I was able to compare the Rex5 to the Triumph. The Rex5 is more revealing with a somewhat hotter top end. It is not as forgiving of poor recordings compared to the Triumph. A crude comparison would be the Rex5 is like a Sennheiser HD800 vs while the Triumph is like the HD650.
Only a few weeks owning the SP3000T, so still in the break-in phase. So far, very impressed with the sound. Upgraded from PAW 6000, and the difference is immediately noticeable. Wider soundstage and more detail are readily apparent. I use hybrid mostly and enjoy the added warm, without going too far. MusicTeck has been great and they deserve a shout out.
If you’re looking for a simple hi-fi portable compact DAP look no further. Very user friendly and sound is great both wireless and wired. I was very impressed by the sound quality and how easy it was to setup to tailor for my liking. Love how compact it is as well.
PMG Audio Apx SE IEM Review
The PMG Audio Apx SE IEM, priced at $6,000, is a statement piece in the world of high-end audio. Positioned as one of the most advanced in-ear monitors available, it delivers on many fronts, but perfection, as always, remains elusive.
Sound Quality
The Apx SE is undeniably a technical marvel. Its resolution is unparalleled, revealing microdetails in tracks that other IEMs struggle to uncover. For those seeking pinpoint precision and a sense of air in the treble and upper mids, the Apx SE delivers with aplomb. However, when compared to the Alpha/Omega: Omega IEM, the Apx SE falls slightly short in bass performance. The Omega's bass stands as the gold standard, offering unmatched impact and sub-bass extension with zero bleed into the mids—qualities the Apx SE cannot fully replicate.
That said, the Apx SE doesn’t lack bass; rather, its tuning prioritizes clarity and detail over sheer low-end power. This design choice suits genres like classical, jazz, and acoustic beautifully, but it may leave bass enthusiasts wanting more.
Build & Comfort
The craftsmanship of the Apx SE is second to none. Truly stunning in both color and form, these IEMs are lightweight and noticeably smaller than any other high-driver-count models on the market. The design feels luxurious yet ergonomic, making it ideal for extended listening sessions. PMG Audio has ensured that comfort perfectly complements the premium price point, a critical factor for serious audiophiles.
Value Proposition
At $6,000, the Apx SE is more than twice the price of some other top-tier options. While the resolution is unmatched, and the overall enjoyment is comparable, the value equation becomes subjective. For those who prioritize resolution above all else, the Apx SE is an excellent choice. But for listeners who crave a fuller, more dynamic bass response, other IEMs might offer better satisfaction at a lower price point.
Final Thoughts
The PMG Audio Apx SE is an incredible IEM that sets new benchmarks in certain areas while leaving room for improvement in others. It’s not the best at everything, but it’s undeniably one of the finest tools for high-resolution listening.
Is it worth the $6,000 price tag? For the discerning audiophile with a taste for technical mastery, perhaps. I’ve never been one to harp on diminishing returns. While I understand the concept, I don’t think it applies to audio because of the magic that comes from the last 5%. If you’ve ever experienced true endgame speakers, headphones, or IEMs, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
With that being said, these IEMs have magic built in. When you’re kicked back in a comfy chair, letting the music flow, the Apx SE takes you to a whole other level. If that sounds goofy, I’m okay with that—it’s the truth.
I've had these for just over 2 weeks now and I just can't put them down. The sound is very, very near AB-1266 TC with a touch of Susvara. I'm running these with the Hiby RS8 and it is an amazing combination. So crystal clear in all frequencies. Massive and detailed bass impact. Very satisfying.
MusicTeck is a great store for this, and much more. I also bought the L&P W4 for times that I won't have the RS8. Detail from this to MacBeth is stunning. Only slightly less bass impact compared to RS8, but still very engaging. Very crisp and clean sound, unlike any USB dongle DAC or IEM I've heard to date. The moment I heard this combo from my friend's travel case I knew there was no way I could Not get these. You simply can't go wrong, get these now!
Lotoo GT2, has kept the peculiarities of LPGT unchanged. But it has added a shocking amplification.... Now GT2 is able to drive everything, offering the entire sound spectrum, a quality and a greater body than LPGT. It seems like a LPGT HYPERvitaminized.
Fantastic service by Musicteck, as always. Truly sets the standard in this hobby.
The APX SE did the one thing that I never expected it to successfully pull off- dethrone my previous all time favourite Traillii Ti. Simply incredible effort by Piotr of PMG Audio!!!
So amazon had these as well but i would rather support a local small business. Excellent service and fast ship. Thank you.
