LimeEars’ Emil is a wizard of treble
Vision Ears VE5 vs Aether. The two IEMs- while very different- both come across as supremely refined and clear. They both don’t put a step wrong, and would both look very out of place at a Miley Cyrus concert. The two have some differences- the VE5 has bigger, more fun mid-bass, but less subbass. On the other hand the Aether feels more alive, more exciting (again, this is relative) between the two. Spatially the two have very different strengths, too, with the VE5 being much wider while the Aether is much deeper. Overall, I think the Aether has better articulation and note density, and is generally clearer. For its part the VE5 has a much more emotional midrange, and an overall smoother presentation.
Ultimately I still can’t get past how delicious that treble is, especially for super-fast music like happy hardcore. It also has the effect of making heavily processed pop music sound almost audiophile-like in how gentle yet detailed the sound becomes. Yum. I personally prefer the Aether, although for the purposes of this comparison I rate the VE5 in front simply because I think more are likely to be impressed by what it brings to the table.
PS, if this matters to you, the Aether also takes in a lot more juice.
Summary
With music loud and long, I would build that dome in air, that sunny dome! Those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, and all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread. For he on honey-dew hath fed, and drunk the milk of Paradise.
Having heard so many IEMs over the course of the past few years, I find myself gravitating towards IEMs that fulfil a few key criteria. First, no major, glaring weaknesses. I don’t want to find myself ever thinking “Argh”! Second, they do one thing better than any other, so much so that I tell myself, ah, there is nothing quite like this. And yes, there is nothing quite like the Aether’s Treble. It is the signature on the declaration of independence, the cherry on top that ties its entire musical thesis together, the raison d’être of its existence. If you are a Treble head- although importantly you’ll need to be the type who enjoys quality rather than quantity of Treble- buy the Aether, and never have to spend a single cent again.
Until, of course, Emil genius brews up something new….
Count the Aether among one of these- a rare spot on my ‘personal favourites’ list.
Overall Score: 85-90 (Almost Perfect)
