The newest and greatest from PMG Audio, this refined, polished and upgraded APX is their best yet. In fact, it’s one of the best IEMs in the world, a resounding feat of design, inspiration and implementation. Forage forth, this is something new.
PROS:
- Extremely technical and resolving
- Phenomenal bass
- Musical mids that err on the relaxed side
- Smooth and articulate treble without glare or brightness
- Beautiful small and very light shells
- Good stock cable
- Amazing accessories, large multi IEM leather case
- Fantastic all-rounder + very easy to drive
CONS:
- Bass can be slightly bloomy or less defined
- Cohesion isn’t exactly perfect, you can “hear” the different driver types
- Musical mids that err on the relaxed side (safe tuning)
- Nozzle angle and length could be a issue for fit
- Price
Greetings friends and music lovers, I bid you Bienvenue to my review of the illustrious PMG Audio APX SE. This is quite the hot IEM at the moment, and for good reason. With some serious tech inside, a very unique array of drivers, and extreme technical abilities that rival the best in the world, they are barking for a spot at the top. Providing one of the finest bass experiences I’ve ever heard in an IEM, DD + Planar = extreme ear dome pleasure. The APX is also very musical, with super resolution and extension to boot, providing the user with a surround sound of details, fat textured bass and lovely treble. Built on the foundation of the original APX, which in my personal option was amazingly impressive but just too sharp and bright, the APX SE sets out to “fix” all that. Does it succeed in this weighty goal? A resounding yes, and then some. Not only does the SE take all that made the original great, it smoothes and polishes out those crispy edges, and takes the whole presentation up a few notches. Everything is better to my ears, and that’s really saying something. It also accomplishes this in such a tiny and light weight shell, no small feat. It also comes with a good stock cable as well! On the whole the APX SE is very very impressive, one of the best in the world at the moment in my opinion. I do have a couple of qualms, though I will say right out, they are primarily tuning choices, so my personal preferences play a heavy role in these statements. The other is the fit, which is again very partial, and only your ear biology can dictate the results.
Oh, did I forget to mention the SE is $6k? It’s a very expensive IEM, no getting around it. We do live in a world where more and more super flagships are coming out, (seemingly every other week) and while SE’s price is insane, it’s quite “competitive” in this ultra summit tier. Considering its abilities, the price is “fair” with other tops like the Amber Pearl, Traillii (Ti), Storm, Supreme V3, who costs about the same, or more. The question remains, will the SE hold up its place in the spotlight, given the ultra competitive arena it’s playing in? Time will tell. I do feel the SE is forging new ground, taking chances -risks even- and only true trail blazers are know to do such things. Kudos to Piotr for being a bad-a***, instead of relying on more traditional designs, he’s breaking the mold.
In brief? I love this IEM, and would call it perfect save for a couple small things. First, the shell shape, more specifically the nozzle. The shell is tiny and lovely, the nozzle is very long, quite thick at the base, with an upwards angle that just might not work for you. Piotr from PMG has confirmed that the shell is basically the same as their previous flagships, so if you dig the CustomArt fit, then this is gonna be a gem for you. If you don’t get a good fit, that’s that. I found them pretty comfortable, especially the weight is great, but I simply couldn’t get them in my ears all the way. And because of the angle, they ended up sitting in my ears kind of twisted, sticking out a decent amount, which was a bummer. That being said, I have friends whose fit is like a flush fit custom, so it all depends on your ears. One even called it the most comfortable and well shaped IEM he’d ever had!
The second thing you’ll notice is the tuning and presentation, they are very impressive right away. The resolution in the mids is wild, reminding me a bit of Viking Ragnar’s abilities, but far more relaxed and less icy. And the bass… it’s huge and fat and fantastic. It can also be a bit too much, depending on the IEM, source, and of course, your tastes. It’s by no means a bass monster, but neutral bass it is not. And there’s the mids who are lovely and detail filled. They are also seated a bit further back than I personally prefer, and fairly relaxed. That can be a good thing, lots of people love relaxed mids.The only thing that threw me, and only after a lot of listening, was how the relaxed mids didn’t exactly gel with the rest of the more bombastic presentation. They're tuned on the safer side, less intense, a small aside rather than a feature here.
Big bold bass, wide open top, and slightly pulled back mids that felt, in contrast, just a touch too soft. This was more noticeable with increasingly aggressive music, like metal and hard rock, where guitars didn’t have the same personality and grit as the rest of the spectrum. Snare drums as well. It's not that those style don't work well with SE, they do indeed. This is nitpicking really, and super dependent on tastes. I am well aware that relaxed mids that are placed slightly back is many people’s goldmine. And the way SE manages to make them super resolving and simultaneously relaxed is pretty amazing.
Like I said, it’s nearly perfect, which for me, is saying a lot. I had very high expectations, especially for the SE, the continuation of the very ambitious OG APX. What Piotr has managed to do here is super impressive. And based on the hype fever pitch and completely sold out nature of the SE, it would seem like people really, really dig it. Well done indeed.
Always remember, a reviewer - such as myself- is entitled to his/her/their own opinion, as are you, the reader. What for one isn’t quite right, for the other its perfection.
My disclaimer and gear rundown begins now
- I bought the SE myself, direct from PMG. I wanted it, I bought it, and I decided to review it because I think it deserves it.
