Design, Build Quality
ANIMA’s real eye catcher clearly are the extraordinary Bello Opal faceplates. Bello Opal is composed of orderly arrays of silica, certified by GIA as synthetic opal. The extremely complex and precise manufacturing process gives it an awesome play of colour, impossible to find in any other material. Every piece is unique, with crystals of different shapes and sizes.
The second eye-catcher is the real silver nozzle. The nozzle is a crucial element between the drivers and your eardrums, like a tiny room housing your speakers. Every listening room needs precise geometry and special finishing materials to bring out the best in your audio. After dozens of trials (and errors), Lime Ears realized the significant role material plays in the final timbre and imaging. They needed some sort of mass to ensure the weight and clarity of the low end while ensuring the perfect transfer of high and ultra-high frequencies. The manufacturing technology, including a considerable amount of hand-processing, leaves the inside of the horn slightly textured. Combined with the geometry, this texture enhances the reflection and dispersion of high and ultra-high frequencies, directing them straight to your ear. Silver oxidizes over time and changes like its owner.
The extreme complexity of Anima requires exceptional designing practices. This is where computer-aided design (CAD) and the state-of-the-art manufacturing process meet. Every element is perfectly matched and hand-finished to the highest standards. In the ANIMA manufacturing process, wax 3D printing, waterjet cutting, pure silver casting, resin 3D printing, laser engraving and CNC cutting with hand assembly, point-to-point soldering and hand-finishing all come together.
From a user’s point of view, the design of course is something very personal. If you don’t like the Opal colors and don’t have any affinity with silver, you probably won’t the biggest fan of ANIMA’s design. I like the design myself (I’m also a big fan of Discovery Channel’s “Outback Opal Finder” series), and the only thing that bothers me somewhat is the shell size of the earpieces. (see the next chapter). It’s really nice to see the green Opal reflections of the face plate are also present in the ear pieces.
Build-quality-wise you expect the very best at this price level, and that is exactly what you get. Perfectly printed acrylic hollow body design shells (color matching the opal), beautiful faceplate closings, gorgeously finished silver nozzles (No grill, impressive depth. A combination of 3D printing, jewellery-grade wax printing, and precision metal casting) and flush/sturdy (non recessed) 2-pin connectors.
Comfort & Isolation
The Lime Ears ANIMA is a bigger in size than most of my other universals. The ear-shell size is not surprising seeing they need to fit 13 drivers inside, as well as the horn-design silver nozzle.
The ANIMA does sticks out of your ears quite a bit but that of course doesn’t impact the sound quality. I know the shell size is important for many of our readers, so if you prefer small IEMs that disappear in your ear (like the Vision Ears EXT just to name one), you better look elsewhere.
The ANIME – once properly fitted – is quite comfortable to use. It’s not the lightest with all those drivers and tech inside, but they do nicely stay in place when moving around. The (over ear) cable (more on that later) also doesn’t drag down the earpieces. If you have very small canals, the diameter of the nozzle with tip included could be challenging to your ear. I have small canals and must use a very small tip for them to properly fit my ears (Comply Foam works best for me).
Isolation-wise, these universal IEMs perform exceptionally. Because of the tight fit with my smaller ear canals, all outside sound is blocked out. I can’t hear anything except for my music when I ma wearing these, which has been seriously frustrating my wife who is working 2 offices down the hallway. Do take this into account when using these IEMs outside if you’re in the same position as me. It’s good for the sound quality, but more dangerous out in traffic.
Tips
With universal IEMs, tip selection is crucial for isolation, comfort, and sound quality. Initially Lime Ears didn’t send any tips as they wanted to get our feedback of the best tips to use, but then a week later or so, Emil shipped me some tips anyway.
In that package I found a bag of SpinFit CP145 tips, as well as the Symbio W tips. The consumer package is supposed to come with the SpinFit set, a Final Audio E set and a Comply Foam tip set. I am glad to see the Comply Foam tips now come included, as those are my preferred ones.
I have tried multiple tips with the ANIMA, and the Comply foam tips are the most comfortable to wear. Sonically I also like their presentation as they bring a good sonic balance. Think powerful lows, energetic highs and vibrant mids. I did not like the Symbio W at all, but the CP145 are quite alright. I just prefer the foam tips over them as they offer better comfort.
I do recommend getting in some extra sets of tips if you plan on buying or demoing the ANIMA, as the tips will make a huge difference on all levels.
Specifications
Drivers:
- 7mm Titanium Dynamic driver,
- 8 Balanced Armature drivers,
- 4 Electrostatic drivers
- 1DD infra-sub,
- 2BA sub,
- 2 BA low,
- 2 BA mid,
- 2 BA high,
- 4 EST superhigh
Crossover: 6-way, hybrid
Sensitivity 112dB
Impedance 16Ω
Range: 5Hz – 40kHz (theoretical)
The article continues on the third page, click here or use the jumps below.
Page 1: Lime Ears, ANIMA, Features
Page 2: Design & Build quality, Comfort & Isolation, tip selection, specifications,
Page 3: Cable, Price & Accessories, Sound
Page 4: Sources, Comparison, Conclusion
