Lime Ears Terra: This is NOT New Meta. I Like It.

Introduction

Not too long ago the IEM world seemed to be all about “the new meta”. So much so that I wrote a buyer’s guide navigating the landscape. But in the grand scheme of things, many IEM companies have turned a blind eye to this tuning approach (intentionally or not). And it’s not hard to understand why: audio is a luxury hobby where boutique brands rather focus on crafting high-end products with a unique vision than trying to compete in a ruthless race-to-the-bottom.

The topic of today’s review is one such boutique brand. Lime Ears is a Polish IEM company that’s been around for longer than I’ve been in the hobby. I remember pining over their products in my early days, admiring the handiwork of their custom shells. But as the IEM market rapidly advanced, Lime Ears was one of the many brands that was forgotten amidst the ChiFi boom. So it was to my surprise when Emil at Lime Ears reached out asking me if I’d like to review their newest universal IEM: the Lime Ears Terra. Coming in at €1,099, it sits right at the entrance to the kilobuck range where it’ll face fierce competition from superb IEMs. Let’s see how it fares.

What’s in the Box?

The Lime Ears Terra is a 1 DD + 5 BA hybrid IEM with a 4-way crossover. What might be of note is its 7 mm titanium dynamic driver and a new generation Knowles RAU super tweeter driver positioned right at the nozzle for extended treble. Accessories wise, you get the typical IEM suite of:

• 2-pin copper cable with a 4.4 mm termination. It’s a 2-core braid and well built. It’s soft and supple, though there is a good bit of cable memory.
• A set of SpinFits and foam tips in S/M/L.
• A black cloth pouch and green puck-style carrying case with a little cleaning tool inside.

What makes the Terra stand out is its absolutely enchanting build and design. The faceplate is a mosaic of synthetic opal with a different iridescent shine from every viewing angle. The pictures in this review do not do it justice. The shell itself is an anodized aluminum with a tasteful tint of green. It is on the bulkier side however, and the nozzle side is larger than average at 6.2 mm. It’s also unvented which can be a bit of an issue without the pressure equalization. Personally, I found that using the Divinus Velvet tips solved any fit issues I had with it and I’ve worn it on lengthy plane rides.

Sound

As alluded to in the intro, the Terra is NOT an IEM tuned with the population average anatomical baseline (DF HRTF) + 10 dB downwards slope (AKA “new meta”) in mind. In fact, the marketing for the Terra talks about it being “enhanced take on the beloved Harman curve” which is a prime example of target curve abuse. The Terra is in fact, NOT Harman either, unless we call anything with a bass shelf and an upper mids presence a Harman variant. Latching on to buzzwords is a bad idea.

Anyway, here is the frequency response graph of the Lime Ears Terra. It’s a largely balanced sounding IEM with a sizable bass presence, clear upper midrange, and controlled treble leaning on the brighter side. I have few complaints about its tonality as a whole. It’s an IEM that you might listen to at a show or local meet and go “yea that was nice”. Nothing outstanding tonally, but nothing offensive either. It’s a strong all-rounder.

Bass

The bass of the Terra is competent. A 7 mm titanium driver may belie the expectation of a super explosive, super tight sounding bass response. However, the bass shelf and tuning of the Terra gives it a rounded, warmer, and fuller sound instead. It blends fairly well into the lower mids without having that sharply distinct bass shelf presentation. But that isn’t to say the Terra isn’t punchy; notes are cleanly defined and decay quickly enough to give space to the next. It just isn’t quite as incisive as I thought it would be. In a sense, this is the classic dynamic driver vs. balanced armature bass response experience (obligatory disclaimer that driver technology does not determine sound). The Terra is that good dynamic driver with a big presence. My nitpick here is that the Terra’s bass could use a bit more texture to color the rumble.

