Lime Ears Aether R

Lime Ears Aether R IEMs - Double Faced Trickster











Lime Ears Aether R is the flagship that took the world by surprise, an IEM made in Poland Europe, costing 1200 Euros, or about 1400 USD. They will get compared to Final Audio A8000, Meze Rai Penta, Clear Tune Monitors Da Vinci X, Lime Ears Model X, and Campfire Atlas. The pairing list includes iBasso DX300, FiiO M11 PRO, and HIFIMAN R2R2000.

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Introduction





Lime Ears doesn't have a name that's imposing, but their sound really makes you want to listen to what they have to say. They are from Poland, and they're here to do business with our ears and hearts. The quality of the products is usually really good, they provide excellent support, and their warranty is one of the best there are. Since their IEMs are built by hand, they check on quality multiple times, and can customise your IEMs even if you go for the universal variant.











It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Lime Ears. I'd like to thank Lime Ears for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Lime Ears Aether R. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it, the purpose of this review is to help those interested in Lime Ears Aether R find their next music companion.














Product Link





You can always get your Lime Ears Aether R from here: https://limeears.com/aether/







Packaging





First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:



































The package of the Aether R is SWEET. We get a nice cable (thin looking, but nice), a good selection of tips, including Spinfits, a personalised card, warranty card, and sweets!





This is one of the two companies in the entire world that includes sweets with their IEMs, and given how much I love sugar, this wins them some extra points from me.





There's that amazing carrying case that weighs a ton too.











Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort





Aether R is an IEM made of Resin, with detachable cables based on the 2-Pin connector. They are entirely made by hand, and they have six balanced armatures, with a four-way crossover. This is one of the most complex setups in this price point, but it doesn't stop there.





They rely on the VariBore and TrueSub technology, both being aimed at decreasing the overall distortions and increasing the overall clarity, along with the bass response of the IEM.











I also enjoyed having the switch for the bass crossover, as it is a good way to tune the Aether R to be either bassy or bright, covering more sonic ground for more ears.





They are rather easy to drive, but they are also a bit sensitive to hiss. The universal variant is the one I am reviewing, but the custom should sound similar. Lime Ears is one of the very few companies that managed to get in a universal IEM, the sound almost exactly as the one in the custom variant.





The Aether R offers an amazing isolation from the outside noise, and has a bit of void in practice, but that's to be expected given that they only use BA drivers. They also have a sound that's made to replicate a listening experience with a three-way monitor, and they have the soundstage as one of their fortes, at least if we take a look at the design.





The comfort is excellent, but they are on the slightly large side, so they're best if you have medium or large ears. The fit is medium towards deep, which helps with the isolation and provides consistency between users. Shallower fits tend to have much more variation between different users.











Youtube Video

















Sound Quality





I have to be a bit more critical when reviewing the Aether R than with most of the IEMs I review, as it is quite pricey and it is pandered to those who care a lot about details. The overall sound can be defined as natural, organic, rich, airy, ultra-detailed, clean, clear, with a good bass, and a clean treble.





The bass has a good overall definition, and the sub-bass is fairly thunderous. There's a minor down slope of a few dB below 40 Hz, but that doesn't stop the sub-bass from rocking when it wants to rock. At most, it helps keep an uncolored sound, with good overall punchiness. It is exceedingly clean and well layered, and the texturization is just right. Note decay is quick and this works well with quick metal, aggressive music, and rock. It even helps acoustic music by providing the needed speed for reproducing many instruments qucikly, so orchestral music lovers will be totally in love with Aehter R.











You never think to yourself that you wish there was more detail in the bass, as the detail is excellent, but once you turn on the bass switch, you will notice an entire midbass and even upper bass lift, a truly grand exposition of sound. I actually prefer the sound with the switch turned off, and the best sound can be found with extensive tip rolling. I wouldn't rush to judge Aether R before I went through foam, spinfit, and even final tips. It is ironic, but with Aether R in particular, I prefer the bass switch turned off, and foam tips. The transition between the bass and the midrange is clean, the upper bass is never muddy, and the mids are full-bodied without being dark.





The midrange has slight dips in both the lower midrange and the upper midrange, creating a bit of a W-Shaped signature for the Aether R. You never really think much about it until you're faced with the fact that the organic signature is a bit forward in the voices. This is because Aether R has an excellent detail and micro detail, and having everything a bit more forward can totally draw your attention to those details. The sound is a bit smooth, which helps with long hours of listening, and this adds a bit to the warmth and the rich tonality of them.





Despite them starting smooth, they tend to take in some of that speed of BA drivers, and the note decay is on the quciker side. This emphasizes textures, and resolution. I find the tuning to be great for metal and rock, and even for quick EDM, but it can be a bit too fast for Jazz and slower music. It surely helps with detail either way, and makes for a great monitor for music production. I really enjoy the sweeter, more analogue-like tonality of the midrange with female voices, and male voices tend to be more serious and paced. If rythm is important to you, Aether R will be a very important IEM for you.





The upper midrange has a slight dip, and that continues in the lower treble. It is a modest dip, so you never feel like it lacks substance. In fact, the main part that is cut out is the hot and fatiguing part. The treble is smooth, clean, non-aggressive and non-fatiguing, so for those sensitive to treble, it will work like magic. It is tonally-accurate, and pleasing, making one of the sweetest and rich-sounding IEMS out there. Sometimes I wish they had a slightly more pinchy treble with more bite, but you can actually add some via EQ, as Aether R has a few dB of headroom, especially in the treble.











The clarity and detail are good, and overall, I think that Aether R is best enjoyed if listened at either quiet or medium listening levels. They have such a fine way of presenting detail, and the rich, organic sound warms you up and imbues your life with magic. Not necessarily an IEM made to rock out the loudest, it made me want to chill the hardest.





The soundstage is actually really good, with excellent width, even for its price point. Even more expensive flagships, like A8000 or CTM Da Vinci X have a less holographic presentation and trade in some space for focus, but Aether R decided to go all-in. Despite them having a really nice amount of width, they also have a nice depth, and this is all considering that the mids are somewhat forward, so you feel like you're in the first row at a spectacle.





You can hear what's sounding closer and farther away from you, and the stereo imaging results in a holographic presentation. But Aether R never sounds distant or lost, it always remains focused in the mids, providing the kind of detail and clarity that works well with Jazz, Rock, Metal and even Pop. I could notice Aether R favoring lateral far sounds and forward sounds a bit more than in-between ones, making a deep background and a central foreground stand out the most. This gives a colorful, vivid presentation, with good focus on each instrument, without them sounding vague. I recall having this issue with HD800S, where I loved the stage to bits, but after a while, I wanted a bit more focus, as I often got lost in the soundscape it created. Aether R won't have that issue, and will stay wide, holographic, yet nicely focused on voices and sounds that shouldn't be too wide.