Aroma Audio Jewel is an amazing iem. Every vocal music in my library suddenly becomes very emotional and romantic to listen to. In addition, I supplied my Jewel with the PW Audio 1950's shielded cable making bass more punchy and dynamic, and soundstage much more expansive and absolutely dark. As many reviewers before me have pointed out, for no relatively loss of money, these iems are a good recommendation for an endgame iem.
Such an awesome little dongle! I'm a big fan of that R2R sound. So smooth and analog sounding! Perfect for long listening sessions. Highly recommend!
SCORE: 4.75/5 stars. Quite excellent. ALL negative comments are me being very picky.
It's not a cheap IEM, but it's also not in the most expensive price bracket either. So I think it punches WELL above its price.
Build: Insane. Gold-plated brass shell with real mother-of-pearl? It's a VERY nice design and very beautiful too. They aren't too heavy in my ears, although I'm using Spinfit CP100 eartips. It's a fairly comfortable fit, although not the MOST comfy IEM I've tried. The cable is cloth-covered so there's a lot of noise when it moves. I am using a different cable.
SOUND: a kaleidoscope of color. That BC vent really, REALLY adds super stage effects, so much more than the only other BC set I've tried, the Fan 3. Stage is surreal. Vocals are placed about inside your head, toward the front.
That being said, the tuning might be divisive, and I wouldn't call this an all-rounder, which is a tad annoying for the price.
Bass: CLEAR, rich, and thumpy, but not bass-head quantity. Sub-bass is rolled off a little, so it's not a prominent as I personally would like, but it can still REALLY dive deep when called upon.
Mids/vocals: very clear and holographic, but the overall treble presentation is on the bright side, so on songs that favor a warm playback, the Nautilus can make it sound a tad thin. That being said, there's absolutely no muddiness or congestion on busy tracks, which is a huge plus for me. It's not a "warm" sound, for sure. More crisp and accurate.
Treble: a treble-head's dream. Airy, DETAILED, with great timbre. There is some slight sibilance on songs prone to it, however. But if a bright, exciting treble is what you're after, sacrifices must be made.
Overall sound: The level of capability for jaw-dropping detail and texture while maintaining a reasonably great timbre means this really does sound heads-and shoulders above mid-fi IEMs, even heavy hitters like the ISN H60. I find I prefer it for instrumental music, however. That BC driver really works its magic here. Instruments sound so REAL. I mean, the vocals are great too, especially female vocals, but occasionally that can sound a tiny bit thinner than I think they should, especially male vocals. But it's nothing a warmer cable/source couldn't improve. Definitely pure copper or gold-plated copper, NOT silver-plated is my recommendation. And I'm being rather picky here, so take all that with a grain of salt. The fact stands that for someone who has used budget IEMs for years, and recently tried out some decent mid-fi IEMs, the Nautilus was a complete sonic upgrade in ways I never heard before, and I'm very impressed and happy with this purchase. I just know the tuning won't fit everyone.
I had demoed this quite long ago and when I'm trying to find a easy to drive IEM with plenty of bass and overall decent performance to pair with my go pod, this becomes the natural choice. Personally I enjoy the VE10 better than the Phoenix due to its more natural soundstage. Thanks Andrew for his incredible service.
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HiBy R3 II (Gen 2) (Like New) great piece
The Beat OS cable elevates the listening experience by enhancing detail retrieval, adding depth to the soundstage, and providing a balanced yet dynamic sound. This cable brings an expansive and airy soundstage to the Oriolus Traillii JP. It accentuates the high frequencies with a crisp and detailed treble, adding a sense of openness.
Bass: It offers deep, well-controlled bass that adds impact without overshadowing other frequencies. The bass is both tight and punchy, providing a solid foundation for all types of music. N30LE, JP, Beat OS is awesome with pops genre now.
Midrange: The midrange is rich and detailed, with a natural timbre that makes vocals and instruments sound lifelike. It adds a touch of warmth without coloring the sound.
Treble: The treble is one of the highlights, delivering sparkling highs with great clarity and extension. It helps to bring out the finer details in the music.
I highly recommend this cable for all IEM owners, especially the traillii jp owners.
