Lime Ears Aether R – Review

6. Sound

The tonality according to Lime Ears is the following:

In “neutral” switch position Aether R maintains neutral tonality with a very slight emphasis on subwoofer lows and crispy highs. With the subwoofer driver switched up it receives a powerful and accurate punch in the lowest region, while maintaining great clarity and dynamics of both mids and an increased sparkle in highs. Regarding space, Emil has the following to say: Extreme sound source separation, natural width, incomparable depth.

General

I’ve been playing with the Aether R for several months already as you know, so I am sorry for the delay in publication of this review. Aether R’s fit is perfect and as you know everything starts with a good fit.

Sound-wise to me the R sounds nicely spacious and realistic with good portions of air from bass to treble. That combined with the dynamic and energetic vibe make it a really natural monitor to listen to, from top to bottom. The sound stage has good width and depth and the layering also is nice. The stereo image and left-right separation is really good and you get an open sounding, out of your head experience.

The general tuning is to the neutral side but with a high musicality factor and a smooth-ish delivery. With the switch “off” you get a more neutral, balanced an linear tuned sound. Flick the switch “on” and the sub bass comes in to play without changing anything else from bass to mids. Flicking the switch doesn’t dramatically change the sound signature it just makes the low end leaner, bigger, deeper and more impactful. I have to say I keep the subs switched on almost 100% of the time, it’s just more fun. But if you want the sound signature for some songs or sources to be less bass deep, then just use the Aether R with the neutral setting.

The clarity is impressive just like the balance, stereo image, precision, timbre and detail. Voices sound natural and blend perfectly in the delivery. Nothing gets put to the front or the back, delivery is clean and it’s just a pure joy to listen to. As aid, the Aether R extends well in all directions and the layering is really nice, especially in the mids.

The new Aether R also is quite the step up from the original Aether if you ask me. It’s technically better, more coherent and the Aether R now absolutely plays with the very best monitors on the market again.

Classics

Of course we’re starting with the bass here as that’s what the Aether R’s unique feature is about. As said, switching the subs on doesn’t transform the Aether R into bass monsters. What you do get it extra depth and sub rumble. There is no impact on the speed, clarity, detail and precision and the reference neutral tuning will stay intact. You don’t get a warmer kind of sound with the subs switched on either, it’s all about the sub presence and as such, I have it “on” almost all of the time.

Turn it off and bass becomes more neutral with less depth. Bass in both cases is tight and fast and has a good amount of detail and dynamics. Bass is energetic and foot tapping, but the bass will never be overly present. Aether R has a musically neutral tuning, and as a result, the bass is always well within the neutral limits. Even with the subs turned on, this isn’t a basshead’s monitor. The Aether R isn’t build for being about bass. It’s balanced and linear from highs to lows.

The mids flow perfectly from the bass region and they have great timbre, space and airiness. The vocals are perfectly integrated in the mids as well and you get a musical, natural presentation. The layering in the mids maybe is the best and the notes may have the best extension here, but it’s especially the high natural presentation which makes these mids so special.

The treble section is clean and precise and it’s perfectly inline with the bass and mids. Treble is dynamic and fits perfectly in to the rest of the spectrum, but it’s probably not the most extended treble. The tuning of the treble is very safe, but it does work perfectly with the mids and bass section. It has enough energy to make things lively, and at he same time musical.

Conclusion

To me the Aether R sounds best with the subs switched on but even in that case you get a linear, neutrally tuned, yet musical presentation. The subs just give the lows that extra push and that with the slightly smooth and musical presentation of the mids make this a very pleasing neutral monitor.

On the last Page of the article we check out the synergy with some selected sources, we compare it to the original Aether and we present our final conclusion. RIGHT HERE