Astell&Kern and 64 Audio are finally dropping their first joint project: the XIO in-ear monitors. Teased back at High End Munich 2025, these beasts are set to hit authorized dealers worldwide in just a few weeks, with a $3,000 price tag that makes it clear this isn’t for your casual listener.
More than just another pair of IEMs, the Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO is the product of two companies obsessed with precision and sound quality. It’s designed not just to play music, but to shape it—offering an immersive experience that aims to justify every dollar spent.
Vitaliy Belonozhko, 64 Audio’s CEO, calls it a “new chapter” in high-end IEMs, marrying mechanical engineering with musical artistry. Meanwhile, Astell&Kern’s Tony Yeo says this collaboration is the perfect match for their digital audio players, promising a synergy that should thrill their loyal fans.
Built to impress both inside and out, the XIO combines a tough, refined shell with advanced internal design to push what personal audio gear can do. If you’re looking for a serious IEM drop in August, keep an eye on this one.
Meticulous Engineering: 10 Drivers Deliver Insane Precision in the XIO IEMs
The Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO packs a ten-driver hybrid setup tuned with surgical precision and a 4-way passive crossover that tries to keep all frequencies playing nice together. The payoff? A soundstage that’s spacious and detailed enough to make you wonder what you’ve been missing—assuming you’ve got the gear (and patience) to hear it.
Instead of the usual cramped sound tube, the XIO uses a direct-radiating tia high-frequency driver. That means less distortion and highs so airy and detailed you might think you’re in the front row of a concert—until you check your bank account and remember what $3,000 sounds like.
Six midrange and one upper-mid balanced armature drivers handle the meat and melody, delivering smooth transitions and harmonic richness that put most lesser IEMs to shame. Vocals and instruments come alive with warmth and clarity, assuming your ears can tell the difference.
This fancy tech pairs two dynamic drivers in an acoustically neutral chamber to deliver bass that’s deeper and punchier than your average IEM can muster. It’s the kind of low-end impact that justifies the price tag—because if you’re shelling out thousands, you want your bass to pack a serious wallop.
64 Audio’s Patented Tech—Fancy Acronyms That Actually Do Something
The Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO comes loaded with 64 Audio’s signature patented technologies, all designed to justify that hefty price tag and keep audiophiles drooling:
tia® (Tubeless In-Ear Audio)
No boring sound tubes here. The tia system ditches the traditional design to slash resonance and distortion, delivering clear, vivid sound. XIO uses the tia driver and single-bore setup to capture audio purity that most IEMs only talk about.
apex® (Air Pressure Exchange)
Ever get that weird, clogged feeling after long listening sessions? Apex vents your ears just right, releasing pressure naturally while still locking out noise. The XIO’s m15 apex module steps it up with a DLC-coated 904L stainless steel build—because if you’re dropping thousands, your ears deserve premium tech, not plastic crap.
LID® (Linear Impedance Design)
This patent isn’t just jargon. LID keeps the sound signature steady no matter what device you plug the XIO into by compensating for driver resistance quirks. Translation: your expensive IEM won’t suddenly sound like garbage if your phone or DAP decides to act up.
64 Audio’s tech isn’t just marketing fluff—it’s the kind of engineering that keeps their gear a few steps ahead in the audiophile rat race. Whether that’s worth the money is up to you—but at least they’ve done their homework.
Artistry in Every Detail: Craftsmanship and Design Behind the Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO IEMs
The XIO’s shell isn’t some cheap knockoff. It’s precision-milled from 904L stainless steel—a tougher, harder-to-machine metal than your average stainless. Then it gets a black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating that not only looks sleek but feels seriously premium in the hand. The faceplate channels Astell&Kern’s signature design vibe with a 3D effect that plays with light and shadow, making this more than just an IEM—it’s an audio art piece you can actually hold.
To match that level of detail, XIO ships with a custom silver-plated UP-OCC copper Litz cable. It’s four-core, cross-braided for noise shielding, and boasts a crazy low impedance of 0.29Ω to keep the signal clean and efficient—basically, no signal loss excuses here.
And here’s the kicker: XIO is designed, assembled, and quality-checked by expert engineers right in the USA. That “Made in America” label is probably less about patriotism and more about smart tariff dodging—but hey, it means better build control and gives the whole package a solid seal of quality. Either way, it’s a selling point for anyone tired of overseas assembly line roulette.
What’s in the Box: XIO In-Ear Monitor Package Contents and Accessories
Here’s what you actually get when you drop three grand on the XIO:
- The XIO Universal In-Ear Monitors themselves—because duh, that’s the point.
- A fancy 64 Audio premium leather case to stash those pricey earbuds without scratching the finish.
- Three sets of TrueFidelity foam ear tips (S, M, L) because apparently one size never fits all ears.
- Three sets of SpinFit silicone tips (S, M, L)—for those who want to switch it up or just feel fancy.
- Three more sets of standard silicone tips (S, M, L) because why not triple down on options?
- A cleaning tool and cloth to keep your investment looking fresh—because grime doesn’t scream “audiophile.”
- A cable clip to keep things tidy unless you’re into the “dangling mess” look.
- The pièce de résistance: a 4.4mm silver-plated UP-OCC copper Litz cable that’s as fancy as it sounds.
- And the cherry on top: a full set of Apex modules—m20 (silver), a special m15 coated in 904L stainless steel with DLC finish, m12 (gold), and the mysterious mX (black). Because why settle for one sound profile when you can tweak endlessly?
In short, it’s a luxury bundle built to satisfy your inner audiophile perfectionist—or your inner I-spent-too-much-on-earbuds guilt.
The Bottom Line
The XIO isn’t just another pair of IEMs—it’s a $3,000 statement piece for people who think their ears deserve a mortgage. Meticulous engineering, premium materials, and a pile of patented tech back it up, but let’s be honest: for that kind of money, it better sound like it was forged by angels. If you’re rocking an Astell&Kern or Cayin DAP, this is probably the best way to squeeze every last drop of magic out of your setup. For everyone else, well… maybe hold off until your wallet recovers. Long live the audiophile madness.
For more information: astellnkern.com
