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And..... received. I've only had them in about 20 minutes so this is VERY preliminary. Fit seems very good, slipped right in, seal seems solid. I moved my mouth/jaw around much more than I normally would while playing (I don't sing) and didn't lose a seal, just a little rubbing/movement sound. I'm not playing or moving around or sweating (much) though so I'll withhold final word on fit for now. The graphics came out much darker than the designer indicated they would, red graphics over black color so I should have expected and accounted for that. Not a huge deal, they still look pretty good.
Now, for sound. I tried my phone using Google Music app, desktop using YouTube, Google Music , and iTunes. My phone sounded ok, not terrible but wasn't totally blown away. Definitely noticed the bass clearly. Plugged into my computer (direct headphone jack) and unpaused the YouTube video I had been watching. It sounded terrible! Admittedly I only tried one video so far but it sounds great (Nightwish's 2013 Wacken Festival show if you're curious) through my desktop monitors. Plugged them into the mixer since that's what's driving the monitors and not any better. Hmmm.... tried a few tracks from Google Music and they also sounded terrible. I was getting a little worried by this point, thinking something is wrong with my brand new $650+ IEMs! Especially since it didn't sound like compression artifacting or any other faults normally associated with digital music. Sounded almost like a phasing issue, or a channel was missing (vocals or guitars would be muffled but fade in and out). Ok, let's try one more thing, iTunes. Wow! these things sound fantastic, everything is there, VERY clear and distinct. Already hearing things I hadn't noticed before.
I'll have to do some more experimenting and see what's going on with the other sources. The only thing the first 3 sources had in common was they are all streamed content, iTunes being local disk. But they all sound fine using Sony MDR-7506 headphones or my Mackie studio monitors. Weird.
Anyway, like I said, just a very preliminary test and don't have much time to play with them tonight. I'll follow up again once I get some time with them.
(My god, Xanadu sounds amazing!!)
Now, for sound. I tried my phone using Google Music app, desktop using YouTube, Google Music , and iTunes. My phone sounded ok, not terrible but wasn't totally blown away. Definitely noticed the bass clearly. Plugged into my computer (direct headphone jack) and unpaused the YouTube video I had been watching. It sounded terrible! Admittedly I only tried one video so far but it sounds great (Nightwish's 2013 Wacken Festival show if you're curious) through my desktop monitors. Plugged them into the mixer since that's what's driving the monitors and not any better. Hmmm.... tried a few tracks from Google Music and they also sounded terrible. I was getting a little worried by this point, thinking something is wrong with my brand new $650+ IEMs! Especially since it didn't sound like compression artifacting or any other faults normally associated with digital music. Sounded almost like a phasing issue, or a channel was missing (vocals or guitars would be muffled but fade in and out). Ok, let's try one more thing, iTunes. Wow! these things sound fantastic, everything is there, VERY clear and distinct. Already hearing things I hadn't noticed before.
I'll have to do some more experimenting and see what's going on with the other sources. The only thing the first 3 sources had in common was they are all streamed content, iTunes being local disk. But they all sound fine using Sony MDR-7506 headphones or my Mackie studio monitors. Weird.
Anyway, like I said, just a very preliminary test and don't have much time to play with them tonight. I'll follow up again once I get some time with them.
(My god, Xanadu sounds amazing!!)
Try classical music on Internet radio; I'm partial to Radio Swiss Classic. You will hear more; YouTube is simply an unknown vis a vis quality.
All of ours arrived Monday. I am only posting now because I've been using them ever since, and just got back from rehearsal.
Made a Facebook album here of me unboxing them. If that link doesn't work I'll post them elsewhere.
They sound absolutely incredible. Those words aren't strong enough to accurately describe how much I love them, though. Super-clear everything, and the sub driver adds so much to the overall sound (we all got Quad models).
Tried them at rehearsal and got to see everyone else's. Everyone is very very happy with theirs. The drummer is completely over the moon at how much better his e-kit sounds through his Quads. Worship leader replaced his old Westones with the Quads, and said the bass response is way better on the Quads.
These are worth twice the price, I believe. Right after I tried them for the first time, I emailed 1964 Ears to thank and congratulate them.
If I ever have to buy another pair, they'll be 1964 Ears.