- I review because I love doing so, it’s a great source of joy for me. No-one pays me for reviews, ever. I take it very seriously, as I know people rely on reviews before they shell out cash for their gear, just like I do myself. For that reason I only review things that interest me, things I would maybe buy for myself. That doesn’t mean my reviews are slanted or influenced, I pride myself on being very neutral and sharing my thoughts in a way that I hope will benefit the community. If I recommend something, it’s because I genuinely loved it, and I think you may too. Also, great gear excites me, and therefore my language can be a bit over the top, full of superlatives and the like- please excuse me. That’s just how I am.
- For source I used my LP6 Ti AE and E7 EE. I also tested with iBasso 320MAX and some portable amps like PD5 and MK475. Much of the time I was running through my SAEQ Morpheus amp with either SAEQ Silver Blade, NJ SS or Cardas Golden Cross ICs. I used my iFi GoPods on the go for fun. (Review here: https://www.tonetexturesoul.com/post/ifi-audio-gopods-review)
- I demoed the SE before buying, where I used the stock cable about half the time. When I received my retail unit the cable wasn’t done yet, so for a few weeks I only used aftermarket cables. The demo unit had far more than 200hrs on it, so fully burned in.
- I start out with a very varied playlist of testing tracks to form my initial thoughts, and then spend several weeks/months with the review sample simply listening to whatever inspires me, like I normally would. I then come back to the testing tracks to solidify my impressions before sitting down to write the review. I also listen while I write, one of my favorite parts.
- I love all kinds of music, and to form an honest opinion for any piece of gear I think it absolutely necessary to test with lots of different kinds of music. If you’re taking a reviewer’s word about a piece of gear you want to spend your hard earned cash on, in my opinion, you absolutely should take into consideration how their musical tastes match or differ from your own.
My ever evolving testing playlist for your discovery is available HERE
Now that we’re done with all that, let’s have some fun!
PACKAGING
The SE has one of the best packaging and accessory presentations I’ve ever experienced. After the initial shock and excitement flashed through my veins in the departure of the UPS driver, I literally ran upstairs to rip open the box. I was shocked to see how big it was, this is just an IEM right? When you open the box there’s a grey cloth bag with a draw string, and opening that you see the huge brown leather case that holds the goodies. It’s a really nice case! Open the lid, and inside is a whole shmorgishborg of stuff: a light blue leather carrying case and a black brushed metal puck style case. Two boxes of tips, the cable, and of course the SE itself, nestled snugly in its custom cut foam. The SE has a modular plug on the stock cable, so you’ll find 4.4, 3.5 and 2.5mm ends that swap out in seconds.
If you lift up the top shelf, almost hidden underneath, is a full size case, with adjustable dividers, with space for quite a few IEMs. It’s like a super plush and fancy VanNuys style case, allowing for a very stylish way to protect and store your whole collection, not just the SE. This is the first I have seen this kind of thing, my Traillii Ti comes with a lovely (actual VanNuys) leather case with similar plush interior, but it’s only big enough for one IEM. The SE case is about 6 times the size, a really nice touch. So that’s two carrying cases, and a big leather case for your whole collection. Top marks here.
There’s also a zippered pouch inside the top lid, and inside is a certificate of authenticity with your SE’s serial number, complete with signatures from the PMG team, another classy touch. Normally I give a whole schpeel about how cases and exclusive collectors only accessories are totally excessive and unnecessary. Give me the item and a simple way to store it please, and forgo the fancy presentation cases made of hand polished swamp ash and moon rocks. I exaggerate of course, but I would prefer the price of gear to be wholly devoid of added fees that inflate an already immense financial burden on us, the poor addicted audiophile. In the case of the SE, it’s all really useful stuff. The case is awesome, and nicer than a comparable VanNuys case which will set you back quite a bit.
DESIGN, BUILD QUALITY
The IEMs themselves are gorgeous. Instead of the amber orange exterior of the OG APX, the SE (Stone Edition) is now real lapis lazuli dark blue stone, with streaks of gold. Each shell is unique, hand painted, giving you a very special feeling knowing that yours is unique. On close inspection you see tons of tiny flecks and specks of gold and adorning the the whole shell, not just the faceplates. The body is more black and blue, sliding into more color, more detail, and those brass streaks that make the faceplate so gorgeous. It brings to mind the Mason FS, though the details here are much smaller and finer than Mason, but the color scheme and overall look of both is a very deluxe design. While I may prefer the Amber look, the blue is gorgeous, and grew on me. Build quality is top notch, and even under the microscope of my camera, I found no flaws, gaps, or even misaligned paint and color. Things like the 2 pin sockets and the nozzle ends are finished to perfection, super well done. The 2-pin sockets were extraordinarily tight at first, so much so that it took me about 10 minutes to insert a cable the first time. But after some cable rolling the sockets opened up, but still remained nicely snug, and secure. As someone who finds non recessed 2 pins to be a bit nerve-racking, the SE help up well here.
As mentioned in the intro, the shape of the nozzles will be a defining moment for you and the SE. While the shell itself is very small, (how they managed to get all the tech inside is baffling) the nozzle is quite large/long. Not only that, the base of the nozzle is pretty big, and they conically get smaller towards the end in a fairly strong upwards angle. This means that if the angle doesn’t match your ears well, like in my case, the IEM simply won’t go in your ears all the way. I ended up with a fit that was very interesting- it wasn’t uncomfortable since the weight is great, but they sat in my ears about 45 degrees counter clockwise from where IEMs usually sit, in order to get the nozzle into my ear. I do have small canals, and so this is of course a personal thing, but I can imagine others having the same issue. That said, if the angle fits your ears, like many I’ve spoken with, the SE might be the most comfortable and well designed IEMs. Such is the way of the SE, if it works for you, it just might be your favorite IEM of all time.
