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New toys Sunday #22 – Cayin Edition

One of the biggest mistakes I made after getting drawn into the Head-Fi rabbit hole was not paying enough attention to the source devices I was using!

When I started getting into the hobby, I was mainly experimenting with more moderately priced gear, especially IEMs. DAPs were much more of an afterthought. Whenever I was looking for the next thing to try, most of my attention went towards the IEM itself, while the source was often treated as something that would simply “do the job”.

I know better now and I suspect that some of my dissatisfaction over the years was simply down to not having a source that was good enough to make my ears happy.

Even just a few days ago, the Watercooler community ran a small poll around source devices – the importance of the full chain when evaluating audio quality – and it was a good reminder of something I have gradually come to appreciate: the source plays a much bigger role in how we experience an IEM and ultimately the music itself than I used to give it credit for.

One of the most impressive DAPs I have owned in this regard was the N30LE, Cayin’s 30th Anniversary edition. Leaving the sound aside for a moment, which I will come back to shortly, the build quality of that thing is simply exceptional. Whether something like the EvoAria Ti or CU comes close is probably debatable, but for me, they don’t quite reach that same level.

The newest release from Cayin very clearly follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. N8iii carries quite a bit of that N30LE DNA, particularly when it comes to the ambition behind its sound and architecture, but Cayin has also made some compromises along the way, fortunately not in sound

Compared directly with the N30LE, the build and perhaps even more noticeably the packaging and accessories feel a little less extravagant. That is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, some of what made the N30LE so special was also what made it such a beast of a device and at the same time, not exactly the best all rounder.

The N30LE has a very particular architecture and, importantly, its analogue and tube implementation is a big part of its sonic identity. So much so that, even though I absolutely loved it for what it did, I eventually ended up selling it for pretty much the same reason.

As a side note , I tend to prefer bass elevated, denser and fuller lower mids with a richer overall presentation and N30LE definitely delivers on that front. It was one of those DAPs where the character of the source was always very apparent … maybe even too apparent in many cases

Before deciding to give the N8iii a chance, I also had the SP4000 for a short while, which Luc already shared his impressions of here: Mikaik Audio – Astell&Kern Edition.

The reviews, combined with a few days of listening when I had the SP4000 at home from a friend, eventually made me want to give it a try myself.

I have always liked Astell&Kern, and the SP4000 is, in my opinion, one of their best DAPs to date. It has a more potent amp section than the SP3000, a fuller yet still very much reference-oriented tuning, and, as you would expect from A&K, an outstanding level of build quality.

What made me sell it relatively quickly had very little to do with its sound performance or the lack thereof. In fact, I really liked what it did with mainly any IEM I listened to with it. The main issue for me was the battery life, combined with the fact that I felt I was missing part of the sound I knew the DAP was capable of delivering when DAR was disabled. Why would I disable DAR, you ask?! Well… mostly because I like my freedom. 😄

I don’t really want to own a DAP that needs to be hooked up to a charger on a constant basis just to get the performance I am looking for. For a portable device, battery life and being able to actually use it without constantly worrying about the next charge matter quite a bit to me.

Coming back to N8iii, and yes – the battery performance issue experienced with the SP4000 is fully addressed – I initially had a bit of a bias. I honestly expected the N8iii to be more or less “the same old thing”, just with a few new tricks and some gimmicks added here and there. To my surprise, I was wrong and I am very happy I was.

The biggest difference between the N8iii and some of the other DAPs I have owned would be that it doesn’t feel like a source that is simply trying to impose its own character on whatever IEM is connected to it. It has a character, absolutely, but there is enough resolution, control and transparency underneath it that the IEM still gets to speak for itself.

N30 LE – elegance and beauty in the flesh

Cayin N8iii – the understated newcomer

So, where does the Cayin N8iii improve on the N30LE, and what exactly has Cayin done differently this time?

Cayin N8iii vs N30LE — technical specifications:

	Cayin N8iii	Cayin N30LE
DAC	2 × AK4191EQ + 4 × AK4499EX	2 × AK4499EQ
DAC architecture	4-channel fully balanced, parallel/mono	Dual mono, 8-channel differential
Tube	2 × Korg 6P1 Nutube, 6th gen	2 × Korg 6P1 Nutube
Tube implementation	Fully balanced	Fully balanced
Tube modes	Classic / Modern	Classic / Modern
Solid-state mode	Yes	Yes
Amplifier	Fully balanced 4-channel discrete	Fully balanced discrete
Amp modes	Class A+ / Class A / Class AB	Class A / Class AB
Power modes	P / P+ + Hyper	P / P+ + Hyper
Max balanced output	1,285 mW	~1,100 mW*
Max SE output	900 mW	~500 mW*
PCM	Up to 32-bit / 768 kHz	Up to 32-bit / 768 kHz
DSD	Up to DSD512	Up to DSD512
Internal storage	256 GB	256 GB
microSD	Up to 2 TB	Up to 1 TB
RAM	8 GB	8 GB
SoC	Snapdragon 665	Snapdragon 665
OS	Customized Android	Customized Android 12
Display	6″ FHD	6″ 2160×1080
Battery	13,500 mAh	12,570 mAh
Weight	~580 g	~650 g
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0
Wi-Fi	Dual-band	2.4/5 GHz
3.5 mm	SE / LO / PO	Dedicated SE PO + shared LO/PO
4.4 mm	Balanced / LO / PO	Dedicated balanced PO + shared LO/PO
Digital out	USB / S/PDIF / I²S	USB / S/PDIF / I²S
Launch price	$3,999	$4,999
Production	Limited to 500	Limited to 300

The connectivity is also very well thought out, and pretty much everything I could want from a DAP is here:

3.5 mm PO — single-ended headphone output
4.4 mm PO — balanced headphone output
3.5 mm LO / Pre-Out — single-ended analogue output
4.4 mm LO / Pre-Out — balanced analogue output
USB-C — charging, data, USB Audio, and digital output
I²S — digital output
microSD — music storage
Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity

The N8iii has quite a few tuning options, which is obviously a good thing, although I generally prefer a more “one and done” approach rather than constantly tinkering with sound settings. This is also one area where the N8iii genuinely surprised me. I have never really been a tube guy, and I always thought a good quality solid-state implementation was all I needed. Well… apparently not.

Cayin has managed to improve the N8iii in quite a few areas compared to it’s predecessor and the DAPs solid-state performance is definitely one of them.

With the N30LE, the presentation was so full and authoritative that I often had the feeling that every IEM sounded good with it. Not necessarily because every set was actually better, but because the flavour the N30LE injected into the sound was so strong that, at times, the DAP and the IEM almost started to blend together. It became harder to tell which qualities were coming from the IEM and which were coming from the source.

With the N8iii, Cayin manages to retain that musicality while pushing the resolution and detail further. There is excellent clarity, plenty of detail, powerful and well controlled bass, very good treble extension, and the mids have a really nice quality to them with a touch of warmth. It is one of those presentations where I can simply listen and enjoy the music rather than thinking about what the DAP is doing.

