EarAcoustic SPA Limited Edition HiFi Audiophile In-Ear Earphone IEMs

After long break TFZ(The Fragrant Zither), it wasn't clear will company return with new line of iem's and continue glory of excellent products, instead TFZ got rebranded self with a new name EarAcoustic Audio and released completely new line of products, and to be honest all of iem's are masterpiece, doesn't really matter budget range from low bracket to the flagship. New design of iem's they have released is something new and comes like a refreshment to the community of an audiophile hobby, iem's aren't only beautifully designed, plus sound is perfected, refined and balanced to justify the ratio of price/quality!

Disclaimer:

EarAcoustic Audio sent me a sample unit of Spa Limited Edition v2 for an honest review, I'm not paid for this review, and all what I write it will be from my personal experience listening to this beautiful masterpiece.

Little notice:

Before i have received Spa Limited Edition V2, i have watched many videos and photos, and yes in all of this media SPA LE are so beautiful designed to the perfection, but after receiving it, i cant enough emphasis how much beautiful looks holding in my hands! Since one of my jobs was working for art gallery, i had deep appreciation about Spa LE, like holding masterpiece of some artwork, and from art perspective, Spa LE are artwork, i have held in my hands so many different artwork and jewelry, and with Spa LE i had same feeling, that craftsmanship and details around iem are so astonishing. And this isn't something you can see everyday, in the ocean of Iem world, where almost every second iem looks cloned, with Spa LE is a completely new and unique experience!


Pros:

Impeccable Design
Natural more organic sound signature
Affordable FlagShip(429$)
Premium Quality
Great Accessories Cable Quality
and many others.

Cons:

Only comes with 3.5mm termination





Unboxing, Design, other:

Unboxing:

Since its flagship model it's expected to be perfect and trust me it is! Let's start first with box, classic cubical box, with silver material and engraved "Silver Angel" and company Logo and Name, even from this part you can notice, EarAcoustic Audio took attention to the last detail, everything is neat and organized with high quality very much premium material and its not only for presentation, its for protection as well! On the box you have enough information about the company and model inside. Inside the box, you have a little black paper box with accessories inside are 2 pairs with 3 sizes of eartips on elastic plastic comb holders, standard papers. Under are iems on hard foam placed, positioned with faceplates watching you, at this moment you will realize how much this iem is so beautiful, faceplates are protected with plastic cover, very similar to what they have used on jewelry or screen protector for phones. And under are iems, a storage box, very fancy circular shape with zip, with premium 3.5 cable inside and bracelet with and Rhomb Shape. The same material is on the faceplate of iems and leather cable holder with button.

Design of Iem:

Huh this is the most trickiest part ever, how to fully describe, but no worries pictures are here to help. Faceplate Design is master of all designs, i mean overall the whole IEM is brutally amazing designed, everything i mean like everything on this iem is designed to the perfection. Faceplates are decorated with little diamonds, very small pieces like peel off or diamond dust not sure to be honest, and these little diamonds are so reflective so it's so hard to find the right angle in order to create a decent photo! In the center of the faceplate are 2 logos, on the right piece of iem in EarAcoustic Audio Logo, on the left piece is Snake, its Chinese year of Snake(2025), so in 2026 it's very possible it will be Horse. Iem has a 2 pin entrance, very tight packed, flat without a cradle. Nozzles are a little bit shorter and thicker, so if you are a Medium eartips user, Small size is also possible. Griller on the nozzle is designed like some star shape, and it's so fancy! Same fancy shape you have on the exterior of iem, i'm not sure if this is an additional hole for driver to better compress, and there is also discreet hole on the iem for driver decompression. Both iem's are engraved with L and R, on Left you have "SPA" and on Right you have "Silver Angel". Exterior of Iem is covered with little ribs all around it, and from here you can see the true level of craftsmanship! So many details it's almost impossible to describe it, so pictures will speak better than me.





Design of Cable:

Even though the cable is 3.5mm with a classic 2 pin connector, it's really a premium cable worthy of flagship, for stock cable quality is much better than I had anticipated. It's not like 4 or 8 or 16 cores plated cable, on appearance it looks like 2 core but its LITZ coaxial bundle oxygen free copper and silver plated wire mixed weave of 1.2m at middle of cable is split and each cable for left and right. Termination of cable is 3.5mm with some aluminum casing, little bit more premium, because when i hit with finger nails it doesn't produce hollow sound or giving impression of cheap, it is clear to have better density, this lead me to believe casing is more from metal, on casing is engraved "Silver Angel" with small and finest letters. Cable is like some silicone but more rougher, it will survive, and at the same time is friendly. At middle you have same metal like on casing followed with chin slider in shape of the ring, I like this chin sliders, they are great for controlling cable and minimizing microphonic every cable should have chin slider! Connectors are 2 pin with preformed friendly hooks, not aggressively performed nor flimsy, just perfect for longer sessions. Connector casing is the same metal already described and marked with color rings for classic Blue for Left and Red for Right. Also you have a leather cable holder with a button, for convenient packing.



Design of Eartips:

Decent stock eartips with white silicone one pair of 3 eartips is wide-bore and other is normal, this eartips are ok for the first time, i have tried both pairs, and normal eartips are little bit close to my liking, it will not improve bass just make it little bit punchy, mids will be little bit warmer treble will stay intact, this eartips will give you more than decent experience of Spa Le. Must mention, I have tested over 20+ different eartips on Spa Le, and iem is very versatile with any eartips I have tried.

