You probably haven’t heard of TXN Sound before. Based in Vietnam, TXN builds both universal and custom in-ear monitors. With a focus on excellence through simplicity, the company offers a small, carefully curated selection of IEMs aimed squarely at enthusiasts with substantial budgets.

Today, we’re taking a look at TXN’s entry-level IEM, the Ceramic, which features anodized aluminum shells and a single dynamic driver per side. At nearly $600, however, the Ceramic faces some stiff competition. Does TXN’s engineering go the distance? Let’s get into it.

About My Preferences:

This review is a subjective assessment and is therefore influenced by my personal preferences. While I try to minimize those biases as much as possible during the review process, I’d be lying if I said they could be eliminated entirely. With that in mind, here’s what you should know about my listening preferences:

My ideal sound signature includes capable sub-bass, textured mid-bass, a slightly warm midrange, and extended treble.

I have mild treble sensitivity.

My testing equipment and standards can be found here.

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TXN Ceramic Specifications

• Weight: 10 grams, excluding cable
• Type: Universal in-ear monitor (IEM)
• Driver: Single Golden Ceramic diaphragm dynamic driver
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW
• Housing: 5-axis CNC-machined aerospace-grade aluminum
• Finish: Anodized aluminum
• Cable: TXN Aegis 2X
• Cable Conductor: 7N OCC copper, sourced from Taiwan
• IEM Connectors: Gold-plated 0.78 mm 2-pin
• Termination: Gold-plated 4.4 mm balanced

Build

The Ceramic’s shells are made from beautifully anodized aluminum. They’re cleanly machined and exude both class and quality. The aluminum faceplates are mostly unadorned, save for some screen-printed text. I don’t mind printed text, but I find the Ceramic’s mismatched fonts somewhat cheapen its otherwise austere aesthetic.

I’m a big fan of the Ceramic’s thoughtful proportions. A lot of brands reuse generic shell designs, but it’s clear that TXN has taken a different approach. The nozzles are metal and integrated directly into the main shell. They’re narrower than most, allowing for deeper insertion and better overall ergonomics.

The top of each Ceramic shell houses a recessed 0.78 mm 2-pin socket that feels firmly seated. Aftermarket cable compatibility is also excellent, and I had no issues using offerings from PlusSound, THIEAUDIO, or NiceHCK with the Ceramic.

The Ceramic’s cable is reasonably soft and has very little memory or stiffness. Its outer jacket has a somewhat rubbery feel, reminding me more of old-school high-end IEM cables than the smooth, low-friction materials commonly used today.

The cable features polished metal plug housings and a simple rubber chin cinch. There isn’t much strain relief, however, so I’d be careful not to pull or bend it sharply at awkward angles.

Comfort

Comfort is a metric that depends heavily on individual ear anatomy, so your mileage may vary.

The Ceramic is a very comfortable IEM with a clear focus on ergonomics. Its slender nozzles allow for deeper ear tip insertion, resulting in excellent passive isolation. While the Ceramic isn’t particularly light, it never feels overly heavy, and the cable remains comfortable during extended listening sessions.

Overall, TXN has done an excellent job making the Ceramic easy to wear for long periods.

Accessories

The Ceramic comes with a solid selection of accessories in the box:

• 1 x Semi-hard carrying case
• 1 x Padded IEM pouch
• 1 x Microfiber cleaning cloth
• 1 x Shirt clip
• 1 x 4.4 mm cable
• 7 x Pairs of silicone ear tips
• 1 x Pair of tweezers
• 3 x Pairs of nozzle dampers

I’m glad to see that TXN included a padded IEM pouch, as the Ceramic’s metal shells could potentially damage one another if they collide during transit. That’s a concern with many metal-shelled IEMs, so it’s good to see TXN thinking ahead and providing some extra protection for long-term ownership.

The included carrying case, however, leaves something to be desired. I generally dislike cases that lack a positive locking mechanism, such as a zipper, because they tend to become less secure over time. Wear and tear can loosen components, eventually compromising the closure.

The Ceramic’s case is attractive and feels premium, but the lid is loose enough to separate from the base under its own weight. That isn’t especially secure and could potentially lead to accidental damage if the case opens during handling or transit.