The stage is already impressive in solid state, but this is where the tube modes add another layer to the presentation. Everything seems to open up a little more, with more width, depth and overall atmosphere. The mids, in particular, become a little less weighty and more transparent. Maybe this is what people mean by “tube magic”.

On the N8iii in Tube Timbre Classic, while the overall presentation becomes denser, the mids themselves feel a little less weighty and more transparent to me. It’s as if the additional tube density comes more from the space and atmosphere around the notes rather than simply adding more body to the mids. The trade-off is that the bass loses some of its grip, punch and authority compared with solid-state, becoming softer and slightly more diffuse.

“Diffuse” is probably the best word I can think of to describe the difference I hear when switching from SS to tubes. It is not necessarily worse, just different. Everything becomes a little more relaxed and spread out.

Tube Timbre Modern is probably the middle ground for me. It keeps some of the density and spaciousness of Classic, while retaining more of the control and punch of solid state.

So, in very simple terms:

Solid-state: tighter, punchier, cleaner, more dynamic, with excellent bass authority and a special sense of density.

Tube – Classic: richer, wider, more spacious and atmospheric, but slightly softer and more diffuse, particularly in the bass.

Tube – Modern: somewhere in between.

Interestingly, I have actually started to enjoy tubes more since getting the N8iii. That wider stage and rich, three-dimensional, atmospheric presentation can be quite addictive, especially considering that the trade-offs are relatively small for what you gain in return.

Solid state remains the more technically precise option, with greater bass authority and a more controlled presentation. On the other hand, the tube modes bring something that SS simply doesn’t have: a more expansive stage, greater atmosphere and that little bit of “tube magic” we all love.

Having the ability to switch between the two with the press of a “button” is simply fantastic. It gives the N8iii a level of versatility that few DAPs can match, and, to me, it is also a great demonstration of Cayin’s experience and the amount of work that went into creating a device like the N8iii.

New Toys Sunday #21 – Grand Oriveti Eminency

A good few months ago, I was a proud owner of Oriveti’s first real dip into the high-end market, the Grand Oriveti Supremacy, which launched around the beginning of 2025 at an asking price of $1,999.

Almost two years later, Oriveti decided that all the work invested into the Supremacy was worth a follow-up and here we are just after the official release of another beautiful set from Grand Oriveti, this time in the form of the Eminency.

Eminency maintains the beautiful shell design of the Supremacy and, if that is even possible, takes the shell design a step further.

So, what is the Grand Oriveti Eminency?

A beautifully crafted, tri-brid IEM, now at a considerably lower asking price compared to the Supremacy , at $1,299. Price is one of the biggest surprises Eminency came with , a very pleasant one for sure. One can rarely see any company decreasing prices for newer products , especially if those products come with new technology and work being invested in making them better along the line.

Driver configuration: 4 Planar + 8 BA + 1 DD (tri-brid · 13 Drivers per side), featuring:

10mm complex dynamic driver — composed, full-bodied low end
8 custom balanced armature drivers — rich midrange and refined high frequencies
4 planar drivers — precise, low-distortion mid-treble resolution
Stabilized wood shell — every unit a unique acoustic fingerprint
Grand Affinity Cable: OCC copper + silver-plated OCC with 4.4mm balanced plug
Two genuine leather carrying cases — compact and 4-partition travel

Further technical specifications:

Impedance: 11 Ω
Sensitivity: 109 ±3 dB/mW @ 1kHz
Frequency response range: 5 – 50000Hz
THD: 0.08%
Cable: Grand Affinity — OCC + Silver-plated
Connector: 0.78mm 2pin Connector
Cases included: 2 × Genuine Leather
Price: US$1,299

I bought the Eminency completely blind, without knowing anything about it´s tuning philosophy, driver config or even packaging. The only thing I knew was, I liked Supremacy, and was hoping Eminency will maintain the legacy and eventually even further elevate what Supremacy came with.

To my surprise, and I certainly cannot fault Oriveti for this, they didn’t really change anything when it comes to the packaging: same cable, same high-end leather carry-case and larger leather box which could fit the IEM as well as a DAP. The changes seems to come where it matters most: the IEMs themselves, with improved internals and an even more beautiful shell design, upgraded wood material with a more interesting color pattern and a tuning that appears to target a somewhat different audience.

The Supremacy was a 1DD + 4BA + 4EST configuration, whereas Eminency moves to a 1DD + 8BA + 4 micro-planar setup.

So, how does Eminency actually sound and who is it for?

In short, I would describe it as a vocal-forward, slightly bass-shy set, with excellent highs and a capable technical performance

What Oriveti is advertising , are 3 main aspects on which Eminency´s tuning is built on: authority, texture and depth

Quoting from Oriveti homepage, “The Eminency does not announce itself. It draws you in — and the further you go, the more you find. Thirteen drivers, one intention: to reveal the music as it was made.”

I somewhat agree with this and in my opinion Eminency has a clean and rather vocal-forward presentation, with a particular focus on the upper mids favoring female vocals. This gives Eminency a very transparent and expressive character, especially for well-recorded female vocals. What I hear is actually not too far from what Oriveti themselves claim.

Bass is probably where I find it falling a little short in my book. The sub-bass is somewhat rolled-off, while the bass itself is more about being clean, fast and controlled than particularly engaging or physical. It is certainly not a slow or bloated presentation, but if you are looking for that deep, visceral bass impact, Eminency probably isn’t the set I would reach for.

This character also carries somewhat into the lower vocal region. Male vocals in particular can come across a little leaner and less weighted than I would personally prefer, lacking some of that chesty fullness and density that can make vocals more engaging.

This cleaner bass response gives Eminency a very controlled and composed presentation. Nothing feels bloated or sluggish, and the overall sound is precise and clean. It is more of a refined and technically capable presentation than one that tries to impress with sheer bass impact or warmth, which I prefer overall.

The highs are another real highlight for me. They are fast, clean and highly resolving, without sounding splashy. It is probably the best implementation of micro-planar highs I have had the opportunity to hear so far. Eminency brings plenty of details and energy to the presentation, while maintaining a very clean character. Eminency has a rather distinctive tuning. It combines a full and vocal-forward presentation with a relatively restrained bass response and exceptionally well-executed highs. It is not necessarily a set I would pick for its bass performance, but there is plenty to appreciate in the way it handles vocals, treble and overall technical performance.

Before closing, and to give you some perspective, I would like to quickly compare Eminency with Virtus Audio APEX

Other than the very similar asking price , these 2 sets cannot be more different from each other than they are.

You can find plenty of details about Eminency above, but what about Virtus Audio APEX ?!

Apex is a 2DD set with a smaller shell and a more understated design. The 2DD driver config might give the impression that there is not much going on with APEX from a technical point of view, but you would be surprised.

Co-axial driver configuration
Tubeless “Venturi” canal
Acoustic tangent waveguard
Helmholtz resonator

If this made you curious, read my friends full review of APEX here: https://mikaik-audio.com/virtus-audio-apex-review/

How do the 2 compare when it comes to sound:

Eminency: cleaner, more vocal-focused, leaner bass with a seemingly faster decay, excellent micro-planar treble, particularly strong with female vocals.
Apex: considerably fuller and more physical, deeper and more textured bass, richer lower mids, stronger male vocals, more note weight and a more organic presentation.