Comparisons





The main competitors for The Aether R are Lime Ear's own Model X, CTM Da Vinci X, Final Audio A8000, Meze Rai Penta, and Campfire Atlas. All of those are proper flagships and all of them totally worth their money, so they are a good way to quantify whether the Aether R is worth its asking price or not.











Lime Ears Aether R vs CTM Clear Tune Monitors Da Vinci X (1400 USD vs 2500 USD) - Thanks to good engineering from both companies, we'll focus mostly on the sound. The package is anyways great for both, two nice flagships. CTM Da Vinci X is more focused on details, a pure neutral sound, with excellent micro and macro detailing. There's far more musicality to be heard from Aehter R, and it has a more romantic presentation, especially in the "warm" setting. Da Vinci X has the edge for detail, but Aether R has more bass in quantity, yet similar in quality. The main place where CTM Da Vinci X wins is in the midrange, where they are more detailed. The treble is also more natural and more detailed for DA Vinci X, but Aether R doesn't lose when it comes to their treble. That is, if you want a more relaxed presentation, yet with all the detail of a glaship. There's a bit more headroom on Aether R if you like to EQ.





Lime Ears Aether R vs Final Audio A8000 (1400 USD vs 2000 USD) - We have another well designed IEM, the A8000. Both IEMs are similar in comfort and ergonomics, but I prefer the default cable of A8000, as it feels slightly better than that of Aether R. The overall sound is brighter, more neutral, and more focused on the A8000. This means that Aether R has a larger soundstage, with more focus on musicality, with more body to music, more overall space, and a deeper presentation too. Micro and macro details are presented with more focus on the A8000, but they are really neutral, resulting in a linear bass and a bright, sometimes pinchy treble. Aether R is easier to listen to, especially on the "warm" setting, and they are much easier to combine with source and less picky about what they're connected to. There's a bit more headroom on A8000, if you're an EQ enthusiast.





Lime Ears Aether R vs Campfire Atlas (1400 USD vs 1300 USD) - Atlas is more aggressively V-Shaped compared to Aether R. There's considerably more headroom on Atlas, but it comes with driver flex too. The cable of Atlas is better, but the package is more impressive on Aether R. I love the sound of both, but they work well for very different music styles. Atlas works well for grand orchestral pieces, prog metal, prog rock, and everything you want grand. IT has a much larger soundstage than Aether R, but the sound is more focused, more impactful in the mids on Aether R. The bass is more in quantity, and the treble is more pinchy on Atlas, but Aether R wins in terms of realism, where the aggressively V-Shaped sound of the Atlas tends to lose some points to the Polish Jewelry.





Lime Ears Aether R vs Lime Ears Model X (1400 USD vs 800 USD) - Comparing the two models from the same creator, I can see where both are coming from, and honestly I would go for Aether R almost always. It is an improvement from the older Model X in every way, and both need extensive tip rolling to sound right. When you do get Model X to sound well, it sings with passion, the midrange is more emotional, and more colorful, vivid than Aether R. The more expensive model has more detail, more micro-detail and a larger presentation with a better soundstage that comes closer to actual speakers in a properly treated room. The comfort is slightly better on Model X, and both have about equal amounts of headroom if you want to EQ either.





Lime Ears Aether R vs Meze Rai Penta (1400 USD vs 1300 USD) - Meze is almost creating a tradition of making good products that need some EQ, and Rai Penta can indeed take some EQ if you want to push their limits. In their basic shape, the Aether R has a better package from the start. The comfort is better on RAI Penta. The overall sound has more impact, a deeper bass, a more controlled bass, with more detail and micro-detail for Aether R. Meze Rai Penta mainly has a much larger soundstage, but it also leaks far more. Aether R sounds more focused, with more revealing abilities, and the treble is more expressed, midrange is more emotional, and everything is more clean on Aether R.











Pairing





The main pairings will be with iBasso DX300, FiiO M11 PRO, and HIFIMAN R2R2000. Aether R is somewhat picky with the source, and it favors greatly sources with more detail and dynamics. It is also sensitive to hiss and a silent sources are great for Aether R.











Lime Ears Aether R + HIFIMAN R2R2000 (1400 USD + 2500 USD) - When you need to go for the ultimate, R2R2000 is a great place to start. IT has a beautiful dynamic sound, a ton of power, and a controlled bass. I enjoy both the detail and the clarity of the pairing, and also the way micro-details come forward and reveal new bits in the music I've always known. There's also a holographic presentation for the pairing, and Aether R loves being paired with a high-end source to unleash their true potential.





Lime Ears Aether R + FiiO M11 PRO (1400 USD + 2500 USD) - M11 PRO is surely a great DAP to power the Aether R from, affordable for a midranger, but good in width and energetic in the top end. If you wanted them to be a bit more sparkly, and have a slightly more peaky top end, where they are typically flat, then M11 PRO should do the trick. We still have an excellent soundstage and resolution, but this time with absolutely incredible dynamics too. There's a faint hissing in the background but it is many dB quieter than when I listen to my music so it is ok in the end.





Lime Ears Aether R + iBasso DX300 (1400 USD + 1200 USD) - This pairing has been my personal favorite. The level of detail and dynamic is incredible, and if I was to be honest, I actually waited before posting the review of Aether R to include the pairing with DX300. The absolutely best part is how natural yet detailed the midrange is. It is the type of sonic reproduction that can send shivers down your spine and give you goosebumps, with the right music. It isn't even the most expensive source I tested the Aether R with, but surely it is one of the best sounding ones.











Value and Conclusion





The value of the Aether R is fairly good, for a flagship. It can never be as value-friendly as FiiO FA9, but it is awesome to have flagships with good packages below 1500 USD. Also, this kind of detail and resolution was pretty much impossible from IEMs ten years ago, regardless how much you were willing to pay.





Value is always getting better and things will appear to be able to do more for less. But this is a good moment to remind everyone that we should support small-time companies that make technological breakthroughs, and companies willing to invest in Research & Development rather than marketing and rebranding products.











The package for Aether R has been an example and should be followed by all CIEMs makers, the polish fudges winning them points in my heart. Of course that can't win them points in my review for real, but including Spinfit tips and that heavy case does.





The construction is excellent, they have good comfort, and a switch-able sound, between a brighter and a warmer sound. They also have excellent wearing and good sonic resolution, paired with good extension both ways. If you're sensitive to treble, you'll be happy to know that the treble is less peaky than with most flagships, especially in the high-treble, and that Aether R has an excellent impact in the lows.





Before the end of today's review, I will add Lime Ears Aether R to Audiophile-Heaven's Hall Of Fame, without replacing their model X. This is because it is amazing, but in a different, more analogue-way than the original Model X. The overall detail, and precise yet clean presentation of Aether R made me go Wow too many times for it to not have earned a place in the hall of fame.











At the end of today's review, if you're looking for Universal IEMs that fit as good as customs, and if you want to get something that you can switch between bright and warm, if you want excellent resolution, detail, clarity, and an easy to drive flagship, Lime Ears Aether R is one of the best ones I can recommend.