Comfort and Isolation:

Even shells are decorated and this makes them slightly bigger, i didnt found any discomfort, they have fit in my ears just perfectly, my wife/audiophile with smaller ears had same experience. My most longest session was like 8+ hours and barely felt. Isolation is superb, due to little thicker nozzles no sound leaking, and still great comfort is preserved.


Specification:

Model: SPA-Limited Edition
Unit: 11.4mm Titanium Gold Ball Top+Silicon Crystal Edge Double sided Composite Diaphragm Double Magnetic Circuit Double Chamber Dynamic Coil Unit
Sensitivity: 111dB
Impedance: 25 ohms
Frequency response range: 5-40000Hz

Gear and Software:

I have used various dongles, dac's and a few Dap's, 4.4mm cables(silver and copper), a few of my phones and PC, over 20+ eartips, uapp app, hiby and fiio music app, spotify and youtube.







Sound Impression:

Initial impression was positive, but I have gone for burning Spa LE, and after 40+ hours of burning plus a few listening sessions before and it was enough, low and mid area slightly improved giving me even better sound experience.
Sound of Spa Le is neutral signature, very crispy, clear and sexy, it has enough technical details as well its very musical, plus low area is brutally executed, its little bit front positioned and i would dare to say it's more dominant than mids, the whole presentation giving you a vibe of flagship experience. Iem is very versatile and it will easily adapt to any source given. This is one of the most organic iem's i have ever tried.

Low Area:

Bass on Spa LE is the crown jewel, it has that signature of titanium driver, providing you with enough warmth, depending on the source or eartips could be boomy or even punchy, it's tight and controlled, and decay is moderate. Transition from Bass to Sub-bass to Mid-bass is nicely executed with clarity and there is enough rumble you will actually feel it, i wouldn't mind for more, but even this is more than enough. Mid-bass has enough slam and it's fast, and somehow it feels more realistic and engaging! I'm not a basshead, but with Spa LE i had a really positive experience, every bass frequency felt textured and full-bodied, who knows maybe i am becoming basshead. Even on higher volume, the bass wasn't changed, delivering the same experience!

Mid Area:

Spa LE has one of better organic/natural timbres, vocals sound so crispy and clear, it's forever a battle for me to determine which vocals sound better, when I think for a moment how female vocals are slightly better, some random track proves me wrong how male are! That amount of realism that Spa LE produces is incredible, there is more than enough harmony in vocals, literally you can hear what artist is trying to awake or share with you, is it emotion or energy or some intimacy. Tonality is nicely executed without any artificial colors, isnt add some warmth for coloration, it's so natural and yet very musical! With Spa LE it's so easy to catch every lyric, it's more oriented for listening than analyzing.

Instruments like Vocals are also have natural timbre, very detailed, with a lot of textures, slightly little bit forward than vocals, very realistic without some artificial additions, violins and string instruments sound so natural without some synthetic or plastic sound, giving you that genuine feeling like instrument is in same room with you. Same with guitar attack here but moderate, not aggressive, just with enough resonance. Almost every instrument you can hear is clear and precise, with a lot of fine details, even on some very complex tracks with plenty of instruments and vocals this is very noticeable and enjoyable to listen and experience. And to be more honest after burning Spa LE, some instruments lost that sharpness or edgy factor giving you even an extra listening experience of rounded sound.


Treble Area:

Having great low and mid area, treble is usually not great, but with Spa LE is a little bit different, treble is above average and maybe even more, and synergy with low and mid area is executed in the right manner. Spa LE aren't harsh or sibliant iem, no noises or anything strange, Spa LE aren't: shouty, sharp, dull, fatiguing, which for me is one big PLUS, and SPA LE offers even more. Treble is very smooth, easy going and clean. Detail Retrieval are more than average, they have just enough details to enjoy and not to spoil major problems in track, details are more balanced to preserve that musical aspect. There is a great amount of sparkle with a lot of details, which makes Spa LE crispy and live. Spa LE has enough Air, giving you a good sense of space.
Like i have written, the natural harmonic on Spa LE is above average, especially the upper one, gives you a realistic sound synergized with core tone. Transient phase is punchy and very clear, and doesnt decay so fast, rather goes off in phases, speed of transients on specific tracks or genres creating even more excitement, which creates a sound experience more engaging. Dynamic on Spa LE is above average, especially macro-dynamic, of course you need tracks, because not all tracks have good dynamic range, even micro-dynamics on Spa LE is average gives you enough textures on lower volumes with a lot of details...


Soundstage and Imaging:

Soundstage is more than decently executed on Spa LE, there is enough width, depth and height, it's for a few classes above classic 3d soundstage, but very close to the holographic one. All of this is very subjective and could vary, depending on what you are listening to, on what you are listening and which eartips you have using it, but in my case, few tracks for testing soundstage, Fiio Echo Mini, and ePro pro01 eartips. Separation is clear enough, with very accurate imaging, instruments are positioned around performer and slightly forward, and performer is almost at center of stage, speakers are behind him/her a few meters away. And I like the listener positioned in front of them like 10-12 meters away, a little bit down, so all of this gives me the impression it's very realistic and immersive, like I'm there, which is very cool and enjoyable!


Gaming:

Even with great eartips, gaming experience wasn't so great or bad depend of game style, yes i could hear and easy pinpoint steps or gunshots, but due to architecture of iem and to be more precise its bass, that extra additional bass which makes tracks sweet and engaging isn't great for gaming, because i need to swim through all this bass to mids, which are little bit back, and this slow my reaction time. Of course this is just for shooting games, other games which don't require shooting or reaction time, Spa Le are very enjoyable and relaxed. Plenty details are revealed through games, like in music, a new complete experience.