Made a Facebook album here of me unboxing them. If that link doesn't work I'll post them elsewhere.
They sound absolutely incredible. Those words aren't strong enough to accurately describe how much I love them, though. Super-clear everything, and the sub driver adds so much to the overall sound (we all got Quad models).
Tried them at rehearsal and got to see everyone else's. Everyone is very very happy with theirs. The drummer is completely over the moon at how much better his e-kit sounds through his Quads. Worship leader replaced his old Westones with the Quads, and said the bass response is way better on the Quads.
These are worth twice the price, I believe. Right after I tried them for the first time, I emailed 1964 Ears to thank and congratulate them.
If I ever have to buy another pair, they'll be 1964 Ears.
From here, it's going to go pretty fast. It took mine a while to get going, too, but once they did, I moved five steps in as many days.
Ok, so I've had a few more days listening with them and I think I've figured out the issue with my initial sound test. Long story short, it wasn't the IEMs. I wanted to make sure I didn't blow my ears out first time using them so I had dropped the master volume on my PC way down. Apparently to the point where all the electrical noise from the computer itself was interfering with the music. Not thinking about it, I brought the PC master volume back up right before the iTunes test, and assumed it was iTunes that made the difference. Went back and tested Google Music and YouTube and everything sounds great. (Or at least as great as those sources can produce, looking at you YouTube!)
One thing I was pretty impressed with that I haven't seen mentioned before. I've used several other isolating/sealing type earbuds before and have always been irritated (very) with the extraneous noise caused by the cable moving or the bud slightly shifting in my ear. There is very little of that noise with these, I am quite pleased with that!
I haven't had a chance to try these out with the band yet so I can't comment on how well they reduce outside sound levels. I will say that I can hear noises (kids, TV, etc) around the house better than I thought I would so we'll see.
One thing I was pretty impressed with that I haven't seen mentioned before. I've used several other isolating/sealing type earbuds before and have always been irritated (very) with the extraneous noise caused by the cable moving or the bud slightly shifting in my ear. There is very little of that noise with these, I am quite pleased with that!
I haven't had a chance to try these out with the band yet so I can't comment on how well they reduce outside sound levels. I will say that I can hear noises (kids, TV, etc) around the house better than I thought I would so we'll see.
s0c9
Supporting Member
Honestly, I'm not surprised by any of these first impression reviews. 1964 products are excellent and the end result is usually the same - happy users! I'm glad you guys have joined the "collective". Speaking of happy users, I'm using mine tonight for rehearsal...it's always a treat to hear through my quads!
I've had my Quads since January of this year. Between a few major life changes (getting sick, moving/buying my first home, starting my own company, etc) I haven't had a chance to come back and post my impressions and ask a few questions.
I've used them many times playing bass for my church band, playing drums for others, and just listening to music in general. The clarity of music is incredible. They just seem to not have as much bass as I was expecting, based on many of the reviews here.
Now, I am a turd and still ordered ambient ports, even though most people recommended against them. I was worried about feeling too isolated since these were my first CIEMS. I now have the solid filters in, but the bass still seems to be lacking.
-Can I fill in the port with some kind of glue or other substance?
-While they do muffle the outside sounds, I can still hear people talking, even when they aren't yelling. I was under the impression that I wouldn't be able to hear much with the CIEMS in. Was I way off about that?
Again, the sound quality is fantastic. Its just not the sound I was expecting. Any insight or advice is much appreciated. Thanks again.
Moses
I've used them many times playing bass for my church band, playing drums for others, and just listening to music in general. The clarity of music is incredible. They just seem to not have as much bass as I was expecting, based on many of the reviews here.
Now, I am a turd and still ordered ambient ports, even though most people recommended against them. I was worried about feeling too isolated since these were my first CIEMS. I now have the solid filters in, but the bass still seems to be lacking.
-Can I fill in the port with some kind of glue or other substance?
-While they do muffle the outside sounds, I can still hear people talking, even when they aren't yelling. I was under the impression that I wouldn't be able to hear much with the CIEMS in. Was I way off about that?
Again, the sound quality is fantastic. Its just not the sound I was expecting. Any insight or advice is much appreciated. Thanks again.
Moses
If you push the buds into your ears does the bass increase? If so you just aren't getting a proper seal and there isn't a good solution that I know of, but maybe someone knows something . If not, I would call them and ask them to take a look at them.
