Disclaimer:
Thanks to AME Custom for giving me the opportunity to review the Argent as part of the AME Tour. The unit is a loaner and must be returned.
Overview:
Argent is the co-flagship IEM from AME Custom featuring a hybrid 4 BA and 2 EST driver configuration.
In the box:
Build quality and accessories:
Same as the Radioso, the Argent is really well made, the joint lines are nice and smooth, the quality of materials used is good too. The mother of pearl backplate is beautiful to look at and definitely attracts attention.
The cable, on the other hand, is quite disappointing, not only it feels generic but it just doesn’t have anything that would make it stand out sonically. It also gets tangled quite easily. I would expect more for this price tag.
The case is metal, with a nice finish and just right amount of space to fit the IEMs with a cable. The finish is smooth and definitely feels premium.
The other accessories are quite standard. All in all, same as Radioso, I would expect more, especially in terms of the cable.
Fit and comfort:
The fit on those is good, in general, it takes a bit of time to get used to a slightly odd nozzle angle which makes the IEMs sit a bit more forward than I'm used to. With that said, I've used them for multiple hours at a time without issues or wear fatigue. The shell is smaller than their co-flagship Radioso which makes them the more comfortable out of the two.
Sound:
The Argent leans towards a slightly bright V signature maintaining an overall natural sound.
Bass:
The bass is quite well extended, only the very deep subbass can be a touch lacking which is to be expected with BA only design. Unlike most BA only IEMs the bass attack and decay are more like one of a dynamic driver, it has a more natural character to it. Because of that, the texture and the tightness suffers a little bit, on songs like "Trentemøller - Evil Dub" the detail and subbass extension is slightly lacking.
Midrange:
The lower midrange is slightly recessed which renders male vocals a little thinner. The female vocals don't suffer from this as the upper-midrange gets a boost which brings them forward and adds brilliance to them. The lively upper-midrange gives electric guitars a lot of life making rock and metal a pleasure to listen to. It can be a little harsh if pushed to loud volumes but I never found it to be fatiguing myself. The detail is good, it can get a little smeary on very busy recordings.
Treble:
I found the treble of the Argent be just right for me, unlike Radioso it didn't have an overwhelming smoothness, instead cymbals and other instruments had the right amount of bite to them while not being overly bright. There's plenty of air and openness to the sound giving everything space to breathe. The extension is also really good.
Imaging and Soundstage:
Similar to Radioso the Argent is also excellent in terms of staging. The stage is big and airy, with great positioning and separation between the instruments. Even when the midrange was overwhelmed, the stage kept it's integrity very well.
Conclusion:
I can easily recommend the Argent, while the tuning can be too bright for some, I feel like the liveliness it gives in return is worth it. This combined with great staging and general technical performance makes it something more people should try and a worthy contender in its price range. To me, both Radioso and Argent are quite special and the choice between the two will purely come down to preference.
Thanks to AME Custom for giving me the opportunity to review the Argent as part of the AME Tour. The unit is a loaner and must be returned.
Overview:
Argent is the co-flagship IEM from AME Custom featuring a hybrid 4 BA and 2 EST driver configuration.
In the box:
Build quality and accessories:
Same as the Radioso, the Argent is really well made, the joint lines are nice and smooth, the quality of materials used is good too. The mother of pearl backplate is beautiful to look at and definitely attracts attention.
The cable, on the other hand, is quite disappointing, not only it feels generic but it just doesn’t have anything that would make it stand out sonically. It also gets tangled quite easily. I would expect more for this price tag.
The case is metal, with a nice finish and just right amount of space to fit the IEMs with a cable. The finish is smooth and definitely feels premium.
The other accessories are quite standard. All in all, same as Radioso, I would expect more, especially in terms of the cable.
Fit and comfort:
The fit on those is good, in general, it takes a bit of time to get used to a slightly odd nozzle angle which makes the IEMs sit a bit more forward than I'm used to. With that said, I've used them for multiple hours at a time without issues or wear fatigue. The shell is smaller than their co-flagship Radioso which makes them the more comfortable out of the two.
Sound:
The Argent leans towards a slightly bright V signature maintaining an overall natural sound.
Bass:
The bass is quite well extended, only the very deep subbass can be a touch lacking which is to be expected with BA only design. Unlike most BA only IEMs the bass attack and decay are more like one of a dynamic driver, it has a more natural character to it. Because of that, the texture and the tightness suffers a little bit, on songs like "Trentemøller - Evil Dub" the detail and subbass extension is slightly lacking.
Midrange:
The lower midrange is slightly recessed which renders male vocals a little thinner. The female vocals don't suffer from this as the upper-midrange gets a boost which brings them forward and adds brilliance to them. The lively upper-midrange gives electric guitars a lot of life making rock and metal a pleasure to listen to. It can be a little harsh if pushed to loud volumes but I never found it to be fatiguing myself. The detail is good, it can get a little smeary on very busy recordings.
Treble:
I found the treble of the Argent be just right for me, unlike Radioso it didn't have an overwhelming smoothness, instead cymbals and other instruments had the right amount of bite to them while not being overly bright. There's plenty of air and openness to the sound giving everything space to breathe. The extension is also really good.
Imaging and Soundstage:
Similar to Radioso the Argent is also excellent in terms of staging. The stage is big and airy, with great positioning and separation between the instruments. Even when the midrange was overwhelmed, the stage kept it's integrity very well.
Conclusion:
I can easily recommend the Argent, while the tuning can be too bright for some, I feel like the liveliness it gives in return is worth it. This combined with great staging and general technical performance makes it something more people should try and a worthy contender in its price range. To me, both Radioso and Argent are quite special and the choice between the two will purely come down to preference.