Introduction

1964 Ears, 1964 Audio, 64 Audio. The company has been known by different names in the past, although only two of those are accurate. The US-based audio brand may have only begun in 2010, but has a reputation that leads many not to question whether it actually has 58 years of experience. Such is the power the words "64 Audio" hold in the realm of in-ear monitors, especially when it comes to working with artists, including Beyonce, Jay-Z, John Mayer, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, the Black Eyed Peas, and many more. The company started in a bedroom and now occupies a large studio with satellite outfits and distributors around the world, with its A and U series of IEMs still regarded as a benchmark for personal audio. Through a series of fortunate events, I had the opportunity to put not one, but two different samples of the company's flagship all-balanced armature set through the paces, so let's thank 64 Audio for helping arrange this for coverage on TechPowerUp!


The U18 Tzar, which is now simply referred to as the U18t, was announced in late 2016 along with the custom IEM version of the same titled the A18t. As such, this is certainly long in the tooth in a market where new releases are seemingly outdated after just a month the way Chinese manufacturers go about releasing IEMs. The first sample I had on loan from 64 Audio's UK distributor was one of the very first ever made, which also meant that subsequent updates to the packaging, cable, and other accessories weren't present. Once that became clear, it went back and I reached out to 64 Audio directly who arranged a new sample that was made just after an extremely recent set of updates to the whole packaging late last year. Amid all this, the U18t IEMs themselves have remained the same, and there has even been a newer U18s at the same price and similar driver configuration, too. Does the U18t still merit a place in 2022? Let's find out in our review which begins with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

I mentioned before how 64 Audio had recently overhauled its packaging and accessories for most of its IEMs, and the U18t is no different. What I am showing here is the latest iteration thus, which will be representative of the retail customer's experience for the foreseeable time. The product box for the U18t is on the larger side of average and takes the form of an external cardboard sleeve over a thicker cardboard box. It comes sealed in plastic, and the sleeve is mostly decorative with the company logo and larger-than-life renditions of the IEMs on front going with the product name, salient marketing feature, and confirmation that these were indeed made in the USA. An illustration of the crowded internals greets us on the back with more information about the special features that go into making the U18t. More of the same follows on the sides, where we also have the company slogan and see that the sleeve can be removed from either the top or bottom.


The inner box is predominantly black with the 64 Audio logo on the front and the same slogan on the sides, and a folded clasp opens up to reveal the contents inside. There are no magnets to secure the box shut, but it closes well and does not come loose in practice. On the inner lining is a printed welcome note from the founder of the company, and the other side reveals a thick foam sheet with machined cutouts hosting two large circular collections of various items, if you will. 64 Audio is employing a multi-layered approach to the unboxing experience, where you will see more of the included items placed underneath the top layer.


There's a 64 Audio sticker for when you want to display a sign of where your hard-earned money went, but more useful is the cable clip to secure the IEM cable to the front (or back) of your shirt and prevent microphonics from affecting your listening experience. There is also a cleaning brush with a sharper end to better de-clog the IEM nozzle from ear wax and other contaminants, and the brush itself for the rest.


I appreciate that the ear tips come neatly packed in a circular manner for the three types of tips to easily be identified and removed. 64 Audio provides generic silicone tips that sell for $6 for a set of two, some longer silicone tips with colored bores and a stiffer outer flange, and the so-called TrueFidelity high-density foam tips that cost $15 for three pairs of your chosen size. This makes for some fairly expensive ear tips that themselves total more than some IEMs. These all come in sizes S, M, and L to further help get the best-possible fit, placed inside what is the lid of the carry case, so the body of the case holds the collection we saw before.


This is indeed the case, as the case body holds the IEMs inside another foam piece with machined cutouts for snug, protective transportation. Another set of accessories is underneath—two sets of 64 Audio's Apex modules we will explore in more detail on the next page. Note that two openings are left on the stand, and those are for the third set that comes pre-installed on the IEMs.


The cable came separately packaged with the cable clip and cleaning brush. The cylindrical puck form factor has been employed to good success before by many others, although typically in the form of faux leather with a fabric or foam composition. This is a black bonded leather case that separately sells for $50 and has the company logo embossed on top. The stitching is also topnotch throughout, but this case is not the easiest to carry around in your pockets as it is more to chuck into a bag. It is lined with a protective felt layer inside, and there is plenty of room to place the IEMs with the cable as well as a few spare ear tips. It's more premium-looking and feeling than the previous iteration, although less functional with no specific compartments for the spare Apex modules.