In this article, Thomas reviews the Lime Ears TERRA, a hybrid dynamic driver with a 7mm titanium diaphragm and a 5BA universal IEM priced at €1,099.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no links or affiliate status. I appreciate lime ears for your support.
Click here to learn more about the Lime ear products We already discussed it previously in Headfonics.
Please note that this article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read here.
Lime Ears TERRA Review
Summary
Lime Ears has created a great looking and sounding IEM in the TERRA. The vibrant green color scheme and stunning PISO faceplates look incredible in person, and the signature U-shaped tuning is mature and competent.
Advantages
Versatile tuning.
Great sub-bass performance and stage qualities.
Visually attractive, especially the PISO faceplate.
Cons
The original cable is rigid and without a chin strap.
The original tips and cable fit are too tight.
TERRA is Lime Ear's newest IEM and part of a new series from the company, so watch this space. This is a “mid-range model” in their universal fit lineup, falling between the Model and Ether R.
For this review, we were provided with the standard TERRA model which includes a limited edition custom Effect Audio copper cable (only 30 pairs) in “Kermit Green” priced at €1,099.00. The stock TERRA standard cable will have a copper wire with transparent insulation.
You can also purchase upgrade packages through Effect Audio, including upgraded cable options that alter the signature in specific ways.
The standard TERRA I am reviewing will be compared to competitors such as the supermoon by Campfire Audio and the Astrotec Phoenix 6. Read on to see how TERRA works.
Characteristics
If ever there was a product packed with hot features, it would be TERRA. Check this out: TiTE, HERO, VariBore, SAAS and PISO.
If you're familiar with Lime Ears, you may be familiar with some of these, such as the SAAS Core, also known as an aluminum case. Or perhaps VariBore caught your eye, as it highlights the variable bore sizes used to manage the output frequencies of different driver technologies.
Those are cool, but when things get TiTE, we're referring to the 7mm titanium dynamic driver originally found in the ANIMA. Lime Ears selected titanium for its weight and rigidity, giving the driver a warm, organic and power-rich bass presence.
Like Martian Manhunter, the TERRA is HERO thanks to the Super Tweeter Lime Ears used for the treble. It is one of Knowles' latest generation RAU balanced armature drivers.
Distortion is low, transient response is increased compared to a standard armature and it does so while being extremely efficient.
Last but not least, we have my favorite feature, the Polymer Infused Synthetic Opal Multi-Tone Beautiful Crystal Opal (PISO) faceplate. Say that a few times quickly.
Translated, TERRA has a simulated opal faceplate with flecks, scales, and other things inside that catch light dramatically. It looks incredibly cool and even has the model name and lime-shaped logo stylistically inserted into the left and right earcups respectively.
Design
With TERRA, Lime Ears has created a visually stunning IEM. The colorful, reflective faceplate grafted onto the vibrant green aluminum housings instantly catches your eye.
The emerald green sheath of the cable catches your eye next, and then your gaze is drawn to the carbon fiber hardware. It's an attractive headset that stands out alongside the usual shades of black and gray that make up the color combination options of much of its competition.
Looking at the earbuds again, we see that they are large and bulky with a long, wide mouthpiece, 6.4mm around the edge and 6.2mm elsewhere. It is a substantial looking headset.
That's why I had a real “wow” moment when I first picked them up, as they weren't as heavy as they looked.
The TERRA is exceptionally lightweight at just 6g (earbud only), which is substantially less than the similarly sized and shaped Campfire Audio Solaris, which weighs 7.9g, which is not heavyweight in itself.
The build quality is also amazing with each section of the case having impeccable alignment and extremely tight stitching. The fine mesh protecting the variable holes is perfectly installed and the 0.78mm 2-pin ports sit flush with the case.
My only complaint about the construction is how tight the cable ports are. The first week was spent stretching the receptacles with third party cables so they would accept the original cable without feeling like I was about to break something.
That qualm aside, the unique design and impressive build quality are what you'd expect from a $1,199 headset, but not every brand can pull this off as successfully as Lime Ears has done with the TERRA.
Comfort and isolation
While TERRA has a stunning visual design and fantastic build quality, the ergonomics to my ears are not up to par. It's a good thing that the TERRA is extremely lightweight, given the bulbous shape and thick mouthpiece, it was difficult to get a good fit and reliable seal for my ears.
A combination of a thick and fairly long mouthpiece meant that getting a deep seal was uncomfortable as it supported most of the weight of the earbuds. This caused hot spots in my ear after a short period of time.
