Packaging and Accessories

64 Audio had very recently updated its packaging and accessories for its universal IEMs, so I was curious how closely the Duo's unboxing experience matched that of the higher-end U18t. As it turns out, the design language is very similar even down to the box itself. It is on the larger side of average and consists of an external cardboard sleeve over a thicker cardboard box. It comes sealed in plastic, and the sleeve is monochrome and mostly decorative with the company logo and a larger-than-life photograph of the IEMs on front going with the product name, salient marketing feature, and confirmation that these were indeed made in the USA. An wireframe illustration of the internals greets us on the back with more information about the special features that go into making the Duo. If you wish to know even more, the QR code takes you to the product page that expands on the various elements. More of the same follows on the sides, where we also have the company slogan and confirmation that this is a demo unit. The sleeve can be removed from either the top or bottom.


The inner box is predominantly black with the 64 Audio logo on the front and the same slogan on the sides, and a folded clasp opens up to reveal the contents inside. Magnets secure the box shut this time around, which is nice to see. On the inner lining is a printed welcome note from the company founder, and the other side reveals the IEMs with the cable connected. These are placed in machined cutouts in a thick foam sheet, and the rest of the cable is neatly wound around a cardboard card that helps with branding and keeps things clean. The carry case is in another cutout at the bottom, and its lid easily lifts off the reveal the accessories placed inside.


There's a 64 Audio sticker for when you want to display a sign of where your hard-earned money went, but more useful is the cable clip to secure the IEM cable to the front or back of your shirt to prevent microphonics. There is also a cleaning brush with a sharper end to better de-clog the IEM nozzle from ear wax and other contaminants.


As with the U18t, I appreciate that the ear tips come neatly packed in a circular manner for the three types of tips to easily be identified and removed. 64 Audio provides wide-bore silicone tips that sell for $6 for a set of two, some longer silicone tips with colored bores and a stiffer outer flange that actually spins around the bore (or vice versa) to where I suspect these are Spinfit tips similar to what we saw before, and the so-called TrueFidelity high-density foam tips that cost $15 for three pairs of your chosen size. This makes for some fairly expensive ear tips that themselves total more than some IEMs. These all come in sizes S, M, and L to get the best-possible fit with the Duo IEMs.


The case is exactly the same as for the U18t and adopts a cylindrical puck form factor that has been employed to good success before by many others, although typically in the form of faux leather with a fabric or foam composition. It is a black bonded leather (aka a mix of imitation and real leather) case that separately sells for $50 and has the company logo embossed on top. The stitching is quite good throughout, but this case is not the easiest to carry around in your pockets; instead, it's better chucked into a larger bag. It is lined with a protective felt layer inside, and there is plenty of room for the IEMs with the cable and a few spare ear tips.


Before moving on, I had to separate the cable from the IEMs for a closer examination of these. 64 Audio is using 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors on the IEM, so removing the connectors on the cable is as simple as holding the IEM firmly in one hand and pulling the connector out via the plastic housing with the other. This is a friction fit, which works well in practice, but do avoid wiggling the cable vertically or sideways to avoid bending the thin pins. Repeat the process for the other side and we are done!