Product Link





You can always get your Lime Ears Aether R from here: https://limeears.com/aether/








--- Please remember to stay safe, and always have fun while listening to music!---






















Full Playlist used for this review





We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality are all revealed by those songs. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music!





If you have a dime to spare (donate), it would make my day much brighter, as it would help me improve things around the website and increase the frequency of my posts.





Youtube Playlist





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Tidal Playlist





https://listen.tidal.com/playlist/64555551-ec3c-4279-ae44-248fdfcf6c4b

How do you follow up a hit? Do you provide more of the same, or head in a different direction? Lime Ears’ update to the much-loved flagship Aether, suggests doing a little bit of both.

Life is short. The year 2020 has been, to quote the ever-eloquent Biff Tannen, “flushed completely down the toilet”. And as the nightmare year draws to a close, 2021 promises more of the same, uh, crap. To reiterate, life is short, so treat yourself. Get those headphones, IEMs, DAPs and cables you’ve always wanted, and don’t settle for less. The doctrine of YOLO demands it lol.

Last year I had the pleasure of reviewing Lime Ears’ Model X. It had a brilliant tuning at an accessible price point, but was also, at the time, the second fiddle in their lineup, behind the Aether R which I so heavily coveted. So in moving up, I say goodbye to Sir Lancelot, Dr Watson, Sideshow Bob and Starscream. the doctrine dictates that I have a taste of the throne!



Today we look at Aether R, the former flagship in Lime Ears’ lineup. Former? At the time of writing, the brand new Pneuma has taken over as the top dog in the roster, effectively rendering the above argument entirely null. Alas, ‘tis but a sidegrade! The iron throne is still beyond my grasp, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun along the way eh?

Aether R is the successor to the original, now-discontinued Aether, their inaugural flagship. With six BAs a side, four-way passive crossover and a host of in-house technologies, the R hopes to surpass the accomplishments of the former. The flexible bass switch makes a return, giving two signatures for the price of one (albeit a pricey one), and is arguably Lime Ears’ calling card by now.

The Aether R is available in universal or custom form. Both have their ups and downs. For universal, you can fine-tune the sound to your liking via ear tips, whereas for custom, you get the best possible fit and comfort. Prices start from €1200 (~USD$1400), and you can buy them from Lime Ears direct, or via their network of dealers. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to founder Emil Stolecki for the discounted review unit.

Equipment Used:
DAP

1. FiiO M15

IEMs

1. Lime Ears Aether R
2. Stealth Sonics U9 JDM
3. Vision Ears VE8

Albums

1. Amber Rubarth – Sessions from the 17th Ward
2. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
3. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
4. Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
5. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
6. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
7. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
8. Melissa Menago – Little Crimes
9. The Eagles – Hell Freezes Over
10. The Weeknd – After Hours

Technical Specifications

• Driver: 6x BAs
• Configuration: 2x sub-bass, 2x lows, 1x mids, 1x highs
• Crossover: 4-way passive hybrid crossover
• Switchable low-end characteristics
• VariBore technology
• TrueSub technology
• Cable Connectors: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Plug: 3.5mm

Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss… all set.

Packaging and Accessories
If you’ve been on the fence to get Aether R in either custom or universal form, perhaps this section is the difference maker. The universal version comes in a luxurious, indulgent packaging with a complete accessory set. It’s so high end, you will want for nothing. You’ll be the envy of friends who rightly assume you paid top dollar for bragging rights. “Imported from Poland”, you say to a chorus of oohs and aahs.

That pristine accessory set was meticulously covered in the Model X review, and I sort of miss the extravagance. Because here, in front of me, is the custom Aether R set in its entirety, and I struggle to think of other words besides sparse, basic, and lacking. You get the barest essentials, that is a Pelican 1015 case, Plastics One cable, cleaning tool and a desiccant. No presentation box, no aluminium case, no Polish candy!

It’s a jarring case of prince and the pauper (or pooper) and I may be petty. Certainly, one can argue that custom IEMs are geared towards musicians and audio professionals, but at this price range, expectations are sky high, and something as meagre as presentation can make or break a brand. Lime Ears progressed leaps and bounds in their universal IEMs, perhaps more attention should be paid towards their customs as well. Please, sir, I want some more.

Due to budget constraints, backgrounds are now optional.

Design and Build Quality
Lime Ears has an eye on the cosmos. Ok not quite, but the raw ambition is there. The Aether R was tuned with three-way far field speakers as inspiration, inviting listeners to an immersive experience where lows, mids and highs (hence, three-way) are given equal prominence in a roomy, spacious (and here, far field) setting. To set about the lofty goal, they’ve introduced three distinct technologies.

The Switch: Controls the bass region below 100Hz. The bass level can be increased in low-volume listening or noisy environments (or when you simply crave the boom-boom); and decreased when negotiating poorly-mastered tracks for a cleaner sound.

VariBore: Sound bores of varying diameters are used for each frequency band to accentuate their strengths. Lower and middle frequencies utilize a 1mm bore diameter, while high frequencies use a wider 2mm bore for an open and smooth treble response.

TrueSub: The lowest frequencies in Aether are dampened with a custom-designed, 3D-printed filter. This acoustic filter commands a powerful subwoofer-like quality, while remaining clear, textured and dynamic.

Aether R won’t be a custom IEM without a host of customizable choices. Lime Ears’ designer page comes with a full suite of options to alter the faceplates, shells and logos to your liking. You can indulge in exotic materials like carbon fiber, wood, watch parts and rhinestones at additional cost. Fluff, yes, but handsome fluff. If the options seem overwhelming, they have ready-made, head-turning signature designs that showcase the best of what they can do.

My Aether R comes in Amber Road shells with Victoria Red canals for the right earpiece, and Lime Green shells with Elizabeth Purple canals for the left. The faceplates are carbon fiber with Time Machine watch parts, and gold metal logos. It’s a bombastic, eccentric yet deliberate design – a homage to two of my favorite mechanical monsters growing up: Predaking and Devastator. I love villains.

Build quality is expectedly excellent, given Lime Ears’ years of grizzled expertise. The acrylic shells are solid with no defects or bubbling in sight, while the carbon fiber faceplates glimmer from different viewing angles. The switches, located at the bottom of each faceplate, are well-embedded and don’t wiggle in place. Go on, twitch that switch to your heart’s content. Most mesmerizing of all are the watch parts, imbuing a steampunk aesthetic, old-timey elegance, and personality.

The earpieces are smooth, seamless and lightweight. They might appear durable, but are essentially plastic shells housing a bunch of wires and drivers, kind of like a rib cage protecting the vital organs. Or an egg, if you’re feeling morbid. Be aware of the laws of physics and don’t strain your earpieces. They are particularly vulnerable to falls and crush pressure, so protect them in a case at all times when not in use.

Going back to the stone edge.