Eminency’s strength: precision, cleanliness, vocal focus and overall technicalities.
Apex’s strength: texture, note weight, bass quality, lower-mid richness and musicality.

If I had to put it into one sentence: Eminency is more about cleanliness and precision, while Apex is more about weight, texture and musical engagement.

New Toys Sunday #20 – Melodic Artification Eternitum

Even when you have a number of TOTL IEMs, there are times when a product can surprise you, bringing a breath of fresh air to what seemed like a stale 12 months in the world of top IEMs. One of those moments happened for me at Can Jam London, with the Melodic Artification Eternitum. After failing to secure a sample at the show, I insisted and eventually managed to get one.

The unboxing experience is as good as it gets, a huge wooden box, with a display for the conditions inside thereof. Upon lifting the lid, the IEMs rise to the top, in a jewelery like fashion. Underneath, a removable tray holds the dedicated amp, while a third layer, on the bottom of the box holds the two carrying boxes. Exquisite presentation.

Everywhere you look, the attention to details is astonishing. From the shells construction to the logo pattern on the carrying case. The packaging deserves a video review of its own.

The dedicated amp requires some clarification: Eternitum is not a system IEM. It can be listened to independently of the amp. However, the provided amp introduces a slight bass shelf, even in the lowest bass setting, so it comes highly recommended. The built is equally good.

Moving on to the sound, Eternitum is a clean, blazing fast IEM, with a particular spatial presentation. The level of details is unlike anything I have heard, from the tiny textures in voices, to the guitars attack, everything is presented with a precision I did not think it’s possible. What is even more impressing, it does that without sounding artificial. It manages to integrate all these details into a tightly knitted musical weave. It’s like a portal has been opened, exposing a new level of clarity.

However, Eternitum is not just a one party trick IEM, but a lot more than that. The stage is something akin to my highly praised Camerton Binom ER – a massive spherical space, with you in the center, the music not seemingly coming from a fixed point, but simply living in that space, all around you.

The bass is one of the strongest I have heard, rivalling Duality. It is, in general dormant, but when the music calls for it, it errupts with a force that could not have been foreseen. The little bass switch on the amp does not seem to change the crossover frequency, but the amplitude of said bass.

The level of details in the mid bass is elevated, without however having a clear mid bass focus, or being overtly present, like in the other resolution monster, the Hex.

The mids are highly upper mids centered, with great energy, that could be too much for some, but that brings a vital force making music feel so alive. Lower mids could have benefited from a touch of warmth, but if I need to choose details vs warmth, I already have some warm IEMs, so Eternitum comes as a last piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is my IEMs collection.

Without going too much into details, as a full review is coming, I find the Eternitum one of the best products of 2026, ticking more of my boxes than the highly acclaimed Ibuki.

New toys Sunday #19 – Astell&Kern Edition

Astell& Kern was the first company that made me desperately want a product. It was the beautiful, but somehow ill-fated SP2000T. Launched after the excellent SP2000, and affected by the shortage of AKM chips, dues to the fire of 2000, Oct 20th-23rd, when the Asahi Kasei Mycrosystems factory was severely damaged, the SP2000T did ot manage to achieve the same fame as its predecessor. It sported ESS ES9068AS in QUAD-DAC configuration and Korg Nutube 6P1 and to my ears it sounded really good. Once I’ve heard it, at the Munich HighEnd show, there was no going back.

Fast forward to 2026, Astell&Kern DAPs have been a constant presence in my sources line-up, maintaining a stable 2 pieces at any time (SP2000T, S3000T, SP3000, SR35, Activo P1, all were part of my line up at various points in time. The current line up is SR35 and SP3000. They share the stables with the amazing Nipo N2.

Recently, a good friend lent me his SP4000, which shakes my conviction that the SP3000 is the best DAP for me.

The cold facts:

Specification / Feature	A&norma SR35	A&ultima SP3000	A&ultima SP4000
Product Series	A&norma (Compact / Standard Line)	A&ultima (Flagship Line)	A&ultima (Flagship Line)
DAC Architecture	Quad CS43198 • 4× Cirrus Logic CS43198 • Quad/Dual DAC switching mode	HEXA Audio Structure (1:2) • 2× AKM AK4191EQ (Modulator) • 4× AKM AK4499EX (Dual + Dual DAC) • Physical digital/analog separation	1:1 Octa Audio Structure • 4× AKM AK4191EQ (Modulator) • 4× AKM AK4499EX (True Quad DAC) • 1:1 direct modulator-to-DAC pairing
CPU / System SoC	Quad-Core CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core (8GB DDR4 RAM)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6125 Octa-Core (8GB DDR4 RAM)
Operating System	Proprietary AK OS (Crimson UI Theme)	Proprietary AK OS (Crimson UI) on launch, later updated to full Android	Full Android OS Integration + Google Play Store with Astell&Kern Direct Path (ADP) bit-perfect streaming
Chassis / Body Material	Aluminum (Charcoal Gray)	Stainless Steel 904L (Silver, Black) / 99.98% Copper / 24K Gold / Platinum	Stainless Steel 904L (Silver, Black) / 99.98% Pure Copper Limited Edition
Display	3.6-inch HD (720 × 1280) Touchscreen	5.46-inch Full HD (1080 × 1920) Touchscreen	6.0-inch 2K (2160 × 1080) Touchscreen
Supported Formats & Native Decoding	Up to PCM 32-bit / 384 kHz Native DSD256 (11.2 MHz) MQA full decoder	Up to PCM 32-bit / 768 kHz Native DSD512 (22.4 MHz) MQA full decoder	Up to PCM 32-bit / 768 kHz Native DSD512 (22.4 MHz)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR @ 1 kHz)	• Unbalanced: 127 dB • Balanced: 130 dB	• Unbalanced: 126 dB • Balanced: 130 dB	• Unbalanced: 129 dB • Balanced: 131 dB
THD+N (@ 1 kHz)	• Unbalanced: 0.0005% • Balanced: 0.0006%	• Unbalanced: 0.0006% • Balanced: 0.0004%	• Unbalanced: 0.0005% • Balanced: 0.0003%
Crosstalk (@ 1 kHz)	• Unbalanced: -133 dB • Balanced: -145 dB	• Unbalanced: -136 dB • Balanced: -145 dB	• Unbalanced: -136 dB • Balanced: -145 dB
Output Level	• Normal:Unbal 2.1 Vrms / Bal 4.0 Vrms • High: Unbal 3.1 Vrms / Bal 6.0 Vrms	• Unbalanced: 3.3 Vrms • Balanced: 6.3 Vrms (No Load)	Unbalanced 4.1Vrms │ Balanced 8.2Vrms (Condition No Load)
Audio Outputs	• 3.5mm Unbalanced • 2.5mm Balanced (4-pole) • 4.4mm Balanced (5-pole)	• 3.5mm Unbalanced / Optical Out • 2.5mm Balanced (4-pole) • 4.4mm Balanced (5-pole)	• 3.5mm Unbalanced (0.7 Ω) / Optical Out • 4.4mm Balanced (1.7 Ω, 5-pole)
Key Acoustic Technologies	• Dual/Quad DAC Switching • 2-Step Gain Control • ReplayGain • AK File Drop	• TERATON ALPHA • DAR (upsampling up to 384kHz / DSD256) • 6 DAC Filters • Crossfeed • ReplayGain • AK File Drop	• Advanced DAR 2.0 with VSE (Virtual Sound Extender) • ESA (Enhanced Signal Alignment – Group Delay Reduction) • Ultra-Low Noise LDO Regulator (97% noise reduction) • 99.9% Pure Copper Shield Can • Any Layer HDI PCB • 6 DAC Filters • Crossfeed & ReplayGain
Built-in / Expandable Storage	64 GB NAND / microSD slot (up to 1 TB)	256 GB NAND / microSD slot (up to 1 TB)	256 GB NAND / microSD slot (up to 1.5 TB)
Wireless & Streaming	• Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 / 5 GHz) • Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC, aptX HD) • BT Sink • Roon Ready	• Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 / 5 GHz) • Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC, aptX HD) • BT Sink • Roon Ready	• Dual-Band Wi-Fi (2.4 / 5 GHz) • Bluetooth (aptX Adaptive, LDAC, BT Sink) • Full Google Play streaming apps • Roon Ready
Battery & Charging	• 3,150 mAh Li-Polymer • Up to ~20 hours playback (Dual DAC mode) • ~2.5 hrs charging (5V 2A)	• 5,050 mAh Li-Polymer • Up to ~10 hours playback • ~3.5 hrs charging (Qualcomm QC 3.0)	• 6,780 mAh Li-Polymer • Up to ~10 hours playback • ~5 hrs charging (Qualcomm QC 3.0)
Dimensions & Weight	Compact handheld form factor	• 82.4 × 139.4 × 18.3 mm • ~493 g (SS)	• 85.0 × 149.8 × 19.5 mm • 615g (SS)

