Sound Impressions: Bass
Celestian has a gentle w-shaped sound signature with adequately elevated bass that goes along well with various music genres. The bass is deep and lucid. It’s highly packed in texture and density, like condensed rays of bass grooves. The bass quantity is just around the slightly v-shaped ones (the standard), though this tight, high-density, and deep-tone bass does justice for the low-end atmosphere, having the power of command to show vivid presence in music. It has a prudent, solemn bass tone that adds to Celestian’s bass to stand out.
The bass quantity is likely not enough to satisfy the bassheads, but general listeners who desire average to above-average bass would be just pleased with the bass amount. Celestian draws out the bass quite evenly and overall keeps a steady bass flow. The sub-bass has extra damping for elevated dynamics and bass punch. Lows dive deep to the ultra lows and have a warm, soothing tone. The low range could’ve easily been duller in resolution, though Rossi&Wing has done a fine job here by having the bass that is both smooth and high in resolution.
Sound Impressions: Vocals / Timbre
Mids of Celestian are quite special. Typically, for proposing a classic analog sound, many IEMs steer towards making the timbre extra moist and damp, making the vocals even smoother; the downside of this would be the vocals possibly sounding dull. Celestian reinterpretated old-school vibes in a more analytical, balanced, and fresher way – by involving a delicate pinch of dryness to the vocal tone that is just enough to create a neat, analog mood for Celestian’s soundfield. Mids never approach to actually sounding dry or rough in texture – in fact, Celestian is quite analytic and enjoys exposing the textural details. This particular timbre of Celestian brings out a uniquely emotional and analog ambiance, without getting stuffy or duller in analyticity.
Mids are only slightly shifted forward if not holding their neutral ground. Mids very much respect the natural alignment with the bass, making gradual and coherent frequency shifts. Unlike what you’d usually expect from neutral-dry IEMs, Celestian’s vocals are refined, rich in details, and pleasantly well-bodied – or meaty, at least. The upper mids gain a slight upboost in silvery shine with no shoutiness or sibilance. In terms of brightness, Celestian’s vocals sit right on being neutral, and although the upper vocals get shinier in tone and transparency, I wouldn’t classify the upper vocals as being brighter; it’s more about tonal development. The upper vocals remain very calm without getting shouty or amplified in power/quantity.
Sound Impressions: Trebles, etc.
By the way, although this comment was meant to be said on the mid-range impression, I figured I’ll point it out here since this also applies to the trebles too; an emotional timbre and analyticity can coexist thanks to Celestian’s carefully tuned ‘tonal dryness’, though there’s a catch – the music source must be decent in recording quality. If playing poorly recorded tracks that already are, let’s say, dry, dull, or rough, then things may be an overload of dryness, and actually sound dry or harsh. Though in case of tuning into concert audios that sound thin and spiky, or noticeably low-quality recordings, that’s when the pairing concern may arise. Otherwise, no need to worry.
Highs are crisp and lush. Trebles are tuned to have just the right amount of quantity, not overdone nor lacking. In terms of positioning, highs are slightly pulled forward for a clear, clean-cut treble presence, but not to the extent of being strong V-shaped. The treble timbre is a bit more damp than the mids, which counteract the relatively drier mids, keeping the overall balance of the sound. Having the trebles to be damper (or ‘more moist’) also seems to help the trebles and instruments to provide more refined strands of details and textures.
Trebles are neutral bright, bringing the refreshing airiness and transparency, without shifting towards sounding shrill. The high-frequency headroom is open-ended but done gently, and while having the background atmosphere pitch-black, calm, and solemn. They’re well-tamed and comfortable to listen to. As for the headroom, Celestian is quite expansive with great holographic imaging. It doesn’t get to a surreal extent, or mindblowingly wide, though it’s sure not any less than the TOTL IEMs we encounter. Rossi&Wing First Light already proved how well R&W could play around with the headroom and imaging, and Celestian is tuned for reference and accuracy.
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