Fit, Comfort and Isolation
Like audiophile Spider-Man says, “With great build quality comes great fit”. The size of Aether R’s earpieces are moderate as far as multi-driver custom IEMs go, but I’m most impressed with how they fit. They aren’t small and slippery like Empire Ears Legend X, nor large and intrusive like Hidition Violet, occupying the narrow middle ground between comfort and heft. The nozzle length is perfect too, not long and invasive, nor short and stumpy.

Why are these important? Audiophile Spider-Man continues, “With great fit comes great comfort”, and Aether R just about occupies the top spot in this aspect. They slid into my ear canals without effort, and stayed in place even when I’m talking, chewing or grinning widely. They never broke seal throughout, providing an uncompromised bass response. All this in their first try, without any need for refits. I’ve had many rodeos in the world of custom IEMs, and Aether R has, gee whiz, just about the best fit I’ve ever experienced.

Isolation is exemplary as well, being fully-sealed earpieces without vents. I’m able to block out 90% of environmental noise, including air-conditioning hums, fan whooshes, and the odd annoying voice telling me to get off the road. Nobody tells me what to do.

To understand a brickwalled audio recording, here’s a literal one.

Sound Quality
I’m as superficial as they come, and as flawless as the Aether R is on the outside, it’s what’s inside that counts. Let’s dissect the sound.

Overall Sound Signature
A top-of-the-line (TOTL) product carries with it heightened expectations, whims and fancies from eager listeners. You’re not going to get away with just sounding good, you need a defining characteristic that identifies and builds the brand. Feel the pressure yet? The original Aether had many fans owing to its superb bass and treble response coupled with a fun, airy, and ethereal (hence, Aether) signature.

Aether R, faced with the burden of the sequel, aims to please everyone with switchable signatures, a smooth, timbre-accurate sound, while preserving the former’s treble response and airiness. It’s everything and the kitchen sink. So did we get a Terminator 2 or Highlander 2? Sadly, it’s more of the latter. In its eagerness to be everything at once, Aether R struggles to forge an identity of its own, and ends up sounding like a vanilla TOTL. I avoid clichés whenever possible, but here I’m neck-deep in one. Aether R is a jack of all trades, but master of none.

That isn’t to say it’s a complete trainwreck. Aether R has many redeeming features. It still boasts a pleasing neutral-warm signature, leaning towards naturalness with a slight gooey intimacy. Smooth, musical flow is emphasized over outright detail and resolution, and it’s very easy to sink into the music. You just have that sinking (sic) feeling that, it’s all been done before by others.

Listening Conditions
Critical listening was done after 100 hours of burn-in, while I admire the Aether R’s aesthetic qualities yet again. It’s quite an ego boost knowing these IEMs fit only me and not the other 7 billion people worldwide. After burn-in the sound remained much the same. The main review setup is FiiO’s M15 player with the included Plastics One cable.


Gather a few more of these and you’ll summon Captain Planet.

Bass
The bass forms the warm, lush centre of Aether R, providing much of the signature’s body and smoothness, like good chicken broth. Powered by four BA drivers, the bass paints a vivid picture, with amazing details and textures throughout. I am able to savor each note and every layer, and although the decay is a bit too swift for my liking, the stage is rendered crisp and clean.

Sub-bass extension is very good, while slam and impact are just decent. The bass lacks the rumble and authenticity of dynamic drivers, especially in the lowest registers. So to compensate, the notes are slightly thickened and rounded to create the impression of warmth, especially in the midbass area. The best part is, even with all this going on, resolution remains high, and you won’t miss out on any richly-layered, bottom-heavy passages.

Feel like a bit more punch? Turn the bass switch on to enhance the midbass and upper bass, filling up the air and space between the notes. The signature becomes warmer, but the transition to mids is still surprisingly clean. However, the adage too much of a good thing applies here. Clarity is affected, and the congestion within the bass hampers positioning and layering. It gets too busy, and I much prefer the switch off for most instances.

All in all, the bass is a solid performer with attention to details and fullness, but lacks the naturalness and slam to really get things going.


One takes you to paradise, the other to the fiery depths of… yeah, choose wisely.

Mids
I’m reminded of a riddle in my youth, “what’s high in the middle and round on both ends?” The traditional answer is Ohio, but the same could be argued for Aether R’s mids response. Bookmarked by dips in the lower and upper mids, while bringing forward the central mids, the tuning is as unique as they come.

The central mids have resolution heightened and brought forward positionally, closer to the listener so you can appreciate the finer details and lovely texture caressing your ears. The rounded, subdued lower and upper mids serve to smoothen the signature, lending a healthy dose of warmth to further Aether R’s organic, natural-sounding agenda.

Put together though, is a tone that I don’t find agreeable. The mids start off smooth, full and warm, but drop abruptly, nearly cliff-like, with a hastened decay, in the name of recreating the airy magic of the original Aether. The end result is hollow-sounding and even soulless, despite the apparent fullness of the notes. This is especially obvious in vocals, and it’s such a pity.

The mids sound nice and inoffensive initially, with a good balance of tone and detail. But even with months of listening, I could not, for the life of me figure out why the forwardly-placed mids – often a shortcut to captivate the listener – failed to engage or move me. Much later, with further listening and comparisons, the mids finally unraveled. Like a shiny exterior hiding a deep, dark, decades-long secret, it’s bad news. In trying to be warm and natural yet swift and airy, the mids simply tried too hard to be everything and fell disappointingly short.


What do you mean you can’t tell the time?

Treble
It gets better, I promise. Keep calm and carry on, for there’s a silver lining behind every cloud. The cliché-a-thon has ended, so let me start by spilling the deets about the treble before you splash the cash. Thanks to the muted upper mids, the lower treble continues in similar fashion, for better or worse. If your ears are sensitive, it’s time to rejoice, because the buttery treble is smooth sailing and fatigue-free.

But if you’re a treble-head like me, you can’t help but feel shortchanged, because it lacks energy despite being tonally-accurate and pleasing for the most part. Cymbals and hi-hats impart an excellent note body, finished with just a dollop of shimmer. It’s not enough to make you abandon what you’re doing and surrender to the music, but the treble is adequately pleasant in a safe, elevator-music kind of way.

The silver lining I talked about was hiding in the mid-treble. Characterized by a sudden peak in that region, extra air and spice is added to the signature. And dare I say it, a hint of sparkle. At the very least, it doesn’t sound boring now. What’s even better, treble extension and clarity are at a commendable level, without the danger of stiff peaks when you whisk the treble for too long. What, I can’t use a baking analogy?


One pitch, two pitch, a pitcher, a picture.

Soundstage and Imaging
Reviewers, me included, often equate the soundstage with the sun, the stars, the moonlit sky or other faffery. All you really want to know is whether you feel the performers’ energy, emotion and flecks of sweat, possibly. The good news is, Aether R’s stage puts you in the front seat in terms of size and engagement factor. The width is quite impressive and worthy of flagship status, while stage depth is close behind, although affected by the mid-forwardness.