The first ting one notices about the SP4000 is the imposing physical presence. While not as thick as some of the most famous DAPs (looking at you, N30LE), this is one hefty device. It’s also big, with a wonderful, bright screen. Just like other AK models, it has sharp corners, potentially turning its use without a case into a sort of BDSM experience. Be advised! Also, because the volume wheel doubles as the power button, it moves freely, to the point of feeling a bit flimsy, a feature carried over from the SP3000. While not my favourite volume wheel, it works well and my SP3000 is carrying its age with dignity so I have no reasons to believe the one on SP4000 would be any different.

The SP3000 has a neutral sound, with one of the leanest bass presentations, dead neutral mids and with a delicate and intricate treble delivery. One of the crispest, clear trebles I’ve encountered. The sound density is not very high, giving most IEMs ample space to breathe, and creating a large stage with or without DAR activated. The image and layering are very good. It works best with densely sounding IEMs, like the Mysticraft Tet, NGaudio Erebus, etc. but it sounds underpowered with monsters like Storm or Elysian X.

SP4000 follows the same path of neutrality, but it has a denser sound and the treble is less “grating”. While the presentation is more technical, it feels like there is less air in between instruments, making DAR a must for most IEMs. Without it, the amount of information is overwhelming, making it less pleasurable for me, compared to its predecessor. The bass and lower mids carry more grunt, without necessarily sounding elevated, being a clear departure from warm DAPs like N30LE, while clearly more muscular than SP3000. One caveat here is the High Driving Mode (HDM). With IEMs like Storm, Pentara, Elysian X, SP4000 in Normal Driving Mode felt lacking in dynamics. With one tap, though, things change dramatically, as HDM brings about improved macro and micro dynamics, pumping life into even the most demanding IEMs.

I find SP4000 to sound more detailed than SP3000 in the most part of the spectrum, with more texture and a tighter packing of the sound. With most IEMs, bass control is stricter, note weight is improved over SP3000, but there is a key area where SP3000 outshines the SP4000, and that is treble. With most of my library composed of varieties of rock, from mellow to extreme death metal, jazz and some older pop, I place a lot of value onto hearing the cymbals loud and proud. Occasional splashiness does not bother me. The way SP3000 presents the treble, with a good combination of body, shimmering and crispiness, remains unmatched to my ears. At least with some IEMs, like Oriolus Traillii JP, Erebus, UMxMusicteck Pentara.

For IEMs with slightly thinner notes, SP4000 is a gift from heaven, adding just enough meat on the bone, without altering the overall tuning.

One interesting find is the Mysticraft Tet, which is one of the thickest sounding IEMs, matched maybe only by the Epic Audio Intoxication. I would have expected it to sound unbalanced on the SP4000, but it is quite the contrary. Maybe through tighter control, maybe via dark magic, SP4000 makes is shave off some weight, elevating the sound, while maintaining the mid range lushness and bringing the treble more forward spatially. A highly recommended match.

In terms of functionality, the two A&Ultimate DAPs are now identical, since the SP3000 has also been updated to full Android. Funny enough, SP3000 boots up a bit faster than SP4000, but the difference is diminutive.

Upgrading from SP3000 to SP4000 makes sense if you have hard to drive IEMs and don’t want to use an external amp or if you favour a dense(r) sound. Personally, I am going to stick to SP3000 for a bit longer…but the edge is really tiny.

Midweek madness with B&O Beoplay H100 “Untethered madness” edition

Probably the first Bluetooth headphones I’ve tried lately that actually sound good … good enough that I don’t feel the need to switch to IEMs and a DAP.

Bang & Olufsen took a pretty interesting approach with the Beoplay H100, especially codecs wise, as the only ones available are SBC and AAC. That alone tells me how little codecs sometimes matter, and how much difference a proper implementation can make.

I owned the Beoplay H95 (it’s predecessor) a while back and that was already a high-quality pair of bluetooth headphones, both in build and sound, but what about H100

Getting rid of the obvious. The Beoplay H100 is a luxury product and, priced at 1700€, with an impressive build quality, packaging and sound

What’s in the box:

Beoplay H100 Headphones
Leder carry case
Fabric USB-C-zu-USB-C-Kabel, 1,25 m
Fabric USB-C-zu-3,5-mm-Audio cabel, 1,25 m
Paperwork

Features:

Advanced Sound Features
Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation
(Total: 10 microphones 2 dedicated Mics for ANC/Transparency function Wind Guard)
True Transparency™
34 hours battery life

Driver Type & Size

Electro-dynamic Titanium Driver, 40 mm diameter
Frequency Range
10–20,000 Hz
10–40,000 Hz (hi-res mode)
Customizable Sound EQ
Presets available and fully customisable through the Bang & Olufsen App
Earsense

After it’s predecessor , H100 takes things a clear step further (imo). I’d describe them as rich, neutral-warm tuned with a detailed, enjoyable presentation that prioritizes musicality, engagement rather than pure technical performance. To be expected, especially for a wireless HP

One minor downside is the app’s integrated EQ. They used the same approach as for every previous Beoplay HP I used in the past. It’s not a traditional * band equalizer, but rather more of a “wheel” with a dot in the middle which can be moved from the center to the sides, tuning the sound towards being warm / energetic / bright / relaxed.