The stock cable is good, great even. It has quite some materials; Gold Plated Silver+Silver+Silver Copper Alloy, with Silver Alloy and Copper dual shielding. Say that three times fast! While we all wish to live in a world where a multi kilobuck summit IEM would come with the best cable available, that is simply not true. Great cables sure, but not matching the price and standards of the IEM itself, at least to me, and self professed cable nut/nerd/freak. Moving past all of that, some IEMs come with a stock cable whose performance might not be absolutely top shelf, but the synergy is perfect for the IEM it comes with. Mason LeJardin, Traillii (and Ti), Mentor, Annihilator come to mind as examples where you can always upgrade the cable, but there is magic in the stock pairing. The SE is firmly in this group. SE’s cable works really well with the SE, and while I tried a whole slew of upgraded cables, and some indeed gave a noticeable upgrade to its abilities, none of them quite matched the cohesion and tuning of the SE as well as the stock. And I’m not the only one, there are many stories of hard-core audiophiles who have stayed with stock, despite their own awe inspiring cable collections.
Let’s take a quick interlude and see what PMG says about the SE, and its cable, before I continue my rambling.
PMG Audio’s Apx (read Apex) line-up is a culmination of all of our experience in designing, tuning and building In-Ear Monitors. It is our answer to the question of an ultimate product if there are no constraints or limitations in design or technology and price is no object.
Apx is not a simple product – it is a story – a story about luxury, uniqueness, exclusiveness, it’s a story about the sound and immersive experience that comes with listening, finally, it’s a story about the process, passion and legacy. Every single detail of this IEM has been thought through over and over again – made to perfectly capture a vision of a true flagship.
Apx SE has been equipped with all custom-spec drivers, coupled with in-house developed technologies which place this IEM at the forefront of the audio reproduction.
Unique rectangular Planar Speaker in combination with 10mm PEEK diaphragm Dynamic Driver renders the most realistic bass response with perceivable vibrations without relying on over-pressurizing the ear canal or bone conduction transducers. For SE we increased bass response slightly, adding even more weight and definition to low frequencies. 8 custom-designed Balanced Armatures support lower-midrange, midrange, upper-midrange, and high frequencies. For SE we redeveloped high-frequency BA drivers, which combined with changes in crossover to both high BA and the round Planar Speaker reduced region between 4-10kHz, while improving and extending 10-20kHz output
Spec and packaging
11 Drivers - 1x Rectangular Planar, 1x 10mm DD, 8xBA, 1x Round Planar (all drivers are custom built to PMG Audio's spec)
True 7-way passive crossover
Flat Impedance technology
Imp 5 Ohm ±1 Ohm
SPL 107dB @1kHz
Response 3Hz-22kHz
Lapis Lazuli+Brass hybrid stone faceplate
Gold Plated Silver+Silver+Silver Copper Alloy cable with Silver Alloy and Copper dual shielding; 2.5, 3.5, 4.4mm connectors, 0.1 Ohm resistance
Leather multi-function suitcase
Metal and leather cases
Certificate of authenticity
2-Year Warranty
So what do we have here? A very advanced suite of technologies and driver types, coming together in a super complicated and technical way, all in search of the perfect sound. DD and Planar lows, which I can say does give a very, very enjoyable and highly addictive bass presentation. The placement of the rectangular planar driver is touching the shell, so you really do “feel” the bass kick, in a way not dissimilar to a BCD driver. The bass is physical, and very present. BAs make up the lower mid to treble, and a small round planar driver does the ultra top end, a first for me, maybe in the industry? How they fit all that into those little shells, I really have no clue.
PMG also uses their own patented Flat Impedance Technology, which may sound similar to what 64Audio does, but it is not. The SE employs BAs with a modified coil, so they perform the same with all gear, with any impedance. That means you can jam out on your desktop rig, with a DAP, or even a dongle while running around, and the SE should sound the same with all of them. Of course, source quality and amping plays a pivotal role, but that’s the case with all audio gear, and I can say the SE stages and scales considerably when you up the juice.
The stock cable is a looker. When inspected closely you see the silver base wire, with a kind of spider web outer layer that gives it a kind of mystical look. It’s shiny and satin at the same time, and matches aesthetically well with the blue shells. It is a two wire cable, but they’re fairly chunky and a touch rubbery too. This seems to be the norm lately, bigger and heftier cables, allowing for larger core wires instead of many thinner wires, so there’s less plastic and similar or better technical performance. The trend is getting more plump, so we all better get used to it. Hardware is brushed black aluminum, with blue anodized pyramidal adorned inserts that give it a very unique and upscale look. As mentioned, the cable termination is modular, so you can swap between 4.4mm, 3.5mm, and 2.5mm. While I understand this as a nice way to give people flexibility with sources, the end result is a plug that is quite long, and in some ways, kind of prone to being bent or wiggled too much. See, the modular plug casing is about normal size, but the attachment adds some length, so you end up with a plug that feels really long. The connection for the modular part isn’t super tight, so when you look at where it joins, it seems not completely straight. Nitpicking for sure, but this is a $6k IEM remember?