Imaging and separation are serviceable on the whole, with a lively, natural head-stage helped by accurate positional cues. Left-to-right separation is superb, but interestingly there is some congestion in the centre imaging, probably due to some note stretching in the bass and mids. I heard this in Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain”, where music came from far left, far right, and mostly centre, instead of being evenly dispersed around the head.


Going hyper for carbon fiber.

Comparisons

Stealth Sonics U9 JDM
At this level, every brand that dares to call themselves “high-end” will have something up their sleeves with a similar price. Stealth Sonics’ U9 JDM is my gatekeeper for $1000-and-over IEMs, simply because it does so many things right, with little fuss or fanfare. The 9-driver hybrid has a fun, addictive U-shaped signature that brings great joy to music, and even movies and gaming.

The U9 possesses finer detail levels at both ends, bringing cannon-like sub-bass power coupled with pristine, crispy highs. It delivers all the energy Aether R isn’t capable of, along with a big, ballsy sound that’s all-in on engagement. Instruments sound bigger and meatier when played through the U9, along with gobs of dynamism and flair. Can you say histrionic tendencies?

With that said, a few might not be able to stand the U9’s, how shall we say, extroverted and confrontative stance. For those times, the serenity and affability of Aether R seems a more sensible choice. With a relaxed, spacious and smooth presentation, the Aether R provides a spa-like listening sensation, and even manages to have a slightly better timbre than U9.

As lovely as it sounds, Aether R’s strongest characteristic might just be the deal-breaker, because a warm/natural/smooth tuning is exceedingly common and available for cheaper. Compared side by side, U9 is the more unique and technically accomplished IEM, while Aether R likes to play it safe and steady.

All part of the roasty, toasty burning-in process.

Vision Ears VE8
Meet the yardstick, the ender of worlds. For all intents and purposes, Aether R is earmarked as an all-rounder, adept in most genres. But mention “flagship-class all-rounder” and the eminent VE8 – one of my all-time favorites – should never be ignored. Although twice as expensive, VE8 shares two similarities with Aether R, that is the neutral-warm signature and a mid-treble peak.

VE8’s pièce de résistance is being able to convey warmth and clarity in equal measure, and on a grand, cinematic scale. The presentation is vibrant and immersive, putting you onstage with the musicians. It has muscular, full-bodied notes across the spectrum, like a soul injection for voices and instruments. In terms of musicality and pure, unadulterated pleasure, VE8 is peerless.

The Aether R sounds brilliant on first listen, but only when compared to VE8’s greatness does the cracks show. The notes are more brittle, although you can argue that it’s airier and more ethereal. But sometimes air doesn’t pay the bills – realism does – and the hollower character of the voices and instruments tend to sound distant and uninvolved.

Resolution isn’t as high on the Aether R, showing up in pockets of deficiencies. Compared to VE8, there is less extension, sluggish midbass, intimate soundstage, and muddled centre imaging. Although a very capable IEM in its own right, Aether R is clearly a tier below. It wasn’t a fair fight from the start, but you have to know how high this sound quality mountain can go, particularly when you’re shopping at stratospheric prices.


I might have a drinking problem.

Final Words
In mathematics and science, to solve complex problems precisely and repeatedly, you need a formula. In the real world, not so much. Without quantifiable units, you rely on luck, or worse, the X-factor. That’s why even with a big budget, special effects, an intriguing premise, tons of hype, dinosaurs, and friggin’ Steven Speilberg attached, Terra Nova was a failed TV series.

Lime Ears’ Aether R was conceived with the best intentions, based on a simple formula. Retain what made the original so captivating, correct its deficiencies, and give it an accessible, people-pleasing tuning. It succeeds for the most part, but without a unique selling point other than the switch, struggles to stay afloat amongst the competition. A good tuning simply won’t suffice nowadays.

There is much to learn, yet much to celebrate. As evidenced by the luxurious build quality, class-defining fit and comfort, value-for-money proposition (for flagships anyway), and robust R&D division, these are perfect starting points for the spectacular next big thing. The future is neon-bright, and I am eagerly awaiting Lime Ears’ next release to prove me right.

My background.
I am a professional musician, producer and audio engineer with experience in the performing, recording and pro-audio industry. I test products on a technical and musical level and try to write reviews as simple as possible from a music fan's perspective.

Genre preferences.
I majorly listen to rock, acoustic, pop, metal, and sometimes popular EDM songs doing the rounds on the charts.

Disclaimer.
I would like to thank Lime Ears for sending me the Aether R to test and review. I am not affiliated with the company or any of its sellers and write this review with an unbiased opinion regardless of how the review turns out.

About Lime Ears.
Lime Ears was started by Emil Stolecki who is himself a musician/bass player. If you haven’t noticed, Lime is basically Emil spelt backwards. They are based out of Warsaw, Poland and have a very simple but intriguing line up of 4 models, Λ (lambda), Ψ (psi), Model X and flagship Aether R. Lime Ears cater to both pro-musicians and audiophiles, and make CIEMs as well as universal models with very attractive and intriguing designs. Some of Poland’s breakthrough metal bands like Katatonia and Decapitated endorse Lime Ears and can be seen sporting their IEMs in their concerts.

Links - Lime Ears Official Website | Lime Ears Aether R (€1200)



Technical Specifications.

• Six balanced armature driver construction
• Four-way passive hybrid crossover
• Switchable subwoofer double driver
• Utilizing VariBore and TrueSub technology

Varibore - Acoustical design utilizing sound bores of different diameter for each frequency band. Use of 2mm bore for high frequencies in combination with internal acoustical damping results in open sound and smooth highs.

TrueSub - Unlike in the standard electrical filtering (done with electrical crossover), the lowest frequencies in Aether are filtered by custom-designed filter, 3D printed in XHD resolution. Use of precise acoustic filtering results in powerful yet extremely clear, textured and dynamic subwoofer frequencies.

Emil’s Philosophy for Aether R tuning via quick chat.
Emil told me that he had been listening to several constructions of Far-Field and Near-Filed monitors placed in spacious and well acoustically treated rooms. He said, “At my friend’s studio and at home, my favourite constructions were speakers that can act as near-field but are slightly bigger so that they can move some air, which could act a bit like mid-far field’. He said that they particularly wanted to create how he heard some of his favourite monitors, particularly the APS Aeon 2, in a well-treated room and wanted the listener to experience everything the artist and engineer had created in the recording, with a touch of top audiophile quality that would please users who avoid too technical sound but still look for real fidelity in their recordings.

Bass Switch – The switch gives you a bit of control over the bass quantity. It isn't massive bass head levels of bass boost. It is a rather simple 4-5 dB boost in the lower spectrum, 500Hz and below. Without the bass boost, I feel the lower end is a bit lacking. So, I generally always have the bass switch ON.

