64 Audio U12t and Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 use 12BA and 1DD+1BA+1EST driver setups respectively. 64 Audio U12t costs $1,999 while Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 costs $1,600. 64 Audio U12t is $399 more expensive. 64 Audio U12t holds a decisive 3-point edge in reviewer scores (8.5 vs 5.5).
Insights
Metric | 64 Audio U12t | Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 |
---|---|---|
Bass | 8.5 | 5.5 |
Mids | 8.2 | 5.5 |
Treble | 7.7 | 5.5 |
Details | 8.9 | 5.5 |
Soundstage | 8.2 | 5.5 |
Imaging | 9.1 | 5.5 |
Dynamics | 7.7 | 5.5 |
Tonality | 7.9 | 5 |
Technicalities | 8.6 | 7 |
64 Audio U12t Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
64 Audio U12t Details
Driver Configuration: 12BA
Tuning Type: Neutral with bass boost
Brand: 64 Audio Top 64 Audio IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,999
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Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+1BA+1EST
Tuning Type: V-Shaped
Brand: Empire Ears Top Empire Ears IEMs
Price (Msrp): $1,600
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64 Audio U12t User Review Score
Average User Scores
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Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 User Review Score
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64 Audio U12t Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.9Gaming Grade
B+Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
4.9Gaming Grade
C64 Audio U12t Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
A- Well-executed tonal character. No major flaws with good technical control. Smooth presentation works with multiple genres.
Average Technical Grade
S-- Excellent clarity and detail. Precise imaging and expansive soundstage. Manages complex passages with minimal smearing and good transient speed.
Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
C+- Generally enjoyable tonal character with some noticeable unevenness. Maintains listenability while showing room for refinement in frequency balance.
Average Technical Grade
A-- Competent technical presentation. Handles separation and detail well in most tracks, with modest soundstage and acceptable imaging capabilities.
64 Audio U12t Reviews
Reviewed by: Super* Review
The 64 Audio U12t lands exactly where its reputation suggests: a warm, laid-back, yet highly detailed all-rounder that stays engaging without ever turning fatiguing. With the apex M15 module, bass shifts toward a tasteful sub-bass lift that adds punch and body while keeping the midrange clean; vocals sit a touch relaxed, and the treble reaches high with smooth extension and air. Despite being an all-BA set, the low end carries surprising weight and macro-dynamics, and the overall presentation feels effortless and cohesive—“does-it-all” tuning done right.
Trade-offs are minor: timbre can sound slightly artificial at times, and dropping to the M10 module trims bass but also some excitement. Build is comfortable and compact, though the stock cable is annoyingly wiry and memory-prone. Against its stablemates, U12t stands as the benchmark: cleaner and less fatiguing than U18t, more versatile than the warmer Nio (with M15), and less head-stage wow than Trio but more universally balanced. End result: a confident 5/5 for a high-price IEM that actually feels worth chasing if this signature hits the brief.
Super* Review original ranking
Super* Review Youtube ChannelReviewed by: Nymz
Reviewed by: Audionotions
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Precogvision Youtube Channel
Reviewed by: Jays Audio
Jays Audio Youtube Channel
Reviewed by: Shuwa-T
Reviewed by: Smirk Audio
Reviewed by: Jaytiss
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Reviewed by: Tim Tuned
Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Reviewed by: Crin
Reviewed by: IEMRanking AI
2025-09-11
The 64 Audio U12t is a mature flagship-class UIEM built around twelve balanced armatures per side and the company’s tia (open-BA) and apex pressure-relief tech; it lists at $1,999. Module options (mX/m15/m20) vary isolation from roughly −10 to −20 dB, giving modest control over perceived balance without changing the core tuning. The driver split—1 tia high, 1 high-mid, 6 mid, 4 low—aims for coherence via a 4-way crossover in a compact, aluminum shell.
Tonally the U12t trends neutral with a sub-bass lift, yielding clean mids and controlled, generally safe treble; frequency-response databases show the gentle low-end emphasis with even mids. Swapping apex modules can nudge the balance (e.g., M20 a bit more bass, M15 a touch airier) without altering the U12t’s fundamental character. Technical performance remains the calling card: resolution, imaging, layering, and BA-bass quality are repeatedly praised at the top of the class.
Trade-offs are mostly about preference and price: treble can read polite with minor quirks depending on chain and tips, and midrange body is slightly lean versus warmer sets. Given the premium MSRP, overall value hinges on prioritizing top-tier technicalities and long-session comfort via apex.
Empire Ears Valkyrie Mk2 Reviews
Reviewed by: Crin
64 Audio U12t User Reviews
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