Closer Examination

The cable that ships with the 64 Audio Volür is the company's $199 Premium Cable in black. It's the same cable that I have used in the past with the U4s, Duo, U12t, and even the U18t, so here too I can see people wanting a more premium offering with the Volür and other 64 Audio flagships even if practically it does not really matter. Indeed, this cable in its recent production is quite supple and less prone to kinking than before when I first experienced it on the U18t a couple of years ago. It is a single-ended cable starting with a straight 3.5 mm TRS connector from your source that is tied to an aluminium housing with the 64 Audio logo on it. The cable conductor is 26 AWG thick silver-plated OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) high-purity copper braided into four strands that employ a 7x7 multi-twist each. It's a predominantly black cable down to the branded cable splitter and cinch, which works well in containing the two split lengths at any specific point because of the tapered structure. Closer to the other side we see pre-formed ear hooks that help make the cable go over and around the back of your ears. The cable terminates in two angled plastic connector housings which are marked L/R to help identify the left and right channels, respectively. The connectors themselves are standard 0.78 mm 2-pin plugs, and these are gold-plated for oxidation resistance as with the 3.5 mm plug on the other side.


Now we get to the shells of the Volür and this time I will passionately defend 64 Audio using the same shell design and form factor as on most of its UIEMs. This is a highly comfortable and ergonomic design which is also quite small compared to the vast majority of IEMs in the market. It's all the more impressive when you realize how much hardware is inside! The Volür gets a CNC-machined aluminium shell that is then anodized in black for aesthetics and durability alike. The black base complements one of the more flashy face plates in the form of a purple abalone chip procured from responsibly harvested New Zealand Pāua shells. 64 Audio has been using New Zealand abalone for a few years now in limited editions, and this is also a homage to the Nio that itself gets an abalone shell.


Here is a closer look at the subjectively gorgeous purple abalone face plates and now the whole glowy, dreamy iridescent packaging also makes sense in a 70s rave kinda way. Needless to say that each individual chip used on the face plate will be different but the overall design will be mostly consistent underneath the resin protective layer. Below the face plate we find the pre-installed m15 Apex module which has notches on the side to help you remove it. This in turn reveals a vent that these Apex modules help release air pressure from the otherwise sealed ear canals the IEMs fit into—hence the term Apex, which is short for Air Pressure Exchange. With the new m12 module that comes included in the box, the Volür gets a total of four sets of Apex modules that isolate to different levels simply by controlling the extent of this venting. Going left to right in the photos above, we have the silver m20, the gray m15, the new gold m12, and the black mX (X for 10) where the numbers correspond to the isolation provided in dB. As such, the Volür with m20 modules would be the most isolating and provide the most bass response in theory. The dual O-rings help with a secure fit while preventing debris build-up in use. Just be aware that the gold m12 modules do clash with the darker shells of the Volür, although perhaps they might well fit your aesthetic preferences coupled with the abalone face plate.


A look from the side shows the two-piece construction for the shells although there isn't really a gap per se here, in that you don't have to worry about dust getting inside. The top side has a vent for the dynamic drivers used inside and the lower (inner) section is also machined to allow for the cable connectors extending out the side where the shell enclosure could have been a tighter fit. The inner surface contacting the ear has L/R markings, if you need it, in addition to the product name and serial number itself. The side is primarily flat before having an indent leading up to the thin and long nozzle and there isn't a notch on either end to keep the ear tips in place once installed. The nozzle also isn't very aggressively angled inward, but its length should help with the fit. A metal mesh filter placed on the nozzle opening prevents contaminants from entering the acoustic chamber, and given the uncommon size, I would have liked 64 Audio to provide some replacement filters in the box.


Fitting the different ear tips is easy because of the relatively small nozzle that is 5.3 mm in diameter, which the ear tip bores go around easily enough. Seen above are the foam and two silicone ear tips in size M, installed on one of the IEMs to show the length and form factor of each. The all-black wide bore silicone tips turned out to be my favorite of the set overall, and we can see how the nozzle is nearly flush with the bore opening there as well. Do try the various provided options here to get the best possible fit, and perhaps also affect the sound signature slightly, and keep in mind that both ear canals don't need to have the best seal with the same size or set, either.


Regardless of which tips you pick, the next step is to connect the cable by carefully identifying the matching channels and orienting the ear hooks around your ear when connecting the IEMs. Doing so is simple, as you just push the 2-pin connectors in place and they remain there via a friction fit. Note the connectors on the cable not going into any recessed housings on the IEMs, so they do jut out slightly and take away from the otherwise excellent aesthetics. The 3.5 mm connection then heads to the source where, given I found myself using this set on the go as well as lounging around in the living room, a good portable DAC/amp such as the Questyle M15 or the overkill FiiO Q7 came in quite handy.