Lime Ears wanted to integrate the bass switch for a couple of reasons,

• As a compensation switch as per the Fletcher-Munson curve theory. Basically at lower volumes, human ears don’t hear the bass quantity as nicely and for that you can flip the bass switch up which will give it a slight boost for it to be better audible.
• To manipulate the level according to the quality of bass in the recording. If the bass is well recorded, it can increase its strength. On the other hand, if the material is not mixed properly and lows become boomy and get out of control, they can be trimmed down.
• To compensate for external noise levels. For example, if you are using your monitors in a noisy environment: airplane, subway, etc., where the low-end noise masks the lows, you might want to use the switch to make up for that.

Included in the box.
Alright, let me tell you right off the bat that Aether R’s package is the biggest and most goodie filled package I’ve gotten from a brand EVER! I’m not kidding! I was a bit startled to see the size of the box. Actually, Lime Ears pack everything in a ‘Lime Ears’ branded shoe box. They fill it with goodies like Lime Ears branded Polish chocolates (yum!), multiple stickers, Lime Ears Lookbook, Lime Ears info manual and then the actual Aether R box. All this is nicely cushioned in thermocol puffs for safety. The Aether R box isn’t small either as it packs quite a lot of things inside too. Oh man, I’m now spoilt and would be extra nitpicky if future boxes from brands don’t come like this. Lol! Jokes aside, Lime Ears, take a bow! You sure know how to package your products and fill it with goodies to make people extra happy.

Here is all that came in the Main Shoe Box.

• Aether R box
• Big and small stickers
• Lookbook
• Info Manual
• Traditional Polish Cream Fudge chocolates in a nice cloth lace pouch

Aether R's box contents –

• Aether R
• Big circular metal case
• Cable in a cloth lace pouch
• Ear tips – 3 Symbio W | 4 Spinfits | 2 Comply Foam
• Cleaning tool
• Dehumidifier
• Warranty card

I have to give it to Lime Ears for including branded ear tips like Spinfits, Symbio W and Comply T400 foam ear tips stock in the package. Very cool!



CIEM Ordering process.

• Use their online CIEM designer tool.
• Go all out customizing it where imagination and budget are the limit. Customization costs are extra. Plain shells are included in the basic cost of €1200.
• Place an order.
• Mail your physical ear impressions to Lime Ears lab address.
• There is an option for a rush order too for around €180.

Build Quality.
Shells - Lime Ears gave me the option to customize my universal shells and I went with the ‘Nebula Galaxy’ design. They came out really well! I also dig the Lime Ears and Aether R logo in metallic silver. They have a very 3D-ish depth to them on top of the blue galaxy colours. Lime Ears certainly have a very good eye for design. The shells are made up of resin and look & feel very well built. The faceplate is integrated very well with the bottom shell without disrupting the natural flow of the galaxy colours. The nozzles are made out of metal and have a brushed smokey nickel look. The nozzles have 3 bores, one big and two small. The bass switch feels rugged and sturdy too. All contours are very smooth and look very ergonomically designed.



Case - You can either use the big metal round case or the lace pouch to carry your Aether R. The big metal case is very well built with a nice black slate texture, though is a little heavy to carry around. Nevertheless it is built like a tank and can fit in all your ear tips, IEM with cable as well as a couple of other things that you want to throw in. It’s that spacious! Lace cloth pouch on the other hand is made up of nice old cotton style cloth which is very vintage-y in looks. Though I don’t know if you’d be comfortable carrying a €1200 IEM in a cloth pouch.



Cable - The cable is a typical 4 core Plastics One cable and is the only let down in an otherwise premium and highly attractive package. It has a memory hook and 2-pin connectors, just like what you see musicians wearing on stage. There is not much to talk about here. I wish Lime Ears had included a nice UP-OCC Litz cable in the package. That would’ve been the cherry on the already great icing on the cake.



Fit, Comfort and Noise Isolation
Aether R universal shells have nice semi-custom contours. Fit depends on your choice of ear tips. I like to get a nice custom like deep fit and a lot of ear tips helped me achieve that but I liked Comply foam tips the most out of the stock ones, for comfort as well as the sound signature. Aether R with them is very comfortable and it almost feels like a CIEM. I had no problems wearing them for hours. Noise Isolation in case of universal shells depends on the ear tips you choose but in my case, it was excellent with Final-E and foam ear tips, especially NewBee foams that I like quite a lot. I can hardly hear a thing going on outside with them on.

Sound Analysis.

Note - First things first, you need the right ear tips for universal Aether R’s sound signature to shine its best as it benefits greatly from a perfect seal and snug fit, which is quite easy to achieve as it pairs well with a lot of ear tips. I’ve written my own 2 cents about that below. Of course you can get Aether R as a CIEM (Lime Ears make mean CIEMs) but universal shells always benefit with good tip rolling, especially this one.

Aether R moves from warm to neutral bright with the choice of ear tips. Good foam ear tips are the best pairing in my opinion. I like the stock Comply T400 foam tips but I like AliExpress T400 and NewBee foam ear tips even better. The stock Spinfits pair well, which is what Emil likes most personally. Symbio W are fine but accentuate a bit of treble for me. Final-E tips worked well for me too. Your experience of course might vary. A lot of 3rd party medium silicone ear tips paired well for me too.

My sound analysis was majorly written with NewBee, T400 and stock Comply foam ear tips as well as Final-E tips. I always had Aether R’s bass switch in ON position because I like the balance more with it on.

Summary - Now I’m not one to easily accept what a brand says to market its product and I don’t want to say this loosely but with the right ear tips (foams in my case), Aether R’s sound signature really does have some character of nice studio monitors in a well-treated room. I was slightly taken aback when I first tried the Aether R right after using my flat frequency compensated near-field monitors in my studio and then hearing the same song on the Aether R back to back. It’s not a theoretical specimen of ‘studio monitors in an acoustically treated room’ but it certainly has that mojo. Aether R sounds neutral but vibrantly musical, so much that I’ve been enjoying it a lot (if not most) over the last 2 months or so since I got it. It has a very real presentation of instruments, very good clarity and a clean, open and spacious sound signature which is what actually gives you the illusion of ‘studio monitors in a room’. It has very precise imaging, separation and layering of instruments with good instrument definition, bite and crispness.

Aether R has excellent clarity at lower volumes which helps keep my music listening levels on the average to low side as I don’t need to boost volume to compensate for any lack in clarity. I anyway highly suggest everyone to keep music listening levels under control. Hearing loss and tinnitus are not good things to have. Haha. Also, Aether R benefits greatly with a good cable pairing. I tested it with Ego Audio Whiskey & Tequila, Effect Audio Ares II, Electro Acousti 7N Single Crystal Copper & 7N UP-OCC, Null Audio Arete, etc, to very good results. Some of the immediate things you notice by pairing it with a good cable are - slightly better overall balance, better bass definition & presence, fuller lower mids, slight increase in resolution and a more open and airy soundstage.