After speaking with Piotr about this, I suggested the option of ordering with a single, non-modular plug, in my case 4.4mm. In theory the modular thing is nice, but a fixed plug that is not only more secure, but also smaller and probably slightly better in SQ, seems a no brainer for me. Piotr accepted, and this option is available for others as well - though the SE IEM is totally sold out, the cable is still available for purchase in this fixed configuration. I also normally prefer no ear hook shrink, I find it far more comfortable the way the wire just drapes perfectly over the ear. The SE is more rubbery over the ears, so I asked if my cable could be made without, and Piotr graciously again accepted. He’s used to my ultra micro obsessive requests, and he takes it all in stride.
Unfortunately the unique design needed to be made separately, and I have yet to receive or see my stock cable. I was provided with a demo cable for this review, which will be swapped out with the final unit when ready.
All in all the presentation, design, build quality and attention to detail here is immense. This is world class, some of the best I have seen honestly. An ultra premium product, with an ultra premium design and sound, with an accompanying ultra premium price tag. You get what you pay for here. PMG’s mission statement for the SE was, ‘What can we make when there are no limits to materials, or price.’ Well, now we know for sure, this is the absolute pinnacle of Piotr’s design and talent, all squashed into a beautiful blue stone and brass accented shell.
SOUND
How they sound is of course, the biggest question here for all of us. Design, packaging, and fancy extras mean little if the sound isn’t there. In this instance, the SE is one of the best I have heard. It’s fantastically detailed, extended, with incredible bass the rivals anything out there, if not surpassing it. For me it’s a tossup between the magic monster bass, or the mid resolution that grabs attention on first listen. When I first put them in my ears, I was greeted with a large stage, extremely detailed sound, and a bass attack that shook my kidneys. It’s also crazy textured, with a bit more growl than punch. Very deep sup bass that emanates from far below, slightly more so than upper bass. The mids are quick to show their qualities, an immediate sensation of sprinkled micro details and flecks of tiny information whispering and caressing your ears and senses. The top end is quite lovely, with just a touch of extra sparkle and energy, but very natural and highly enjoyable.
There is a lot of detail, all over. It’s not aggressive, or even overwhelming. The way SE portrays resolution is very special, in that despite being one of the most technical IEMs out there, it never feels analytical, far from it. While the bass and treble are very articulated and defined, I might go so far as to say the mids are a touch too relaxed. They play it safe, holding back a bit. The fact that they are also placed a bit further back affects this surely, but I feel a slight disconnect in terms of how each frequency area is portrayed on the whole in terms of energy. They’re not smoothed out, they are super super detailed, I just miss a bit of bite to match the thunder and sparkle, above and below respectively. For that reason perhaps there is a sensation of relaxation, or it’s just me, which is a fair point. I mention this not as a negative, but merely as an observation. This was probably PMG’s intention. Pulling you in with a slamming bottom end, a spacious and ever so slightly energetic top, and mids, to balance it all out, being a touch relaxed for comfort. Or, they slid the needle a touch too far coming from the OG APX, who knows. These mids remind me of my experience with the A&K SP3000, which is still considered one of the best DAPs ever made. If you like that sound, the sweet melding of detail and musicality, you’re sure to love the APX SE.
BASS
SE has phenomenal bass. It is texture rich unlike almost any other IEM I’ve heard. The combination of DD and Planar really do wonders here, offering up a deep fat rumble that has immense body and power. It is well controlled, and extremely addictive. I will say it’s got some growl and bloom over being overly precise or punchy. It certainly can be punchy, take Ghost Note’s newest record “Mustard ’n Onions” which is chock full of epic punchy bass from Mono Neon. The way SE handles this is fantastic, and sounds very realistic, especially when you’ve seen Mr Neon live. His bass sounds just like that, a perfect blend of modern punch and old school growl. There is even a touch of tube bloom, but not in a way where it slides into the lower mids or peaking into overt chubbiness.
Bass heads will love this, while not extreme in quantity, it is very satisfying and of the utmost quality. It’s freaking amazing really. There is a good quantity of bass, but not to the level of Legend X, Singularity, or other famous low enders. More like Amber pearl, but less so, as AP’s mid bass bump tended to makes things just a bit bass heavy for me long term. SE is more even keeled, perhaps leaning slightly more into sub bass over a thick dose of upper bass grunt. On electronic tracks it was surreal how good the bass was, surrounding you like a set of throbbing sub woofers at a festival. When you want to reach out and touch the speakers, even though you shouldn’t, ‘cause the security guard already warned you twice, and he’ll kick you out if you do it again. That kind of bass.
For tracks with less bass dominance, the bass is still great, and in most cases was able to transform as tracks required, without being overbearing or too weighted. Avishai Cohen’s acoustic bass was especially good, you could both feel the stroke and thud of the gut strings, but also the texture and even sweat droplets as he moves around the neck. Pino Palladino’s flat wound P-Bass sound is legend, especially the D’Angelo records, and SE provided one of the best renditions of that I’ve heard. DEEP sub bass, and a nice warm and slightly muted body, just as Pino payed it. In other cases, more so when the track was not super well produced, the bass could be a touch un-defined, giving more of a rumble and lacking the attack. Growl without the bark. To me, and this is purely conjecture and tuning ideals from my preferences alone, the DD and Planar both seem to occupy the sub bass regions, and less so mid and upper bass. I would have perhaps preferred the planar to only handle extra lows, and the DD to have more body to it, giving punch to the more textured upper bass, not just the shake from below. It’s like they used them in tandem, (series) occupying their two personalities, when it could have been taking each’s best qualities and letting them shine. Sometimes SE bass lacks a bit of definition, or audible percussive quality in the lows but that’s just my $.02.
