Disclaimer: I borrowed Serratus Black Sand on its way to its owner, I do not get to keep it unfortunately.
Personal preferences in audio gear will vary. This review is based on my own subjective experience.
If you prefer to watch a video review you can watch mine here.
Pros –
- Great Detail
- Lifelike and Realistic Timbre
- Transient response is perfect
- Standard MX500 shell makes it easy to gauge comfort and fit
- Good all rounder
- Soundstage has very good width depth and height
- Fun mid bass
- Energetic treble
- No congestion
- Not Sibilant/Fatiguing
Cons –
- Male vocals can be slightly recessed depending on the mix
- Overall clarity could be a touch sharper
- Bass heads might want a bit more sub-bass
Gaming:
Pros –
- Amazing soundstage offers a holographic gaming experience
- Sounds are still audible through chaos
- Impressive depth allows you to gauge how far or close something is easily
- Incredibly immersive experience
Cons –
- No Notable Cons
Build, Fit & Accessories:
Serratus Black Sand is TGXEARs new flathead priced at $250; it comes in the standard semi-hard case Jim normally uses, however rather than the logo sticker put onto the case it is etched into the case itself. This feels more personalized and I appreciate how this looks compared to the stickers that can eventually fall off.
As for the flathead itself it features a nice black splitter and jack with a great feeling dark gray cable. It uses standard clear MX500 shells that have been filled with sand in order to dampen it and a Smabat faceplate. I am a big fan of how it looks aesthetically.
Included accessories are a branded leather cord keeper, TGXEAR pin, Silicone rings, a big bag of foams and a wearing guide. Oh there is also a silica packet so you can have a snack while you listen to your favorite tunes. (Please do not consume the silica packet)
Equipment Used:
- FiiO Q11 on Windows and Android
- MusicBee on Windows 11 with FiiO ASIO drivers for local FLAC and DSD files
- Amazon Music Streaming
- CX31993 Dongle on Android
Test Tracks used:
Sound Quality:
TGXEARs Serratus Black Sand features a custom 180ohm N55 driver and I must say that this driver combined with Jim’s tuning skill has resulted in a bargain for those looking for a slightly warm neutral tuning. Although another neutral tuned piece from TGXEAR I find that it is tuned in a more fun way rather than just being analytical. There is a good blend of mid bass and treble energy happening for it to remain quite engaging.
Bass
Sub-bass is well done and although not the focus it does make itself known and has its moment to shine. Mid-bass stands out quite a bit more and has a great note weight and texture to it with a solid punch. The first track I put on I was concerned that there might be some bleed or possible congestion issues but I can gladly say in the testing I did not notice any of that and the bass region is quite pleasantly done.
Midrange
Mids are very pleasant and defined, every instrument I threw at Serratus Black Sand it handled above expectations and showed details that punch above the asking price. Timbre is unbelievably realistic just like all of the TGXEAR gear I have heard before and it always impresses me. Solo instrumentals are impressive, being presented on a stage just in front of you just out of reach.
Vocals
Male and female vocals both offer great timbre as well. Female vocals are almost perfect for my tastes and male vocals were not far behind, baritone and low vocals had good warmth and sounded great. I did notice in some of my testing that male vocals can sometimes get pushed a bit further back than I would like. This is more of an issue with the mixing and mastering but I am noticing it with Serratus Black Sand and I didn’t with Desolation Sound so I wanted to make note of it.
Treble
There is quite a bit of energy in the treble making the upper end quite engaging. With that being said I never noticed sibilance and I don’t think that most people will find the treble fatiguing. The extension here is great as well and instruments and notes remain nicely detailed and defined throughout.
Technicalities
Techs are impressive across the board and a solid jump above this price point. The stage has great width, height and depth to it giving a nice open sounding concert experience, the bands are just there in front of you just out of reach. Instrument separation is very well done and each instrument has its distinct placement. Layering and imaging are also solid especially for this price range.
Dynamics are great. Timbre is the usual TGXEAR special with extremely natural and realistic instruments and vocals. Very resolving with no bleed or congestion. One of my only things and it’s just a nit pick is that the overall sound is just a tad blunted. Most flatheads are blunted to an extent and won’t be as sharp as what IEMs are but I feel like Serratus Black Sand would benefit from a touch more clarity.
Gaming Performance:
If you play games in a quiet area and do not need Isolation, this would be my new go to pick. It’s quite a bit more affordable versus Desolation Sound and performs admirably and in terms of immersive gaming the bass hits a bit harder making moments more intense. If I manage to pick one of these up and keep them this will most likely be my main general gaming piece of gear.
FPS Gaming:
Amazing imaging and depth to the soundstage offer an easy location sense as to where enemies are moving and their placements. In Escape From Tarkov I found tracking movements to be incredibly easy and be able to judge how close or far they were quite easily. Small sounds of bushes or leaves were very easy to hear as well as picking out footsteps…This has been my favorite experience in Escape From Tarkov to date with all that combined with the more intense bass making gunfights and moments that much more impactful.
Immersive Gaming
Elden Ring sounds massive whether you are just walking around or in the middle of an epic battle. I find that Serratus Black Sand offers a huge cinematic gaming experience with its tone and tech, everything sounds lifelike and the bass is punchy enough to make attacks feel very immersive, while the stage it sets it huge. When boss battles are happening and the music kicks in it remains well separated and very engaging. All around I was extremely satisfied with these for gaming.
Comparisons:
The first comparison I would like to make would be with the original Serratus. These are very different tonally. The original is more of a U shape tuning and has much more pronounced sub-bass rather than mid-bass and would also get congested with too much going on at times. The mids are much more prominent on Serratus Black Sand and the treble is toned down a bit as well, not putting it into that almost sibilant might be fatiguing category I find myself putting in the original. The original is honestly more fun to me, less correct and accurate but fun. I would still use the original for some orchestral pieces and EDM but with my preference for general listening I would take the Serratus Black Sand over the original for the most part. As for techs, the original is still special with the forever lingering ghostly notes and a massively wide soundstage. But Serratus Black Sand blows it away in every other aspect, setting itself apart.
I will also compare it to Desolation Sound. Although in a completely different price bracket these are fairly similar. It’s a more fun and energetic Desolation Sound that’s less technical. Desolation Sound is refined and mature, has a loving family and owns a house and a nice vehicle and has life figured out. Serratus Black Sand is still a teenager who is going to parties and just living life. I don’t think most would need both, but if you want something with a more prominent mid-bass and more energetic treble than Desolation Sound I could see some having and appreciating both. But ultimately I think of Serratus Black Sand as the mid step or that taste of what Desolation Sound has to offer.
Conclusion:
Overall, Serratus Black Sand is fantastic in my opinion and is priced quite low for the tonality and tech it offers. Assuming you can fit MX500 shells I think most people would have trouble finding something they dislike on this set making it quite an easy recommendation from me. Jim has done it again and I can’t wait for what he cooks up next.
If you are interested, you can purchase Serratus Black Sand directly from TGXEARs website
Cheers!