Let’s dig in deeper….

Bass – Again, my impressions are with bass switch flipped up in ON position. Aether R presents bass quantity in a very neutral way and presents it how it is mixed in the song. Bass transients, clarity, micro details and bass placement in the image is very well done. It has extremely precise 3D imaging and so if the bass is mixed to sit below the vocals vertically and behind the kick depth wise, that is exactly how you will hear it in Aether R. I sometimes boost a bit of sub-bass with a low-shelf of 1-3dBs at around 60Hz but I like Aether R’s stock bass tuning and accuracy for a neutral presentation nevertheless. Aether R’s bass always sounds clean and detailed without the bass ever overpowering the centre space and I quite like it that way in general.

Bass in Dua Lipa’s ‘Pretty Please’ has quality, presence, punch and depth without interfering with the voice or any of the other instruments. In the song, it is upfront but with presence how it is in the song and is not boosted by the Aether R itself to make it more present. In Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard’s ‘Why so serious, the sub-bass around the 3:27 mark is presented very cleanly and has good neutral rumble but certainly not what you would expect from a bass boosted/heavy IEM or even a Harman Target IEM like Moondrop S8. The overall atmosphere of the song feels very realistic and the sub-bass plays more as part of the band rather than an isolated star of the show.

Mids – Lower mids are neither full nor lean. They sound very clean and clear and as a result, deeper baritone vocals, snare’s slam and body as well as strings and organs played in the lower registers come out shining without ever sounding too full, muddy or boxy. Upper mids are presented forwardly but aren’t peaky or shouty. Aether R has very good instrument definition, imaging and precision owning to its upper mids tuning. Vocals are crystal clear in the centre and sound beautiful with foam and Final-E ear tips. Big rock guitars hard panned left and right have good authority and punch. A lot of the warmer sets make Audioslave’s guitars in the song ‘Revelations’ and ‘Cochise’ a little too soft but Aether R brings them out shining and hitting hard. Aether R does have a dip in the 4-5kHz region which makes cymbals hits easier and non-intrusive but I don’t hear it taking away much information from anything else.

Treble - Treble is open, airy and supports the upper mids very well. The treble character changes a bit with different ear tips. Some ear tips accentuate the treble a bit, so be vary of that and roll your ear tips. Foam ear tips make sure the treble is smooth and comfortable. Spinfit ear tips pair well too and so do a lot of 3rd party silicone ear tips from my collection. Even though Aether R has an 8kHz peak, it mostly promotes good resolution and clarity but never sibilance. My test track for sibilance is Gavin James’ ‘Always’ and it sounds fine, free from any sibilance. Aether R’s treble is fatigue free if you have a good seal and snug fit with the right ear tips. Acoustics in Porcupine Tree’s ‘Trains’ and ‘Sound of Muzak’ have remarkable string definition and clarity. There is no artificial sparkle to them, just very good life-like clarity and definition. Shakers, Tamborines and everyone’s favourite Cowbells have very realistic presence too owing to the treble tuning, especially the cowbell that plays in the chorus of Dua Lipa’s ‘Don’t Start Now’. It sounds as if someone is playing it right in front of me.



Soundstage, Imaging, Separation & Resolution.
Aether R’s soundstage is beautiful and big... height, width and depth wise. It has a very 3D presentation and has the capability of placing instruments in all XYZ axes. The soundstage is very open & airy and as a result gives you a very life-like insight into the performance of the song. Imagining and separation is exceptional for its asking price. Instruments panned left and right have very precise presence and imaging. If an instrument is panned, let’s say at 1:30 o’clock (45° from centre), with 3 o’clock being the widest, it sounds exactly at 1:30 and doesn’t take up any more space in 1-2 o’clock area. I don’t want to seem too enthusiastic, but Aether R really does perform very well in this segment.

Comparisons.

BGVP EST12 – EST12 is my reference IEM in the $1000-2000 segment. Let’s dig in deeper with Aether R... EST12 has slightly better extension down low with a neutral sub-bass to mid-bass relationship. Aether R relies more on its mid-bass tuning compared to its sub-bass. Both have very good bass definition, clarity and details. Both EST12 and Aether R have a clean lower midrange where EST12 has a more neutral character whereas Aether R has a slight dip in the 500-1kHz region. Both have very defined upper midrange leading to good instrument definition but Aether R focuses more in the 2-3.5kHz region with a dip in the 3.5-5kHz region whereas EST12 has peak definition in the 2-4kHz region with a gradual upper mids peak fall-off to 5kHz. As a result, Aether R sounds slightly forward musically without being harsh in the upper midrange and EST12 sounds a bit more natural in the same region, but both of them have very good detail retrieval and resolution. Both have good treble tuning that helps them have an open and spacious sound signature. Both have wide and deep soundstages with nice black backgrounds.

Custom Art Fibae 7 – Custom Art are Lime Ears’ Polish brothers. They too make some great looking CIEM designs and offer their whole line up in universal shells. Onto the comparison… Fibae 7 has a much smaller universal shell compared to Aether R’s shell. Aether R has a smokey nickel metal nozzle glued onto the shell and Fibae 7 has a resin nozzle as a part of its shell. Fibae7’s universal shell is a bit more ergonomic for my ears but Aether R fits very snugly with Final-E and foam ear tips too. Sound wise, Fibae7 and Aether R share some similarities but are quite different sounding when you hear them back to back. Fibae7 has slightly better extension down low in the sub-bass region (1-2dBs) but Aether R has much better extension up top in the treble region. The biggest difference is that Fibae 7 has a natural roll-off in treble post 5kHz and as a result sounds warmer in comparison whereas Aether R sounds more vibrant, open and airy. Fibae 7 has more sub-bass rumble and impact whereas Aether R does better with its mid-bass. Both have very clean and clear lower midrange and a forward upper midrange, though Fibae 7 is more forward sounding in comparison. Aether R sounds more natural to my ears. Both have nice wide soundstages but Aether R’s sounds more open, airy and slightly deeper. Fibae 7 just has a warmer soundstage owing to its treble tuning. Both have nice black backgrounds.

ItsFit Fusion – Fusion shares some similarities with Aether R as both of them sound lively and vibrant. Fusion has better sub-bass extension, rumble and presence but Aether R has better mid-bass presence and better overall bass clarity and details. Fusion’s lower midrange has slightly thinner body and is pushed back in the image in comparison, whereas Lime Ears’ is quite neutral there. Aether R’s upper midrange has good pinna gain and as a result has strong instrument definition, bite and crispness in comparison. Fusion is no slouch but has a warmer midrange presentation in comparison. Both Aether R and Fusion have nice treble extension and are vibrant and lively in their own sense, but Aether R’s treble sounds more defined, natural, open and spacious. Both have nice wide soundstages but Aether R’s is more defined and refined in comparison.



