The TGXear Desolation Sound create an immersive musical enjoy that sounds all too actual, breaking the confinements of small-sized moveable transducers.
The Desolation Sound earbuds cater to audiophiles who search balanced sound with a slightly of deep bass. Those are for the ones prepared to spend money on refinement. In my yr of checking out over 20 earbuds, the TGXear Desolation Sound stand in a league of their very own, excelling with exceptional dynamics and outstanding bass. Regardless of their rather heat tone, they care for transparency. They are a top class selection, handing over beautiful sound. Jim’s tuning prowess shines right here, environment a new efficiency same old.
- Dynamic bass, lush and transparent midrange, colourful treble
- Natural, herbal, and intensely pleasant timbre
- Very palpable notes with well-articulated and powerful definition
- Smartly-rounded third-dimensional headspace with top-notch separation and imaging
- Relaxed have compatibility
- A rather wider midrange would had been best possible
- Value is also prime for some
Jim Park, the person in the back of TGXear, does no longer comprise himself to a unmarried tuning taste – he loves to discover and push his obstacles. His newest advent inflicting a stir is the Desolation Sound.
Those are his present probably the greatest earbuds. Jim has long past to large lengths to expand a customized driving force only for them that, together with the top class equipment, turns out befitting for his or her slightly prime price ticket (greater than USD $500).
Unboxing and First Affect
Design and Construct
The Desolation Sound are made with clear mx500 shells, offering a transparent and attractive view of the internals. The precise and left earbuds are categorised accordingly.
Cable
The cable is fabricated from 7N OCC silver with a decrease gauge than the discontinued Serratus type. It is rather cushy, pliable, and light-weight. There are 0 microphonics. The 4.4mm balanced plug is gold-plated. The precise channel has a crimson o-ring for more straightforward id.
Convenience
The shells have compatibility within the ears slightly snugly. The light-weight cable makes the have compatibility extra relaxed. The usage of aftermarket foams can additional give a boost to convenience.
Below the Hood
In collaboration along with his provider, Jim created a custom-developed driving force only for the Desolation Sound. It makes use of N55 magnets (boasting round 1 tesla magnetic flux) and has 180 Ohm impedance.
The precise main points of the diaphragm are a industry secret.
Regardless of the prime impedance, they’re delicate sufficient to be pushed adequately from a telephone’s 3.5mm jack. On the other hand, they sound extra dynamic and textured with higher separation when paired with higher high quality and higher-powered assets.
How Do the Desolation Sound Sound?
I evaluated the Desolation Sound for over 100 hours paired with a large number of assets, together with the Shanling M7, Tempotec V6, A&Okay PA10, and iFi XDSD Gryphon. Listed here are the take a look at tracks I used: sub-bass, midbass, male vocals, feminine vocals, tools, and treble.
My first interplay with the Desolation Sound put me in euphoric bewilderment.
They sound vibrant with masterfully sculpted and delightfully energized bass. This can be a pleased musical enjoy.
Bass
The bass straight away will get my consideration with its glorious slam and deep and exceptionally textured rumble. The extremely articulated presentation balances power and keep watch over beautiful properly. It maintains a robust, a laugh presence and recreates intricate textures but stays in its lane.
Jim at all times tunes the low finish of his buds with the maximum care. Right here, all of his tuning prowess has culminated in a maximum commanding and deftly managed low finish, with profound intensity and pronounced element, complemented through well-fleshed-out notes.
That is the most efficient bass I’ve ever heard in earbuds on the subject of observe weight, presence, texture, slam, and intensity.
That is the very pinnacle.
Midrange
Natural goodness, actual main points, life-like dynamics – it isn’t frequently I am getting hit through they all along with slightly perceivable compromises.
The midrange is impressive.
The tonality is warm-neutral however with sufficient vibrance to stay it thrilling. Timbre is essentially the most herbal I’ve ever heard. The notes are complete and outlined with little to no synthetic emphasis. The blank background and prime transparency make the presentation much more exhilarating.
Male vocals are portrayed with care and flavored to the max. They sound wealthy, complete, extremely textured, and intensely delightful. They’re specifically expressive however by no means sound pressured. Be it deep or raspy – all put across the underlying emotion very competently.
Regardless of the nice and cozy tilt, feminine vocals don’t sound boring or useless. They’ve that magical, airy contact, which, coupled with the added frame and intensity, make the entire presentation very lush and emotive. The asymmetric and sibilant peaks are treated wonderfully to retain the grit whilst warding off discomfort.
The instrumental notes have that distinct tactility I felt within the Serratus. On the other hand, it’s now enhanced through a extra well-rounded frame. Plucked string tools sound actually wealthy, like acoustic guitar and lute, and brass tools like saxophone. Violin notes have a delightfully natural brilliance. Even harsh electrical guitar riffs sound plentifully stress-free.
Colourful tonality and full-bodied notes with meticulously sculpted main points make the midrange luscious and actual!
Treble
The treble is vigorous however deftly managed. The meticulous main points straight away grasp one’s consideration. The sound is refined and easy.
The best way the Desolation Sound produce the best of main points so as it should be with out sounding over-emphasized is marvelous. The notes go with the flow naturally, by no means combating for presence but being outstanding on their very own. That is slightly a regal presentation.
The treble notes have a cast presence. Each the main and trailing edges are very distinctly provide. Even if the song will get busy, no main points are masked.
The treble phase is delicate with superbly articulated main points that by no means get tiresome.
Soundstage, imaging, and main points
The Desolation Sound undertaking a well-rounded headspace with an lightly expanded width, intensity, and top. They’ve a third-dimensional presentation and an enveloping soundstage. Their spatial positioning and layering are exceptional, drawing the listener in evermore.
