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test & Comparison of the Lime Ears Anima by Benjamin
Today we have another detailed customer test of a special IEM - the Lime Ears AnimaBenjamin is not just a customer, but an experienced reviewer who has written for a well-known Swiss audio and review website for years!
Author: Benjamin von Känel
Introduction
It must be a very special earphone that can pull me out of my self-chosen audiophile hibernation. The term «special» in connection with the Lime Ears Anima might be an understatement.
Just to say it in a nutshell: The Anima is good! So good that during restless nights it almost slid into my ear canals by itself to prepare me for a to embark on another extensive “sound expedition”.
Special thanks go to Tom Scharfenberg from www.audioessence.ch, which gave me the Lime Ears Anima and the Empire Ears Odin. Audioessence has, within a few months, has already made huge waves in the local scene. I am more than excited about the future
brings!
The contents of the box
This is concise but very pragmatic. I was particularly grateful for the two ddHifi Adapters from 4.4 to 2.5 and from 4.4 to 1.5 mm. The Sowilo cable is also very high quality. from Vikingweave-Cable – an excellent match for the Anima. Replacing the cable was therefore no time of testing a need.
A small but essential collection of various essays (Final Audio E, SpinFits) is also included. For the test, the Final-E Eartips once again provided the most balanced Impression. Also included and giving a premium impression was the small leather-clad Transport box.
Technology
I was also amazed at how well the Anima was able to shield me from outside noise – both a curse and a blessing.
There are no less than 13 drivers inside the casing:
A dynamic driver provides a deep bass foundation with the characteristic, sustained decay of each note. Four additional balanced armature drivers ensure cleverly takes care of the middle and upper bass segment.
Two "ventilated" BA drivers take care of the midrange. Unfortunately, technical details are not and their specific effects on the midrange are not further described by the manufacturer. However, to assume that this type of driver gives the «vocals» more space and thus an airy quality give.
While two additional balanced armature drivers skillfully take care of the lower treble, Four electrostatic drivers handle the upper frequencies up to 20 kHz. However, so far I have been able I was not able to interview any bats that reported sound impressions of 20kHz and higher.
Another special feature is the "Organic Horn Nozzle." According to the manufacturer, a lot of The position and thickness of the drill holes were specifically tuned to the respective frequencies. According to the manufacturer, a particularly large number of prototypes were required for this – unfortunately, No precise images or documentation of this process are known.
Sound check
bass
Basically, the Anima offers a lot of bass quality. Although this frequency range is clearly enhanced in the Anima, The Anima cannot be described as a «bass headphone» - if you want even more quantity, you can help with the equalizer.
Middle
Heights
Despite the extended frequency response, no one has to fear the «treble» – all audible Heights represented, but politely a tiny step in the background.
Overall impression
In terms of sound, the Anima with its musicality is a romantic – an aesthete, who on the one hand who is committed to attention to detail and at the same time is able to combine many things with his airy warmth It is worth mentioning here that the Anima is noticeably close to the Harman curve a standard reference gear, which is considered by a large percentage of listeners as is considered to be particularly melodious.
The spatiality is very wide and has a good degree of depth. Although various Voices and instruments are well separated, there is never an impression of incoherence – a A quick-witted indication of an excellent implementation of the 13 different drivers.
The I try to describe the soundstage with the image of a wide, rather narrow stage, where the listener is just before. Despite the warmth and closeness, I perceive an uncanny airiness between the instruments and also (oh, the mystery!) upwards.
Comparison
Lime Ears Anima vs. Empire Ears Odin
The Empire Ears Odin is the reference in this price category of Earphones that future generations will be measuring themselves against. Just because of the so-called «Weapon lX+», the technology behind the bass of the Odin,
legitimizes the loyal clientele behind the Odin. I have never seen such a well-textured bass that reaches deep into the bones and at the same time, can hold back if necessary.
The bass of the Anima may also reach deep and is refined, fast and precise thanks to the BA drivers strike – but it cannot surpass the Odin in either quality or quantity.
The Odin is also ahead in the detail category. However, a possible disadvantage of this is that even bad recordings can be exposed in an unpleasant way. Anima is also very detailed, but it exposes flaws in recordings less unpleasantly. striking.
Basically, the two earphones differ primarily in that the Odin focuses on a very natural sound reproduction, with a slightly warm coloration, while the Anima prefers an extremely musical and warm reproduction. Both earphones are very energetic and able to captivate the listener in different ways.
A big difference lies in the soundstage. The Odin is much more three-dimensional and thus "sets" The listener is drawn into a sphere of sound. This is achieved in a very coherent and captivating way. The Anima, on the other hand, sets the Listeners in front of the action and thus gives the sound and the audience a little more space.
Lime Ears Anima vs. Vision Ears EXT
The EXT was the third comparison candidate from another local dealer delivered in Zurich.
Vision Ears' flagship takes a distinctly different approach than the Anima and the Odin. than the latter, the EXT is not based on the Harman curve, but follows a somewhat V-shaped frequency response with an emphasis on the highs. The EXT also does not use BA drivers, but uses a smaller dynamic driver to Cover the middle.
Otherwise, the undesirable sibilance (sharp hissing in the frequencies around 6kHz) may occur. Additionally, foam ear pads (Comply or SymbioW) take some of the sharpness out of the highs. If this obstacle is avoided, the significantly cheaper EXT is a fantastic competitor, which certainly has its right to exist.
The EXT is probably the most analytical earphone of the three, despite the slightly raised bass range and the slight focus on the treble. From the airiness of the sound and the In terms of the quality and width of the soundstage, I equate the EXT with the Anima. The EXT shows a clear advantage over the Odin no weakness.
Compared to the other earphones, the EXT seems rather sober. It doesn't pull the earphone inevitably under the spell like Odin, nor does he try to charm the listener with the velvety nature of the Anima to charm.Rather, it places the listener directly in front of the sound and impresses with its neutral, blunt manner.
The last word
Equipment
Test tracks
Amber Rubbarth (Scribbled Folk Symphonies) – Lay Your Burden Down
Rebecca Pidgeon (The Raven, Bob Katz 15th Anniversary) - Spanish Harlem
Yasmine Hamdan (Ya Nass) – Deny
Male vocals
Allan Taylor (Stockfish Records, Closer to the Music) – Beat Hotel
Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing
Eagles (2013) – Hotel California
Instrumental
George Benson (White Rabbit) – California Dreaming
Mozart (Karl Bohm, Wr.Philharmoniker 2012) – Requiem in D minor, K.626 – l Introit
Steve Turre (Spirit Man) – Lover Man
Bad Tracks
Stromae – Ave Cesaria
21 Pilots – Stressed out
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