Conclusion.
Lime Ears have certainly created a special IEM in the Aether R. It has a very attractive open, airy and spacious sound signature with very good instrument definition, imaging and separation. It is extremely musical, vibrant and lively, and immediately grabs you and throws you in the atmosphere of the song. The tiny details you hear in the song are very life-like, be it string dynamics of an acoustic guitar, a solo violin in the background or just a cowbell repeating in a section of a song. My only nitpick is that I would've liked a bit more bass-shelf tuned in, in both the bass off and bass on positions, especially in the bass on position. Nevertheless, I personally don't mind it as much and enjoy the stock tuning too. For me, the musicality and the aura the Aether R creates as well as the instrument presentation and details take the cake and all my attention. Aether R surely deserves the TOTL tag for Lime Ears’ and a place as one of the nicest IEMs in its price segment for neutral-reference style tuning. So, definitely check it out if you get the chance and give it a shot if you're looking to buy an IEM in this price segment. Highly recommended!

Gear used for testing and review.

• DAPs - iBasso DX160 and Hiby R6 Pro
• Laptop - Apple Macbook Pro 15"
• Phone - OnePlus 7 Pro

Reference Songs list.

• Normandie – White Flag album
• Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia album
• Dave Matthews - Shake Me Like a Monkey
• Foo Fighters - The Pretender, Best of you & Everlong
• Coldplay - Paradise, Up in flames & Everglow + Everyday Life Album
• Ed Sheeran - Thinking out loud, Bloodstream & Galway Girl
• Chainsmokers – Somebody, Sickboy, This Feeling & Closer
• John Mayer - Slow dancing in a burning room, Stop this Train & Say
• Gavin James - Always & Hearts on fire
• Switchfoot - Meant to live & Dare you to move
• Porcupine Tree - Sound of Muzak, Blackest Eyes & .3
• Our Lady Peace - Do You Like It & Innocent
• Linkin Park - Papercut, Somewhere I belong & Talking to myself
• Maroon 5 - She will be loved, Payphone & Lost stars
• Lifehouse - All in all & Come back down
• Breaking Benjamin - Diary of Jane
• Karnivool - Simple boy & Goliath
• Dead Letter Circus - Real you
• I Am Giant - Purple heart, City limits & Transmission
• Muse - Panic station
• James Bay - Hold back the river

For Reference:

IEMS I have owned and like (...at least for some time):

Universal: Shure 215, Hyla CE-5, AAW W900, Inear SD-5, Sony ex800st, ibasso IT01, Vision Ears VE6XC, Lime Ears Aether
Custom: Custom Art Fibae 2, Custom Art Harmony 8.2, Avara AV2, Warbler Prelude, Lime Ears Aether R, Vision Ears VE8, Fitear TG334

Music i like:

Metallica, Porcupine Tree, Rush, Tool, Beck, Brandi Carlile, Buckethead, Dave Matthews Band, Disturbed, Jason Mraz, Joe Goddard, Hans Zimmer, Vivaldi...

Sources:

LPG, DTR1, Calyx M, Corda Classic, Sony NW-A105, Xperia XZ1 compact

What's in the box:

You get the minimum accessories with the Aethers R. There are a pelicase, cleaning tool, dry capsule and stock cable. There is no flashy presentation and unboxing and all the money is going into the iems and not some fancy stuff that sits in the drawer, i like this. The only thing i wish to see is an upgraded cable. I instantly changed the stock one to an aftermarket cable. The hybrid iem from Forza Audio is a great match and helps a little with extension on both ends.

Build, comfort and usebility:


The craftsmanship on these is outstanding. I just love the flashy design and how the colors morph in the sun from green to blue and a great glittery effect. Just stunning. Additionally the shell is smooth with a very nice switch, that is well build and seems of high durability. It's positioned at the low end of the shell and i never had problems with it. I don't accidently press it while putting the iems in or taking them out.
One more on the switch. It will not change the whole signature it will just provide a little more body and bass as it adds some below 100Hz. I mostly go with a the more bass position as i like the fuller sound a little more.

The fit is definitly on the pro side. It is quite tight. Therefor i never loose seal whatever i do. Sport...no Problem. I can wear them in any situation but would prefer a more comfort fit when using it on hours. Despite the relativ short canal the isolation is not lacking as is to be expected with a tight fit.

Sound impressions:

The first thing that came to my mind when i heard the Aether R "this will be a great Allrounder". It got a bump in the area of 2-3 kHz and will provide a dense midrange with a more focus to E-Guitars and Voices.
At first I thought the bass is a little behind and tried to bump it with an EQ but after some dayes of usage I changed the setting back and got much more balance and this in the end works much better with the whole presentation. Some brain burn-in and the bass is not lacking in any area. It's nuanced and plenty deep. I like the layered bass and the bigger than live sound image.
It is by no means a reference sound but also not midcentric or V shaped. It kind of mixes some aspects of all this generic terms. There is no strong lifted bass but some inherit warmth and nice slam. The mids are boosted but not in the way of iems like the warbler prelude where this is the main focus and you loose some other traits like a nice bass fundament. The treble is very linear and there is no early roll off but it is not piercing...a little wet and full...just right to me.
To conclude the sound description the Aether R is very engaging and i didn't heard any kind of music it strugles with. I think it goes exeptionaly well with rock and metal. The Aether R is some kind of raw and fun but more refined than the classic Aether. In the end Aether R surely has the same toe-tapping genes.

Sources:

The Aether R scales nicely with source but is not picky. I can easily enjoy them from my xperia xz1 but with the a nice dap like the Calyx M or the DTR1 you get more soundstage, better imaging and more detail as you would expect. I like espesially the synergie with the Sony dap and would like to try them with a wmz1 as i think this will be a very nice pairing.
Hiss was never a problem even with my desktop amp (Meier Audio Classic) which needs an iematch with most of my other iems.



Comparisons:
I am not that into those technical terms thats why i try to compare them more on an emotional level.

vs. Aether (classic)
They both are monitors that make you move. They are fun and make you smile. The original is sharper in the treble and gives you more bass. To me that is borderline basshead but it is never the less a very nice package. The Aether R seams to be more serious. Like the youngster (Ather classic) has grown up but you can see the child in his (Aether R) eyes once in a while. It's focus is more on the mids and less on the upper or lower end of the sound spectrum. To me they both are great allrounder but the original Aether demands more of your attention where the Aether R gives you all that is in the music if YOU decide to focus on it.

vs. Vision Ears VE8

I said before both are in the same league and today i still think so. Yes, the VE8 is more refined and technically stronger but when i listen to music i can enjoy both on the same level and don't miss anything. When i said the Aether R is the grown up compared to the original Aether the VE8 is one more step in the same direction. The VE8 is the warm monitor with all details that offten is glanced over with other monitors that have this warm tuning. But it manages to be even and coherent where the Aether R has some peaks. Sometimes I crave for the excitement i get from the Aether R and sometimes it's more the eveness of the VE8.