TXN’s choice of ear tips, however, is quite good. The included silicone and liquid-silicone tips are comfortable and provide a solid seal, although foam ear tips are conspicuously absent. That’s unfortunate, as the Ceramic’s slender nozzles and ergonomic design make it especially well suited to the improved isolation that foam tips can provide.

Listening

The Ceramic features a gently V-shaped sound signature. Its bass is moderately elevated above a refined, neutrally toned midrange. The upper mids are lifted enough to give vocals and instruments clarity and separation, but not so much that they take on an artificial sense of forwardness.

Above that sits a mild, transparent, and airy treble response. The Ceramic’s overall presentation is notably free of drama and exceptionally cohesive.

Refinement and Clarity Without Intensity

The beauty of the Ceramic’s treble is how articulate it sounds without the sheen of artificial boosting. Hi-hats and cymbals are clear and distinct, attacking and decaying with impressive speed. The Ceramic grasps the edges of percussive decay greedily, rendering them with depth and texture. In essence, the Ceramic is precisely as bright as it needs to be to resolve music with air and honesty, and no brighter.

This philosophy of organic emphasis not only allows the Ceramic to render an impressive breadth of tones and textures, but also to extract detail without sounding sharp or sibilant. Harshly mastered tracks such as “Satisfy” by Nero pose no threat to even highly sensitive ears. Albums with peaky, aggressive mastering, such as Famous by Puddle of Mudd, are likewise surprisingly pleasant through the Ceramic, as its carefully tuned treble renders the metallic slam of hi-hats without unnecessary drama.

Polished Midrange Tuning

The Ceramic’s midrange is tonally neutral, with a small amount of lower-midrange warmth concentrated in the narrow region adjacent to the mid-bass. Combined with its responsibly elevated upper-midrange response, the Ceramic renders vocals with clarity and focus, but without the cold sterility that often accompanies so-called “reference” IEMs.

The lonesome vocals in “Drag Path” by Twenty One Pilots demonstrate this particularly well as they drift across the track’s wide, windswept soundstage. Lyrical intelligibility is excellent, with the Ceramic properly articulating even filtered or distorted vocals in busy mixes.

TXN nailed the Ceramic’s balance between natural, organic timbre and tonal cleanliness. String instruments and percussion sound harmonically complete without becoming heavy or burdened. As a result, complex and nuanced tracks exhibit strong layering and contrast, especially during busy passages.

The chaotic verses of “Destroya” by My Chemical Romance demonstrate this technical ability nicely, as the Ceramic blends high-strung electric guitars with gritty vocals and feral drum strikes, all without smudging or blurring the presentation.

Audiophile-Grade Bass

The Ceramic is not a mainstream IEM, and its tuning fully acknowledges that. Bass emphasis, while elevated above what I’d consider truly neutral, is still not particularly intense. There’s a noticeable lift through the sub-bass and mid-bass, although emphasis begins to roll off somewhat below 40 Hz.

There’s still plenty of tonal depth, and the Ceramic is capable of producing convincing rumble when a track truly calls for it. The atmospheric bass lines in “Dial Tone” by Catch Your Breath are a great example, as the Ceramic effectively conveys the scale and imposing nature of those elements.

The mid-bass delivers a subtle sense of punch, placing tight, well-controlled bursts of emphasis around drum hits and synthetic bass pulses. The weighty bass guitar and drums in “One Debt Away” by Middle Class Rut reveal plenty of texture and depth, working especially well with the Ceramic’s natural and transparent low-end presentation.

Electronic music sounds full and tonally complete through the Ceramic, but it never becomes especially vibrant or intense. I suspect that’s largely by design, given the Ceramic’s apparent mission: clarity over drama. “Divide” by ODESZA, for example, is rendered with depth and contrast, but it doesn’t shake my head the way a more bass-oriented IEM might.

Similarly, the hectic bass drop in “Trapdoor” by Feed Me reaches deep and offers subtle hints of punch and rumble, but I’m still left wanting more.

