Most audiophiles will agree that 64 Audio has never made a bad IEM. Never ostentatious in its presentation, yet always somehow engaging, the brand consistently delivers honest, yet magnetic sound signatures with some of the most skillful soundstages on the market. The Volur may be one of 64 Audio’s more bewitching IEMs at this price point, falling somewhere in the brand’s midrange line-up. What can you expect from the Volur terms of personality and performance?
What's in the Box?
- Silicone tips
- Foam tips
- Leather carrying case
- 64 Audio decals
- Cleaning tool
- Clip
- m12 apex modules
Look & Feel
The Volur maintains the brand's signature design with a straightforwardly shaped aluminum shell and a sleek, minimalist approach. The shiny, deep blue/purple marble faceplate on an otherwise understated casing adds a touch of color without veering into excessive glam. And as usual, overall aesthetic gives off a vibe of sophistication consistent with 64 Audio's reputation. In terms of comfort, the 64 Audio fit also remains reliable; the seal was effective, and the stem never felt intrusive in the ear. No complaints here.
Design
The Volur sports a 10-driver hybrid setup: two dynamic drivers for the lows, six balanced armatures for the low mids, one balanced armature for high mids, and 64 Audio's tia balanced armature for the highs. The Volur is pretty easy to drive, but I did notice that it benefited from a little extra power. For this review, I paired the Volur with my Astell&Kern SR35.
Sound Impressions
Soundstage
64 Audio is known for consistently offering one of the most expansive soundstages on the market, and the Volur seems to live up to this reputation. The spaciousness feels both broad and nuanced, providing an uber vibrant map of sound, that at the same time, never feels adulterated or exaggerated. The imaging is microcosmically precise, offering endless degrees and subtle variations in positioning across the stage. Despite the solid sense of distance, the Volur avoids the pitfalls of being unnaturally wide. Yet given how incredibly holographic the stage is, the listening experience is always dynamic and never mundane.
Low End
This is one of the most satisfying sub-bass responses I’ve heard; voluptuously dark and thunderous, the sub region smoothly transitions into the lush, yet grippy lower bass. It always satiates, yet never overpowers or gets too Empire Ears-ish, leaving plenty of room for the higher frequencies to radiate. There’s some fun speed here too, which when combined with the robustness and weight of the low end, makes for a notably powerful and warm bass performance. Acoustic instruments sound rich in this range as well, revealing a grand and velvety timbre that offers a hint of color to an otherwise natural performance.
Mids
Unsurprisingly, the Volur offers a sensible, yet dynamic balance in the midrange, leaning a bit towards upper mid prominence over the low mids. This imparts a mild snap in the higher mids while ensuring a little body in the lower frequencies. (That being said, the majority of the warmth comes from the low-end.) Notably, the Volur excels in delivering vocals, especially male vocals, which come through with an up close and intimate presence. There’s a controlled quality to the overall profile, maintaining a firmly anchored delivery throughout this range without any rude bumps or dips. Snares offer a leveled snap, rather than forcefully smacking you in the face. And in addition to the slightly colored tone, this gives the presentation a polished feel, always smooth and never overtly edgy. Finally, the speed and tightness also add to the skillful balance between steadiness and liveliness in this range.
Highs
In spite of its incredible transparecy, a smoothness really comes out in the highs, revealing rich and silky female vocals and strings. Still, there’s a slight weight/color that remains to the profile. And there’s more of a firm crispness rather than sparkle in this range. Never piercing or sharp, the Volur again finds a delicious balance between liveliness and fluidity that is both easy and always engaging.
Final Thoughts
The Volur stands out as a refined and charismatic gem within the 64 Audio mid-range lineup, offering a warm, fast and deliciously cohesive sound signature. With a harmonious blend of color, control, and a captivating 3D soundstage, the Volur is probably one of my favorite 64 Audio IEMs.
You can buy the 64 Audio Volur at Audio 46.
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