PMG Apx SE: Rarefied Air

When PMG announced their first (super) limited flagship, I was a bit surprised. Piotr, the mastermind behind both Custom Art and PMG, is no rookie. He is a respected figure in the industry and has inspired many creators by sharing his knowledge on audiophile forums.

But the price tag was hefty. At those levels, there’s no room for mistake. I was hoping Apx would deliver the goods but I kept my expectations in check.

Fast forward a couple of months, I finally had the answer. Apx turned out to be a very good surprise, with a caveat.

Apx is still one of the most resolving iems I have ever heard. Its ability to separate and layer the sound within the (immense) stage it creates is exceptional. But I had a problem: it was too bright for my taste. I had to use it with my warmest sources to enjoy it.

As it turned out, I was not the only one feeling that way. Other people from the community similarly saw the potential of the platform and reached out to Piotr with feedback.   

And Piotr did something interesting. He could have dug his feet in the ground and argued his flagship is perfect. And it would have been justified: it still is for some people. But Piotr listened and went to work.

A few months later, Apx SE was born.

Before diving into sound impressions, let’s look at the graph:

 As you can see above, Apx SE has slightly more bass and less treble than Apx. In terms of perception, these two tweaks compound. Apx SE sounds clearly bassier and warmer than its sibling.

Apx SE is not a bass cannon but it delivers some serious rumble. Bass is punchy, deep, visceral and textured. It’s fun and will rattle your head when it needs to. Listening to “Clean Father” by The Mole or “2049” by Hans Zimmer, the bass is felt as much as it is heard. That’s what you want at this level. There’s also no hint of bloat or bleed into the mids. It’s clean and doesn’t muddy any parts of the sound. In one word: superb.

And before we get to the mids, let’s talk about the second adjustment: treble. Lower treble now sits firmly in the “smooth” category in my book. There is enough energy but the sound is well-rounded and musical.

Upper treble, including what some people call the “air region”, is handled by a planar driver and has a lot of information. For the vast majority of people, this is a feature that will make Apx SE even more special. For some, it could be a deal breaker. This is based on feedback gathered in private auditions and at Canjam. For my personal taste, it’s a feature. Apx SE has one of the most detailed and well extended treble responses you will hear anywhere. If you are extra sensitive to upper treble, you might want to be cautious. Thankfully, many eartips can tailor this part of the sound.

Despite the above, Apx SE still leans warm. The mids are full and textured. They have a certain “romantic” feel to them without being overly thick. Male vocals are pristine, guitars sound fantastic. Female vocals might feel a touch more tame but are still excellent. This subtle warmth combined with excellent techs makes Apx easy to pair with multiple sources (it's also easy to drive). 

Technical performance can be summarized in one word: exceptional. Stage, layering and separation are clear stand-outs. It’s an immersive and emotional experience. Apx SE might not have the last word in terms of dynamics, but I am nit-picking.

There’s one more detail to mention: the nozzle. Many people asked about this and I had a discussion with Piotr about it. While the shape might seem unusual (or scary) to some people, the fit is comfortable for most. Piotr explained that the nozzle was designed after aggregating hundreds of ear impressions from customers. Call it a “meta nozzle” if you wish. The shell is also small and light, which helps with the fit.

I don’t usually talk too much about cable and accessories. In a nutshell: they are as good as you’d expect for the asking price. On top of the premium cable and tips, you get an excellent leather case for the iem itself and a bigger leather carry case that can easily accommodate your DAP.  

Apx SE is not cheap but products like this are important in any industry. They push performance to the extreme and showcase the state of the art. These products pave the way for other creators. They also create a (good?) problem for their makers: where to go from here?