64 Audio has been announced as a finalist for the 37th Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards in the category of Outstanding Technical Achievement for Headphone/Earpiece Technology.
Presented at The NAMM Show, The NAMM TEC Awards are bestowed annually in celebration of the pro audio community by recognising the individuals, companies, and technical innovations behind today’s sound recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media.
“Nio is our first high driver-count hybrid, and for it to be names as a TEC Award Finalist is truly an honour,” explained 64 Audio Founder and Chief Sound Designer, Vitaliy Belonozhko. “This universal-fit earphone features a 9mm dynamic driver and eight balanced armature drivers, creating a sound signature characterised by extended lows and a rich three-dimensional soundstage. Nio’s smooth treble and natural warmth will provide hours of enjoyable listening for all genres of music. Nio includes a host of our exclusive technologies, including tia, apex, and LID that challenge traditional in-ear monitor designs to give you the absolute best listening experience.”
The announcement follows a four-month call for entries of standout technical and creative products and projects that have made a significant impact on modern sound and music. A panel of respected industry voters from pro audio publications as well as members of professional music, technical, and creative organisations, along with select NAMM members carefully evaluated each entry before selecting Nio as finalist.
Nio’s ergonomic shell is machined out of a solid piece of aluminium and finished with a striking blue abalone faceplate. The eight precision balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver include one high, one high-mid, six mid, and one dynamic low.
Additional specifications include a frequency response of 10Hz to 20kHz; sensitivity of 105db dB/mW; impedance of 6Ω @1kHz; integrated four-way passive crossover and -10db w/ mX module; -15dB w/ m15 module; -20dB w/ m20 module isolation.
64 Audio’s Air Pressure Exchange (apex) is a pneumatically interactive vent that releases air pressure in a sealed ear canal. This venting alleviates listener fatigue and opens the soundstage. Apex comes in two variations, m15 and m20, depending on the model purchased. All of 64 Audio’s current IEMs feature apex technology (tia Trió, Fourté, and Fourté Noir models contain an internal version of the apex module to preserve the tia acoustic chambers).
Unlike competitor venting solutions, apex preserves the bass frequencies and produces a more open soundstage, which helps the listener distinguish individual instruments. Ultimately, artists are better able to follow their mixes and execute the best performance possible. The apex module is also engineered with features to prevent vent-clogging and wind noise. Its compact and durable construction is virtually maintenance-free, designed for the most demanding users.
tia is a technology exclusive to 64 Audio that works by eliminating sound-altering tubes and dampers. Sound produced by the tia system is able to disperse freely and effortlessly, yielding an incredibly smooth and musical frequency response. Two major elements of the tia system include the tia high driver and the tia single bore design.
LID is a technology exclusive to 64 Audio that ensures a consistent frequency response regardless of the source, making it perfect for musicians plugging into a variety of equipment.
