Fit
In comfort, the PMG Audio Apx stands out just like its Custom Art counterparts. Custom Art is renowned for crafting monitors that excel in comfort, and the PMG Audio carries that feature on with the Apx. It boasts a compact size and ergonomically angled canal nozzles, ensuring a seamless fit into the ear canal and an airtight seal.
The Apx effortlessly conforms the ear, providing a secure, snug fit that remains comfortable even during extended listening sessions. Whether worn for an hour or several, there’s no discomfort or need to readjust, making them ideal for prolonged use.
Comparing them to my custom monitors, I find the Apx among the most comfortable universal monitors I’ve ever experienced. It’s rare to experience a universal IEM that offers such an impeccable fit.
Despite featuring an impressive array of 11 drivers per shell, the Apx maintains a remarkably compact form factor. Impressive how PMG Audio has seamlessly integrated all these components into such a sleek and ergonomic design.
Sound Quality
The Apx represents the pinnacle IEM sound, and it performs exceptionally well in many aspects, which I’ll mention shortly. The performance you hear from this monitor is often mesmerizing, offering one of the ultimate experiences in the audiophile market today.
According to PMG Audio; ”Apx creates its own world and puts you in the centre of it”. This remark correlates with my test findings, as the Apx creates a fantastic sonic atmosphere with excellent technicalities. Once you pair the Apx with a high-quality source, it shines every time you listen to it.
Overall, the Apx can be considered a neutral/bright IEM with good musicality in certain areas. It provides a crisp and brighter presentation than most IEMs, but it doesn’t miss any bass performance or naturality. It is on the brighter side but what it does best is the insane PRaT performance. The quickness that it delivers feels like an electrostatic system. Noble Viking Ragnar provides that feeling too, and I’ve included this analogy in its review, but the Apx is a level above in terms of dynamism, texture and bass performance.
The sound-stage magnitude and imaging are probably the best I’ve heard, and the treble extension is unbelievably good. When it comes to mids, it’s not the most musical TOTL IEM, but it also gives fantastic transparency and spaciousness in that area, so the instruments and vocals are incredibly clear and precise.
Organic & Natural Sound
The PMG Apx offers a supremely refined tuning that exudes a sense of organic fluidity. Its balance is exemplary, standing out as one of the finest IEMs on the market. What truly sets the Apx apart is its ability to reproduce the timbre of instruments with lifelike precision, effortlessly capturing the essence of each note.
This natural tonality is a testament to the Apx’s remarkable talent, ensuring that every sound feels vivid, authentic, and effortlessly engaging. Despite its bright and crisp sound signature, the Apx never sacrifices naturalness or realism, delivering a truly immersive listening experience that resonates with authenticity.
Cohesive Performance
The Apx excels in coherency, seamlessly integrating its intricate components to deliver a consistently cohesive performance. Despite featuring a complex 7-way crossover and 11 drivers with varying technologies, the Apx maintains a harmonious balance throughout the spectrum. Each driver works in perfect synergy, ensuring that every frequency range blends seamlessly with the next.
This cohesiveness enhances the overall listening experience, allowing for a smooth and uninterrupted flow of music that captivates the senses. Whether you’re immersing yourself in intricate melodies or rocking out to dynamic beats, the Apx remains steadfast in its ability to deliver a unified and captivating performance.
Sound Classics
Low frequencies of the Apx are fast with good decay and impact. The planar/dynamic combination creates a great definition here. The great thing about Apx’s bass is that it has great texture and impact together, but with excellent speed and recovery. I would say the bass quantity is on the richer side with slight coloration and a big impact when needed. It’s not the most neutral bass like in the Viking Ragnar, but it manages to merge great texture/definition and technical performance where you require speed and recovery. It does that perfectly.
The mid-range is not particularly the star of the new Apx. As the treble performs incredibly well, the attention naturally shifts to that particular area, so the mid-range might be overlooked. However, in terms of technicalities, the mid-range is exceptionally good, with fantastic separation, definition and spaciousness. There’s great air in the mid-range the vocals sound very breathy without any sign of congestion, and the instruments have fantastic timbre which sets the Apx apart from other monitors. The timbre succession is simply incredible. It feels so natural and so easy with the Apx when it comes to focusing on the instruments and their particular sound.
When it comes to treble performance, the PMG Apx stands out as a frontrunner in the market, setting a remarkably high standard for definition, detail, clarity, and extension. While it’s challenging to definitively declare any product as the absolute best due to individual preferences, the Apx certainly contends for the title, thanks in part to its innovative planar speaker technology. This cutting-edge driver works wonders in the realm of treble reproduction.
The Apx delivers a treble presentation that is nothing short of exceptional, characterized by its precision, nuance, and refinement. Each note is rendered with crispness and articulation. The speed and clarity of the treble are particularly noteworthy, with every subtle nuance and transient brought to life with astonishing clarity and precision.
The planar technology undoubtedly plays a significant role in the Apx’s treble performance, contributing to its remarkable speed and articulation. This advanced technology allows for faster response times and more accurate transient reproduction, resulting in a treble presentation that is both exhilarating and immersive. So there Apx sets a new benchmark for treble performance in the world of in-ear monitors, offering the top level of definition, detail, and clarity.
Page 1: Intro and About the IEM
Page 3: More on Sound, Sources, Comparisons, Conclusion
