Is 64 Audio's Flagship Ocean Better Than The Standard U12t?

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Sonically, 64 Audio has a knack for creating excellent reference sound, and both the Ocean and U12t deliver it. If you already have the U12t, you'll remember its expansive soundstage and detailed imaging as part of its signature. The balanced sound is the most notable feature of the U12t, making it an appealing choice to musicians and sound engineers who want a profile as close to natural sound as possible. The Ocean delivers a similar sound to this, but elevates this reference quality. With half the number of drivers, you might think the Ocean falls short in delivering a wide, detailed picture. However, the Ocean did not disappoint and instead impressed me fully with its engaging, immersive sound and excellent spatialization. The sound was definitely more forward in the Ocean and was slightly more laid back in the U12t, where the depth of the signature was more noticeable. You could hear how more frequencies were evenly reproduced in the U12t, while the Ocean brought the treble and bass forward to make a more dynamic profile. 

Both the Ocean and the U12t were exceptional at reproducing instruments realistically and naturally. Whether I was listening on the flagship pair or the latest revision of the classic, I was met with very realistic instruments in every genre. This makes them a great choice for musicians looking for reliable in-ear monitors, as they may want a very realistic sound to hear their instruments clearly. For people who like to listen analytically, both the Ocean and the U12t are great for providing plenty of clarity and detail to help you catch every note. The Ocean's more forward sound may be more appealing to those who like to listen loudly, and the U12t may be better for people who may prefer a more relaxed profile. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

When we look at the individual frequency ranges, we can pick apart a lot of smaller differences in the sound profiles. At the low end, there is a clear distinction: the Ocean has a very forward bass response that the U12t falls short of. This isn't to say the U12t lacks bass; it just stays subtle and lets the midrange come forward. The Ocean's bass is punchy and exciting, matching the energy of the genre. The bass took up a lot of space in the sound signature, but not once did it feel overpowering or too intense, like it was the only thing you hear. The detail was still clean and crisp, making the Ocean a great choice for analytical listening. The depth of the Ocean's signature is most noticeable in the bass frequency range, with a sub-bass extension that makes everything feel a bit more natural in its reproduction. It's a great foundation for the three-dimensional signature of the Ocean. 

Conversely, the U12t has a bass response that is more reserved and stays evenly matched with the other frequencies in other ranges. The U12t has a bass response that is also punchy and crisp with detail, and like the Ocean, it doesn't overwhelm the signature. It has a bit less depth than the Ocean's bass extension, but the U12t does still have an impressive three-dimensional sound. The U12t's bass frequency response was very natural and realistic, which is a bit less dynamic than what we hear on the Ocean. If you find yourself sensitive to bass, the U12t's response is a perfect balance of relaxed but still present. You can appreciate the instrumentation without being met with a too-powerful slam in the low end. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange in these monitors feels pretty evenly matched. Both are incredibly detailed and pulled to the front, so you can pick apart all the finer details in your listening. I liked the Ocean's more dynamic reproduction to make the midrange even more engaging and entertaining. It took the analytical quality of the earphone and gave it an extra life, and the Ocean became more than just a tool for musicians. With the passive acoustic control through the back vents and nozzles, the Ocean becomes a lot more dynamic than just a flat profile that is used as a reference sound. The midrange utilized the space in the Ocean's sound signature by letting each of the elements live in their own space, separating out so you could appreciate each individual instrument. 

Compared to the Ocean's more dynamic profile, the U12t may seem lackluster and almost too generic. The U12t's midrange has a lot of detail that stays fairly evenly matched with the bass and treble, unlike the Ocean, which creates very stark contrasts between all the ranges. For people who want to purely look at sound analytically, the U12t offers a profile that is perfect for all the elements to be reproduced naturally and honestly in the midrange. The expansive horizontal space is. used to the maximum, as well as the depth to make the sound more three-dimensional. The layers of detail don't get muddied with each other, nd you can hear the space between instruments with stunning clarity. This range in the U12t takes a step back in comparison to the midrange in the Ocean, which puts everything very forward and attacking. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

At the top of the frequency range, we have the treble response. Both these 64 Audio IEMs have a bright treble response, but the Ocean had a great ultra-high extension that made the entire signature a bit lighter. In the face of a very powerful low end, the treble response being bright and airy was a welcome balance that made the Ocean very enjoyable. The airiness was just enough to make the entire signature open up and become a lot lighter to the ears. The signature became a lot less compressed compared to other IEMs, making the profile less fatiguing and easy to wear for longer periods of time. At times, the treble was very sharp and piercing, becoming a bit shrill, but when paired with a powerful bass response, the two matched each other quite well to be entertaining and fun to listen to. 

On the other hand, the U12t is a little more relaxed and subdued in its treble response. The treble is still bright and airy, but stays more evenly balanced with the bass and midrange to sound like they are all on the same level. The shrillness from the Ocean did not occur in the U12t; instead, you got a treble response that was bright, colorful, and accurate in its sound reproduction. Like the Ocean, the U12t opened up the top of its profile in the ultra-high range to allow frequencies to ring out more naturally and be less enclosed during listening. It was easy to listen to the U12t for long periods without fatigue because of this more relaxed quality.