Pairing:

I have tried Spa LE with few sources, and when i say this, i'll be clear, i have tried with bright, neutral, and warm and some of sources are hybrid style like neutral-warm or neutral-bright, this is very subjective, my personal are neutral and neutral-warm, but even with neutral-bright or bright, Spa LE does not suffer or lose on musicality, just proving driver inside is really quality one and in same time very versatile!



Track Impression:

I dont have anything close to Spa LE in my collection so I will not compare it with other items. Instead I will give some track impressions with Spa LE for songs for which in my experience sound like new to me due to great Spa Le!


Teddy Swims - Bad Dreams:
I like this song because the soundstage its very wide and spacious and on Spa LE it's very enjoyable to listen to Teddy great baritone voice, very rich with a lot of details, instruments in songs are very nice executed, piano giving intense tonal accuracy, creating emotions. While bass guitars provide great low end experience and there is noticeable synergy with drums giving quality punch, other instruments are here and just compliment each other creating a nice mixture, even though I have listened to this song like a zillion times, but with Spa LE it was a completely different experience.

Gregorian - Voyage Voyage:
Very complex song, plenty vocals followed with a lot layers of instruments combined with 4-5 leading vocals and supportive vocals, experience with Spa Le is very enjoyable, all vocals could be hear very clear, pinpointing their exact location, and texture of vocals vary from neutral to very lushy. There is enough dynamics in Voyage Voyage, this song is one of my ultimative songs for testing any iem! And on Spa Le passed with 5 of 5!

Cee Lo Green - WildFlower:
Ceelo Green with his excellent tenor and with very specific timbre release completely new experience with Spa Le, in song its clear he is in center of stage, even soundstage is very wide on track, dynamics in this song shifts from up to down very fast, main attention is on string instruments which are very warm, drums creating nice punchy addition to other instruments, guitars are very crispy and clear, adding more textures to the song, funny part supportive vocals are positioned at side, but some supportive vocal jump from back to forward of Ceelo almost like whispers. Overall sonical experience was more than amazing, like I was listening to a new song, even though it's very old in my playlist.

Gazebo - I like Chopin:
Ah 80s never gets old, i could listen this song in loop for hours, on Spa Le this song is perfection, song starts with acoustic piano which delivering amazing attack/decay, listening every note is pleasure, Gazebo is positioned slightly back and this is normal for 80s disco music, his melodic voice have unique tonality, it's not most powerful delivery but still awakening emotions. I have so many different versions of this song and it's amazing to listen to it again with a new iem.



Conclusion:

Earacoustic Audio introduced a completely new standard at market, creating the most unique and most beautiful iem's ever seen before with not only great look as well with an amazing sound! This new experience literally pushes the standard up for the audiophile community to the next level, where people wouldn't have only great sounding iem's plus appearance of iem's is next to jewelry!

Links:
Spa Limited Edition
Hifi Series

Hello,
Just your friendly neighborhood headphone freak here. I have been reviewing IEMs and headphones for a few years, and I must say especially since about 2022 the IEMs have become way better. Here is an example of a TOTL IEM…….a statement saying “This is the very best we can do!” This company really has been at the very start of Chinese IEM popularity. And even though they changed their naming slightly, everyone knows them as The Fragrant Zither. Here we have a few names which they have represented themselves with. Laughingly (and I mean that with no loss of respect) but we have a few names here. In my quest for completeness and accuracy I will list them.

LiXian (This is the company name TFZ are using for these)
EarAcoustic Audio (This it seems is also the company name)
Silver Angel Series (this is the series of 12 IEM the company has just come out with)

And finally the line-up!
STA Series:
STA-Pro:
STA-Pro Ultra:
STA-Pro MAX:
STA-Hi End:
STA-Hi End MAX:

SPA Series:
SPA-Pro:
SPA-Pro Ultra:
SPA-Pro MAX:
SPA-Hi End :
SPA-Hi End Ultra:
SPA-Hi End MAX:
SPA-Limited Edition:

SPA & STA Style Explanation:
1. SPA series compared to STA series overall style has a slightly richer, more intense atmosphere.

2. PRO series more professional, more pure tone and higher reduction.

3. The Hi-End suffix has a stronger sense of atmosphere and higher hearing tolerance.

4. Ultra and MAX represent the need for higher thrust combination, more rich sound.

SPA & STA Process Explanation:
SPA-Hi End / SPA-Pro: 3D Resin Printing + Precision Spraying

SPA-Hi End Ultra / SPA-Pro Ultra: Zinc Alloy Plating + CNC Post Treatment

SPA-Hi EndMax / SPA-ProMax: 5-axis CNC process for aeronautical grade aluminum

SPA series products are standard 0.78MM double pin LITZ coaxial cluster oxygen-free copper + silver-plated wire combination replaceable line.

STA series of products are standard with 0.78MM double pin oxygen-free copper + silver-plated wire combination replaceable line.


So far I have reviewed 3 of the series, with the Limited Edition my 4th. And I must say the STA-Hi End and STA-Pro were relatively close to the same. With the STA-Pro costing $10.00 less and the STA-Hi End being $49.90. Both of these editions differ from the SPA series in that they offer 10mm and 6mm drivers. Where the SPA series does its work with a single 11.4mm Dynamic Driver. Really the other IEM in this series; the EarAcoustic SPA-Hi End Ultra is the very closest in sound to the Limited Edition. Though to generalize here, the Ultra is a Zinc Alloy shell which is noticeable in weight at 14 grams each! Where today our Aluminum LE comes in at just 8 grams a piece. Ahhhhhh. More on the Ahhhhhh later in the review! I promise!

