Sound Impressions: Lows
Calling a food oily brings a rather negative impression. However, some good foods don’t feel greasy but instead feel rich and flavorful. That’s the case of Sapphire. With a W-shaped sound signature with gently smoothened out trebles, Sapphire offers a rich, warm-toned sound. Let’s get more in-depth, starting with the bass; this is probably the best part of Sapphire. The dynamic driver and bone conductor driver working in harmony create an outstanding performance for the low-ends, presenting an extremely lush, solemn, high-class timbre that is deep in color. Perhaps one of the most captivating sub-bass I’ve heard from this price range.
With the lively vibrations of the sub-bass, Sapphire provides basshead-level dynamics and depth while remaining well-organized. Though the core difference between Sapphire and other basshead IEMs (such as Nightjar Duality, Synphonium Crimson, etc.) is that Sapphire doesn’t get the bass aggressive to the point of getting bombastic. Lows remain calm enough to keep its solemn timbre and presentation. The ultra-lows gently roll off in quantity compared to the sub-bass. While not strong in presence or quantity as the sub-bass, the abyss-like atmosphere and depths are pleasingly achieved.
Sound Impressions: Mids
Sapphire knows what a “thick and clear sound” is. A clarity that isn’t achieved by brightening or skimming out the vocal’s body, but by securing depth and good harmony with the bass. Gently pulled forward, vocals play along with the bass, creating a distinctive yet coherent color with the bass. Mids have a natural, neutral-thick timbre. What I like about Sapphire is that the vocals sound full-bodied and thick without getting dull or ringy. The tone and textures are creamy and smooth, with good silkiness that adequately unveils small textural details.
Mids have a stage presentation that is enclosed, but in a roomy space. That’s the point. It has a warm and dark tone, though unlike your typical “actually dark” IEMs, Sapphire’s vocals don’t much get stuffy in timbre. While the layerings and resolutions are nice, which live up to the expectations we have for flagship-level IEMs, Sapphire isn’t obsessed with forcing to unveil all the mid-range grains, being more of a musical type than analytical. Sapphire lets the vocals gently smooth out, just as a good speaker would sound.
Sound Impressions: Highs / Soundstage
Crisp splashes were noticeable from Ruby, though Sapphire approaches more smoothly and friendlier, being able to be appreciated by more ears and genres. The highs of Sapphire hold a supportive role for lows and mids that ensures pleasant treble splashes and instrumental details – but never overtake the scene or the stage. Highs are toned down in brightness with a lesser quantity. However, the clarity and resolution are not compromised, as treble instruments and micro details don’t get muffled. The essential crispness and transparency as a flagship-tier IEM is ensured with Sapphire, but now the trebles sound fatigue-free and thoroughly organic.
Sapphire establishes the headroom downward towards the bass and highlights the depth, creating the upside-down, fan-shaped soundstage. Deep and grand, but to a decent extent, or to an extent that the tidiness of the presentation won’t be harmed. It has a roomy studio-sized headroom. The large bass body, which feels large in nature and not just bloated by boosting the sub-bass, dives with great depth and tone color.
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