@@michaelp.3485 I have owned both u12t and Audeze LCD 5. To my ears, it's not the case. If you pair the amp well like chord hugo 2, LCD 5 is far better.
No they dont. They are harsh in the treble area when increasing the volume and the BA bass stops scaling at some point, so they are unusable on louder volumes. Also they dont sound realistic due to this pepper added on top of every note. Most people who praise them, have either hearing loss or dont appreciate realistic/natural timbre of instruments. They were special 4 years ago, but they are overrated, overpiced and outdated by todays standards. 2x less expensive Softears Twilight are more open sounding, with a proper mid/subbas DD impact, with correctly tuned upper midrange and treble. The instruments and vocals sound like in real life, with almost perfect timbre, body and buttery smooth treble. I got tricked by them many times because they sound ridiculously close to my speakers.
Fascinating that you can’t really separate the quality of the Falcon and the U12T. I have the U12T. I agree with other reviewers, it is an endgame IEM. I have and have tried IEMs from $10 to $3k. I have Focal Clear Mg as well and have tried other headphones up and down the ladder of resolution and quality. Perhaps I am into the detail and quality because of did radio in my college years and did DJ work in graduate school. So I have been around music a long time (that was 40 years ago!). The balance, accuracy and frequency response of the U12T is absolutely in the same league and beyond. My question is why are you doing reviews? It would have taken maybe 15 minutes of research online to understand the tuning plugs (alters bass response). And like earpads on full size headphones, tips make a HUGE difference to frequency response. I personally find foam tips whack a bit of the sparkle in the treble; silicon tips help preserve and enhance the highest frequencies. Personally I strongly recommend you stick with the $200 IEMs. If your curiosity and passion is insufficient to research out some of this stuff then don’t bother telling us. A review should help us the audience with the product, its technicalities and unique aspects. To add value. It’s like your having gone to a Michelin 4 star restaurant you struggle to see how it exceeds the taste and quality of McDonalds. I mean, they are both food, right? Right! So, my recommendation for you is to stick with the Golden Arches. With experience, curiosity and time you might get it. Or not. If not, consider yourself lucky as to how much money you will have saved. And save the ecstatic pleasure of discovery, or the crunchy and lovely sensations of high resolution sound-to others. But I DO commend you for your honesty and transparency. The increase in express value at the highest end is diminishing. Like that restaurant example, many would call it diminishing returns for the cost. And so it is! So keep at it, it may click at some point. That will be a glorious, and maybe sad day. Line putting on glasses for the first time, you can’t unsee what you just saw.
You used them with the bass light module and you added foam tips on top of that.. So you did everything to castrate them from bass and dynamics :) These have BA bass drivers so using them with modules m15 or m20 is highly recommended.
500 dollar headphones / IEMs give you 80% of nirvana. 1500 dollar headphones get you to 90%. Anything over 4000 gets you to 95%. You feel that with these iems as well. They're not perfect, they're not even perfect in 1 area, they're a pair of IEMs that I cannot find flaws or errors in during my listening sessions. But nothing about them makes me go holy fucking shit hear the of these babies. But every time I owned or tried a pair of IEMs that DID do that, I also always thought "such a shame that it doesn't do XYZ right or is missing ABC or is uncomfortable etc etc". What I love about these is that all music I listen to (classical / jazz / rock / metal) sounds absolutely as I want it to and as I love it. At a certain (price) point I find it really becomes a: These are all amazing but what are -you- looking for story. Friend of mine listens to edm and trance. He doesn't like the u12t because they don't give him that earthquake bass that makes your head explode whereas his Empire Ear Odins do that for him. But when I play Mahler's 9th symphony on his Odins it's almost as if I've downgraded from concert hall to a small stage in a club or bar. Anyway! A very good review on your side - no bias, no full on expectations, a thoroughly enjoyable video!
They are worth $2000, considering they make my $4500 LCD-5 sound like crap. And considering they been on sale for 5 years and have not had a price drop says everything.
In terms of IEMs, U12t is one of the best. This is one of the rare IEMs have spcious, 3 dimensional sound, and only end game IEMs have this. But compare to headphones at the same price bracket, headphones easily sound a lot better. For example, Focal clear mg or Hifiman Arya sounds not only more detailed and dynamic, but also even more spacious. I really wish to get a portable compact closed back over ear wired headphone that is around 500 to 1500, but the market is quite small. I still couldn't find a better one today.
@@nostalgicjamadar8076 Yes, U12t may out resolve arya but still fall short in terms of sound stage even compare to closed back focal celestee. U12t is the most comfortable IEM to my ears. But I am still feeling uncomfortable for extended time. Something always stick in my ears feels annoying.