The presets are usable and well thought out, though I’ve mostly stuck with the default tuning, which is just right for my ears out of the box.

They’re very expensive, and arguably too expensive, but the sound quality is top-notch.

Beyond the audio, the build quality is stunning, with many parts being removable and replaceable (including the real leather ear cups and headband). Modularity is the word and is clear that B&O did not only want to create a good sounding product, but they did all they can to make it long lasting and durable

Last but not least, the microphones are good, though not quite on par with the overall sound quality. I use them for work calls, and the feedback I get is that my voice sounds natural and that they handle standard background noise effectively. My voice comes across as slightly distant, but not excessively so.

When I’m out and about, the ANC shifts a little, and my footsteps transmit through the ear pads slightly more than they do with headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sony XM6.

New toys Sunday #18 – Hot Summer Edition, with Mysticraft Myth

Given that Mysticraft Myth was announced in the very select company of Tet and Hex, it is easy to dismiss it as not being up to snuff, compared to its bigger brothers. This, however, would be a mistake, for it is Myth that really pushes forward the boundaries of what we considered possible. Yes, Hex has unmatched details and separation, and yes, Tet has the most impressive mids known to audiophile world (in my opinion), but Myth is the one that achieves a level of quality, both in manufacturing, and sound, that simply wasn’t possible at this price until now.

Myth is tribrid, with 1DD, 4BAs (2 Knowles, 2 Sonion) and 2 microplanars, handling the highs, 6 ways crossover, all hosted in a Titanium shell. One has to pay 1052Eur for the pleasure of owning a Myth, available here.

The build quality is very good, but the unpacking experience is lacklustre at best. It does come with a box of Divinus Velvet tips, which is a plus.

The sound follows the general lines set by its more expensive brothers, but with an evident step down in stage and instrument separation. The next in line, Tet, is 6 times more expensive, so I find this cut more than justified.

Bass is strong, with good rumble, and some degree of elasticity, but doubled by impressive control. Even though there is plenty of sub bass, it rarely feels overwhelming. Mid bass is well articulated, but somehow it doesn’t jump right at you. Listen to Iron Maiden’s bass gallop and nothing is missing, though. Not only is the articulation of each note Steve is playing perfect, but that clanky sound is preserved and clearly audible. Or the excellent Rust in peace by Megadeth…Myth serves as reminder that Megadeth has always been more than just Dave Mustaine. In a way, Myth achieves something that eludes the grands, like Hercules Moses and even UM Pentara to some extent: a bass that is at the same time large sounding, but fast, not dry, but not oozy either.

Mids are maybe where the most cuts can be felt, with lower mids being slightly recessed, with a very faint lack of substance compared to the magnificent bass. The amount of grit, required for acts like Amon Amarth, Rotting Christ and so on, is average, Myth not being overly polished, but also not having quite the richest textures. With a healthy pinna gain, similar to that of Elysian X, Myth is one of those IEMs balancing on the edge of shoutiness. The balance is perfectly executed and at normal volumes, Myth remains safe at all times. Male voices sound a bit heady, a bit more “chest” would have increased the naturalness of the delivery. Female voices are somehow spared this slight lack of substance, sounding a bit fuller, by comparison, as highlighted by Lizzy Hale, this true angry powerhouse. Plenty of textures in this part of the spectrum, making for a very rewarding listening experience.

Highs are airy, and with a good deal of emphasis on mid treble. The question is: do they have planar timbre? Yes and no. In most cases, it is easy enough to ignore the light thinness/plasticness. Certain triggers are present, though: longer sounding cymbals (repeated ride strokes) show the limits of the current generation of planners, a slight sheen being present. Personally, I find the planar timbre better controlled than Forté Ears Mefisto, but maybe less so than Luxear Valor. Sibilance is mostly absent, but there is a very faint metallic tint in the places where I know the sibilance is expected. Still, much better to endure than a full blown sharp “S”.

The soundstage is fairly large, tall and with better than expected depth, with a caveat: the stock cable has to be replaced for best performance.

Pairing

With the stock cable delivering a modest quality, I have turned to the Pentaconn Sloflo cable. Tet cable is also good (I think it is also sold as a Myth upgrade cable). Myth is not power hungry, but like many other IEMs it scales up when given more juice. For the purpose of this mini-review, I have used the Astell&Kern SR35 and the Devastator Pro Max dongle. Both provided enough power, with the Devastator generating a bit of hissing.

With a solid build quality and a price that is at the same time prohibitive, but not crazy, Myth reminds me of another perfect gate opener product, the tiny DJI Neo 2 drone, a fun, easy to use, high capability drone that, like Myth, has become a staple of our family holidays.

Midweek madness with Canpur CP752B – “new blood” edition

Let me start with mentioning that is a pleasure and an honor to be a co-writer on this blog.

We were chatting on the watercooler with the boys about “what is a good all-rounder set” ?

The question to me should have been rather , what do we even mean when we say “all-rounder” , “reference” ?!

For me, a good “all-rounder” is an IEM that plays any type of music at a high standard and doing this, it doesn’t need to be boring.

In my book, tuning and creating a good “all-rounder” that comes just shy of being the best at everything is not an easy job and I think it’s actually harder than creating a specialist set which shines in some particular aspects, but not in most or all.

The newest set I had the pleasure to own is Canpur CP752B. Canpur´s TOTL is a 14-driver configuration , 7-way crossover, multi kilobuck IEM which plays at the upper echelon of summit-fi with a masterful tuning and sound quality.

The model name, CP752B, refers to the driver config, which consists of 7BA drivers, 4EST + 1PMD drivers, and 2BCD drivers – follows a similar naming convention as Canpur´s other models: CP54E, CP74E, CP622B

Driver config and technical details:

Canpur seems to have a close collaboration with Sonion and is the first IEM to ever use their new G90 mid-high frequency BA drivers

2 BAs: Sonion 38D2XJ007Mi-8c
1 Knowles: 32873 (for bass)
2 Dual Sonion: G9ODA016/9 (for mids / highs)
2 Sonion: ESODTO005/D
4 ESTs: Sonion EST650B02
1 Planarmagnetic: CP-PM-015
2 BCDs: Sonion 37AAX007/A
Further technical details on Canpur´s homepage

The packaging is quite impressive, though I’m less enthusiastic about the included cable. It is comfortable and ergonomic, but it falls short (only a little bit) in sound quality, and the 752B deserves something better to fully showcase what it’s capable of.

The shell design is rather understated, and the form factor feels slightly improved compared with Canpur’s previous TOTL model, the 622B.

Sound and a few notes about comparing CP752B with Storm and UM Pentara

Why Storm and UM Pentara?

They are direct peers in the ultra/summit-fi IEM category, priced roughly in the same price range with a complex multi-driver hybrid configuration , top of the line technical performance and a similar tuning philosophy.