The PMG Audio Apx SE might be the world's best IEM out right now in my opinion. It has every sound quality in spades. Furthermore, the bass on these is sub-bass focused with a mid-bass response that is not recessed nor boomy. It also has one of the highest quality bass responses that I have ever heard rivaled with the 64 Audio Volür. To add to this, the mid-range on this IEM is also very spectacular. There is a very slight warmth in the lower mids which adds body to male vocals & also has a slightly aggressive rise at 1.5kHz which makes female vocals shine as well. Also, the treble response is like a mix between the Sony IER-Z1R & the Annihilator 2021/2023. It is airy but not fatiguing & also has a slightly aggressive low to mid treble peak that is not sibilant and in your face. Finally, the technicalities on the Apx SE is INSANE! It has detail retrieval that is on the same level as the qdc Anole VX, HiFiMAN Susvara Unveiled (with Burson Soloist Voyager Deluxe Amp), Canpur CP622B, Empire Ears ODIN, & the Astell&Kern x Empire Ears NOVUS. The PMG Apx SE also has insane macrodynamics that is rivaled by the Focal Utopia 2020. In conclusion, if you want a very refined 'END GAME' IEM... the Apx SE is the way to go. (Source & ear tips used - Cayin N30LE {No EQ} {Low Gain} {Short Delay Sharp Roll off Filter} {Hyper Mode} {Solid State Timbre} {Volume 11/100} (Spinfit CP100) (Some past IEMs owned for reference | AK x EE NOVUS, EE Raven V2 LE, Canpur CP622B, EE Odin, FiR Audio Radon 6, Elysian Annihilator 2021/2023 Ti, 64 Audio Volür, 64 Audio tia Trió, 64 Audio U12t, Noble Audio Spartacus, & the Sony IER-Z1R.) (Some test tracks | Kali Uchis - Moonlight, Halestorm - Bad Romance, Bring me the Horizion - Kool-aid, Falling in Reverse - Ronald, & Big Boi Kill Jill.)
At the risk of sounding like yet another hifi review, I think this gets you close to the real sound of things: instruments are tonally true and the resolution of your source material will be conveyed! That said, it was less enjoyable on recordings whose provenance is not the nicest. But the point here is that it's not doing anything strange to tune the sound like a lot of higher-end IEM's: it's not colored or narrow or wide or heightened or trebly.. just right.
It looks as beautiful as it sounds, every part of the sound is rich, full and detailed. I dont ever feel like im missing anything when listening to the r8ii. The display is nice and big and surprisingly responsive, compared to the A&K se300 which is the same price but feels like using a phone from 2011… the hiby R8 II, is a superb sound, aesthetic, and sturdy dap, that gets two big thumbs up from this guy👍👍
I was blown away by the quality of the sound and the simplicity of operation of this device. Well worth the price. Great service and follow-up by MusicTeck. Highly recommend them for your hifi needs. Thank you.
This DAC makes every song come alive with clear vocals, bass, mids, highs.
With some phones PO isnt enough like my samsung s23 ultra, so you need to change to LO output and then it expands this wide soundstage with amazing details and bass.
But with Ipads for example it needs to be switched to PO or else your Iems or headphones will blast your ear drums.
Unbelievable improvement in sound quality.. it's like an amp upgrade.. everything sounds more real, there is more depth in soundstage, more air between the instruments. Love it. Yes it's a bit cumbersome ergonomically, but you get used to it, and the sound improvement keeps you motivated
It is one of the best-sounding IEMs in my collection (EE Odin, Ani23, 64Audio U18T). It is totally worth the money. It is somehow bassy with good-quality bass for a non-dynamic driver IEM, and it has solid tuning.
This headphone is juicy in the midrange. In fact, the other frequencies sort of close in to help a feeling of integration of frequencies, like they’ve been created inside the midrange—where much of the guts of our hearing exist—and expanded to support the core of what happens to voices or instruments in that special place. So this I’ll describe as analog, meaning that it is trying to achieve a purity in the middle, perhaps with providing a more intimate sound (not wide open staging) with rounded tones (no over-arching treble). I would keep it but my love of historical piano sounds—with their twinkliness as percussive creatures—requires more treble on the spot and enigma wants to round those transients I feel. Which makes then prettier but not quite right. Also, there’s bass coloration in the unit that, again, creates for a lush or pretty soundscape.
I have two older Shanling MP3s and this one is really good. Highly recommended!
This is a review using the included cable. On that premise. As everyone has said, Macbeth is an all-round IEM with almost no flaws, taking the best parts of the Annihilator for the highs, the CP622B for the mids and sound field, and the Subtonic STORM for the lows. However, I feel that it is not a monitor-like sound, but a musical sound, so I guess that is a matter of personal preference. Even so, as the name Macbeth suggests, it is interesting that the sound is artistic and theatrical like Shakespeare. It really feels like you are listening in a hall. Macbeth is a really good IEM, except for the sound leakage and the price of the upgrade cable. I recommend it!