Big money IEMs do add more. I’ve not heard the u12t. I own the MEST and it competes with my HE6se v2, winning some areas and losing others. Lower price IEMs can provide a wonderful listening experience these days. I think most understand that and many don’t feel they need to spend big money for great sound any longer. That said and as I said, big price IEMs do add more.
naah you don't use good amp because IEM will always lose in soundstage and fullness of whole sound. Also, bass and vocals will sound bigger and better. you can't beat bigger high-quality driver of full size headphones. people need to check their ears if you think small driver can compete with bigger one. The design is closed in IEM so just no way.
Etymotic Er4xr an amazing sounding single balanced armature with amazing resolution for $300 a poor man's u12t that sounds exceptional save $1700 you won't be disappointed
U12T is supposed to be an "engineering" IEM hence why it's detail signatured, and unlike average consumers these audio engineers would rather study the sound rather then enjoying it. For instance, the bass on these would be less exciting to some consumer audiophiles because it doesnt utilize a party trick to engage.
They very much sound like a tool. Surgical, transparent, sometimes fatiguing. With the wrong recordings, they feel like they are adding an artificial layer of detail that can often be distracting and not musical or comfortable. But when paired with the right recordings, they run circles around my other IEMs. The sound is sometimes unbelievable, my jaw literally drops. Massive, immersive, crystal clear. Undeniable. And I remember why they cost this much.
Can you compare your listening experience with this IEMs with over-ear headphones in the same price range $2k that you've listened to? Is it as good or worse than headphones?
Really good and honest review. I can totally understand you. I have different headphones and there is always one headphone which sounds better for a spefic genre or song or I like more because of my mood. With the U12t I have no complaints (except that I miss the impact and DD bass presentation), but its never the best for song/mood for me. I think its a good allrounder, but its a bit frustrating for the high price, that there is no situation in which the u12t sounds the best. The U12t doesn't do anything wrong but nothing exceptional. I think that is the best ways to decribe. I'm new to IEMs too and I have the same problem. IEMs doesn't sound big for me. It's hard to understand that there people who like IEM's more than headphones. I think the sound presentation will always be better for me with headphones.
To my ears, U12T almost hit the roof of IEMs sound. Maybe some IEMs may sound better than U12T, (like empire ears odin) but not much. It may only compete headphones cost around 1k. As more companies shift their portable headphones to NC, BT, the market becomes smaller than before. I really wish to get a portable compact closed back over ear wired headphone that is around 500 to 1500. I still couldn't find a better one today.
@@liujun050612 I think it depends on taste. In direct comparision the U12T to the Trio are technical better, but the Trio are much more enjoyable for me. The DD Bass is so much better. If you care about bass and if the U12T has the BA Bass I think BA is not for me. I think if I never heard the Trio I would be really satisfied by the U12T. Both IEMs sounds like 2000USD IEMs. The Trio lacks a bit of the Midrange. I guess a Trio with the tuning of the U12T would be perfect for me. The U12T and the Trio would be nice combination, but really pricey. U12T for vocals and Trio for good bass.
@@pythagoras6938 I love neutral and don’t color any sound. That’s what I like u12t. But Since you already spend that much, why not get a pair of headphones that sound even better? Although I have the u12t, and yes, it sounds awesome, but I still use headphones unless it is not an option.
@@liujun050612 An IEM is only to complement my headphones, too. I think IEMs are nice for portable listening and traveling or at home in bed or if you don't want to wear a headphone at the couch. My focus is definitely on headphones. The sound experience on headphone is much better for me.
In my personal experience, I already try the most expensive from sure. Comprare with the ones I have, they sound like a toy speaker. I think the best you can get is when you costume (ear mold impressions)
U12t sounds better than any headphone I’ve heard in the $2k price point.
They sound leagues better than my $4500 Audeze LCD-5 and $2500 Verite Open.
@@michaelp.3485 I have owned both u12t and Audeze LCD 5. To my ears, it's not the case. If you pair the amp well like chord hugo 2, LCD 5 is far better.
soundstage alone with bass of lcd 5 is much better than u12t and any iem.@@liujun050612
No they dont. They are harsh in the treble area when increasing the volume and the BA bass stops scaling at some point, so they are unusable on louder volumes. Also they dont sound realistic due to this pepper added on top of every note. Most people who praise them, have either hearing loss or dont appreciate realistic/natural timbre of instruments.
They were special 4 years ago, but they are overrated, overpiced and outdated by todays standards.
2x less expensive Softears Twilight are more open sounding, with a proper mid/subbas DD impact, with correctly tuned upper midrange and treble. The instruments and vocals sound like in real life, with almost perfect timbre, body and buttery smooth treble. I got tricked by them many times because they sound ridiculously close to my speakers.
