better overall and the Z1R has been surpassed in many aspects. But it does have a unique combination of sound qualities, and overall sound, that most all IEMs still don’t have. It was a competitive IEM for over 5 years. When it comes to IEMs from this generation (2018), I think it’s surpassed by only the 64 Audio U12t in terms of “status” and this is reflected in their secondary market values and adoption rates. But both of them lasted longer than the Anole VX and VE8, the other top IEMs of this generation. And either way, five years is a very long time in the IEM industry.

The ESR Mk II do seem pretty neutral. The EST drivers sound interesting too. To my eyes, they don't look as cool as the 7th Acoustics Supernovas, but they still look decent. I ended up buying the U12t, which I expect to receive soon. [They track the Harman curve slightly better](https://squig.link/?share=Harman_Adjusted_Target,%E2%88%86_5128DF_-_10dB_Tilt_Target,Empire_Ears_ESR_mkII,64_Audio_U12t_(S2_-_m15)) than the ER Mk II, which is a curve I generally enjoy. The ESR Mk II seems to roll off in treble a lot, so I don't know if I'd necessarily enjoy that. I suppose I could EQ that to get the treble back. Reviewers say the U12t has one of the best soundstage as well, so I hope to enjoy that. The A8000 [seem to have less bass and more treble](https://graph.hangout.audio/iem/711/?share=A8000,A12t) than the U12t, so I don't know if I'd prefer them. If you want extended warranty for the ESR Mk II, take advantage of your credit card's extended warranty benefit. Also, you can give [HifiSoundGear ](https://hifisoundgear.com/products/empire-ears-esr-mkii-iem)a look, since they claim to provide their own 5 year warranty for free. I don't have experience with their extended warranty, so I have no idea if it's any good, but it does make them unique amongst the competing retailers.

I don't necessarily need a small metal shell. It's just that the IE shells are comfortable as a result of being so small and having small nozzles. I look at many of those other IEMs and I've wondering if they're any comfortable, being so large. If we consider a max budget of $3k, just to be generous, is there anything you'd recommend out of the ones you listed? It should be comfortable, not have QC issues and die on me, and be as neutral as possible. Even if I won't like the neutral sound, that should ensure they're easy to EQ to a target I like. The U12T is one that I've seen recommended for years here, so that's one that has my interest. I should also mention that I don't have the ability to audition any of these in person. The best I can hope for is to buy one of them from an retailer with a generous return policy. That's why my fallback is to stick with the IE600 or the IE900, since I know I'd like them.

I've gone ahead and placed an order for the U12t. Maybe I'll give a little update here after I I've received and listened to it. I appreciate all the help!

The Supernovas do look good on paper. Now I'm just stumped on what to choose... Some things I don't like don't about the Supernovas are the clunky-looking 2-pin connectors sticking out in a way that makes them looked not plugged in fully, and the lack of lips on the nozzles. I don't know how you can design an IEM with a nozzle that can easily loose eartips. Have you had any issues with the eartips sliding off the nozzle? The [Super\* Review squiglink](https://squig.link/?share=Harman_Adjusted_Target,%E2%88%86_5128DF_-_10dB_Tilt_Target,64_Audio_Trio,64_Audio_U12t_(S2_-_m20),7th_Acoustics_Supernova,Sennheiser_IE_600) isn't very helpful in comparing these IEMs against each other, but [Precog's squiglink](https://precog.squig.link/?share=Harman_2019_IEM_Target,64_Audio_U12t_(MX),64_Audio_Tia_Trio,7th_Acoustics_Supernova,Sennheiser_IE600) was a lot better. I can see the separation between the U12t and the Tia Trio, and I can see the smooth frequency response of the Supernova that you mentioned. It definitely graphs well. It seems the Supernova is a bit hard to find, so that's quite troublesome; however, I do see it available in blue, purple, and red, so I can certainly make do. As it stands, the build quality of the U12t and Tia Trio appeal more to me (especially with the nozzle lips). The bass response of the Tia Trio might match what I had with my DD IE600 more closely, so perhaps that's what I'd want? I don't know if you can just EQ the U12t and expect to get the same quality of bass, considering they're BA and not DD. I honestly can't decide between these two, so I'd just have to take a gamble on one of them and hope for the best.