I know I and others have said it before - bass through the quads is more about clarity than quantity. I can hear the bass more clearly (less mud) with my quads than with anything else I want. If you want to have a little more thump, that's an EQ adjustment.
With regard to ambient noise, nothing you stick in your ear will eliminate ambient noise - you'll always hear something. The point of a custom mold is that ambient noise is reduced by 25-30dB so that the signal being piped into your ears isn't competing with anything. As a result, you can have your signal at lower volumes and and still hear everything clearly, thus protecting your ears from fatigue. The ambient port, even sealed, is probably compromising that balance somewhat. I wouldn't recommend glue or anything else for that matter, but you can always contact 1964 and see what they recommend.
s0c9
Supporting Member
+1
As I've mentioned before - I have my Quads IEM volume levels set as low as I can go and still hear clearly, which allows external noise in without overpowering the IEM signal level. On the plus side, I can often "hear" bass [very well] from FOH subs, can communicate with the band without the need for ambient mics or yanking one ear out, I feel less isolated, and have trained my ears to be able to hear external noise fairly well (almost like having ambient ports). I often leave them in between sets and can have (and hear) a conversation with others while the DJ cranks it up.
Best part, is my hearing is still PDG!
That's probably the best explanation re: quality vs quantity. It ain't Beats headphones, which is good.
The ambient noise from the solids is a benefit for me as I'm alone with IEMs, so keeping the feed volume low so that I can hear drums and guitar (plus some bleed in the vocal mic) is a real benefit. Takes some adjustment, but huge benefit.
Thanks, everyone, for you input! Very much appreciated. I'll contact 1964 and see what they have to say about filling the ambient ports.
As you predicted, it went fast!, a week from billing to receiving, 2 weeks from receiving to starting, and 2 weeks from starting to shipping. I should see them in a week, or, as I like to say,
OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY !!!!!!!!! ORDER PROGRESS: Shipped (STEP 12 of 12)
- 06/03
- 06/10
- 06/24
- 06/26
- 06/29
- 07/01
- 07/02
- 07/06
- 07/07
- 07/07
NOTICE: Due to the nature of the production line at our lab, you might not see any status changes for the first 1-2 weeks after placing your order (payment and impressions received). This is normal, as most of the work is done in the last 2 weeks of the waiting period. Thank you for your understanding.
As you predicted, it went fast!, a week from billing to receiving, 2 weeks from receiving to starting, and 2 weeks from starting to shipping. I should see them in a week, or, as I like to say,
Ahem....
I definitely remember that feeling 18 months ago...
Ladies and Gentlemen my V6 Stage have arrived! These are my first IEMs so I have nothing to compare them to, but they popped right in easily and gave great isolation no matter how I moved my jaw, and at least playing stuff on my computer, they sound great with tremendous left/right balance, a great sense of "depth to the stage". The bass was well defined without being "bass heavy" and the high frequency stuff wasn't harsh or distorted.
Here's the unboxing:
The package required a signature. Good call.
Carry case comes in a plastic bag. Backside of plastic has my name printed on the tape holding it shut. Smart move as it makes sure my ears go to me!
Plastic bag also holds "1964 EARS" sticker and instructions to download user manual.
Plastic carry case is very sturdy and is personalized with my name.
Inside the case - all nicely organized and very well protected. There is also room for a small eyedropper filled with ear lube, if it comes to that.
Four foot silver cable, clear shells, smoke faceplate with gold tone "V6 Stage" printed on it.
Fits in the ear perfectly; very comfortable for teh 30 minutes I've been wearing them so far.
Here's the unboxing:
The package required a signature. Good call.
Carry case comes in a plastic bag. Backside of plastic has my name printed on the tape holding it shut. Smart move as it makes sure my ears go to me!
Plastic bag also holds "1964 EARS" sticker and instructions to download user manual.
Plastic carry case is very sturdy and is personalized with my name.
Inside the case - all nicely organized and very well protected. There is also room for a small eyedropper filled with ear lube, if it comes to that.
Four foot silver cable, clear shells, smoke faceplate with gold tone "V6 Stage" printed on it.
Fits in the ear perfectly; very comfortable for teh 30 minutes I've been wearing them so far.
