Lime Ears Aether R – Review

7. Sources

 

I prefer listening to the Aether R in balanced mode and my three favorite sources with the Aether R are the Lotoo PAW 6000, the Astell & Kern KANN CUBE and the Cayin N6ii.

We only reviewed the Lotoo PAW 6000 last week, but it’s an incredibly good DAP and has earned a spot on our recommended buy list already. Its tonality is warmer and very musical and this really works well with the more neutral Aether R, you get the perfect mix of both “worlds”. It makes the Aether R precise and detailed, yet neutral and very musical. It’s a combo which works well with all kinds of music and it’s a great all-round one if you listen to many different musical genres and always want good detail but also musicality. Treble is on the softer side and bass isn’t the tightest, but it’s very pleasing to the ear.

With the KANN CUBE you get a very powerful sound where cleanness, precision and energy are the main characteristics. The CUBE is less warm in its presentation compared to the PAW 6000, so you get a more neutral, more analytic presentation. Don’t get me wrong as this is also musical to the ear, it’s just less smooth and warm and that enhances the neutral presentation experience. The treble section with this combo has better extension and treble detail, while the voices in the mids are somewhat more forward. The bass section is a lot faster and tighter and it has a nicer kick with good impact.

With the Cayin N6ii you have the possibility to switch motherboards. The T01 is the one which sounds most like the Aether R and you get a nice sound stage, great clarity, spaciousness and excellent treble. With the A01 module the Aether R sounds a bit more intimate but you get more body in return. For me the Aether R performs best with the technically strongest T01 module as it really shows what the Aether R is capable of. The A01 limits the Aether R somewhat in my perception.

I would always combine a technically strong source for use with the Aether R, as it just brings out the best of it and let’s it show off what it is so good at. Sure you can match it with a warmer and fuller source to make it smoother and less neutral, but hat’s not really what the Aether R is about.

Lime Ears Aether R

8. Comparisons

The original Aether wasn’t as spacious and it had a more intimate presentation compared to the new R. The R version is more airy, has better separation and delivers the music in a more open and natural, yet neutral way.

Body-wise the original Aether gives the impression of being fuller in bass, mids but also the treble region, where as you now get more detail, better timbre and more decay with improved depth.

To me the Aether R is better in almost every way, looking at the neutral, linear and precise character Lime Ears is going for. In the original Aether I do feel the sub bass switch effect is more obvious, and the treble presentation in the original was more energetic and focused, where it now is more neutral and drawing less attention to itself. Treble maybe is the only point some more improvement could be done in but on the other hand, there aren’t a lot of monitors around which are 100% perfect either.

Conclusion

It took a while for Lime Ears to update their flagship monitor but in the end the improvement is there. The new Aether R was worth waiting for and it now is a more reference, higher end monitor with a natural, neutral tuning and a smooth yet musical presentation. I do advise to use a better high end aftermarket cable with the Aether R as it will reveal what the new flagship monitor really is capable of.

Price-quality-wise you get a lot in return looking at how the 1200€ Aether R performs. The Aether is is an almost perfect do-it-all monitor and it doesn’t break the bank. What’s not to like?

As a result it replaces the original Aether R on our recommended buy list of Custom IEMs.

Well done!

4.5/5 - (39 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

1 Comment

  • Reply January 22, 2020

    SC

    Thanks Lieven, wonderful review! I can’t read this review without wondering how this Lime Ears Aether R flagship compares to the other Polish flagship, the Custom Art FIBAE 7 (the review of which I think I also commented on, heh). They seem to share a lot of similarities: Both are in approximately the same price bracket, both are described as aiming for (and hitting) a natural/shades of neutral sound, both are somewhat spartan in terms of packaging and accessories but high in terms of value, customer service, and fit. Are there any comparison points that stand out to you between these two Polish flagships?

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