[Super\* Review's video](https://youtu.be/cPwoHIvgBHA?t=293) on the Supernova stated that the nozzles are smooth without a notch. However, looking at the high res photos from someone selling their Supernova, I can indeed see the shallow lips you mentioned. Not as nice as the deeper notches that all my other IEMs have, but hopefully it's good enough. Stock of the Supernova seems hard to come by right now, and Bloom Audio said they'll be receiving new stock at the end of this month. I'd just have to be a bit patient, if this is the one I want. The U12t doesn't have bad bass, but I'm simply trying to decide between it and the Tia Trio. The U12t seems closer to the Harman IE target than the Tia Trio, but if I can EQ them both, I'm wondering if one has the edge in something like soundstage or bass quality. Here's a summary that reflects what I've read online about potential differences in bass quality between BA and DD: >The Tia Trio's dynamic driver delivers more textured, authoritative sub-bass rumble with greater slam and analog warmth—think visceral impact on EDM or hip-hop tracks—that BA drivers can't fully replicate. The U12t's all-BA bass is tighter, faster in attack/decay, and more controlled, excelling in complex passages without bleed, but it lacks the Trio's physicality. Post-EQ, the Trio feels more engaging and macro-dynamic (better quiet-to-loud swings), while the U12t shines in micro-dynamics (subtle nuances like vocal inflections). I don't know how true this is, or if the differences are even noticeable. If perhaps there is no noticeable difference in bass quality or soundstage between the U12t and Tia Trio after an EQ to Harman IE, then I suppose I'd go with the U12t because its stock sound profile is neutral, which could be handy for recording and whatnot. One question I have to you is that as someone using the Supernova daily, do you ever think about swapping them out for any other more expensive IEMs, or are you perfectly content? The graph of the Supernova speaks for itself, so if you're perfectly content with them, then perhaps that'd be enough for me to give them a shot.

I do want soundstage, so I suppose it's the U12t for me. It's thought of highly by reviewers, so if I'm to make a blind purchase, the risk of disappointment should be somewhat minimized. The Fugaku is outrageously expensive to me, so I personally wouldn't even think about it. I'm sure it's nice though. I can't judge the Prisma Lumen and Lux without any reviews or graphs, but I did find your Head-Fi post about them, haha. The way you describe them does make them sound promising. I also suppose the good news is that you found a good match for your preferences at less than $1k, so I'd call that a win. They're definitely a great value.

64 Audio 12T and Campfire Andromeda is another. I'd say that even old school stuff like the Aurisonics ASG 2.5 might still be perfectly good today and Shure SE846 still has its fans.

Tarkov is also my main game. It definitely has some engine issues, but when audio does work, a good set of IEMs is essentially wall hacks. I still think it's worth it to invest in a good pair of ears for this game, especially if you ever play any Arena. For best bang for buck, I'd look at the used market if you know what sound signature you want. /r/avexchange has gotten me some great deals. I will always push for Yanyin Canon2's used because for <$200 USD you get yourself a comfortable IEM in a relatively compact size with a decent nozzle width. Sonically, it has a decent soundstage and imaging/separation, with enough bass to emphasize footsteps. If you were buying new, the Xenns Tea Pros are quite good. They're a step up in imaging and sound separation. I can't give an apples-to-apples since I haven't used the Tea Pros on anything but my RU7 DAC which artificially create a wider soundstage, but individual audio elements "stand out" fantastically with this set. I'm not sure if it's the RU7, but the vertical imaging on these is exceptionally good, better than the Canon2's. If I had bought these earlier, I may have stopped here and not gotten anything else. My personal go-to (if any budget is truly any budget) are either 64 Audio Volurs or U12T (depending on my mood). The holographic imaging on these is end-game. They're also relatively light and a small package so they fit very comfortably (although truth be told, I prefer the fit of the Canon2's). The Volurs have more bass impact but the U12Ts have more dynamic and tight bass.

Hmm I haven't heard the Trio actually. I have auditioned the u12t and it's still a great iem. Lovely technical chops, competent bass, immersive staging, slightly warm mids but not too warm for my taste, linear impedance and the Apex system is a really good feature. Just comparing them by graph, I would go with the u12t. Treble on the trio looks more peaky which will make them harder to EQ and more risky for a blind buy. Also they don't use the Apex modules also making them harder to tweak. Another iem you could look into if you're after a Harman-kind of sound is the IO Volare and Sogno. Great value, but not metal build in case you really want something less fragile.

Not sure which graph you're looking at but the 6k dip in the Diva I actually like and it's primarily the 6-8k region to be exact, which some are sensitive to. The Supernova is definitely more present in the lower treble. One of the best things about the Diva 2023 is that you have a tuning switch with three settings, all of tunings being extremely well done. I primarily use the max bass setting but the medium one has an absolute killer midrange. https://squig.link/?share=IEF_Comp_Target,Elysian_Diva_white,Elysian_Diva_red,Elysian_Diva_blue I am indeed interested in the Annihilator, especially with rumours of a 2025/2026 version. But maybe a bit too warm, too much mid-bass for me, too v-shaped. I'm actually waiting more for a discount on the Elysian Apostle.. Regarding u12t vs Supernova, the u12t absolutely wins when it comes to imaging and Soundstage. It's one of the best parts of the u12t and one of the weaker parts of the Supernova. The u12t I remember as deep, wide, spherical and immersive. Supernova has a very clear center channel and clear stereo channels, but a feeling of some slightly weird empty space in-between. It's definitely a more intimate/confined presentation with voices coming straight in front of you. What Supernova has going for it is smoothness and tonality (and looks). I would argue the Supernova has better midrange. They're both easy to like and seem to have a general appeal. Never heard someone hating either of them.

