In the golden age of Head-Fi, geography is just a suggestion. From Romanian rebels to Bavarian tinkerers, Polish perfectionists to Ukrainian upstarts, the global headphone scene has become a hotbed of innovation where passion trumps pedigree—and 64 Audio is living proof. Born from a family garage project and raised in the echo between Kyiv and Portland, the trailblazing IEM brand has spent the last 15 years rewriting the rules of in-ear monitoring. Whether you’re a GRAMMY-winning artist or an obsessive audiophile chasing sonic nirvana, odds are 64 Audio has already been in your ears—and under your skin.
“64 Audio extends its deepest gratitude to every artist, engineer, and listener who has been part of our story so far—and looks forward to many more years of pushing boundaries in sound.” says CEO & Founder Vitaliy Belonozhko.
Today, 64 Audio’s gear is in ears on every continent except maybe Antarctica (and we wouldn’t bet against that either). With distribution in 92 countries, their audience runs the gamut—from audiophile diehards chasing sonic enlightenment to front-of-house engineers, studio lifers, and globe-trotting megastars who need bombproof performance night after night. What unites them? An obsession with sound done right—and 64 Audio’s relentless ability to deliver it.
Breakout models like the U12t, Fourté, and Nio didn’t just make noise—they became legends on Head-Fi forums, the kind of gear that sparks 300-page threads and late-night existential debates over FR graphs and shell ergonomics. Known for their spooky-good resolution, fatigue-free fit, and dead-on tonal balance, these IEMs didn’t just earn critical praise; they earned loyalty. Meanwhile, custom fits like the A12t and A18s remain the go-to for touring royalty, trusted on stages by Beyoncé, John Mayer, and Bon Jovi—not exactly a crew known for settling.
Humble Beginnings (With a Soldering Iron)
At the core of 64 Audio’s rise is founder and CEO Vitaliy Belonozhko, whose story reads like the kind of bootstrapped tech fairytale audiophiles eat for breakfast. After immigrating to the U.S. from Ukraine at age 10 with his parents and seven siblings, Belonozhko went from a childhood with limited access to music to full-on immersion in the sonic freedom of his new home. That spark quickly turned into a full-blown obsession—and eventually, a calling.
64 Audio didn’t start in a boardroom or on Kickstarter. It started in a Portland spare bedroom back in 2010, back when the company was still called 1964 Ears. One day, Belonozhko cracked open a personal pair of universal IEMs to cannibalize them for parts—just to build a better custom-fit set for his wife. No branding, no business plan, just curiosity, love, and a deep disdain for mediocre sound on stage. Word spread. Artists wanted in. So did engineers. And before long, Vitaliy and his family were building more than monitors—they were building a movement.
“From the very beginning,” Belonozhko says, “my mission has always been to give people a tool that they can use to create a better product themselves.”
Earmarking Innovation (and Earning Every Inch of It)
“Fifteen years ago, I never could’ve imagined this. What started as a passion project in my spare bedroom has grown into something far bigger than me,” said Vitaliy Belonozhko, Founder and CEO of 64 Audio. “To our customers, artists, and the entire community: thank you. You believed in us when we were just getting started, and you stood by us during the toughest times. This celebration belongs to all of you.”
If there’s one thing 64 Audio hasn’t done in the past 15 years, it’s play it safe. From custom-fit flagships to universal heavy-hitters like the Aspire 4, the brand has disrupted the IEM space by refusing to follow anyone’s blueprint but its own. Rooted in a suite of proprietary technologies—apex®, LID™, tia™, and 3D‑Fit™—64 Audio has consistently turned engineering gambles into industry benchmarks.
- apex® (Air Pressure Exchange): Venting that relieves pneumatic pressure to reduce ear fatigue and help preserve hearing over long sessions.
- LID™ (Linear Impedance Design): Keeps the sound signature consistent no matter what gear you plug into.
- tia™ (Tubeless In-Ear Audio): Tosses traditional sound tubes in favor of an open, direct driver design for clarity that doesn’t quit.
- 3D‑Fit™: Digitally rendered, 3D‑printed custom shells that preserve the original impression detail for maximum comfort and acoustic accuracy.
These weren’t just clever acronyms—they were war-forged innovations. A legal battle with a larger competitor early in the company’s history could’ve sunk the ship. Instead, Vitaliy and the team leaned in, using the pressure to forge new technologies that would permanently change the IEM landscape.
A decade into the journey, R&D Manager Vitaliy Gordeyev has been a key force behind that momentum. “There’s a long list of things that I’m proud of,” Gordeyev says, “but I would say at the top of that list is the Aspire Series.” That line marks a major leap forward: 64 Audio’s first fully injection-molded shell, built from the ground up. Learning to design for injection molding wasn’t just a new skill—it was a new frontier.
He’s also quick to highlight another behind-the-scenes breakthrough: DMA (Driver Matching Algorithm), an in-house software tool that ensures drivers are perfectly paired across every left/right set. Because let’s face it—if you’re paying for reference-grade sound, you’d better not be chasing balance issues between ears.
Pivot and Persevere: When the World Stood Still
When the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on live music in 2020, nobody knew if the industry—or 64 Audio—would survive the silence. But true to form, 64 Audio didn’t just sit on the sidelines. Instead, they pivoted hard, shifting focus to studios, audiophiles, and the remote work crowd while the world pressed pause. Innovation didn’t stop—it doubled down, embracing new tech and expanding reach even when stages went dark.
Custom Tailored Customer Care (Because People Matter)
“Creating exceptional IEMs and leading the tech game is only half the battle,” says Marketing Manager Filipp Sklyarov. “Our real edge? Customer service. Over 90% of calls get answered by a tight-knit crew in Vancouver, emails get personalized replies, and every piece of marketing is designed to educate and simplify the whole buying process. We don’t just sell gear—we guide people.”
Belonozhko sums it up plainly: “We’re a customer service company that makes in-ear monitors. Tech and innovation matter, sure, but making our customers comfortable, happy, and confident is just as crucial. At the end of the day, a smile beats a spec sheet.”
R&D Manager Vitaliy Gordeyev agrees: “Our customers aren’t just buyers—they’re co-creators. Their feedback shapes every future product. They legitimize what we do, keep us honest, and push us to build better gear.”
A Look Back and a Thank You
To mark the milestone, 64 Audio dropped a 10-minute 15th Anniversary video, a raw, intimate look at their scrappy beginnings and ascent to the top tier. It’s a tribute to the people, the breakthroughs, and the community that carried them through.
The Bottom Line
Fifteen years in, 64 Audio isn’t just riding the wave—they’re still reshaping it. With a legacy rooted in obsessive accuracy, customer-driven design, and fearless innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of what in-ear monitors can be. The upcoming XIO, a cutting-edge collaboration with Astell&Kern, is set to raise the bar once again—blending reference-grade precision with world-class industrial design.
The future gets a little closer this fall at CanJam SoCal 2025 (Sept. 13–14 at the Irvine Marriott), where 64 Audio will showcase its latest creations, offer hands-on demos of new IEM models, and give attendees an exclusive peek behind the curtain. For those who’ve followed the brand since the Head-Fi forum days—or those just discovering it—this is your chance to hear where the next 15 years are headed.
For more information: 64audio.com/pages/15-years-anniversary
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