In the latest version called "Blanc", this IEM from 64 Audio is limited to 500 units worldwide, the well-known manufacturer from Vancouver, Washington has taken their top product to a new interpretation, and if your budget is not an issue, then 64 Audio Fourté Blanc is definitely an excellent choice in the current hifi market.
64 Audio Fourté Blanc - Jewel-like sparkle
Unlike the standard version of the Fourté, this perfectly ergonomic Blanc has a shell that is no longer just made of anodized aluminum, but a snow-white shell made of ceramic, with an overall shape similar to the previous Fourté Noir. Continuing the classic design elements, the Blanc boasts a gleaming green copper panel that gives it a jewel-like sparkling feel.
Unlike the 64 Audio's A Series and U Series, the Blanc uses a 4-unit system equipped with a moving coil and three moving iron units, one TIA treble, one midrange, one dynamic bass, and four crossovers, and the entire system operates without ducts. Built-in APEX technology reduces listening fatigue, although it cannot be replaced by itself like other 64 Audio products, but the built-in M20 module still has a good effect.
For the limited edition Blanc, 64 Audio builds on Fourté in many ways. For example, re-tuned low frequencies, more linear smoothness, less distortion, and Mundorf Supreme solder.
Thanks to the perfectly ergonomic design of the 64 Audio Fourté Blanc, it delivers a first-class wearing experience that is durable, comfortable and secure.
Most importantly, the choice of cable is closely related to the player. If you have a balanced connection, you should make the right choice because it provides a better signal-to-noise ratio, and since horizontal comparison is not possible at this time, I cannot judge the difference between the two cables.
sound
For the sound testing part, I used the Shanling M3X and Dragonfly Cobalt. At the price point of BLANC, you have to expect top-of-the-line sound performance. Overall, the 64 Audio's Fourté Blanc is somewhat similar in tuning to the Fourté, but the low-frequency re-tuned Blanc deserves to perform better.
My basic impression is that Fourté Blanc offers top-notch performance, but it depends in part on my musical taste. The tuning is not completely linear, but slightly emphasizes bass and treble. This has already been the case with Fourté, but it is more evident here.
In terms of personal subjective hearing, Blanc is excellent, there is nothing to be disappointed about musicality, the low frequencies are grand and precise, and the control is excellent to reach a higher level. The contours and dynamics of the sound are perfectly reproduced, while extending downwards in spectacular depths and, in my opinion, without generating excessive emphasis.
Everything is just right, whether it's details, neutral tones, electronic music and instruments, Blanc is subtly and accurately reproduced, while being precisely distinguished, even for in-depth analysis and listening to complex mixes.
Blanc's treble extends crisply to the sky, and clearly shows the spatial sense and detail of the sound source, distinguished by excellent transients and response, clean and perfect, showing an astonishing sense of space, panoramic stereo, detail, depth and dynamics.
In Tori Amos' "Star Whisperer", you can hear the rubbing of the bow and the fleeting display of the cello and bass; In Slayer's "Repentless" you'll be amazed by the guitar reverb; In Boris Blank and Malia's "Celestial Echos," you'll enter a bright three-dimensional sound field;
The listening experience was very relaxing, without any tension at all, and Blanc comfortably brought me into the depths of the music. I embarked on a colorful sonic exploration that, in addition to excellent parsing, offered unparalleled intimacy and musicality.
At the same time, Fourté Blanc slightly emphasizes bass and high mids while maintaining a hifi style, and indeed, certain nasal sounds can be perceived.
Importantly, the Fourté Blanc sometimes stands out extremely in the treble range, similar to Sennheiser's HD 800 s, which has advantages in detail, permeability and spatial sense. However, in songs like Britney Spears' Toxic, the extension of the treble can be distracting at times.
In my opinion, Fourté Blanc is somewhat implausible to reliably assess the boundary between hearing and quality. Erosion's "70th Floor" features guitars, where Fourté Blanc sounds very exciting, while the U6t and A12t are a little too mild, perhaps the classic Fourté might be more satisfying.
However, I must also admit that I seem to like to have treble in successive mixes, which of course may be related to conditioning or age, but I also admit that my assessment changes depending on the material I listen to.
Comparison of Fourté Blanc and Fourté
Actually, the 64 Audio Fourté sounds somewhat similar to the blanc, but it's still a little different in detail, with relatively less prominent bass and slightly milder treble, but a livelier midrange and more linear overall. Subjectively, from the beginning Fourté Blanc seemed to have cast magic on me, and I noticed more controllable bass and enhanced detail, which had a positive effect on the soundstage and dynamics. Another listener found that Fourté Blanc's treble was too strong and the bass less defined. Speaking for myself, I believe that a large part of sound assessment is not only done through the ears and eardrums, but also has to do with the corresponding parts of our brains and their conditioned reflexes and specific preferences, and in addition, with the order of comparison. In addition to the fit of the wear, another effect is the quality of the sound source.
Of course, equally exciting is the comparison of the 64 Audio blanc and the multi-unit moving iron headphones, the latter is more geared towards professional users, I have the relatively inexpensive U6t and the custom A12t, basically, in these IEMs, 3 to 18 moving iron units are installed on each side, which, like the Fourté Blanc, are divided into 3 to 4 frequency ranges depending on the unit. For example, the U18t uses 8 IF drivers, while the Fourté Blanc uses one unit in each frequency range, and its dynamic unit takes up a lot of space in the headphones, which is why their different development methods lead to differences in listening sensation.
I was impressed with the U6t, its sound is very coherent and not overemphasized. The U12t and A12t continue this trend, complementing the sound junction with richer detail.
Again, it's all a matter of personal taste. I think the Fourté Blanc (including the Fourté) has a better bass response than the U6t and A12t, with more detail, line, and separation. My peers have different opinions and obviously prefer products with multiple moving iron drivers, and they think that the bass is more controllable and more seamlessly connected to the midrange.
In contrast, it seems to me that Fourté reveals more clearly the sounds and layers in Devin Townsend's "Moonpeople." In Roy Orbison's interpretation of the comedy, I noticed only slight differences between the different versions of Fourté. The snare drum lacks a body in the mix, while the interaction between the bass drum and bass is very pronounced. In contrast, the A12t has slightly less high-frequency air sensation. However, due to different design principles, I felt different expressions.
I think the A12t has two distinct advantages: as a custom headset, it wears better, so, at least for me, its listening experience is comparable to that of the Fourté if it's a low-level front end and source. So I can totally imagine a customized version of Fourté.
Fourté Blanc, 64 Audio's current top offering, is more characterist, less neutral, but more dramatic and has a certain impact than the regular ones. As such, the Fourté Blanc is not an absolutely neutral product, but the perfect choice for veteran hifi players. If you appreciate bright treble and low frequencies, then Fourté Blanc will surprise you.
I can't give a definitive answer to the question of whether it's worth the money, depending on your passion for music and, just as important, your wallet. The 64 Audio Fourté Blanc is not a mass-market product, but a flagship in design and technology from an American manufacturer specializing in high-end headphones.
Even in this price range, deciding whether to buy or not is still a matter of simple taste, and one should not miss the opportunity to listen to these headphones as a comparison. For me, the Fourté Blanc is one of the best headphones I've ever heard, and in my ears it offers an exciting, highly musical, exciting high-quality sound that allows me to truly "experience music".
Although I had to deduct points slightly in terms of price, we all know that the last few percent of the sound boost is difficult and valuable, and the Fourté Blanc is a global limited edition product.