I agree that the u12t has a bigger soundstage presentation, though I definitely prefer the tuning of the Diva, especially when it comes to the midrange. The u12t is more U-shaped with the signature Tia upper treble air/zing. It sounds like you should go with the u12t then, and fortunately they're really easy to find used. If you want to try the 64audio sound without paying too much I would recommend the u6t or even the u4s (I would rank them u12t > u6t > u4s).

U12t and utws5

Hi everyone! My introduction to the world of IEMs was the 64audio u12t. I tried many different brands in a store while traveling to Toronto and this model was the only IEM that gave me a tingle in my spine and that very special touch of “spice” in the trebles without being harsh. The stereo is awesome and I genuinely enjoy the pressure relief with their apex modules. I feel a physical stereo tickle in my ears with their fast transient response in stereo with any gentle percussion. It’s lovely. I have enjoyed these for over a year but my main problem has been with comfort and fit. I hate all the tips - the foam ones feel like they press in my ears too much, and the silicone/rubbery tips are somewhat alright but they fall out of my ears too easily and can’t seem to lock in no matter how much I try. I want to go to the next level and get a custom pair. I went to the audiologist and got a set of impressions done. What would be the ultimate pair of customs from 64audio? I will pay any price but I am having a hard time deciding between the a18t, a18s and N8. The equivalent universal models are the u18t, u18s and Nio. The type of music I listen to is DnB (Noisia), Coldplay, Muse, lots of Jazz music, KSHMR, ambient stuff like State Azure, Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnalds. I like EDM and esoteric electronica like Brandt Brauer Frick. Interesting techno like Âme - Rej. Psy stuff like Infected Mushroom and Shpongle. I also enjoy classical music. And Mike Oldfield. And lots of sci-fi soundtracks - blade runner, Dune, etc. I had the N8 in my cart but I’m wondering if I would be missing out by not going for the A18t as I’ve heard people say it blew them away. But at the same time people say the Nio/N8 was their favourite IEM and most fun (perhaps because of the bass?). For music production I use the Focal Utopia headphones, and for studio monitors I use Focal Trio6Be and Genelecs. I really search for that holographic feeling, stereo separation and tight bass. The IEMs would be purely for listening and enjoyment of music paired with a Fiio KA17 and using Tidal as the lossless streaming service. I would really value your help and experiences to get me out of this decision paralysis!

I’m curious, how is your experience with the a12t after another month? I ended up trying some third party tips and cable for the u12t and while they are much more comfortable than the stock tips, the IEMs still have a tendency to fall out - and the seal isn’t perfect for flights or loud environments, I can hear a lot of ambient noise still. Do the a12t block out outside noise well? Anything else you have noticed? (Sweat, comfort over time, etc)

All these years and u12t is still the top choice of many people. I'm enjoying mine with ibasso dx340.

I've been with my u12t for a bit over 2 months and still love it. But as this is more like a reference sound IEM which is best at nothing, I want to explore some more specific IEMs for specific realms. The first one I'm targeting is instruments. The sounds I listen to the most are classical, female vocals (pop), and EDM. I'm looking for one with a bigger soundstage, good instrument separation and clarity, and relatively good bass (u12t's good is good enough for me). After a week of searching, only Glacier and IE900 are left in my list, and they both seem to be very good candidates for an instrument IEM. I really want to hear what you guys think about them. I know sounds are a super subjective matter, but as it is so hard to try out these earbuds, I would still like to collect as much feedback as I could before I buy and try (and maybe return). Thanks! (I'm relatively new to iem world and still exploring, so bear with my wording :D) Edit: Reporting back, I've got them! https://preview.redd.it/gn19bs151gve1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=658ed6146df4ffe1ec49cd6ec011198bbccd4b3a I've spent the whole morning with them, these are the things I've noticed: 1. When the sound choice is right (classic, EDM, or anything big band), the soundstage is crazy and the immersion feeling is insane. I've been wondering how they can achieve something like this with such a tiny little thing. 2. Bass is definitely slamming, the best bass I've heard on an IEM. 3. Speaking of the word "tiny little," it is not that tiny, actually quite big compared to my u12t. However, it has such good ergonomic design that it fits right away with my first attempt, no further adjustment needed. 4. The resolution and transparency are not on the same level as u12t and that's expected. I'll still go for u12t if I want crisp and clear sound. In summary, this is a hot and sexy IEM. I'm very satisfied! Thanks for all the suggestions here :)

Can get pristine condition u12t around that range