In fact the Limited Edition comes from EarAcoustic Audio/Silver Angel Series as two exact same models, only mine has that crinkly shell surface, and the other model has flowing lines.

Both the Ultra and Limited Edition use the 11.4mm Titanium Gold Ball Top+Silicon Crystal Edge Double sided Composite Diaphragm Double Magnetic Circuit Double Chamber Dynamic Coil Units. Yet take note here…….

The Limited Edition has a sensitivity of 111dB and an impedance of 25 ohm, a frequency range of 5-40kHz.
The Ultra has a sensitivity of 110dB, and an impedance of 26 ohm and a frequency range of 5-40kHz.

At 189.90 the EarAcoustic Audio SPA-Hi End Ultra scores way higher than price would have you believe. Yet at $429.90 the TOTL Limited Edition would have you believe it is even better?


Review Summary:
Sorry I have not heard all 12 of the line, yet of the 4 I have heard the Limited Edition is obviously the best. Where it jumps ahead of the 14 gram Zinc Alloy Ultra is by being a more manageable realistic Limited Edition 8 grams of weight. Yet the Ultra also has the Universal Custom ear shape, which means they fit way back inside your ear. Still this weight is noticeable in hand. When in-ear the Ultra was pretty much the best DD I have ever heard out of over 200 IEMs. Yep, that meant it beat-out the NiceHCK Himalaya DD, the TINHIFI T5S, the Sound Rhyme SP01……etc, etc. So you can only imagine how surprised I was how the Limited Edition did.

In fact I had no word on its arrival. I came home and there was this package waiting for me. I was expecting no IEMs in the mail for review? I opened the box and became totally surprised as to the IEM included. Then I put them in my ears. Where the Limited Edition does better is with a slightly tighter and airier sound. Bigger images and even a bigger stage than what the Ultra puts out. Now the big stage would be fine and agreeable with the regular width (side-to-side) performance. Only that’s the thing……………where the Limited Edition really gets me is how it does thickness of stage displacement. You just have to experience it to understand where I’m coming from. Part of that thickness is up-and-down imaging. Yep, and there is a lovely note-weight and excellent pace provided now. Sure this would be enough to add musicality only the transients are totally top-notch. There is a spectacular pace that creates images that seem to arise then get-out-of-the-way……..much faster than normal. This folks is what supplies the technical event of imaging, the transients. All of this takes place inside a subtle V response that offers clear and tight bass, glorious mids and a smooth treble.

Look, I reviewed TFZ’s prior TOTL the SuperTFZ Crown. And where this Limited Edition beats out the 2023’s Crown is mainly in how TFZ has handled the treble. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the Crown, but such treble energy means limited listening times. And that my friends is where the SPA name comes in.

Laughingly……..I’m guessing the SPA name means ear-spa? I just got back from visiting a spa when I started this review, I really did! I don’t know how else better to describe the Limited Edition other than a high-end spa experience. Yep, the treatment your ears get makes you connect with those same emotions you get while visiting your favorite spa. This may sound corny but the “forget life” feeling you get from the spa, the extra center on healthiness………..getting to really what is important in life. Those kinds of thoughts seem to come to mind here. I know all these comparisons may seem dramatic, or dumb……..but that is how I feel. And I felt this way about the EarAcoustic Audio SPA-Hi End Ultra, only the extra realism of the Limited Edition pushed me into finally revealing my spa-like experience.

Yep, just relaxed, like an IEM you may take to the spa? An IEM that represents a style of perfection, that connects to where you compliment your massage specialist as perfect.

You literally say “that was perfect” because it seemed perfect. And in a world of thousands of different IEMs the Limited Edition seems pretty close to perfect. I never say that. Read over a few of my past 290 reviews and look for the word perfect? I have used the word maybe 5 times to describe products, it just doesn’t happen. But it is happening here. Now I also did a lot of research for this review, yep……..I read most of the Silver Angel Audio reviews, and there are a lot of them. Some critics say that the midrange is not (pushed) quite enough, or the bass is not enough to please bass heads. One review even said the Limited Edition came with a 4.4mm cable (which it does not) and strangely there was never a picture with the actual cable the Limited Edition comes with? I digress………but this review needs to be the best review I can write. Why? Because the Limited Edition deserves the very best review I can write. Yep, the LE is that good. Now maybe I identify with the sound signature, sure that could explain a little, but more than that the Limited Edition is a walk ahead, showing the times we live in, showing just what can be done, and not at just the under $500.00 price point, at any price point. Let’s get started!

$429.90
https://penonaudio.com/Earacoustic-SPA-Limited-Edition


Note included cable on top and the Penon Space cable in use.

Music:
Here we are using the Penon SPACE cable due to it not coloring the sound but coming with a modular cable that allows us 4.4mm amplification with the Sony WM1A DAP. Ear-tips are the black donut wide-bore tips from SIMGOT AUDIO. This picture shows exactly how we are flying! Due to the great shape of the Limited Edition many ear-tips are able to be used. In fact the included sets of 6 ear-tips have a version of this wide-bore that is my favorite style. Yet the only difference here is even though the overall shape is the same, the SIMGOTs offer a little firmer structure and use black silicone. These tests were done after 5 days of continuous burn-in.


