Short answer: the 64 Audio A12t. It ranks #374 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $1,999. The Fir Audio e12 ranks #379, rated 3.2/5, at $1,799, $200 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
What the 64 Audio A12t does well: Bass is on target down to 20 Hz with a slight 1.9 dB lift from 60 to 200 Hz, so low end feels full and solid without boom. The tradeoff: In the two hobbyist measurements on squig.link, treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 10 dB below target with a 13.7 dB dip near 8.7 kHz, and presence is 7.3 dB low, so cymbals, strings and vocal clarity sound noticeably dark and muffled.
Why pick the Fir Audio e12: A big, energetic V shaped tuning in HypetheSonics’ measurement, with sub-bass about 4 dB and bass about 5.5 dB above target for heavy, physical kick drums and synth lines. Watch for: A 9.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 6 to 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sharp and fatiguing at higher volume.
Buy the 64 Audio A12t. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $200 with the Fir Audio e12 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| 64 Audio A12t | Fir Audio e12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,999.00 | $1,799.00 |
| Ranked | #374 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #379 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 64 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.50 dB standard deviation | 2.66 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 12 x balanced armature (incl. 1 tia high driver) | 1 x 12mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 12.6 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB/mW | - |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How 64 Audio A12t compares with other leading options:
- 64 Audio A12t vs 64 Audio Tia Trio
- 64 Audio A12t vs SoftEars Cerberus
- 64 Audio A12t vs 64 Audio U12t
- 64 Audio A12t vs HIFIMAN RE2000 Pro
- 64 Audio U12t vs Fir Audio e12
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
64 Audio A12t: $1,999.00 64 Audio eBay
Pros: Bass is on target down to 20 Hz with a slight 1.9 dB lift from 60 to 200 Hz, so low end feels full and solid without boom. That warm balance suits listeners who prefer a relaxed, bass rich sound for long sessions. At 12.6 ohms and 108 dB/mW it runs easily from a phone.
Cons: In the two hobbyist measurements on squig.link, treble from 6 to 10 kHz sits about 10 dB below target with a 13.7 dB dip near 8.7 kHz, and presence is 7.3 dB low, so cymbals, strings and vocal clarity sound noticeably dark and muffled. The qdc Anole V6 earns the same rating for considerably less.
Full 64 Audio A12t review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.50 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 12 x balanced armature (incl. 1 tia high driver) |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 65 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 12.6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 108 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.87 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 206 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.47 |
| Peak | 9,038 Hz | +5.2 dB | 1.59 |
| Peak | 3,244 Hz | +5.1 dB | 2.01 |
| Peak | 2,134 Hz | -2.6 dB | 2.47 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,789 Hz | +2.4 dB | 5.93 |
| Peak | 599 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.55 |
| Peak | 951 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.06 |
| Peak | 5,061 Hz | -1.6 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Fir Audio e12: $1,799.00 Audio46 eBay
Pros: A big, energetic V shaped tuning in HypetheSonics’ measurement, with sub-bass about 4 dB and bass about 5.5 dB above target for heavy, physical kick drums and synth lines. Mids stay close to target from 1 to 6 kHz, so vocals are not buried under the bass. It suits listeners who want a fun, bass forward sound from a single 12 mm dynamic driver.
Cons: A 9.3 dB peak near 8.1 kHz and treble about 5 dB above target from 6 to 10 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sharp and fatiguing at higher volume. The extra 5.5 dB of bass also thickens the low mids on acoustic and vocal recordings, and the 64 Audio A12t rates slightly higher at a similar price.
Full Fir Audio e12 review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.66 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 12mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 64 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+3.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.62 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.4 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 806 Hz | +4.2 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 172 Hz | -3.5 dB | 1.00 |
| Peak | 3,777 Hz | +8.8 dB | 2.09 |
| Peak | 5,026 Hz | -5.7 dB | 0.80 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +0.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,514 Hz | -2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,361 Hz | +2.6 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 62 Hz | +0.4 dB | 1.79 |
| Peak | 2,239 Hz | -0.9 dB | 4.08 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons