Accessories, build quality, and comfort:
Both Artha and Aether come with identical accessory packages and my oh my, this is one of the most luxurious, no-bull accessory packs I have been presented with to date. The leather case is built to absolute perfection, feels extremely high quality, and has more than ample space inside. The stock cable is one of the best out there period, surpassing even Dunu cables in terms of quality and skin feel. The stock tips are a perfect 10/10 and tip rolling is completely unnecessary. Moreover, Flipears provides S/M/L spares, 2 pairs of each size! Not one, but two pairs! As someone who is paranoid about losing the stock tips, this serves as a massive assurance. The accessory package also includes some nice stickers (as souvenirs), a cleaning tool, and a super nice quality cleaning cloth.
Build quality is perfection incarnate. Extremely good fit and finish all around with breathtakingly beautiful faceplates (shifts color depending on the lighting angle but not in a tacky way. Photos do not really do them justice). There is also some adornment on the opposite side, a small but significant aesthetic touch which I highly appreciate.
Comfort is pure bliss. The earpieces feel isolated, secure, and locked in but never ever cause irritation or wearing fatigue. I am not aware of any IEMs from other brands that are comfier, except the Sennheiser IE series.
TL/DR:
Accessories: 10/10
Build Quality: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10
Flawless Victory!
Sound:
Aether is the best IEM under 1000 in my book, in fact, I would raise that bar to 2000 if Artha didn’t exist. This might sound like hyperbole but that’s genuinely what I feel about this IEM. I have tried almost everything under the sun in this price range and most of them were kind of underwhelming. Aether not only shattered my initial skepticism but utterly left me in awe.
I’d start with the bass response. Good bass and all BA config are not something I associate together usually. There have been only three exceptions among the ones I have tried and all of them had their limitations. Sony IER M9 lacks extension in the sub-region and relies too much on the midbass grunt. Symphonium Helios is the complete opposite (Weak midbass but rumbly subbass). Plus Helios can showcase its low-end prowess only with high-end sources like WM1ZM2. U12T’s bass while decent, is still kinda bland and cannot hold a candle to high-end single DD IEMs. Aether’s BA bass is an anomaly and it has that perfect blend of midbass grunt and subbass rumble. The bass is authoritative, textured, and extremely dynamic, putting most single DD IEMs to shame, except maybe the likes of Sennheiser IE600/900, Dita Perpetua, and Sony IER Z1R. Aether is also one of those rare IEMs where the tuning switch actually works. That additional 5 DB boost turns Aether into a full-on bass monster, while still perfectly retaining its overall clarity and tonal balance.
The midrange is by far the best I’ve heard under 1000 USD, surpassing even the Sony IER M9. Both male and female vocals sound breathtakingly natural. I’ve been playing ‘
Judgment’ by RGG Studio (published by SEGA) for a few weeks now. It's a heavily narrative-driven gameplay experience but the main character, Yagami’s voice sounds extremely raspy and borderline unlistenable, completely ruining that experience for me. However, Aether somehow completely eliminated that rasp, something even the ultra-smooth IER M9 couldn’t do. The same magic happened with
‘Hellraiser 30th anniversary version’ by Black Sabbath where Lemmy’s raspy voice can otherwise potentially give you brain hemorrhage (just kidding).
Treble is extremely linear and effortless. Perfection incarnate, unless you are someone who likes lower/mid treble peak (5-7k zone) as Aether is extremely tame and smooth in that region. I personally dislike lower treble spike but love upper treble elevation and Aether fits that bill perfectly. There is zero hint of sibilance. Aether is a complete antithesis of the usual gritty, plasticky high-end that plagues most balanced armature/Piezo-based IEMs out there, including many supposedly high-end ones.
God-tier Timbre aside, Aether is also a technical powerhouse. ‘Holographic’ is not a term I usually associate with Sub 1000 IEMs but Aether made me re-evaluate that sentiment. The soundstage is not only impressive but actually trades blows with behemoths like Dita Perpetua and Empire Ears Odin. The stage, in fact, reminds me of my beloved Arya Organic, albeit with the inevitable limitations that come with IEMs. Imaging is equally good and separation is simply jaw-dropping, especially considering the sub-kilobuck price tag. Resolution and speed are akin to IEMs that cost significantly more. Yes, Aether is as resolving as stuff like Sony IER Z1R and Sennheiser IE900. The Only sub-2000 USD IEMs that can edge it out in terms of sheer resolution are its bigger brother Artha, Final A8000, and 64 Audio U12T.
Comparisons:
Thieaudio Monarch MK1: The og monarch sounds like a tin can in comparison. I have not tried the later iterations but I do not think things would vary much.
Flipears Artha: Artha and Aether are very very similar sounding IEMs. Artha has more meticulous tuning permutations and is a technical behemoth. Bass quality is even better on the Artha.
Sony IER M9/ Z1R: I consider myself to be a rabid M9 fan but I must admit, the cheaper Aether completely outdoes it, on all fronts. Z1R is still wider and has that guttural, visceral bass response that no all BA can emulate. The midrange is miles better on the Aether though.
Sennheiser IE900/600: Controversial claim but Aether is more palatable than both in my opinion. While I love both IE 600 and 900, the overly shimmery treble and recessed midrange can become bothersome often. Bass is definitely better on the Sennheisers though.
UM MEST MK2: MEST MK2 while technically sound, leaves a lot to be desired in terms of coherence and timbre. It sounds like a typical chi-fi IEM. Moreover, I am not a fan of its loose, overly diffused bass that lacks punch or authority. Aether/Artha over it any day, every day.
64Audio U12T: I’d be honest, I do not understand why 64audio stuff is so well-liked. I find U12T to be extremely dull and unengaging (though It is the only 64Audio I find decent). However, U12T is widely regarded as a cult classic therefore consider my opinion on it as purely personal bias.
Final A8000: A8000 is more resolving but I’d happily choose Aether over the treble murder cannon A8000
Dunu SA6/ CA Andromeda: Not even remotely close.
Concluding Remarks:
Flipears Aether is a price class-defining anomaly. Kudos to the amazingly creative and dedicated people behind this masterpiece. I sincerely hope this brand will get more global recognition in the coming days.