Graph:
I’m not really one for graphs, as they leave so much information out, and in the wrong hands can introduce confusion as to how the IEM truly is in the end. Let’s just say that here many of my tuning points get shown, as this is truly how the NiceHCK Himalaya and Limited Edition compare audibly. Note the 8kHz peak is coupler resonance. But the style of information that is not included here graphically is the stage, the transients, the actual briskness that is joined with an overall warm tone, while seemingly including an exceptional bass clarity and imaging, not to mention really this signature is timbre correct, a thing never shown in graphs. I could go on, but this is not a graph criticism review, in fact they (graphs) are a tool, and of use here to try explain where we are. But it should be noted that in the end often the Limited Edition comes across as mid focused, to where there is nothing wrong with that, except to also state that this IEM has it all……..it is balanced to the point of perfection! Still maybe 80% of the musical information is found in the mids?


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

DCD
Anastasis
All In Good Time
44.1kHz - 24bit
Right from the get-go an authoritative and deep bass is heard at 00:01. The importance here is the bass transient which showcases a bass tremolo in activation. This tonal wavering is only produced by the very best in driver ability. Even though a synth bass, the style of tone here is natural and friendly. There are also reverse washes of synths which hold and caress the bass notes, coming from a mid-toned reverse effect, here these are also heard well, but not as far out into the stage as expected? Remember DDs have this open and full-on present decay……..which we have found, especially with bass. And that while this may be lumbering slighly………..still these wide-bore offer the cleanest bass in town.

OK, now take a seat!
Are you ready! I mean this is crazy to write about. I have heard over 200 IEMs in the last few years and this vocal, this male vocal presentation is special. I have almost no other words to describe it, but I’ll try! Sure this single review is gushing, sure it is over-the-top in product enthusiasm…………..what can I say? Probably to start the vocals here show-up as effortless……and no matter what I write I will not be able to fully describe this event. Except the vocals are positioned far enough from the bass and synth strings to bring about a feeling that they are just as wanted, just as presented as a style when the music was created, maybe? That that lumbering bass has now repositioned itself in the mix along with a percussion startup at 01:51. This feeling of maximum reverberation, this wash of synth strings, this relaxed yet detailed event has me feeling like I’m in the health-spa described earlier. At 02:58-03:00 there is a high-up whoosh sound, this is the Limited Edition idea in a single sound. This detail yet warm, while still airy feeling…….sure this may be a combination of IEM, of DAP, of cable and ear-tips. Still I can’t help but call this a 10/10? The sound is a whoosh-dip sound, and the Limited Edition finds it and places it in the correct warm detail yet still treble enough to create separation and itemization.

Here are some personal feelings…….even the Ultra had me smitten, in that I wanted to take it and walk-away…….walk away from my whole collection of IEMs. Now sure the Ultra is 90% of what the Limited Edition is…….and I have not heard the in-between models. Yet for the money spent the Ultra is totally fantastic and just shows how TFZ is the master now (as in a way they have always been) of DD creation. Except if you can afford it, just get the Limited Edition. As such no IEM in this price range does exactly what the Limited Edition does, from what I have heard in the market? It is by far the TOTL Flagship of the series and leaves me wanting nothing more…………so much so that if I was to take an IEM with me to a deserted island, this would be the one. Later in this review (the next song) we will encounter female vocals and guitar timbre!


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Delain
Apocalipse & Chill
Chemical Redemption
44.1kHz - 24bit
At 00:08 there is a high energy guitar that is purposely positioned into a forward and impactful realm. This style of guitar is known to female fronted Symphonic Metal Music. Maybe it is suppose to compete with the vocals here? What ever the end reasoning the guitar can be found in many different levels of correct timbre. Plus that timbre is noted due to just out front the guitar is, and the effects layer given to such an instrument. This buzz-saw is cutting due to character and frequency. Many BA IEMS will take this tone and amplify the wrong ideas………promoting a thinner and plasticly idea of this hard to reproduce sound. Though here I would say this is just about correct, I mean I have never heard this on a $100,000.00 dollar home 2 speaker set-up, but I would guess this is just about the guitar tone we would hear. Why? Full-range DD, that’s why!

Female vocals:
Charlotte Wessels was the vocalist from 2005 till 2021, this was the last album she sang on, and my favorite Delain product. This section will showcase both what the Limited edition is and what it is not. At 00:24 she takes a breath, look I have heard the breath more delineated, only once the vocals start at 00:25 we are rewarded with again close to perfect ideas of a vocal approach. What I’m trying to say is at times an IEM can be even better by being more balanced and probably this is just DD character in the end, and those other impressions were probably BAs at work. So sure there may have been a tad more separation, only the BA off timbre was to occur. I know I sound like a IEM maniac, only the female vocals here are positioned just right, not too far forward or behind. That the magic here is the full-on stage displacement, remember the review summery where I talk about imaging thickness in size, well it comes about inside of this song in how at 01:11 there is a chorus to the song where there are sampled strings where the two song components of her singing and the strings go back and forth. This action has a specific stage placement in that there in a forward and backness to the strings, an echo they contain……….that in also felt with the top to bottom placement inside the stage. Where there is a style of fishbowl created, but not only that, everything in the fishbowl is of correct timbre and has what sounds like added reverberations, that these reverberations are on the border of too much, but that may be just the file, or the IEM character?