Comparisons

Comparisons are selected solely based on what I think will be most interesting and useful. If there’s another IEM you’d like to see compared with the Ceramic, feel free to leave a request in the comments below.

Campfire Audio Cascara

The Cascara is a resin-shelled IEM with metal nozzles and a single dynamic driver per side. Pricing ranges from $499 to $699, depending on the accessory package selected.

Both the Cascara and the Ceramic are ergonomically designed, although the Ceramic’s smaller nozzles allow me to achieve a better seal. The Cascara’s Timestream cable is excellent, and I prefer its aesthetics to those of the Ceramic’s cable. Both are comfortable in use, and neither is particularly microphonic.

While the Cascara and Ceramic have similar driver configurations on paper, they sound entirely different. The Cascara is an unapologetically V-shaped IEM, with boisterous bass that is elevated well beyond the Ceramic’s. Both IEMs sound deep and well extended, although the Cascara’s bass is richer and imparts a greater sense of depth with electronic music.

The more reserved Ceramic trades some of that sense of fun for a more controlled approach, dialing back warmth in the lower registers. Its cooler lower midrange blends nicely with the restrained bass response, creating a more consistent sense of openness and cleanliness.

The Cascara’s upper mids are more forward, adding greater vocal contrast to the mix, but at the expense of some grain that the Ceramic avoids. That difference carries into the treble as well, where the Ceramic’s more refined presentation sounds more natural and less grainy overall.

Both IEMs retrieve a substantial amount of treble detail, although the Ceramic edges out the Cascara when resolving subtle hi-hat and cymbal decay during busy passages.

And while I’d like to call this a clean sweep one way or the other, I can’t. The Cascara and Ceramic excel in areas where the other simply does not.

The Cascara’s deeper V-shaped tuning makes it more immediately engaging with a wide range of music, especially tracks that rely heavily on sub-bass rumble. The Ceramic, however, is more tonally refined and offers some modest technical advantages over the Cascara.

It’s clear that not everyone will appreciate what the Cascara brings to this comparison, but it’s still the IEM I reach for more often when I’m in the mood for casual listening at higher volumes. The Ceramic is certainly entertaining, but it doesn’t quite capture the Cascara’s charisma.

Xenns Mangird Tea Pro SE

The Tea Pro SE is an all-metal hybrid IEM and a limited-edition revision of the venerable Tea Pro. At $449, it costs about $140 less than the Ceramic. Both IEMs come well equipped with accessories, including a wide selection of comfortable ear tips. The Tea Pro SE includes foam tips, while the Ceramic does not. Both also come with soft, comfortable cables, although the Ceramic uses a fixed 4.4 mm termination rather than the modular system found on the Tea Pro SE. 

The Tea Pro SE also targets a “balanced” sound signature, but goes about its business in a very different way. The Ceramic features less bass, both mid-bass and sub-bass, along with a cooler lower midrange. Its upper mids are more forward, and its lower treble is slightly brighter, while the Tea Pro SE places more emphasis on the upper treble.

The Tea Pro SE’s smoother, richer lower register gives it an edge with electronic music, as bursts of bass, like those in “Derezzed (The Glitch Mob Remix),” feel weightier and more tactile. That said, the Ceramic’s cleaner, lighter presentation allows it to render densely mastered tracks like “Waste” by Seether with more air. Both IEMs are highly capable, although the Tea Pro SE’s more dramatic treble presentation allows it to surface certain subtle details more easily.

Those details are still present on the Ceramic, but they require closer listening in quieter environments. The Ceramic’s lower register, while less “fun” because of its more restrained emphasis, feels tighter and more textured.

The Tea Pro SE is a clear winner for listeners who prefer a U-shaped sound signature. It clearly appeals to those who enjoy meta-style tuning, and does so for substantially less than the Ceramic. That said, the Ceramic offers an unmistakable improvement in cohesion and a mastery of subtlety that the Tea Pro SE does not.

The Ceramic achieves what it does with a single dynamic driver and, as such, may also prove less susceptible to driver-related failures over time than the more complex Tea Pro SE. I don’t have a strong opinion on which IEM is “better” here, as neither fits cleanly within my personal preferences, and each is clearly aimed at a different audience.

Meze Astru

The Astru is Meze’s new flagship IEM. It features an all-titanium build and a single dynamic driver per side. At $899, the Astru costs a little less than twice as much as the Ceramic. Both IEMs come well equipped with accessories, although the Astru’s case is much more protective and space-efficient. The Ceramic comes with a better selection of ear tips, and Meze still hasn’t quite figured out how to strike the right balance of variety with its IEMs.

I much prefer the Astru’s thicker, sturdier cable and appreciate Meze’s inclusion of a 3.5 mm-to-4.4 mm adapter. The Astru is also much smaller and lighter than the Ceramic, offering better ergonomics and greater comfort during extended listening sessions.

If you’ve heard Meze’s products before, you’ll understand that the company’s house sound is quite different from how I’ve described the Ceramic. “Lean and clean” is pretty far removed from Meze’s unique blend of warmth and richness, and that couldn’t be clearer when A/B testing the Astru and Ceramic. The Astru has more prominent mid-bass and sub-bass, rendering bass elements with greater weight and substance than the Ceramic.

The Ceramic’s lower mids are cooler and more sterile, possessing only a small degree of the Astru’s warmth. The Astru’s upper mids are slightly less forward than the Ceramic’s. The Ceramic has similarly bright lower treble, but the Astru has considerably brighter upper treble, giving it a more V-shaped presentation overall. The Ceramic’s “cleaner” presentation, while lacking the Astru’s honey-like warmth, sounds airier and more open when listening to hectic rock tracks such as “Jars” by Chevelle. That said, the Astru does offer some modest improvements in spatial rendering and upper-treble microtexturing. These subtleties are difficult to perceive outside of critical listening sessions, but they are present nonetheless.

These IEMs aren’t exactly peers, but I found it interesting to compare two modern single-dynamic-driver designs. The Astru is an excellent example of just how far dynamic-driver technology has come in recent years, and the Ceramic isn’t very far behind in technical terms. The Astru is clearly aimed at listeners interested in an exotic, TOTL experience who are willing to pay for it.

As an IEM that fully embraces Meze’s house sound, it should also appeal to listeners who favor warmth and weight. At roughly two-thirds the price, the Ceramic is still a strong performer, but it really belongs in the ears of someone more interested in a “reference-style” or “clean” sound signature.

The Bottom Line

The TXN Ceramic proves that you don’t need a pile of drivers to deliver genuinely high-end IEM performance. Its single dynamic driver produces a remarkably cohesive, clean, and articulate presentation with excellent timbre, controlled bass, an open midrange, and refined treble that extracts detail without becoming aggressive. Build quality and ergonomics are equally impressive, although the carrying case and lack of foam tips feel like strange omissions at nearly $600. Bassheads and listeners chasing a more dramatic V-shaped presentation should look elsewhere, but for those who value tonal balance, clarity, comfort, and single-driver coherence, the Ceramic is a polished and unusually mature performer.

Pros:

• Excellent single-driver cohesion and articulation
• Refined, balanced tuning without harshness or sibilance
• Beautifully machined aluminum construction
• Excellent comfort, isolation, and ergonomics
• Strong technical performance with natural timbre

Cons:

• Fixed 4.4 mm cable termination limits flexibility
• Nearly $600 in a fiercely competitive category
• Bass may be too restrained for some listeners
• Carrying case does not close securely enough
• No foam ear tips included

Our Ratings

★★★★★★★★★★ Sound Quality

★★★★★★★★★★ Build Quality

★★★★★★★★★★ Comfort

★★★★★★★★★★ Value

Where to Buy:

You can find the Ceramic on TXN’s official webstore for $590.

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A cash discount program is a legal pricing structure where a business advertises standard card prices and offers an automatic discount—typically 3% to 4%—to customers who pay with cash or check, directly recovering processing fees at checkout. When configured with compliant point-of-sale (POS) software and clear point-of-entry signage, it eliminates up to 100% of credit card acceptance costs without violating payment card network rules or triggering regulatory penalties.

