PMG Audio Apx SE: Daring for Sonic Perfection
The audiophile market is a very niche hobby with a narrower target market while new brands are continuously arising. While the budget earphone market is very competitive, the high-end or TOTL IEM industry is just as competitive if not even more competitive than the lower-priced ones.
While I’m not an earphone maker or an earphone brand owner, as a long-term audiophile & reviewer, I found the high-end industry to be more difficult as you need to offer satisfaction to an even narrower crowd of users, who are also even more picky and demanding in sound tuning and performance. This would not only make existing brands continue producing high-end IEMs, let alone a new brand being created that only makes high-end products. But as always, there are still those few daring ones that challenge themselves and the market by presenting a very high-end brand. Yes, we’re talking about PMG Audio.
While we’ve previously reviewed their previous product Apx Amber (which is also their debut product), let me share a brief introduction about PMG Audio again.
You might wonder what kind of a company would have the audacity to crash into the audiophile industry as a freshly-born brand and throw in a pair of earphones that charges more than $6k. I also might’ve laughed off and walked away if PMG Audio really was a “new” brand that had no background… yet they do. A reputed history that’s been continuing for over a decade so far.
You probably heard about them if you’ve been on this scene for a while.
To be exact, PMG Audio is not exactly “a new company”. PMG Audio is a new branch of a brand that sprouted above Custom Art, the well-established Polish custom in-ear company that’s been running in business since 2012. The name PMG came from the letter initials of the Custom Art owner himself, Piotr Marek Granicki, and has set PMG Audio to be a brand that stretches beyond Custom Art’s usual products, specializing in ultra-premium in-ears since 2023.
To start off PMG Audio’s risky yet brave journey, their first earphone product was born, called the Apx. Being PMG Audio’s first yet ultra-flagship earphone, the Apx (read as Apex) is priced at €6,000 which is equivalent to a little less than $6500 at today’s currency rate and was limited to 25pcs worldwide. It quickly sold off while making a significant noise across the high-end earphone world.
Today we’re reviewing the second product presented by PMG Audio, the Apx SE (Stone Edition). The Apx SE is priced at €5,500 or about $6200 which is just slightly lower in price than Apx. But just very slightly. Apx Stone Edition is limited to 100pcs worldwide, which is still a very limited and small quantity but at least quadrupled from the original Apx Amber Edition – which was only 25pcs worldwide.
Packaging / The Including
The packaging has changed dramatically compared to the previous Apx Amber – in a good way. The Apx SE comes with a large leather case made of genuine cowhide, with a leather handle strap. This case could serve both as a carrying case as well as storing various IEM gears and accessories. PMG Audio discloses that due to the case being made of fully natural materials, there may be dark spots and/or lines depending on scars on the animal’s skin. Due to the case being made of natural leather, it’s highly advised to use special leather cleaners/conditioners that are meant for natural upholstery like the Apx SE case. Otherwise, the case’s surface may be permanently damaged.
The case also includes 3 long dividers and 6 short dividers each end finished with velcro tabs for personalizing your very own internal case design. The inner surface as well as the dividers are made and finished with soft, cushioned materials, preventing the items from being damaged or gaining scratches.
Apx SE also comes with two types of protective cases – metal and leather. The metal case is the identical one that was included with the Apx Amber, a round metal case with velvet padding on the inside. The leather case is for extra portability and versatility, and the entire case is made with the same color as the Apx SE color to match the theme.
The leather case has a built-in divider that divides the cables from the earpieces, as well as dividing the right earpieces from the left one, making the earphones completely worry-free from rattling around. The inner side of the leather case is also finished with a soft, cushioned material. The inner side of the lid also includes a small pouch area for including additional accessories. Speaking of additional accessories, this is where the leather cable tie and spare modular plugs could be found.
Inspecting and feeling the quality of the accessories speak quality, which I could tell PMG has gone all the way to paying attention to all accessories. Other than the leather case, Apx Stone comes with a smaller genuine leather portable case, a round metal case, 3 modular plugs, 3 pairs of foam tips, 3 pairs of UC Clear silicone tips, and a warranty/serial number certificate.
Gemstone Earpieces – Packed with Proprietary Technologies
Apx SE sports 11 drivers per side which are comprised of 1 Rectangular Planar driver, 1 10mm dynamic driver, 8BA drivers, and 1 Round Planar driver. The drivers are tuned with a true 7-way passive crossover with the well-known FIBAE (Flat Impedance Technology) that’s been developed since the Custom Art days. Along with all drivers developed and designed proprietarily, PMG also mentions Apx to be using other proprietary tuning systems such as GSO, POD, UPS, and 3D.
Each of these technologies is further described below. More details can be found on the official PMG website:
- Geometrical Sound Outlet: The parallel wall structure in the nozzles
- Pressure Optimizing Design: PMG’s pressure-relieving technology for the drivers and acoustic filters
- Ultra Planar Speakers: Proprietary planar subwoofers and tweeters to allow maximum frequency range of Apx. The subwoofer planar speaker supports the dynamic driver while the planar tweeters support the BA drivers.
- 3D: Precision printed housing and calculated waveguides. This ensures Apx from producing unnecessary vibrations hence leading to higher sonic accuracy.
Made with Real Lapis Lazuli & Brass Hybrid materials
While most ultra-flagship IEMs (or any IEMs that use this many drivers, or multiple planar drivers) usually have massive earpieces, Apx SE is surprisingly small and compact. It’s also surprisingly light, making the usability and fitting experience just as easy and comfortable as a small budget earphone you would get anywhere. The earpieces are quite special as they’re made of Lapis Lazuli+Brass hybrid stone faceplate and hand-painted blue-gold resin housing.
The gorgeous resin body and the genuine Lapis Lazuli combined with Brass chunks create a gorgeous look for the Apx SE. As for the usability, wearing comfort, and overall convenience, the Apx SE is certainly the best among the TOTL earphones available to the market, and while I’ve said the earpieces of Apx Amber (previous model) somewhat lacked the “grandeur” look as an ultra high-end flagship IEM, the Apx SE now certainly has that.
Flagship-Grade Custom Cable with Modular Plugs
PMG has also stepped up its game for the stock cable. Apx SE comes with a custom-made cable, the PMG Tri-Cable. It’s a mildly thick cable (yet not heavy) with a coaxial design, having 2 thick wires braided together with 2pin and 4.4mm connectors.
The name “Tri” comes from its triple-layer structure, with the wires made of an alloy of Gold-Plated Silver, Pure Silver, and Silver Alloy. The cable is then shielded with Silver Copper Alloy wires, and then again shielded with another layer of Black Oxygen-Free Copper wires. The Y-split and plugs are also designed beautifully with a blue, chunky pattern to match the looks of the earpiece, giving a consistent look with the Apx SE.
As for the sound, the Tri-Cable provides the perfect sound and nuance that PMG intended and that most won’t find the need for a custom cable due to the synergy it makes with the Apx SE, let alone the performance and the visually appealing blue concept. Now, we’ve gone through the side dishes. It’s time for the main dish – the sound. Head to the next page to see the real deal and provide an answer to the main question: How does the Apx SE sound?
Next Page: Sound Impressions – How does the Apx SE sound?