Awesome review please do the UM Mest mk 2 next 👏
Fascinating that you can’t really separate the quality of the Falcon and the U12T. I have the U12T. I agree with other reviewers, it is an endgame IEM. I have and have tried IEMs from $10 to $3k. I have Focal Clear Mg as well and have tried other headphones up and down the ladder of resolution and quality. Perhaps I am into the detail and quality because of did radio in my college years and did DJ work in graduate school. So I have been around music a long time (that was 40 years ago!). The balance, accuracy and frequency response of the U12T is absolutely in the same league and beyond. My question is why are you doing reviews? It would have taken maybe 15 minutes of research online to understand the tuning plugs (alters bass response). And like earpads on full size headphones, tips make a HUGE difference to frequency response. I personally find foam tips whack a bit of the sparkle in the treble; silicon tips help preserve and enhance the highest frequencies. Personally I strongly recommend you stick with the $200 IEMs. If your curiosity and passion is insufficient to research out some of this stuff then don’t bother telling us. A review should help us the audience with the product, its technicalities and unique aspects. To add value. It’s like your having gone to a Michelin 4 star restaurant you struggle to see how it exceeds the taste and quality of McDonalds. I mean, they are both food, right? Right! So, my recommendation for you is to stick with the Golden Arches. With experience, curiosity and time you might get it. Or not. If not, consider yourself lucky as to how much money you will have saved. And save the ecstatic pleasure of discovery, or the crunchy and lovely sensations of high resolution sound-to others. But I DO commend you for your honesty and transparency. The increase in express value at the highest end is diminishing. Like that restaurant example, many would call it diminishing returns for the cost. And so it is! So keep at it, it may click at some point. That will be a glorious, and maybe sad day. Line putting on glasses for the first time, you can’t unsee what you just saw.
U12ts and my mest mk2 are my go tos and they really make me one with my music great vid
You used them with the bass light module and you added foam tips on top of that.. So you did everything to castrate them from bass and dynamics :) These have BA bass drivers so using them with modules m15 or m20 is highly recommended.
500 dollar headphones / IEMs give you 80% of nirvana. 1500 dollar headphones get you to 90%. Anything over 4000 gets you to 95%.
You feel that with these iems as well. They're not perfect, they're not even perfect in 1 area, they're a pair of IEMs that I cannot find flaws or errors in during my listening sessions. But nothing about them makes me go holy fucking shit hear the of these babies. But every time I owned or tried a pair of IEMs that DID do that, I also always thought "such a shame that it doesn't do XYZ right or is missing ABC or is uncomfortable etc etc".
What I love about these is that all music I listen to (classical / jazz / rock / metal) sounds absolutely as I want it to and as I love it. At a certain (price) point I find it really becomes a:
These are all amazing but what are -you- looking for
story.
Friend of mine listens to edm and trance. He doesn't like the u12t because they don't give him that earthquake bass that makes your head explode whereas his Empire Ear Odins do that for him. But when I play Mahler's 9th symphony on his Odins it's almost as if I've downgraded from concert hall to a small stage in a club or bar.
Anyway! A very good review on your side - no bias, no full on expectations, a thoroughly enjoyable video!
Thanks for adding your experience!
Impact and slam... MEST MK2 might be just that, plus the detail, oh that detail... I will try the u12t before I die though.
I have the U12t and love them but are they worth 2k I’m not sure. I got them for just below half from eBay and think they are well worth that.
They are worth $2000, considering they make my $4500 LCD-5 sound like crap. And considering they been on sale for 5 years and have not had a price drop says everything.
In terms of IEMs, U12t is one of the best. This is one of the rare IEMs have spcious, 3 dimensional sound, and only end game IEMs have this. But compare to headphones at the same price bracket, headphones easily sound a lot better. For example, Focal clear mg or Hifiman Arya sounds not only more detailed and dynamic, but also even more spacious. I really wish to get a portable compact closed back over ear wired headphone that is around 500 to 1500, but the market is quite small. I still couldn't find a better one today.
Clear MG is hot garbage
I can't listen to my Aryas at work or on the bus.
I actually find the U12T very competitive with Arya in terms of detail, both of which blow away my Focal Clear in that regard.
U12t outresolves an arya or a clearmg quite comfortably dude. I'll suggest you A\B them right away
@@nostalgicjamadar8076 Yes, U12t may out resolve arya but still fall short in terms of sound stage even compare to closed back focal celestee. U12t is the most comfortable IEM to my ears. But I am still feeling uncomfortable for extended time. Something always stick in my ears feels annoying.
