Time to update the signature, PMG APX SE landed a few long hours ago! Thank you
@warrenj <3
I won't be posting reviews and long impressions for it, because we're almost at the next iteration at this point, but rather a general discussion on sound signatures, preferences and so on.
I'll also use this post to offer my perspective on the Moses and how it stacks up compared to the first giga flagship I've heard since the Traillii (and you know my thoughts on that
)
Even though the impressions might not make it sound that way, I think the APX SE is an absolute world class monster of a monitor based on my first listen. At the same time, either the Moses is underpriced, or 6000$ is just too much for an IEM
Either way, let's proceed with the actual impressions, served as a comparison post! (throwback to the Thummim vs Erl post and the shitstorm that it started)
Tuning
The bass on the APX SE is flat out the best I've ever heard in an IEM, in both quantity and quality. It isn't midbass shy as too many monitors are, it delivers plenty of punch, a little decay to remain fun, and that outrageous planar speed. It goes deep, has excellent rumble, and is perfect in quantity - just enough to make it enjoyable and engaging, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.
The Moses has the kind of bass that would become the star of the show at a Canjam, but in my ever so humble opinion, starts feeling a little extra after a while. It's fun, it's slow, it's satisfying, and will perform very well with any test track where you want to hear that oomph. While it does border on the too much at times, I don't think that's the main issue, but rather how almost-sluggish it feels. Again, extremely satisfying, just not something I'd want to listen to all day every day. Works great for some genres, not so well for others
I also don't love how diffused the punch of the Moses is, but I guess if it punched hard with this quantity you'd just end up with another Xe6
The Moses and APX SE have very comparable mids Imo, with the main difference being that the APX SE leans a little more into the lower midrange, while the Moses leans ever so gently into the upper midrange. The APX SE has extremely pleasant texture, and that more laidback presentation that I crave, with an overall colder feel despite the texture (I feel like the upper treble is giving a midly metallic feel to both IEMs)
The Moses is a little more euphonic and more forward, which sounds great with a lot of genres, but becomes a little problematic for me with Florence and the Machine's King album for example, where it definitely becomes too much.
The treble is very similar tuning-wise on both IEMs. Both have a very safe and tame lower treble, with massive upper treble bumps. Some people love it, some people hate it, it is what it is I guess. I do agree it's a bit of gimmick to give the sense of detail without harshness, and to define the space and imaging better, but it really works for me. I guess all these years on 64A IEMs have made me an upper treble fiend, unable to live without it.
The tuning
TLDR is basically the following: both IEMs feel like two flavors of the same super broad tuning direction (warm-neutral and inoffensive, with safe lower treble and gobs of upper treble)
Moses: slower, more fun and drawn out, with some incoherence issues because of the cleaner midrange and treble, contrasted with the slower and thicker bass
APX SE: Clean, tight and laidback neutral, extremely coherent across the spectrum, with incredible speed and texture despite the colder presentation
Technical Ability
This is where I have some hot takes. Tuning alone can't justify pricing, and once you cross that 2000$ mark, I start having some big expectations where it comes to technical ability.
I would divide them up this way:
- Moses has the biggest, most open staging I've ever heard, with some of the most jawdropping imaging I've experienced. The APX SE isn't bad, it's great. It's wide, it's tall, it's decently holographic, it's just nowhere near the Moses
- Detail goes to the APX SE, because it's able to separate instruments and vocals way better than the Moses. The speed of the APX SE just gives it just a big edge over the Moses, it's able to transmit all the information flawlessly, even if it comes at the expense of some of that fun at times.
- Dynamics are comparable, the Moses has an extremely dark background, but again, that decay can interfere with the perception at times. The APX SE is among the very best I've heard. Not quite Erl level, but right up there
Build, stock cable, accessories
I don't dislike the APX SE's shells, but they feel a little basic compared to the Moses. Not a fully fair comparison, because Moses is almost like a "best in class," but still
Packaging - fully in the APX SE's favor. You get two carry cases, a big, lovely leather case, way more tips that are also way nicer. I tried several pairs and settled on the sticky tips for both my Moses and my APX SE (medium on APX, small on Moses)
Stock cable - I love Eletech and everything they do, I disliked strongly Moses' stock cable. Too microphonic, too stiff, too bright sound-wise. It's collecting dust, if anyone wants to buy it, pm me
EDIT: I just found out that the PMG APX SE's stock cable isn't made by Eletech. I was pretty shocked cause it's basically a carbon copy of the Euclid
Fit and isolation - midly in favor of APX SE. Moses is more comfortable for long sessions, but not so comfortable to listen to outside. It just allows a lot of outside noise in.
Conclusion
I am very happy to not have to choose between the two. I think they're extremely complementary, and probably the best duo of IEMs you can own if you enjoy a more distant, laidback midrange
If I was forced to make a recommendation of one of the two, easily the Moses based on pricing. I think the tuning on both is excellent and pretty unique, and while the APX SE might be ever so slightly more technical overall, the Moses' staging is something I've never expected to find in any IEM. It's become a really big argument in favor of the Moses for me, and secured a spot for it in my collection for the months to come
If I was forced to only own one, I'd say APX SE. It's simple really, I've thrown god knows how many genres at it, and it's great at everything I throw at it.
Moses is on par with it with maybe 40% of my library, it's better than it with another 40%, but gets dusted in that last 20%. To put it this way, I probably wouldn't own Moses as my only IEM, but I would solo-own the APX SE I think... based on my first listen anyway
TLDR: I love both, they're amazing
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! Will be interesting to hear from others how the other trims sound! And it's quite the bling if you're into that
!
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