If you love bass, SE has it in spades, in fantastic quality. I offer my comments here to an otherwise perfect low end. Even perhaps the best bass I’ve heard in an IEM, a very short list.
MIDS
SE has gorgeous mids. They are very resolving, like really, crazy resolving. The detail is very apparent from the moment you plug them in, and I never once found them overly analytical or dry. Quite the opposite, they are fairly lush considering how detailed and defined they are. I won’t say crisp, because that implies crispy, they are just really clear and very natural. Transients are well defined, but not too sharp, which is a welcome change over the PG APX. There is a lot of micro detail, like upgrading from HD to 4K, or even 8K in this case, you are flooded with more, but not exaggerated. They are very musical as well, vocals and acoustic instruments have great timbre and natural almost effortless portrayals.
While the lower mids have a bit of extra body, the mids and upper mids are quite neutral in their weight. There is no offensive pinna gain or dip and peaks here, it is tuned beautifully. They aren’t big s thick, nor are they thin or lean either. While there is a ton of information in the mids, I do feel they are fairly relaxed, and even a touch smooth. Not smooth in the way of smoothed, more like nice and satiny, in a relaxed way. They are very clean and clear, some of the most detailed I’ve ever heard, so in some ways it sounds like a controversial thing to say, but I repeat myself about the comparison to the SP3K. It is a fantastic DAP, technical and precise, musical and spacious, just the mids seem a touch smoother than the rest of the spectrum. Vocals and instruments are exceptionally presented, with great detail, presence, definition and ease. In fact, if you took only the mids alone I would have nothing to say, they are exceptional. It’s only when the rest of the spectrum is included, that I find their slight distance, and even more slightly relaxed quality, to feel a touch out of place.
I am a big fan of Traillii Ti, and STORM. That may explain to you all my preferences tuning-wise. The TTi is very mid forward, STORM less so but still quite present. They are both highly detailed, but rather intense compared to the SE, which is surely a selling point for many. The STORM in some ways shares a somewhat similar mid approach to the SE. Extreme resolution, precision, attack and dynamics. The STORM is unified throughout and more razor sharp, the SE simply gives us a touch less energy in the mids, nearly the same technicals, and therefore and a more inviting presentation overall. STORM can be intense, unrelenting even, the SE offers us an alternative.
TREBLE
Top end wise I have basically nothing but praise here. There is loads of resolution and detail, extension for days. There is just the right amount of sparkle and definition, and a touch of energy. I think it matches the bass perfectly, pound for pound, they trade blows for my attention. SE has a very tall stage, and I found myself looking up to search for a small detail that was drifting around up there, only to come back to earth and realize I was listening to an IEM and not staring off into actual space. I don’t hear any sharpness, or smoothness, just a very detailed and also enjoyable treble.
There is something to be said about cohesion. Ultra realism guys that love the feeling of a single DD wrapping the entire spectrum into a gorgeous ball of emotions and details, and nothing else will suffice. I love a cohesive sound as much as anyone. Some have written about the top end of SE being somewhat in-cohesive, and I have a few words on that. The SE uses a lot of different driver tech, like the tiny round planar for the ultra highs, which shares a space with the custom made BAs used for lower treble. Can I hear the two drivers separately? Yes I can. They have different timbres, they are different types of drivers, so there is no surprise here. Do I find that a negative? No, not really. I come from a lot of 2 channel speaker systems, it is common practice to use several types of drives in a speaker. Oftentimes, the best ones, using two or three types of tweeters, like dome and ribbon for instance. My Dali Ikons at home have this exact setup. Similar to how I propose the DD and Planar play in harmony, building on each other’s strengths and not overlapping in their duties, so it can be up top. I love the way planar treble sounds, and we’re all well versed in how good a BA top can be when well implemented. Why not use both?
Yes, we have both here, and it think it’s great. Can I hear them both? Yes. But why is that bad? It’s just physics, and I embrace the idea. Maybe you could call it a stepping stone, as PMG is really breaking new ground here. And maybe, in the future, this can be done in a way where they’re indistinguishable from each other. I think a similar thing happened when someone decided to mix a DD with BAs, and how some probably scoffed at this. That’s progress, that’s modern invention. The SE, if nothing else, is a trail blazer, an early adopter, and I think the risk has paid off here.
STAGE
The SE has a very tall stage, with good width and depth. Part of the slight limitation in width I found came with the stock cable, and upon swapping it out for something like Orpheus, Orbit Saga or Sovereign Symphony, the SE was as wide as anything. However, with that expansion comes a slight diffusion of the overall tuning, things get overly wide. Which is why I believe some prefer the stock cable. It sounds as PMG wanted it to, and if you prefer it that’s an easy choice, saving you kilobucks in search of crazily overpriced aftermarket cables. There is definitely a nice stage, with great positioning, space between layers, and very finely detailed overall upscale feel. If you want more space, and detail too, feel free to upgrade the cable, as I did most of the time. The SE scales quite a bit, so adding a cable, or an amp or better source will make a great difference. Or, stick with stock and have the most cohesive sound, albeit with a touch less technicalities and stage size.