The CP752B ranks among the very best all-rounder IEMs available today.

That doesn’t make it safe or boring, quite the opposite. It carries just the right amount of “color” to keep the listener engaged and focused.

The bass and especially the mids have a slight warm coloration that makes the presentation inviting rather than clinical. Although it is a highly technical set, it never forces you to dissect every note, instead it simply lets you sit back and enjoy the music.

The stage is probably the star of the show. While the 752B pours detail into your ears, its spatial presentation is what truly steals my heart. It places the music in a 3D, amphitheater-like venue with large, well-defined images and spectacular layering.

I would risk saying this is largely thanks to the BCD drivers, which, when implemented well, can work magic in creating a truly holographic stage.

Outside of Canpur, only a handful of brands manage this level of BCD performance. The two that come to mind are Mysticraft and Unique Melody (especially the Mason series from UM).

The bass was one of the pleasant surprises when I first tried the 752B in London a few weeks ago and outperformed basically all other sets I tried employing BA bass. It delivers a deeply textured sub-bass rumble paired with fast, punchy mid-bass. On Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise”, the low end provides a solid, natural foundation, so convincing that it’s hard to believe you’re listening to BA drivers rather than a high-quality DD, even though the low end relies primarily on BAs (with the BCD also contributing to the mids and lows). Tt does an excellent job of replicating the natural texture and atmospheric reverb , fullness normally associated with good DD drivers.

Compared with the UM Pentara, the 2DD configuration produces a slightly more nimble, elastic, and organic bass – nothing outperforms DD imo , but things can get close and BAs have their own clear advantages.

The 752B is faster and leans more toward a technical presentation.

Switching to the Storm, bass presence is reduced just a little. Tactile and fast, but the mid-bass in particular becomes less “ever-present”.

The midrange is transparent and highly resolving, yet carries a gentle hint of warmth. Quite lovely, I have to add.

On Tarja Turunen’s “Anteroom of Death,” vocals come through impressively clear, articulate, and natural. The midrange and mid-bass area share the same warm coloration, giving the overall signature a subtle U-shaped (or perhaps V-shaped) tilt that remains inviting and engaging.

Mids sit slightly forward while the bass provides a stable “ground floor” beneath them.

Storm’s mids are a touch airier , placed deeper in the large stage presented by the GOAT , and slightly more recessed by comparison. The difference in spatial presentation isn’t huge, but it’s easily audible.

On David Gilmour’s “A Pocketful of Stones,” the Storm renders his voice with remarkable clarity and an enveloping quality.

Switching to the CP752B provides with a different experience: the stage contracts a little and the voice becomes less enveloping, yet warmer and more engaging.

It would not be an easy job choosing between the two when we are talking about vocals – one is warmer and engaging, the other presents voices better in space and has an edge in clarity.

752B’s treble is highly extended and airy, offering exceptional clarity and sparkle while remaining smooth at all times. From memory (I no longer have the 622B for a direct comparison), the 752B’s high end is smoother and carries slightly more body.

In comparison, the Pentara is airier, clearer, and more incisive.

Storm sits closer in tonality to the Pentara but elevates detail just a fraction further. All three sets are highly detailed and technical, yet the Storm extracts an extra tiny bit of information that can feel missing on the Pentara or CP752B. Cymbal edges, for instance, carry a little more air, like a subtle hue only visible through special glasses, which Storm equips the listener with.

New toys Sunday #17 – Rhapsodio Prime Ti mini-review

Prime Ti is a single 12mm magnetostatic driver IEM, housed in, as the name says, Ti shells, with a mirror-like polish. We’ve seen this before on the Cadenza 12.

This unit was sent on a tour to EU by @MicDavism141 (over at head-fi.com forum), in collaboration with Rhapsodio, the boutique IEM maker from Taiwan/Hong Kong. Many thanks!

The package was limited, due to customs restrictions: IEM, the Evolution Silver Ultimate 2W cable and the Giant cable (from Darker). No unpacking, therefore.

This write-up reflects the way I hear them, subject to influences due to anatomy, chain, music choice, previous experience. As usual, YMMV.

In order to improve readability, some in-depth passages are hidden under drop down arrows. Simply click on the arrow to see the content

In a nutshell

In terms of raw resolution, I think the Prime Ti fares very well, but the details are less discernible than my current darlings (Hex, Tet, Storm). You just have to reach out to them. No low-hanging fruits. Compared to IEMs like Storm, you might even say they sound muddy, but this would be a lazy and shallow evaluation. Prime Ti makes you work for those details.
I like the fact that it takes the transducer out of the equation, and they let me enjoy music. However, I don’t like their safe, bordering on boring, tuning. It simply isn’t for me. This is something that can be educated (the way we enjoy music is usually too bassy) or one can cheat, like I did with Brioso. That extra bass turned Prime Ti into a different beast altogether.

For those looking for a neutral set, I can hardly think of a more appropriate option. For those chasing extreme details, sets like Storm, Tet, Hex, APX Me, Pentara are better choices (some of which I own already).

Prime Ti and Mysticraft Tet

Comfort
While significantly smaller and lighter than V3, I have the same problem with them. Namely, they slowly slide out of my ears, until the seal is completely broken. I have tried a variety of tips, with limited degrees of success. I have settled on Penon Liquer Black, as they are a bit stickier and manage to keep the IEMs in my ears for a bit longer. I reckon Azla should work the same. The shells are shallower than Tet, but the angle of the nozzle creates this sliding effect for me.

In depth analysis of Prime Ti’s sound

Bass
This is one of the most strictly neutral sets I have evaluated recently, as a quick glance at its graph confirms it. It may look lean and bass light, but in practice, it delivers just enough quantity of bass without ever overpowering the mix. It’s not going to win any bass competitions, but I like how it gracefully steps out of the way. So, the rumble is subtle to almost non-existent; however, the articulation and muscularity in mid bass compensate for this. To simply call it a mids bass focused bass would be an injustice though, as it maintains a good balance. The texture is intricate—it doesn’t force itself upon you but rather sits patiently in the backdrop for you to discover. Prime Ti’s bass, then, is not obtrusive, it’s relaxed, waiting for you to acknowledge it’s presence. Imagine walking through a vineyard where all the grapes are equally ripe, equally good looking. You look left, right, you like all you see and are just waiting for the right moment to make your selection, postponing it and just taking in the beauty of the place. If you prefer a big, thunderous bass, look elsewhere.

Mids follow the same pattern, fluid flowing, neutral, with a slight dose of bohemian charm. Lush, but not overly so – without becoming syrupy, and organic without feeling thin or hollow. Note weight is average, well in line with its neutral tuning. The soft focus, with the details intimately blended into the music body, helps create an atmosphere of slight mystery surrounding the music. At times, this flat linearity can veer into sounding slightly safe or sterile, which acts as both a virtue and a flaw depending on the track.  
Voices are well placed, dead in the center, at a comfortable distance, that feels intimate without becoming claustrophobic.