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

DCD
Black Sun
Aion
88.2kHz - 24bit
This song is a test. Only when I first heard it I was young and didn’t understand why I liked it. Though I heard it at a friends house on a $10,000 2 channel set-up. These tower speakers showed how the treble can be fully separated and sparky still. At around 00:10 we start to hear the treble artifacts that are high-up percussion. But around 00:14 there are definite hits…….these at times can be performed slightly more clear with all BA sets, especially if they are ultra treble. And while sure there is satisfaction held in the ability to grasp that treble. But, but those are BAs, and much of the time those treble BAs are too much. Where at 01:18 there is such an exquisite rendition, I can’t help but guess this treble is maybe the way it is actually suppose to be. What I’m trying to say is the small hits and metallic sounds are separated and clear, holding way more detail than you could ever guess from a single DD. And that my friends is the money……….It is also what the Limited Edition does above and beyond the Ultra.


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Ghost
Hunter’s Moon
From Halloween Kills OST
44.1khz - 24bit
All this lead-up into talking about treble, when the guitar strumming at the start of this song takes the cake as an example of multimillion studio quality! What I’m trying to say is this song is recorded like no tomorrow, it is incredible. Only somehow with the Limited Edition it sounds even more vivid and balanced, more itemized and more clear than expected. What? Really what?

Somehow the upper midrange guitar sounds even bigger than I can ever remember it being? Yet at just 00:03 the drums kick-in! And do they ever………..Waht! Really Waht!

Probably this would really be the song I would show to someone at a Head-Fi meet. Why? Simply just the correct yet tight bass, the forward positioning of vocals that are almost touchable. Probably that the guitars throughout the song hold a natural and accessible tone. And it is not that any one thing is in standout. No, this is balance for the pure sake of balance. The brisk drums, and most of all this balance of technicalities and musicality. That at the break……………01:58……there is everything, the well positioned bass that is round, the natural guitars that find exceptional forwardness and the correctly positioned vocals.

At 02:05 or around there is this metronome style of drums……boom….boom…….and they fit down inside the mix so well? This in reality is a post break build-up….into the chorus again…….yet all throughout the cymbals are found while never splashy or too forward, they offer a utilitarian style of presence, while still just bright enough that you never find anything one thing off.


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Gdanian
Induction
Shield Emitter (feat. Tineidae)
44.1kHz - 24bit
I mean I’m looking for trouble. Really there is no review on Head-Fi that has so much fairy-dust and doses of crazy over-the-top enthusiasm.........just for for the sake of enthusiasm and the IEM talked about. With such reading a regular review would gain points for some rain clouds to form………or at least some overcast clouds to break-up all this sunshine. Look, I’m looking for trouble, only I’m even finding better songs……………………

And that my friends is how the best IEMs are found, to become better and better as the tests move forward. This was a song I never heard with the Limited Edition, only it is a regular test song around Redcarmoose Labs. Probably the echoes are what is first noted, yet before that the bass tones that are so cool. This bass is stereo, meaning it comes at different times to the right and left channels, and the very best IEMs give a window into that event. But the great part is the bass has this tactile feel, this character that has always been in the song, only the Limited Edition somehow promotes this speed and bass detail.

On top is a Blade Runner synth that starts at just 00:14. Now truly the reason this is all day listening is the Limited Edition is on the slightly smooth side, except the details, all the details are there to grasp. At 01:19 a clock starts ticking. Now these clicks were shown to be slightly more out front with Hybrid BA IEMs, though again there is a correctness of timbre that has me smitten with the LE, so much so that just like the health spa, I’m calling this close to perfect!


Timestamps only pertain to digital file, not video.

Kaveh Cohen, Michael Nielsen
Forza Motorsport OST
Brotherhood
44.1kHz - 24bit
Here is a song that I always like hearing. Now because it is a game OST it may not hold all the fascinating virtuosos done by mainstream artists which grab onto your emotion, but serves as a tool both at Redcarmoose Labs and for the game it was made for.

At 00:09 we have a metronome slap, or a basic beat. Notice how I just called it a slap. In reality it is the farthest from a slap. But I hear it wrong so much I’m referring to it with the wrong description. Here we are again home free. Our tone, which makes up an on-going part of this song has been played back correctly. And better than correct, quite possibly perfect. That as far as sounds go there are a number of ways to do them……some closer to true sounding.......and some just wrong, then others slightly wrong. Now to be fair to the other IEMs, sure I’ve heard this more forward, and here it is slightly behind, yet in the pocket and of its part in the music. Basically this sound starts to be only held aloft in the subconscious. This on-going beat is just that, though-out the song.

Music conclusion:
Some may say it’s too much to add 6 different song examples to a review? Yet this IEM deserves it, plus it was something that was fun, and I hope will further introduce the sound signature and technicalities to a broader audience?



Build:
Coming in at only 8 grams a piece the Limited Edition is a joy to use. Why? Well also the universal custom shell design, meaning such a database holds outer-ear-shapes which seem to allow manufactures to make a genuinely generic shape that fits all ears. Not only is this deep fitting shell design important with the 8 gram Limited Edition, but even more important to get a deep seated fit with the 14 gram Ultra IEM we have been discussing. The next unique aspect is the venting, that while there is a regular vent on the backside, another giant port has been placed using a nozzle screen to keep the IEM internals protected. So besides open back IEMs, this is the very biggest vent I have seen. :0

The next super important feature comes from exact nozzle length and circumference. Such a size makes it that much easier to access many different ear-tip designs and build materials. This found freedom means that I can actually use the included wide-bores, or a variation of the wide-bores as seen in the photographs here in black silicone. The 2Pin is flush and easy to change cables as well as I don’t seem to notice (when using) the aluminum texture surface held as a design look on the Limited Edition? If anything it helps the IEM breath a little being next to my ear. Sure the flashy faceplate crystal design may not be for everyone, and it is just as surprising, if not more so in real life. The only words of wisdom I have is try to live with it, even if you are not sure about the look. I say this as the LE is so very different in build that it may be met with question upon first seeing it, yet later after you get used to it, you may find (like I did) that the design and build are truly interesting and further fascinating? If you don’t get used to the build, give them to your wife, my Wife has had her eye on mine, and actually asked me if she could use the Ultra when she saw it. She has not dared to ask for the LE, because she already knows the answer.