CABLES
I believe I’ve covered some of this already, so here’s a brief summary of cables I tried with SE:
Stock - very cohesive, more mid forward, very tall but less wide. A bit less detailed than others, but works very well with SE, as PMG wanted it.
Orpheus - Fantastic. Ultra wide mids with far more micro details and power. Bigger, badder, fatter and deeper bass, but does bring quantity into “too much” land with some genres. Does lack some top end extension, but very smooth and natural on top. As is the case with anything + Orphy, it’s a bit colored too. For a more emotional experience, Orphy is a great choice. Colors match nicely as well!
Orbit Saga - A very open, airy and spacious sound with effortless extension. A big upgrade to detail and positioning. Great more neutral bass, same clean and clear mids with stock neutral weight. Super airy top, with a touch of extra sparkle and treble attention. Brings the whole spectrum more even, though it can be a bit lean. Very spacious, very wide stage.
Valhalla - One of my favs, such a cool combo. Fatter and more punchy bass, more analog feel. Mids are more weighted, and the stage spread is hugely wide and spacious. Treble is a bit less extended, but more weighted, and with a touch of extra bite in the lower treble. Slightly dark, but extremely revealing and powerful. The added upper mid clarity gives the SE more attack, and a more dynamic and intense sound. I found this to rectify my “relaxed” mids issue for the most part.
Sovereign Symphony 4W - The most massive, fat and powerful of the bunch. This cable is an absolute monster, sonically and physically. More note weight, bigger bass, thicker and slightly warmer mids, very extended treble without any extra energy. In many matchups the bass quantity was just too much for me, though I expect many will love it. The most “vintage” sounding of the lot while also remaining insanely resolving. Also resolved the mids relaxation situation. A very cool combo, and if I had another SS lying around I would be tempted to glue it on the SE.
IEM COMPARISONS
How does this rock blue bad boy stand top against the myriad TOTL contenders of today? Super super well, it’s in the tip-pity top without question. In fact, it is so technically skilled that only tuning choices separate it from the other summits. The resolution is sure to wow you. Only Noble’s Chronicle and STORM offer a similarly detailed sound, we’re in that level here. And so, as I offer my impressions and comparisons, I beg you to remember that these occupy the very last few percent of what’s possible on earth, so any differences are merely nitpicking and preference.They are all very expensive, but that’s what you get in his tier. Comparing some of the best IEMs on earth? I’ll do my best.
STORM (~$6000 used if you can find one)
In some ways SE and STORM share some traits. I mean they are both somewhat reference tuned, with great technicals, fantastic bass and enjoyable non spicy extended treble. While STORM is really the only actual reference IEM available, SE offers something close-ish. SE could even be considered a more fun, easier to drive, bigger bass STORM for many people. Purists might guffaw, but I’m making broad strokes here. Overall the STORM is the most technical, dynamic and realistic IEM I’ve ever heard. It’s also really quite intense, in a great way. It’s also near impossible to drive portably, even harder to find one for sale. With an amp the STORM reaches levels not known by most in the IEM game, the SE is far easier to drive, smaller and lighter, and more relaxed overall. I’m not saying they sound the same, just some similarities.
SE has more bass, more DD bass, and more imposing bass that is, for better or worse. STORM won’t satisfy a real bass head, SE will. They are both extremely detailed, with STORM being a bit more so. SE mids are a touch relaxed, and leaner in weight as they go up. STORM is more critical, intense and technical sounding, less forgiving as well. It’s weight is thicker, evenly distributed in the mids, giving a very true to “real life” sound, where the SE is more Hi-Fi and perhaps “fun” could also be used. Both sound super natural, one is simply more realistic, or flat even, depending on your views and tastes. Treble is about the same, I don’t find huge differences as they both have slightly energetic and very engaging top ends. SE might have a touch more sparkle, while STORM has small peaks engineered in, like studio monitor do, so the treble feels a bit more detailed. SE is certainly no slouch here, we’re splitting hairs or atoms.
STORM shells are bigger, fatter, and aluminum. SE is much smaller, and lighter. STORM’s nozzle is very short, which for me works better and sits nicely in my ears. SE’s nozzle remains what it is, but since the weight is far less, they have no strain. STORM has recessed 2 pin sockets, which for me is a huge plus. I really wish all manufacturers did this. I know it doesn’t look as clean and flush, but for those of us using huge monster cables this is very much appreciated.
Stage wise the SE is taller, and with the right cable, can be super wide too. STORM’s stage is perfectly balanced in terms of shape in space, with all aspects appearing in equal distances, like emanating speakers. It could be called intimate, as STORM was designed like big near field studio monitors, and they really do sound just like that. SE is more Head-fi, more “out of head” and I am sure that some/many will prefer this type of presentation over the STORM’s slightly “flatter” or “drier” approach. Feed them both crazy power and they scale incredibly well. SE gets much wider, the bass gets tighter and more punchy. STORM also gets bigger, but the difference is larger, since it’s harder to drive normally. I would say at peak power, STORM does edge out the SE in sheer size, and I think part of that is the weight and power it has in the mids, over the SE’s slightly more neutral and leaner sound. With the SS 4W cable STORM reaches massive stage levels, with incredible levels of detail and space. While the SS could be called a “stock” cable, it is a paid upgrade over the (I think) Mira which is a great cable too. Spend the same for an upgrade to SE’s roster, and things even out - again, back to preferences more than anything.
