Recently was able to get my hands on the new PMG APX courtesy of Musicteck, it's a very unique set in that it utilizes not only a DD in the lows but also a planar driver for the ultra lows, BA through the mid range/lower treble and yet ANOTHER planar in the ultra highs. It's an absolutely gorgeous IEM too with it's distinct amber faceplate. Anyway without further adieu, a brief impression of the APX.
Despite being such a unique driver config, I found the APX quite easy to drive and had no issues off any DAP i tried it with (SP3k, Rs8, DX320x, DX320 max).
The fit of the APX is good as well, it is a very deep seating iem which I prefer. I do with the inside of the shell was a bit more contoured, as it is very flat, but it was very comfortable even over longer listening times. I do also wish the shells were a tad bit bigger for a little more in ear security, but in no way a negative since it is a universal, afterall.
The stock cable is actually a lot nicer than I was expecting, I did a bit of rolling with the APX and came back to it every time. Sonically it's a perfect fit for the APX, my only wish is they used a BIT of a better insulation, it feels a little cheap/rubbery and that they used a hard termination 4.4mm and not this swappable one. But again, nitpicking an otherwise great quality cable for the sake of putting everything on the table.
Technically, this set is one of the most adept, if not the most, that I've heard. It has an absolutely massive soundstage, great depth and height alongside a top tier imaging ability to neatly place everything inside it's giant stage. As one would expect utilizing 2 planars, this is an very quick and nimble set which is able to get through any complex passage with ease and finesse.
Tonally, I find the APX to be a slight bit bright past neutral but with enough bass to level it out in nearly every situation so no part of the FR becomes overly emphasized.
Bass: The APX is a slightly bass elevated past neutral set but with the planar working the ultra lows and DD in the lows, the APX is able to be well contained and controlled across the spectrum. Relative to other DD sets on the market, the APX's DD does deliver a good punch and rumble from the planar but due to how nimble the drivers are, it decays relatively quickly but it does leave the set leaning slightly more mid-bassy than sub. Relative to other sets, like the Ragnar, I find the bass quality to be about equal, maybe SLIGHTLY leaning in the ragnar's favor but taking my bias for the ragnar out of the equation, I'd say they have equal quality while the APX has a slight edge in quantity. Both the Ragnar and APX have quick and nimble decay to their bass with the APX being just a bit quicker so you lose a slight bit of reverb in comparison to the Ragnar.
Mids: If I had to pick one area as the weakness of the APX it would be here in the mids. They are amazing quality, with great air and resolution with an extremely strong center image but higher pitched male vocals and lower pitched female vocals can come off a little dry. This isn't the case with deeper male vocals and higher pitched female vocals, however, they both sound excellent with a great sense of emotion and a natural decay, as expected from BA mids. Compared to the Ragnar, the APX's mids sit a bit further back in the mix but I was able to detect some slight bits of sibilance with the APX where as I have never with the Ragnar. This was rare, and only with a few female artists, such as Infected Rain, but by and large, the mids are high quality and tonally accurate but can lean a little dry at times.
Treble: Coming off reading a few others impressions/thoughts of the APX's treble, I immediately expected a much brighter/harsher treble than what I got. The treble of the APX is slightly bright, but never particularly harsh or glaring. There is an appreciable speed and etching to every note which provides a great amount of detail through the region. I do not think many of the Watercooler folks here who typically lean into a warmer sound would dislike the APX due to it's slightly bright leaning signature as it is so well balanced and musical despite being bright leaning. When doing A/B with Ragnar and APX and focusing on treble, I find the APX to have slightly greater separation due to the planar speed, while Ragnar's ests aren't far behind, they do have more decay/reverb than the APX is able to deliver. I found myself preferring the Ragnar here but the APX is wonderful in it's own rights.
The APX is an amazing set with technical capabilities that exceed many other similarly priced IEMs and a soundstage that I find unmatched, even compared to the Ragnar. They excel at quicker paced music, but even with slower paced they did well to not sound overly analytical or boring which I think is a great testament to how well they were tuned.
Despite being such a unique driver config, I found the APX quite easy to drive and had no issues off any DAP i tried it with (SP3k, Rs8, DX320x, DX320 max).
The fit of the APX is good as well, it is a very deep seating iem which I prefer. I do with the inside of the shell was a bit more contoured, as it is very flat, but it was very comfortable even over longer listening times. I do also wish the shells were a tad bit bigger for a little more in ear security, but in no way a negative since it is a universal, afterall.
The stock cable is actually a lot nicer than I was expecting, I did a bit of rolling with the APX and came back to it every time. Sonically it's a perfect fit for the APX, my only wish is they used a BIT of a better insulation, it feels a little cheap/rubbery and that they used a hard termination 4.4mm and not this swappable one. But again, nitpicking an otherwise great quality cable for the sake of putting everything on the table.
Technically, this set is one of the most adept, if not the most, that I've heard. It has an absolutely massive soundstage, great depth and height alongside a top tier imaging ability to neatly place everything inside it's giant stage. As one would expect utilizing 2 planars, this is an very quick and nimble set which is able to get through any complex passage with ease and finesse.
Tonally, I find the APX to be a slight bit bright past neutral but with enough bass to level it out in nearly every situation so no part of the FR becomes overly emphasized.
Bass: The APX is a slightly bass elevated past neutral set but with the planar working the ultra lows and DD in the lows, the APX is able to be well contained and controlled across the spectrum. Relative to other DD sets on the market, the APX's DD does deliver a good punch and rumble from the planar but due to how nimble the drivers are, it decays relatively quickly but it does leave the set leaning slightly more mid-bassy than sub. Relative to other sets, like the Ragnar, I find the bass quality to be about equal, maybe SLIGHTLY leaning in the ragnar's favor but taking my bias for the ragnar out of the equation, I'd say they have equal quality while the APX has a slight edge in quantity. Both the Ragnar and APX have quick and nimble decay to their bass with the APX being just a bit quicker so you lose a slight bit of reverb in comparison to the Ragnar.
Mids: If I had to pick one area as the weakness of the APX it would be here in the mids. They are amazing quality, with great air and resolution with an extremely strong center image but higher pitched male vocals and lower pitched female vocals can come off a little dry. This isn't the case with deeper male vocals and higher pitched female vocals, however, they both sound excellent with a great sense of emotion and a natural decay, as expected from BA mids. Compared to the Ragnar, the APX's mids sit a bit further back in the mix but I was able to detect some slight bits of sibilance with the APX where as I have never with the Ragnar. This was rare, and only with a few female artists, such as Infected Rain, but by and large, the mids are high quality and tonally accurate but can lean a little dry at times.
Treble: Coming off reading a few others impressions/thoughts of the APX's treble, I immediately expected a much brighter/harsher treble than what I got. The treble of the APX is slightly bright, but never particularly harsh or glaring. There is an appreciable speed and etching to every note which provides a great amount of detail through the region. I do not think many of the Watercooler folks here who typically lean into a warmer sound would dislike the APX due to it's slightly bright leaning signature as it is so well balanced and musical despite being bright leaning. When doing A/B with Ragnar and APX and focusing on treble, I find the APX to have slightly greater separation due to the planar speed, while Ragnar's ests aren't far behind, they do have more decay/reverb than the APX is able to deliver. I found myself preferring the Ragnar here but the APX is wonderful in it's own rights.
The APX is an amazing set with technical capabilities that exceed many other similarly priced IEMs and a soundstage that I find unmatched, even compared to the Ragnar. They excel at quicker paced music, but even with slower paced they did well to not sound overly analytical or boring which I think is a great testament to how well they were tuned.