The notes sound very actual, reproducing the tiniest main points very cleanly and skillfully. Their powerful definition, stunning textures, and extremely palpable presence are magical. The separation is slightly outstanding, too.
The general side that units this set aside is the superb steadiness between macrodynamics and microdynamics. They’ve an ordinary aggregate of an excessively toe-tapping vibe and a well-crafted show of the main points.
Comparisons
Vs. Mission Electronics Solar Copper
The Solar Copper are one of the crucial TOTL choices from Mission Electronics. They boast a customized copper horn-shaped shell and LCC (lengthy crystal copper) cable. Inside of, 15.4mm N52 dynamic drivers of 180 Ohm impedance and 109 dB sensitivity are used.
Bodily, the Solar Copper glance extra top class than the Desolation Sound however are considerably heavier, with a notoriously deficient have compatibility. Conversely, the Desolation Sound have compatibility like a glove for many.
Sonically, they’re remarkably contrasting. Either one of them are great-sounding earbuds however with fully other approaches. The Solar Copper are distinctly hotter within the midrange and treble. The bass is noticeably much less dynamic, however main points, separation, soundstage, and imaging are awesome at the Solar Copper.
The Desolation Sound, alternatively, have significantly extra bass – extra dynamic, extra textured, deeper, and fuller. They’ve a a lot more delightful tonality and herbal timbre in comparison to the overbearing heat of the Solar Copper. Even supposing the technicalities would possibly sound higher at the Solar Copper, the Desolation Sound supply a greater listening enjoy.
Vs. TGXear Serratus Black Sand
The Serratus Black Sand are in line with the sooner Serratus. They’ve tradition N55 180 Ohm PET dynamic drivers with a new more or less black sand damping carried out at the internal floor of the acoustic chamber. The tuning is impartial.
The Serratus Black Sand have slightly much less midbass slam than the Desolation Sound. They’re rather extra clear, and the notes really feel a little wider. The treble power is identical. On the other hand, the notes really feel flat in comparison to the Desolation Sound. The presentation is extra laid again. The soundstage is wider and has much less intensity.
Vs. TGXear Sunniva
The Sunniva have tradition N52 180 Ohm Beryllium PVD dynamic drivers in transparent mx500 shells and 7N OCC cable. The tuning is warm-neutral.
The Sunniva are distinctly smoother, favoring a complete and dynamic presentation with a slight compromise in the main points. They’re much less clear, and the treble feels noticeably smoother. The presentation has a smaller, third-dimensional contact. The soundstage width, top, and intensity also are rather much less, however no longer through a substantial margin.
The place to Purchase
Who Will have to Purchase This?
The Desolation Sound are a couple of earbuds appropriate for audiophiles preferring a balanced sound profile whilst nonetheless having a beautiful bass phase. They’re awesome to all others I’ve heard. On the other hand, a way of diminishing returns is prevalent right here. The objective target audience is the ones prepared to pay for that remaining mile of growth.
Ultimate Ideas
The TGXear Desolation Sound are a connoisseur meal. I’ve auditioned greater than 20 earbuds of various value issues in lower than a yr, however in truth, this set is in its personal elegance, distinctly above the entire others I’ve heard.
The category-leading dynamics, empowered through the most efficient imaginable earbud bass, make the enjoy in reality unforgettable from the first actual concentrate. Lush, detailed sound is dropped at fact through Jim. A undeniable sense of realism and an enveloping soundstage cause them to a winner!
Regardless of the natural timbre and a rather heat tonality, it’s superb how properly transparency is maintained all through. The general portrayal of the sound is euphoric. After all, they don’t seem to be reasonably priced for everybody, however then, such an impeccable delicacy comes at a worth.
The Desolation Sound are the apex of Jim’s creations up to now. They make the song come alive with enhanced musicality and technicality. I take a bow to this guy’s tuning prowess and his willpower to making distinctive choices that set a new efficiency bar.
Corporate Evaluate
Jim Park, classically skilled in song and an acoustic engineer, evolved TGXear, a non-public audio emblem to fulfill his prime requirements. As Jim is slightly well known and revered within the Head-Fi group, the emblem quickly stuck consideration and garnered reward for the exceptional high quality of its merchandise.
“I’m many stuff – a visible artist, a classically skilled musician, an acoustic engineer, an audiophile – however I’m initially, a lover of song. TGXEAR is an concept 30 years within the making, born from a deep need to expand non-public audio techniques that fulfill my prime requirements.
My merchandise be offering balanced sound signatures, life-like timbre, and an immersive sense of area. Each and every considered one of my merchandise is hand assembled and tuned through me in Vancouver, Canada, and undergoes strict high quality keep watch over in order that it lasts and delivers an audio enjoy that you are going to no longer omit.” – Jim Park
What’s within the Field
- Desolation Sound earbuds
- Additional complete foams
- Additional foams with small holes
- 4.4mm balanced to three.5mm single-ended adaptor (non-compulsory)
- TGXear pin
- Rubber ring – 1 pair (for higher have compatibility)
- Cable (non-detachable)
Technical Specs
- Shape: Earbuds
- Motive force: Unmarried 15.4mm dynamic driving force with custom-developed diaphragm
- Shell: Clear mx500
- Impedance: 180Ω
- Frequency Vary: 20-20kHz
- Sensitivity: N/A
- Detachable Cable: N
- Supply Jack: Gold plated 4.4mm balanced
- Cable subject matter: 1.2m lengthy 7N OCC silver
- Mic: N
Allow 48h for review and removal.