The SPA Limited Edition left 8 grams
The SPA-Hi End Ultra right 14 grams

The main difference is found with a greater stage in the LE, which somehow comes across as cleaner and more audiophile. There is a brighter and more technical upper midrange and treble to the LE, making it appear better and offering more realism extracted.

Cable rolls:
Here we take a look at how different cable options may change the sound.


Top down:
1) 3.5mm Included cable: Dual pin oxygen free copper and silver-plated wire mixed weave Free

2) 4.4mm Penon ASOS+X: 12 strands, 25 cores alloy copper silver-plated + 99 cores single crystal copper silver-plated wire mixed at $319.00

3) 4.4mm Penon OS849: Silver plated copper 8 strands, single strand is 49 cores, a total of 8 × 49 at $99.90

4) 4.4mm Penon Pyramid VI: 6 shares Litz Type 9 Copper-gold alloy and pure silver, copper-silver alloy silver-plated, 147 cores per share, 882 cores at $419.00


All cable tests with Sony WM1A and SIMGOT AUDIO Black wide-bore donut ear-tips.
I want to address the fact that the included cable really accesses 90% of the sound. That in-your-hands the cable feels great, has all metal/chrome hardware and does the job. Just because this is Head-Fi we are trying to milk the last bit of sonics out of a tested IEM, therefor I’m trying new cables. Also an added side benefit is that often the character of an IEM will start to show. Meaning often a certain cable will add a property or another will decrease the magic, creating a better understanding on an IEMs true nature in the end.

Phone use:
I’m putting this here as some may have 3.5mm phone output and be interested to know what the style of playback can be found here. Here the included cable hooked to a regular phone is nothing short of spectacular. Manufactures know if they are going to supply a TOTL Flagship the rules have changed, yep……there is no more room in the world for fussy Flagships. No one what’s them, plus the technology has moved forward to find truly easy to drive IEMs. This response I’m reporting on is holding that great wide, tall, down and forward and back stage. The bass drums hold a drama that makes me realize this is really special, vocals are clear as well as a tactile feeling of musical presence that is just fantastic! Phone use, absolutely recommended, the separation and balance need to be heard to be believed, plus they get supper loud from a regular Samsung Phone! 10/10 here, don’t believe me. Try them! Truly this could be the way the LE is used daily, and I don’t feel sorry for those that chose such a path in life! 1st off this miles bette than any TWS I have heard, plus I can’t get anywhere near full volume with this set-up.....it IS that loud. Done! I don’t even want to say this as such statements decrease validity, but I will anyways because it is important………..this playback goes in the top 5 of any phone playback I have ever heard. Easy to drive, big stage, balanced…….you do the math!


1) Included cable:
It is important to understand that the included cable is fine, and will be perfectly fine in use, though a 4.4mm connection accesses a completely different amplifier in the Sony WM1A DAP. Yep, it has two sides of an internal circuit board, each with their own amplifier. Maybe just simple marketing because Sony primarily introduced the 4.4mm plug to the market. Only this 4.4mm amp offers larger capacitors, plus it is balanced.
Accessing the 3.5mm output from the WM1A we are greeted with a blacker noise floor, bigger stage and slightly more clarity which is just the benefit of a DAP over a phone. Yet for many these differences will be marginal and become of even less importance when they only want a single (phone) device to use. Let’s face it many folks don’t want a big DAP to carry around, and even if the 3.5mm cable is nice, it only goes so far hooked to 3.5mm.

2) Penon ASOS+X:
4.4mm Penon ASOS+X: 12 strands, 25 cores alloy copper silver-plated + 99 cores single crystal copper silver-plated wire mixed at $319.00. Now keep in mind the Penon SPACE has been the baseline here, and the cable that we did the music tests with. As a whole the SPACE is a great addition to the LM, except now we want to see what extras occur from added silver and copper alloys and more material than even the SPACE?

First off I want to say the ASOS+X is big, it is huge, and maybe something of an accessory you don’t want to leave the house with, only because everyone and their Mother may notice such antics. The ASOS+X is both smoother than the SPACE and more detailed offering a wider stage, only it is less dramatic with the LE. This having me recoil from the expected “brighter” silver energy from the ASOS+X and quickly return to the SPACE for a double take. This can happen at times, when your audiophile imagination is expecting one thing, but you get another.

First off the ear-hooks on my model of the ASOS+X seem to hold the LE in the desired location, never moving, never needing adjustment with the SIMGOT Black wide-bores. All is fine with this playback, and better than fine, as often we are looking for fast thrills when the equipment has other ideas in mind. You see the ASOS+X is smooth. Yet it has expanded imaging and even low end thrusters which start to take the cake here. Meaning yes, the stage was more dramatic than the SPACE, and the extra window into the lower realms of playback started to come into view……….like witnessing a new valley or vista……it just took me a moment. The more I listen the more correct this becomes, and even more world-class it arrives at. Why? Because we just took the already thick stage and added magic pixy dust to make it even bigger……..I’m almost in tears here. This s one of those emotional moments where I didn’t see it coming…………but Jeeze. What we are gifted with now, now that I have understanding is a form of the cable alloys and silver making the LE that much more smooth, yet totally detailed. The details come as items of interest inside this even bigger stage, that everything is so very smooth but not boring in anyway, just right. I need to move on, but you can bet your sweet behind I’m coming back to this set-up. It is the texture now, the increase in imaging texture than has me beyond words………….OMG! Seriously I’m in tears now, I have to say. What!