Quick Take

For small businesses operating on thin profit margins, credit card processing fees between 1.5% and 3.5% represent an unnecessary drain on net profits. A properly structured cash discount program protects your bottom line by passing processing costs to card-paying customers through standard listed prices while rewarding cash buyers with a line-item discount at the register. Unlike surcharging—which requires card network registration, prohibits debit card fees, and faces strict state restrictions—cash discounting is legal in all 50 states when implemented with proper point-of-sale disclosures and receipt line-item transparency.

Understanding Payment Processing Costs

Every credit card swipe, chip insert, or contactless tap triggers a sequence of interchange, assessment, and merchant processor fees. Interchange fees, set by networks like Visa and Mastercard and paid to card-issuing banks, make up the vast majority of processing overhead. When combined with processor markups, a typical retail or service business pays an effective processing rate between 2.2% and 3.8% depending on card types, reward tier structures, and transaction methods.

For high-frequency or mobile businesses—such as food trucks, farm markets, and field service contractors—these fractional fees accumulate rapidly into thousands of dollars in monthly overhead. For mobile vendors, pop-up markets, and field service businesses, adopting flexible mobile credit card processing services helps track real-time transaction margins and automate cash discount calculations directly on mobile hardware. Lowering these costs requires understanding how your processing pricing model works before choosing a cost-recovery strategy like cash discounting.

What Is a Cash Discount Program?

A cash discount program is a pricing mechanism that offers a lower price to customers paying with cash, checks, or store-branded gift cards instead of electronic payment cards. The core mechanical difference between cash discounting and other pricing adjustments lies in how base prices are displayed to the public:

• Base Listed Price: All shelf tags, menu boards, service quotes, and online price lists display the regular card price (for example, $10.40).
• Cash Transaction: At the register, the POS system automatically applies a cash discount (for example, $0.40), bringing the final price paid down to $10.00.
• Card Transaction: The customer pays the full listed base price of $10.40, which covers the underlying credit card processing fee.

Federal law under the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. § 1666f) explicitly protects the right of merchants to offer cash discounts to induce non-card payments, provided the discount is made available to all customers and disclosed clearly prior to purchase.

Cash Discount vs. Surcharge vs. Dual Pricing

Choosing the wrong fee-recovery model or mislabeling checkout fees can lead to severe processor fines and merchant account cancellation. Business owners must distinguish between three distinct pricing models:

Under the Durbin Amendment under Regulation II, merchants are strictly barred from imposing surcharges on debit card transactions, even when the customer selects “credit” at the terminal. Applying a surcharge to a debit card is one of the most common compliance violations recorded by card brand auditors.

Furthermore, Visa’s merchant compliance standards state that if a merchant advertises a lower base price on shelf tags and then adds a fee line item at the terminal for card users—regardless of whether the business labels it a “service fee,” “technology fee,” or “non-cash adjustment”—it is legally classified as a surcharge. Misrepresenting a surcharge as a cash discount risks immediate fines starting at $1,000 per occurrence from card brand compliance teams.

How to Set Up a Compliant Cash Discount Program

Implementing a fully compliant cash discount program requires updating your hardware, software, signage, and customer service workflows in lockstep.

Step 1: Audit Processing Rates and POS Hardware

Before launching any new pricing model, consult with your current payment processor to confirm whether their software supports automated dual pricing and line-item cash discount receipts. Review your average monthly processing statement to determine your effective rate. Select a discount percentage (typically between 3% and 4%) that accurately covers your total processing overhead without overcharging customers.

Step 2: Configure Terminal Software and Receipt Itemization

Your POS terminal must be programmed to handle the discount calculations automatically. Ensure your software meets the following conditions:

• Calculates the discount before tax to avoid improper tax collection.
• Displays the original card price, the discount amount, and the final cash total on the terminal screen.
• Prints receipts clearly itemizing the regular card price alongside the cash discount deduction line.

Step 3: Install Required Point-of-Sale Disclosures

Transparency is essential for legal compliance and customer retention. According to credit card surcharge regulations and cash discount framework rules, disclosures must be posted prominently where customers make purchase decisions:

• At all public business entrances.
• At each checkout terminal, register, or counter.
• On printed menus, digital price displays, and online order portals.