TRAILLI Ti ($8499)
The Ti is an updated, and I personally feel, much improved Traillii in the aspects of technicalities and resolution, stage size, punch and power, and most especially bass. It also has much more forward mids, which, if any of you have been paying attention, is quite important to me. Some prefer the OG, usually for the reasons of its more emotional, warm and inviting style, and more distant + wide mids, which is fine. I went with the Ti because I was looking for more, of really everything. In many ways the Ti leans more in the SE/STORM direction, with its more revealing, articulate, faster and more dynamic tuning. I mention this because when I compare the Ti and SE, you know my preferences for a more neutral sound. In terms of resolution SE might eek out the Ti, at least it feels like there is more details since the Ti is still on the Traillii lush spectrum, at least as it compares to SE. SE has more bass, and yes, it is more textured and DD like - though I will say that Ti bass is insanely good for BA, like Storm. If you absolutely must have DD bass, the SE is your choice.
Ergo wise they are similar, though SE is a bit smaller and lighter compared to the Ti’s metal shell. They’re both comfortable, and SE has vents while the Ti sadly continues the OG Bird’s lack of pressure relief. Both come with good stock cables, though the Ti’s is definitely more expensive and feels more luxurious. Ti has recessed 2 pins, SE like most others, does not.
Ti has a sub bass tilt, with less upper bass, SE has even, almost “melting” into the lower mids, in comparison. Mids wise they are very different, as SE is far more neutral in quantity, and positioning they feel almost recessed going between the two. Ti mids are very forward, so take that into consideration here. That does mean the Ti mids do feel bigger, more weighted, and more dynamic to my ears. SE is more clean and critical, neutral or even lean, though they are very musical and still relaxed. SE does take the cake for absolute detail here. The mids-up spectrum of SE seems to taper off note weight wise, while Ti carries more weight, keeping it closer, giving even the highest treble regions more body, over the, again, more neutral and clean SE top end. Ti even has a very soft touch of upper mid clarity. In exchange, the SE has more sparkle, more top end energy in some way but feeling more weightless.
Staging wise the Ti manages to be the largest of any IEM I’ve heard, expanding in all directions, not unlike its OG brethren whose massive stage started the conversation to begin with. Ti is much more mid forward, but still has a nearly identical size, which is quite impressive. The SE, with stock cable, has about the same height, but far less width. And as I mentioned, the mids start to push further and further away the higher you go up. Swap the cable and it’s a whole different thing. With Orbit Saga, or even more so with Orpheus and Valhalla, the width becomes monstrous, matching if not exceeding the height. Details come flooding out of every nook and cranny, and in this way the SE is definitely the most resolving of the two, second only to STORM whose technicalities are uncanny. I hear more body, more air, more definition, more of everything - of course this is adding cables whose prices are even higher than the SE.
So, if you want the full throttle technical masterpiece unloaded, swap out the stock cable for something fabulous. It’ll also be fabulously expensive mind you. If you need cohesion above all else, stick to stock, and save yourself a car downpayment in the process. With Valhalla the SE became a fire breathing monster - I listened to nothing else for a week. The extra clarity and power in the mids, the insanely wide and speaker like spread, and the tighter and more tactile bass moves the SE closer to perfection for me.
SUPREME V3 ($6400)
The S3 is a detail monster, with the deepest mids and greatest top end extension I’ve ever heard. It sacrifices some warmth, body, and bass quantity for its razor edged detail. It’s a monster, but only with the right kind of music, to me at least. SE is a much better all rounder, with a similar-ish level of detail that is simply more relaxed and fatigue free. There is more body all over, and far more bass. Where the S3 mids are insanely clean and crisp, SE is more warm and inviting, comparatively speaking. Treble is more relaxed too - it’s just less bright all ‘round. It’s a funny comparison to make as they couldn’t be more different, but since the technical levels, prices, and advanced tech are both stellar, it begs mentioning.
Keeping it simple: S3 is a detail monster that is very light on its feet, super fast, insanely open, a bit crispy in some areas, leaning more treble and vocal focused, with great bass that is just a bit too low in quantity to work for my library. SE is bigger, fatter, more analog and more relaxed. Bass is far bigger, deeper too, with mids that are less edgy and super detailed while reminding relaxed. Treble has a hint of sparkle, but far less featured.
The V3 is extremely heavy due to its solid brass build, and it’s quite big too. Like the SE, it has a fairly long and similarly angled nozzle, though not as long, or angled, as SE. The V3 size and weight make it really hard to use for long periods, which is why I have a CIEM version - though it is even heavier! Ergo and shape wise the SE mops the floor here.
CHRONICLE (6000 Euro)
I had the chance to rather quickly demo the new Noble Chronicle and that’s an interesting comparison. Keep in mind my demo was 10 minutes or so, in a crowded room no less. Right off the bat these are the most comfortable “larger” IEMs I’ve ever tried. They fit flush for me, which is a huge plus. Sonically I have never been a huge fan of Noble, always impressed, but they don’t speak to me in the same way others do. The Chronicle is, by far, the most impressive Noble I’ve ever heard. Crazy resolution, wonderful textured bass, roomy stage and, as usual, just a touch too much sizzle in the treble. It’s less than Ragnar, in fact the Chron could be considered a much improved Ragnar. It has great bass, with enough quantity to satisfy Ragnar owners that were left wanting. Mids are more full, while being even more resolving, if you can imagine it. Treble is less spikey, and overall the presentation is less bright and cold than I remember the Ragnar being. I reviewed it back in the day, (https://www.tonetexturesoul.com/post/noble-viking-ragnar-review) so keep my memory inspired impressions with a grain of salt at least.