The body of the earbud lacks features to help it conform to the shape of my outer ear and that didn't help either. I didn't have the stability to avoid losing the seal when I moved.
These things wouldn't be a big deal if the cable had a chin that could be used to adjust the fit, leaving the ear guides to help distribute the weight around the ear. Unfortunately, that feature is missing.
The insulation is decent though, mainly down to what I think is a sealed shell. There is a lack of obvious ventilation and I have not been able to locate any hidden vents around the faceplate, mouthpiece or 2-pin port.
TERRA does a good job of reducing the volume of passing cars and chatter from nearby people. There is still a need to increase the volume, especially in high traffic areas where foam tips would also benefit.
The TERRA insulates well, but its adjustment didn't work for me, your experience may differ from mine.
He Campfire Audio Solaris It has a similar shape and fit and is also not ergonomically good for me. However, the nozzle design and cable features help mitigate my installation issues.
Tips
The included SpinFit W1 tips are high quality, but they barely fit into the TERRA mouthpieces.
Once you've managed to angle them and push them into the mouthpiece, sliding them into place requires a lot of effort, and removing them from the mouthpiece must be done carefully to avoid breaking them.
The Audbos medium-sized clear silicone with black shaft tips that came with the nearly decade-old K3 has been my favorite combination with the TERRA.
Their sticky silicone flanges provide a level of security that all other tips lack, they require the fewest attempts to reseat during listening sessions, and their thick silicone and larger size fit perfectly over the wide mouthpieces.
Its wide bore also helps raise the midrange, lessening the strength of the U-shaped signature present in the original W1 tips. The higher ranges lose some of the smoothness of the SpinFits, although the effect is minimal.
Of the other tips I tried (Final E-Type, Sony Hybrid, JVC, other SpinFit models, etc.), most were too short to fit me properly and fell down the shaft enough to sit almost flush or below the lip .
The rest fit too tightly in my ear and slipped, or didn't seal reliably once inserted, or made the entire setup too thick to feel comfortable.
Hopefully others will have better luck finding suitable tips for TERRA. The original SpinFit W1 fit poorly and didn't seal reliably, and most other options tested were barely usable.
common wire
Lime Ears has partnered with Audio effects for TERRA cable options. Note that the two-pin fit was worryingly tight out of the box, but has loosened over time and is now uncomfortably tight.
The original cable uses UP-OCC copper core with 10 bundles of various sizes and a solid core design containing 2 23AWG wires. The case uses Effect Audio's Ultra Flexi™ insulation technology.
The build quality is impressive with a metal sleeve surrounding the two-prong plugs. They are adorned with L/R markings and the Effect Audio logo and equipped with a short but useful strain relief.
Going down to the Y-split we find a metal cylinder fitted with a carbon fiber sleeve. The bottom can be unscrewed, revealing the individual components and a carefully made heat shrink bracket where the cable splits into two channels.
This cable is equipped with a 4.4mm balanced connector, which is also thick and matches the carbon fiber aesthetic of the splitter. It lacks strain relief, but given the qualities of the case, I'm not worried.
The cable works well, but some qualities prevent it from being my ideal choice. The case is dense, too rigid and transmits a lot of noise to the listener when it rubs or hits something.
There's also no chin strap to reduce cable noise and adjust the fit. Since the ergonomics of the TERRA are below average, a chin strap is desirable and would limit the number of times the TERRA needs to be reseated to regain a good seal.
There is no doubt that the original cable is a quality kit. However, on the rare occasions I took the TERRA out of the house, I swapped it for a lighter, better fitting, more flexible, quieter, and more delicate third-party option.
Packaging and accessories
The TERRA arrives in a moderately sized green cardboard box, similar in design to a watch box. TERRA is written on the top while Lime Ears is written on the front.
On the back, you'll find “Explore the Uncharted” written on it, with a wavy pattern surrounding the base of the case on all sizes. Everything is written in gold foil.
Lifting the lid reveals the TERRA's earbuds nestled firmly inside a fabric-covered foam insert. Remove the insert to reveal a cardboard box containing documentation and extras, while beneath this insert is the carrying case.
You should expect to receive the following with a full retail copy of TERRA.
- TERRA in-ear monitor
- Standard copper wire
- Premium transport suitcase made of high quality cowhide leather.
- SpinFit W1 Ear Pads
- User Guide
- cleaning set
- cotton bag
Click on page 2 below to see my sound impressions and recommended combinations.
Click on page 3 below to see my selected comparisons.
Sharing is caring!
Leave feedback about this