Signage should use positive language, such as: “All advertised prices reflect our standard card pricing. As a courtesy to our cash-paying customers, we offer a 4% discount at checkout when paying with cash or check.”

Step 4: Train Staff on Customer Communication

Frontline staff should be prepared to explain the cash discount model clearly and politely. Frame the program as a reward for cash buyers rather than a punishment for card users. Staff should emphasize that customers who pay with cash save money on every transaction, while cardholders pay the standard listed tag price.

Common Misconceptions and Compliance Risks

Many small businesses inadvertently commit card network violations by purchasing turnkey “cash discount” packages from unverified vendors. Avoid these critical traps:

• The “Non-Cash Adjustment” Trap: Automatically adding a 4% “service fee” at the register to a base cash price is a surcharge, not a cash discount. Calling it a “non-cash adjustment” on receipts does not bypass card brand rules.
• Failure to Update Shelf Tags: If your shelf price or menu lists $10.00, but the customer’s receipt shows a $10.40 charge when using a card, you have surcharged the customer. All listed prices must reflect the card price.
• Ignoring Card Brand Audits: Both Visa and Mastercard run active compliance auditing programs. Under Visa merchant violation remedies, businesses found operating non-compliant fee programs receive warning notices requiring remediation within 30 days, followed by mounting financial penalties if uncorrected.
• Overcharging Surcharges: For businesses choosing a surcharge model instead of a cash discount, Mastercard merchant surcharge rules explicitly cap credit card surcharges at the merchant’s actual cost of acceptance or 3% to 4%, whichever is lower.

Where Cash Discounting Has Limits

While cash discounting protects profit margins for many businesses, it is not universally optimal for every business model:

• High-Ticket B2B Transactions: B2B buyers relying on corporate procurement cards rarely carry large amounts of cash. A 3.5% price difference on a $20,000 order may create sales friction or lead clients to demand invoice net-terms instead. Exploring an interchange-plus pricing guide may yield lower fees without altering customer checkout workflows.
• E-Commerce and Card-Not-Present Environments: Implementing cash discounts online requires specialized payment gateways capable of supporting alternative payment methods like ACH bank transfers or digital wallets at checkout.
• Premium or Luxury Retail: Luxury brands often avoid cash discount signage at checkout, choosing instead to fold processing overhead into standard margin pricing to preserve high-end brand perception.

Key Takeaways

• Cash discount programs allow merchants to offer a discount off the standard card price to customers who pay with cash, recovering credit card processing costs legally.
• Cash discounting is legal in all 50 states and applies to both debit and credit card transactions when structured correctly.
• All shelf pricing, menus, and signage must display the card price as the standard price, with the cash discount subtracted at checkout.
• Adding a fee at checkout to a lower listed price is legally classified as a surcharge, triggering strict network limits and debit card prohibitions.
• Compliant point-of-sale hardware and staff training are essential to avoid card brand fines and maintain customer trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

Regions such as Galicia, Asturias, Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands experienced the path of totality, while the rest of the country saw a partial eclipse.

The solar corona glows as the moon completely blocks the sun during the totality phase, as seen from San Asensio in the La Rioja region.

Photograph: Ander Gillenea/Getty Images

The event lasted about four and a half hours, while the total darkening of the sky lasted just under two minutes, allowing various space agencies to conduct scientific experiments along the path of totality.

Fans of Real Madrid watch the solar eclipse through special glasses before the Teresa Herrera Trophy match between RC Deportivo A Coruña and Real Madrid at Riazor Stadium.

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Photograph: José Manuel Álvarez Rey/Getty Images

One of the most notable projects involved a NASA mission tracking the moon’s shadow using a WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft that flew at 50,000 feet. A team of scientists sought to gather new data on the dynamics of the solar corona—the sun’s outermost atmosphere—which can only be studied in detail during total eclipses.

Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

$219 is the lowest we’ve seen Nothing’s debut over-ear headphones drop since they launched at $299.

The Nothing Headphone (1) have fallen from its $299 list price to $219, a 27% saving on a pair of headphones built to look like nothing else currently sitting in the best headphones 2026 conversation.