The highs are fairly energetic, with the mid treble accentuated, followed by good air. The details are good, but once more, delivered in a rather polite way, rather than the aggressive sharpness that I value so much in other sets. The mid treble tends to be on the hot side, but for most of the time it remains safe, helped maybe by the swift upper treble drop. The timbre carries a slight metallic sheen, reminiscent of a planar, albeit a good one, just like the supreme V3 before it. If I were to describe the treble in just one word, that’d be effortless. It does the job it’s supposed to do without fuss, without drawing too much attention.
Cymbal decay remains somewhat localized; I occasionally found myself missing the ultra-wide, shimmering dispersion of an Electrostatic (EST) array. Furthermore, the high-frequency response is heavily source-dependent: on sharper sources, cymbals can sound slightly splashy, whereas warmer or higher-tier sources allow the treble to bloom into a rounded, organic decay.

Stage and separation
The stage is large and tall, with good depth, rivaling Traillii JP. Instrument separation is rather decent, though expectedly limited by the single driver physics when compared with multi-brids like UM Pentara or Mysticraft Tet.

Pushing the volume up opens up the soundstage, sharpens dynamic contrast, and infuses the presentation with vital energy. This is NOT a set for whisper-quite listening, then.

Sources and cables

Sources
With Nipo N2 it gets a bit hot in the mid treble and the female voices lack that final touch of shimmery sparkle.
Audma Brioso fixes that, restores the shine to female voices and has a more delicate treble. The Brioso brought a welcome change, in the form of the bass adjustment knob. Adding a few dB of bass made things much more palatable for me. However, for testing I went back to zero.
AK SP3000 feels decidedly underwhelming; I guess this IEM needs a punchier, more dynamic source to come alive.
Surprisingly, the Hiby R8II was one of my preferred sources for Prime Time. It has given it a bit of V shape, which I really enjoyed.

Music used

Paradise Lost – Salvation
Prime Ti has massive sounding drums, establishing a direct lineage line with V3. Very little sibilance, like a slight shadow. Very good separation, in its own relaxed way, nothing forced, a sound that I can only describe as analog. There is a certain fluidity, no sharp edges anywhere, and even if this comes at the price of the rhythm guitar sounding a bit too chill, the end effect remains good. Some of that sense of tragedy is lost, again due to the atmosphere, not being somber enough.
IE900 (my only notable single DD) has a lot more dynamic sound, bringing a lot of atmosphere into the mix. Its stage does not have the height and depth of Prime Ti and the lower mids are definitely thinner than Prime Ti’s. It has more detailed treble, with a very sharp edge, a sense of urgency. This is right up my alley.
Traillii JP sounds very large, with very detailed treble slightly coloured mids and, of course, Mr. Holmes sounds sublime with Traillii. It’s another “bass light set”, so there are certain similarities, but Traillii has better separation and more detailed treble.

Dua Lipa – Levitating
Very strong L/R effect, perfect disco effect, complete with a virtual disco-ball. The bass is surprisingly strong, with the details surfacing effortlessly. Detailed, natural voice, well delimited from the background and a large, tall stage. This is as good as I’ve heard this song.
Tet presents a very different image, with lots of bass, huge stage extended in all directions, and a nice, sweet and detailed voice. The treble is darker, but not less detailed. Despite the stereo effects being less popping than with Prime Ti, I much prefer this presentation, with loads of macro-dynamism.

Boz Scaggs – Thanks to you
Prime Ti perfect match, reducing the bass of this song to acceptable limits (for me). The voice is free to shine, close, but not claustrophobic, clear with just a faint touch of warmth.
Traillii shines here, unsurprisingly.

Mozart – Piano concerto No. 20 III Rondo Allegro asai
Prime Ti is very good with its relaxed sound, creating a nice spatial soundscape. Traillii is the one to beat and this has not happened. I do have a strong affinity for Traillii, even after so many TOTL sets.

Bob James – Avalabop
Binaural recording at its best. The stage depth is crazy, and the rendition let’s you forget everything about gear and you just bob your head slowly. Plenty of details, the ghost notes and flares on the drum, the cymbals, everything is present. The piano has a full sound, the bass reaches low and gives that physical impression of moving air. I find Prime’s tuning to work best for this genre.
Traillii offers a different flavour. I enjoyed both equally.

Doors – Riders on the Storm
Traillii has clearer and more detailed highs, an even larger stage and the voice more upfront. At the same time, the voice is so emotionally laden. The ethereal beauty of the music is contrasting so starkly with the lyrics and the life-like thunders give it an extra dimension. The organ is also very forward, a lot more than Prime’s.
Prime has a bit of splashiness in the cymbals, the voice is more closed in, not as open as Traillii’s, while the biggest difference is the mid bass pushed forward significantly. The song is, luckily, light on bass, so it all works well. The two are close in term of performance, this not being the first Rhapsodio IEM with near-perfect voices. The organ solo gets just a bit too loud at times.

Music pairing
For albums having already a flat production, they seem to accentuate the highs, since there is no bass counterbalance, which can make them sound a bit flimsical (like Dio’s excellent The Last in Line – the production is too thin for Prime Ti). Switch to Opeth’s Windowpane and prepare to be immersed in a sense of depression, with full sounding music, having all the weight needed, making it easy to sink into melancholia. I would have preferred the guitar tone a tad darker, though. It’s almost too open, too cheerful.

Conclusions

As I sit here listening to Maiden’s epic Empire of the Cloud, I realise technical metrics like resolution and stage dimensions fade away, leaving pure musicality.   I think the syntagm, speaker-like has been overused, so I’ll try to avoid it, difficult as it is. The sound does not seem to come for anywhere, it just exists inside your head, and in a small measure outside it too. No sharp details, no micrometric separation, but genuinely musical and transparent. Integrated. A very accomplished set that for me lacks the raw energy of V3, the savagery of its cymbals attacks and the boldness of female voices. But, hear me out, this makes it a good allrounder, provided you like a neutral set. By making this “normal” sounding IEM, some of the craziness built into the Rhapsodio IEMs is gone, leaving the space to a more mature approach. Maybe the next release will find the perfect balance between these two.

And the elephant in the room, the price. This set is in the Storm/Tet territory, with those being far more exciting. At this price, I expect more. Drop the safety net and add more excitement.

New toys Sunday #16 – Fir Audio Rn6

This one was in fashion when I got back into IEM. I have never bought one, on the account of them being too bassy and the fit being too finicky for me. Nowadays, Baroque or Baroque Stage tips make every IEM fit like a glove, so when my dear friend bought them, I was so happy I will finally have a chance to hear them proper.

The sound is a warm, polite one, with a clear bass boost, extending to both sub and mid bass, incredible impact, almost physical, like the bass drum beater is striking directly on your ear drum, lower mids well tucked behind the massive bass and a treble that is very polite, or even shy. With a very pleasant sound they cannot hide their age, being a couple of steps lower in terms of technicalities.

The obvious highlight is the bass, which is more detailed than some of the modern day IEMs. Apart from the physicality mentioned above, that feeling of a slight tap, the articulation is very good, the kind of set that makes you instantly want to offer your bass guitarist a hefty salary increase. The speed is reasonable, thus that even the fastest blast beats remain distinct. The bass does bleed into the mids, lending some warmth.