Thanks!Thanks!
How is the duo in terms of sound compared to the u12?
Sorry, I haven’t heard the duo.
Try thieaudio v16 divinity...
Big money IEMs do add more. I’ve not heard the u12t. I own the MEST and it competes with my HE6se v2, winning some areas and losing others. Lower price IEMs can provide a wonderful listening experience these days. I think most understand that and many don’t feel they need to spend big money for great sound any longer. That said and as I said, big price IEMs do add more.
naah you don't use good amp because IEM will always lose in soundstage and fullness of whole sound. Also, bass and vocals will sound bigger and better.
you can't beat bigger high-quality driver of full size headphones.
people need to check their ears if you think small driver can compete with bigger one.
The design is closed in IEM so just no way.
Budget < $600 go IEM
Budget < $2500 go headphones
Budget > $2500 go 2 channel
Etymotic Er4xr an amazing sounding single balanced armature with amazing resolution for $300 a poor man's u12t that sounds exceptional save $1700 you won't be disappointed
U12T is supposed to be an "engineering" IEM hence why it's detail signatured, and unlike average consumers these audio engineers would rather study the sound rather then enjoying it. For instance, the bass on these would be less exciting to some consumer audiophiles because it doesnt utilize a party trick to engage.
They very much sound like a tool. Surgical, transparent, sometimes fatiguing. With the wrong recordings, they feel like they are adding an artificial layer of detail that can often be distracting and not musical or comfortable. But when paired with the right recordings, they run circles around my other IEMs. The sound is sometimes unbelievable, my jaw literally drops. Massive, immersive, crystal clear. Undeniable. And I remember why they cost this much.
I bought the u12t, bought a Lotoo Paw 6k to source it, and walked away with my perfect audio setup....
Can you compare your listening experience with this IEMs with over-ear headphones in the same price range $2k that you've listened to? Is it as good or worse than headphones?
Really good and honest review. I can totally understand you. I have different headphones and there is always one headphone which sounds better for a spefic genre or song or I like more because of my mood. With the U12t I have no complaints (except that I miss the impact and DD bass presentation), but its never the best for song/mood for me.
I think its a good allrounder, but its a bit frustrating for the high price, that there is no situation in which the u12t sounds the best. The U12t doesn't do anything wrong but nothing exceptional. I think that is the best ways to decribe.
I'm new to IEMs too and I have the same problem. IEMs doesn't sound big for me. It's hard to understand that there people who like IEM's more than headphones. I think the sound presentation will always be better for me with headphones.
To my ears, U12T almost hit the roof of IEMs sound. Maybe some IEMs may sound better than U12T, (like empire ears odin) but not much. It may only compete headphones cost around 1k. As more companies shift their portable headphones to NC, BT, the market becomes smaller than before. I really wish to get a portable compact closed back over ear wired headphone that is around 500 to 1500. I still couldn't find a better one today.
@@liujun050612 I think it depends on taste. In direct comparision the U12T to the Trio are technical better, but the Trio are much more enjoyable for me. The DD Bass is so much better. If you care about bass and if the U12T has the BA Bass I think BA is not for me. I think if I never heard the Trio I would be really satisfied by the U12T. Both IEMs sounds like 2000USD IEMs. The Trio lacks a bit of the Midrange. I guess a Trio with the tuning of the U12T would be perfect for me. The U12T and the Trio would be nice combination, but really pricey. U12T for vocals and Trio for good bass.
@@pythagoras6938 I love neutral and don’t color any sound. That’s what I like u12t. But Since you already spend that much, why not get a pair of headphones that sound even better? Although I have the u12t, and yes, it sounds awesome, but I still use headphones unless it is not an option.
@@liujun050612 An IEM is only to complement my headphones, too. I think IEMs are nice for portable listening and traveling or at home in bed or if you don't want to wear a headphone at the couch. My focus is definitely on headphones. The sound experience on headphone is much better for me.
BA bass is rarely if ever as good as a DD when it comes to impact/slam, texture and decay...if it's quality Bass you're after then Z1R does that 👍
In my personal experience, I already try the most expensive from sure. Comprare with the ones I have, they sound like a toy speaker. I think the best you can get is when you costume (ear mold impressions)
Ive never tried the custom fit, bit that would be an interesting experience. Whats the cost of a totl shure with the custom mold?
@@MrAyrit what I try to said that my IEM mold sounds amazing compare to sure. I have Lola from JH. Audio
I hear so much good about this it's not even funny
Ur freq ranges isnt accurate.. Hm if lookin 4 expensive iem dats perfect.. U12t is not for start.. U should start with odin frm empire ear.. peace!