The Chronicle is a very balanced, lovely W shaped ultra flagship, with a very cool design and very comfortable shells. Big win for Noble fans. The SE is much smaller, lighter, and if your ears work with it, great fit too. It has more bass, and the bass leads the tuning much more than the Chron’s more neutral style. Detail wise they trade blows, hard to pick a winner here. Mids is a toss up, depending wholly on your preferences of weight, transient attack, and warmth. SE is less intense, less sharp, Chron is more. Treble wise they aren’t too far off, neither are bright, except the Noble has that extra sizzle which just forces them out of my ears after a bit, I am sensitive to that area. Extension of both is great, as is stage size, positioning and space between layers.
Both have similarly fancy looking cables, I wasn’t allowed to swap the Noble cable, so I can’t comment more on that. They’re both the same price too. They are both detail monsters, the Noble is more Noble about it, the SE is more relaxed about it. I think the safer bet blind would be SE, simply because it does everything in a way that is comfortable, and very detailed. If you’re a Noble fan the Chron is quite simply the best they’ve ever made.
ELYSIAN ANNI 2023 ($3000)
Lastly I wish to include the Elysian Annihilator 2023. True, it’s far cheaper, about half, so why add it here? The Anni is a very special IEM that has a bold and fat analog sound, with some of the most airy and sinfully good treble ever. It doesn’t have quite the same technical abilities, nor is the bass quite as defined or wildly tactile, but somehow this gem stole my heart and deserves a spot at the big table. It is my easiest recommendation for an all rounder less than $3k, a spot I think garners big points. As a guy who loves, and owns, basically only ultra flagships, the Anni holds a special spot for me.
It has big bold bass, and while many don’t love it, I found it just fine. It’s a DD, it has good texture and rumble, but it’s less defined and a touch smeary on occasion. It’s great bass, just not amazing. Mids are quite fat and analog, and very detailed too. While having great technical performance, the Anni is more of a relaxed and groove set, at least compared to the others here. In its tier it would be close to the top. The treble is godly, so effervescent and airy, it’ll blow your mind. It also extends like a madman, without a shred of harshness or sibilance. It may be the best treble ever.
SE has more bass, better more controlled and textured bass. If bass is most important to you stop reading here. Mid wise the Anni is fatter, and more analog over the leaner and more clean SE. I like the forwardness and body of the Anni, though the SE wins for details, overall resolution and pure technicalities. Treble wise the Anni is very special, almost untouchable to me. I didn’t get to test over a long period of time, but what I did hear had me coming back for more, and more, and more. Overall the SE is a better IEM, it’s newer and more fancy. The Anni is an analog baby, and for that I love it. It’s also double the price.
Anni has huge fat shells, so fit won’t be great for most of us. It’s very well shaped, but so chunky that they stick out a lot of my ears. They are sadly mmcx, of which I don’t own a single cable, and will surely limit your options unless you’re a CFA fan. It comes with the Liquid Links Venom cable, which is a great pairing sonically, but ergo wise it’s far less so. Rubbery, thick and rather unwieldy. Sound is epic, the feel just less so.
CONCLUSION
If one were to read only my intro, I think my point is already pretty clear. The SE is a very impressive, musical and unique tuning that rockets it to the very top. Phenomenal bass. Beautifully clean and ultra resolving mids. Clear and natural treble with a hint of sparkle. Top notches for sure. My small qualms, micro as they might be for some, are based on my personal tuning preferences, and not a basis for negatives at all. The feeling about slightly relaxed mids, the bass quantity, the nozzle, all based on me, and me alone. I know a few people who hail the SE as the best IEM ever, and I can certainly understand why they say so. To me, the SE gets really close, but misses the “best” mark just because of how I like my music presented to me. I’m more of a reference, mids forward and neutral bass kind of guy. I also like the entire spectrum to carry the same level of intensity, focusing on realism and note weight, this is surely not the case for others. Removing my personal preferences, and assuming you get a good fit, the SE is without question one of the very best in the world at this moment. It is a fantastically tuned and designed piece of art, and Piotr and the PMG team deserve all the praise they are getting.
The accessories, cases, and presentation should cause other companies to check themselves. For the top few percent of ultra detail listeners, I would suggest trying out some other cables. Just remember that they all seem to veer the SE into a different tuning. Other than that, I have nothing else to say, except that the SE gets my high recommendations, and will surely provide anyone willing to fork over $6k endless hours/days/weeks/months/years of listening pleasure.
I wish to thank Piotr for all his help, this review was a several months process for me. He was always kind, truthful, and extremely open to all of my nonsensical requests and endless questions. He’s also very humble, which is a trait we oftentimes don’t see in the elite designers. If you dig the SE, drop him (@piotrus-g) a line and let him know so. He really poured his heart and soul into this one, and probably his entire savings as well. What we’re left with is a labor of love, wrapped in Lapis Lazuli stone - one of the most beautiful and impressive IEMs ever. The SE demands, and deserves your attention.
Thanks for reading!
The SE can be purchased directly from PMG Audio here
Or via @Musicteck here
***I am not affiliated in any way with PMG or Musicteck, I receive no payment for these links. Just trying to hook people up! :) ***
Comments