Mids

The midrange of the Terra focuses on vocals due to hump around the 1 - 1.5 kHz region. I call this a “vocal front” and is noticeable tonally when you compare side-by-side with one of those new meta IEMs. It pulls the vocals forward and shifts its energy lower, with a little less presence and upper harmonic brilliance, and a little more huskiness and thickness. As a result, there’s minimal sibilance or harshness on the Terra. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a touch more brightness to the vocals to really ride atop the mix of a busy song with poorly mixed vocals, but in slower tracks I have no complaints.

The Terra’s tuning also enhances the many instruments that live by its midrange energy such as the snares. The crack of the head is snappy while the body maintains weight and depth thanks to the bass shelf amplifying the lower mids. Likewise, acoustic and electric guitars have excellent definition in both the picking of the strings and the richness of the strumming. Chamber strings sing alongside the vocals. I will note that the Terra does better in music with physical instruments than those with digitally constructed tracks. Despite the recession in the midrange we see on the graph, it’s not something that I notice in actual listening. There’s an overall great sense of balance across the instruments.

Treble

I’m a fan of the Terra’s treble. It’s marked by a controlled elevation in the lower and mid treble region before tapering off in the upper treble. You get a crisp shine to the notes that isn’t overly sharp or peaky. There’s no overexaggeration for the sake of it, nor does the Terra dampen the treble to the point of death. I’ll point out that the Terra isn’t an airy sounding IEM, but to my ears, this is an excellent implementation of a realistic sounding treble. Hats and cymbals are given space to play but never steal the spotlight. To be honest, I’m a little surprised as I expected that the fancy Knowles RAU super tweeter sitting in the nozzle would be blasting my ears with excessive treble. But it seems like Lime Ears did the sensible thing and properly tuned the Terra.

Presentation

The Terra’s musical presentation is at the level of what I’d expect a good high-end IEM to be at. Soundstage is sufficient to not feel closed-in all the time and imaging is accurate. There is a sense of depth so music isn’t all flattened onto a single plane. Layering is commendable as instruments play cleanly around one another and I can easily track any given one. The Terra isn’t an IEM that exudes resolution or hones in with detail retrieval, but I don’t find it lacking. Notes don’t bumble into one another and lead lines are clear. Dynamically, the Terra is less of an explosive beast and more of one that consistently brings a satisfying amount of weight and depth in tracks that call for it.

Comparison to the 64A U4s and Symphonium Helios

The 64 Audio U4s and Symphonium Helios are among the top IEMs I’d recommend to anyone looking to buy an IEM at the $1,000 mark. Both are excellent IEMs with a balanced tonal profile, though in different ways. The U4s takes the warmer, lusher end of the spectrum while the Helios favors a lean and bright signature. The Terra falls right between these two. Its dynamic driver bass is similar to the U4s’ rich low end. It’s more distinct with its shelf, but not to the extent of the Helios where there’s a very clear subbass delineation. Like the Helios, it has a treble brilliance that shines through, but softens the sharpness and airiness for a smoother sound. To an extent, this Goldilocks nature might be a bit of a double-edged sword as it dilutes the identity of the Terra. But at the same time, it makes the Terra a solid recommendation for someone looking along these lines. The final knock I have against the Terra here is that I find it a little less technically competent than the U4s or Helios. An honorable mention amongst the three, rather than a front-runner.

64 Audio U4s review | Symphonium Helios review

Should You Buy It?

Yes. The Lime Ears Terra is a strong all-rounder IEM. It’s apparent that its creator Emil put careful thought into its design to ensure customers get not only a beautifully crafted IEM, but one that actually sounds good and works well across anything you throw at it. Something that cannot be said of many brands out there. It’s not “new meta”, and that’s OK. I enjoyed my time with the Terra from the moment I unboxed it. While I did have some minor nitpicks here and there for improvements, the Terra is a complete offering. The price tag of €1,099 is not trivial, but then again, if you’re shopping at this price bracket you’ve already accepted the luxury tax. Though the Terra didn’t rise up to being my instinctive first choice, I have no hesitations about adding it to my recommendation list.