The ASOS+X was the biggest stage and biggest imaging I have heard today!

3) Penon OS849:
4.4mm Penon OS849: Silver plated copper 8 strands, single strand is 49 cores, a total of 8 × 49 at $99.90. OK I have to get ahold of myself. First off I’m going to test the LM with the OS849 two ways today. One way is simply add the cable to the IEM and DAP, then the other way is to add the TOTEM ULTRA Adapter in-front of the OS849 as a way to thicken-up the tone and add stage size. First off if you ask me, my guess is this will not quite touch the ASOS+X? Well I know already the ASOS+X is the better cable, but what about with the TOTEM ULTRA Adapter?



Just the OS849…..then TOTEM ULTRA Adapter:
This cable has been around for awhile and shows just what a quality aftermarket cable can do. Hindsight is 20/20 and really in a perfect world the music tests would have been done with the ASOS+X instead of the SPACE. Yet the combo of SPACE and LE is no slouch. Here we are witnessing more forward upper midrange and a lesser in stage as what the ASOS+X, of course this could have been guessed beforehand. Still there is nothing wrong with this playback, and now we are really witnessing the extra clarity that was looked for at the start of ASOS+X playback a moment ago, before I really got what was happening and was subsequently blown-away. Yet, bass it tight, but also holding that extra slight thinness of silver additives. Quickly I added the TOTEM ULTRA………yes, a bigger stage, a more note-weighted and a more real event taking place. This extra seems hard to believe with only adding a tad of adapter extra wire at the start of the cable. Yet, to be honest this is still not as good as what the ASOS+X does 24/7. Wait, what if I add the TOTEM ULTRA to the ASOS+X? That will maybe be in the TOTEM ULTRA review coming up!

4) Penon Pyramid VI:
4.4mm Penon Pyramid VI: 6 shares Litz Type 9 Copper-gold alloy and pure silver, copper-silver alloy silver-plated, 147 cores per share, 882 cores at $419.00. Here I don’t really know what to expect. Though I found the Ultra and Penon Pyramid VI to be not as magic as the ASOS+X. And sure enough here with the extra treble and on different days I’m finding the LE somewhat better and sure, maybe fine, but not as magic as the ASOS+X in action. I don’t listen before I chose to photograph and list the testing order, so it just is what it is. The Penon Pyramid VI is one spectacular cable, and yes, it shows here how the Ultra and LE are related, that it may be Hybrids as a whole are simply better off with the slight rearrangement of imaging that is going down. That while its not bad, and totally fun, it doesn’t have that soft yet powerful and effervescent signature that lead me to tears?

Package:

Conclusion:
There is a magic for the taking. There was a time, only a little while ago when IEMs for $429.90 sounded like an introduction of a $429.90 IEM. As is life, time moves on and technology gets better and the IEMs that showcase that technology get better too. Yet there is something totally intimate here…………….sure the LE speaks my sonic language. But there is more to it. I’m using my DAP as I write and every song sounds like a rewarding experience. This is due to a deep provocative low-end, this is because of instrument imaging being of amazing separation, yet not the most technical. Meaning the Limited Edition is more about softer ideas, and more relaxed realities, like visiting a day-spa.

But just like your spa experience, you can’t put a quantifiable price on experiences, they just are. That sure the Limited Edition has enough clarity to show exactly which cable I am using. The Limited Edition can also show you just what abilities your source contains. The Limited Edition is The Fragrant Zither’s statement product to showcase all they know up to this point. As such it comes with a profound box opening experience worthy of a TOTL product. The build is truly like a work of art, one that you may cherish for a long time. That just looking at it gets me going, gets me excited to take part in this party we call IEM listening. The LE is different that’s for sure, something that if given as a gift will be always remembered and never forgotten, that is just what is going on here. But most of all it is a refinement of the IEM art TFZ learned along the way. TFZ took each step to make sure this was not an experiment on your dime, but a truly guaranteed win, for both you and TFZ. This is at least how I see it? And being it’s a Limited Edition means there are only so many to be had, and when they are gone they are gone. Because at times you just have to go for it and not look back, spend money on the things that make you happy, as this is real life and not a dress rehearsal! There are no second chances here.

$429.90
https://penonaudio.com/Earacoustic-SPA-Limited-Edition

Disclaimer:
The Limited Edition has undergone 5 days of continuous burn-in.

Disclaimer:
I want to thank Penon Audio for the love and for the EarAcoustic-SPA-Limited Edition review sample.

Disclaimer:
These are one person's ideas and concepts, your results may vary.

Equipment Used:
Sony WM1A Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Sony WM1Z Walkman DAP MrWalkman Firmware 4.4mm and 3.5mm
Sony TA-ZH1ES DAC/AMP Firmware 1.03
Electra Glide Audio Reference Glide-Reference Standard "Fatboy" Power Cor
Sony Walkman Cradle BCR-NWH10
AudioQuest Carbon USB
Samsung Phone 3.5mm output
ifi GO bar Dongle 4.4mm and 3.5mm