There is not enough roughness in the mids for the distorted guitars, Rn6’s sound being too lean, too closed in. This is compensated for with some aggressiveness in the upper mids, so it can be warm and shouty at the same time.

Long story short, this is not my preferred set for metal, but for everything dance, electronic and even jazz, it works very well.

Switching to Pentara, brings back the sound that I am chasing. This mild W has everything needed to keep me happy, while Rn6 simply caters for different tastes.

New toys Sunday #15 PMG APX ME

This unit has been lent to me by a fellow head-fi-er with no obligation whatsoever. It is the second time we temporarily swap gear.

The technical specs listed on the PMG’s website are the following:

12 drivers: 1x Rectangular Planar, 1x 10mm DD, 1x VCD, 8x BA, 1x Round Planar (all drivers are custom built to PMG Audio’s spec)
True 8-way passive crossover
Flat Impedance technology
SPL: 117dB @1kHz
Frequency response: 2Hz-22kHz
Titanium shell body
Custom 6N OCC pure Silver cable 4.4mm
Leather multi-function suitcase
Leather portable case
5 pairs of PMG-selected ear tips
Certificate of authenticity
3-year warranty

They are amazingly small and light, at 8,1g being lighter than some resin shells. Comfort, subjective as it is, was great for me. Any tips worked, with AET07 being my favourites, based on a combination of comfort and sound.

Sound

Let’s start with the most divisive point, treble. I have read some reports that they don’t have enough extension. What I hear is the opposite, there is more than enough extension, and enough air. Yes, it’s not the Annihilator ethereal, warm-ish, treble. What impressed me is the note weight in treble. Thick, meaty, Storm style. Cymbals are more contained than X, for example, where the attack is fast and the decay a bit longer. ME has the fast attack, but not quite that cutting edge, adrenaline infused of X. The decay is fast, shorter, for example, than X. An interesting effect is the cymbals seem to have their own resonance chamber, clearly delimited from the rest of instruments.

Upper mids are elevated, to the point of being very close to the top of my comfort edge. This is a set I cannot listen to at high volume for. along time. Luckily, there’s no need to, either, for ME sounds good and detailed even at low volume. Highly energetic upper mids means all guitar solos are highlighted in a quite obvious fashion, giving the impression the pedal board is cabled directly into your brain. I don’t mind taking a short break from time to time, for that lively sound.
The only niggle I have with the mids is a slight upwards skewing of the sound. Some voices (particularly male) appear to be just a touch higher than on some other sets, or let’s say that I’m used to hearing them. This could be an effect of the forward voices, but it is something I did not hear with Epic Apocalypse, Storm, Tet or X. I’m sure it’s just the result of some rogue frequencies inducing this kind of response in my ears, but I thought it is worth mentioning, in the off chance someone else might have had similar issues.
For the rest of the mid range, everything is how I like it. The lower mids carry a lot of weight, the distorted guitars sound relatively dirty, without affecting the neighbouring frequencies, the attack is lightning fast and the resolution is right up there with Tet and Hex. Male vocals, and in particular the death growling have a nice warm-ish weight added to them, making this set very good for such genres.

Bass is the highlight of APX ME, on that I agree with other reports. I could write pages of gushing about PMX’s bass, but frankly, it has to be experienced first hand. It’s not the amount, but the quality thereof that makes the difference. Perfectly textured, articulated, with a clear emphasis on sub bass and a mid bass that is probably the most detailed I have heard to date. The richness of texture and tone is unparalleled, to my ears. At the same time, the bass is so fast and accurate that is not overpowering the rest of the frequencies, despite some rare bleeding into the mids.

Stock cable was my favourite, first for comfort, secondly for sound. Details retrieval with cable is very high, separation natural, treble confined to its designated space and the balance sub to mid bass is perfect. However, it has the most elevated upper mids, to my ears.

Equiped with Vesper Shielded, the sub bass takes a small bump, but the stage is larger and taller, so it has more room to fill, the end effect being an overall improvement. Normally, adding more of one frequency, masks another, but Vesper has this great property of helping the IEMs distribute sound more evenly.
The upper mids are less harsh to my ears, and the treble has that organic, edgy copper sound. A bit more shimmery, but a tad thinner.
Comfort takes a small hit, but remains perfectly manageable.

With SS4W the stage is widened, but the height is not proportionally increased,  so for me, it upsets the balance a bit. A matter of habit, I suppose. The sound density remains high, with each part of the stage full with sound, but maintaining ME’s natural separation. There is a touch more sub bass, but I haven’t noticed any improvement with regard to upper mids and/or treble.
I wear spectacles and I have an unexpected problem with SS4W, it rubs against the spectacles arms and generates audible vibrations (ringing) in the shells.

Comparisons
Storm. I’ll start by saying that straight after ME, Storm sounds muffled and lacking details. I know, of course, it’s not the case, but this is the sort of change ME induces in my brain. Obviously, Storm has a larger stage, the bass is more fluid, the upper mids less elevated and the treble more forward.

In terms of details, ME is more detailed than Storm on bass, slightly more detailed in mids, and less detailed in treble, with a presentation closer to the highly holographic Tet than the reference Storm. The attack on guitars is fast, each note is spectacularly detailed, something I first heard with Tet, then with Epic Audio Apocalypse. Triplets have a spectacular way of sounding, making listening to Raining Blood a real pleasure. Storm still takes extra points for treble (a perfect dosage of timbre, intensity and body, all at once).
The biggest difference remains the overall presentation,  with ME a bit darker, with its slightly coloured upper mids,  while Storm is the very definition of neutrality.

Elysian X
Sounds hollow after ME. Given enough adaptation time, the bass on X is less detailed but a touch more natural. Why do I say that?  Because, in real life, it is rare to hear that level of details in bass. Except when listening in isolation. I’m not saying it’s a fault from ME’s part, simply that I am not used to that level of details and I am not (yet) sure if this is a direction I want to pursue further.
While not having the dirty lower mids of APX SE (from memory), Pentara or Epic Intoxication, X still has some of the best sound for metal. The combination of roughness in the lower mids, buzzing in the upper ones, makes it an ultimate metal machine. The upper mids liveliness is reminding me of ME. Treble is more forward, with a more edgy presentation and more shimmer.

Listening to 2PAC’s “Can’t C Me” is a bit hot up top, but still perfectly listenable. Nicely textured bass, this album being one of the rap masterpieces, from the instrumentation point of view. Impressive control of sibilance from the part of ME. I know the song inside out, but the bass presentation is new.

Amon Amarth’s “Find a way or make one” is a very good test for grit and balance.
The roughness in the lower mids, from where that granular sound stems, could have been upped a notch. The voice, on the other hand carries enough granularity, making it a compelling listen.

Despite finding the upper mids borderline uncomfortable in the beginning, I started missing them when listening with other IEMs, so I kept returning to ME. After a couple of days I got so used to ME, that the upper mids harshness completely disappeared.