EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition Review
Intro
Hello, today I am featuring the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition, or ‘SPA LE’ for review purposes from EarAcoustics Audio. The SPA LE is a single dynamic driver earphone which was made to commemorate 2025 “The Year of the Snake”. Furthermore, the SPA LE is actually a brand-new set from a brand-new brand. Well, a brand new “rebranded” brand. You see, EarAcoustics is actually renamed from its former branding “TFZ”, or “The Fragrant Zither”. Sometimes a name change is exactly what a brand needs; new outlooks, new perspectives, maybe even some new people, who knows. At any rate, the SPA LE is the flagship set within the SPA Silver Angel series of iems and is certainly a dead ringer for the “Most Dope Looking IEM” award. Every iem that I’ve ever featured in which I’ve spoken highly of regarding their design just backed out of that competition when they saw this beauty walking down the street. Basically, there’s levels to this game folks, and the SPA Limited Edition… leveled up! However, just because a set looks good most certainly doesn’t mean it’ll sound good. We all know that to be true. So, whether you ever read this little blurb will be determined in about two days when the SPA LE gets to my door.
Wipe the dust off…
For me, TFZ was one of the first brands which caught my attention like no other. They were renowned for their heavy bass, brilliant highs, and fun tunings. Having said that, EarAcoustics seems to be a total overhaul as they seek to completely refine the “house sound” as well as give their iems some of the most gorgeous designs that I’ve seen at each set’s respective price points. When I found out I would be able to feature EarAcoustics flagship set (SPA Limited Edition) I was very thrilled. I suddenly wiped the dust off of old sets as I awaited the SPA LE to arrive. Like the TFZ No.3’ (what a V-shaped BEAST!), the Supertfz force 1 (Force 1 Review) (Basshead Central!), the TFZ T2, TFZ My Love 4, TFZ Secret Garden HD and on and on. Most certainly it was a nostalgic moment which helped me to remember what I used to enjoy so much. Sure, these older sets had their hangups, they had their issues. However, we’re talking pre 2017 to 2020. Most sets had weird tuning issues back then. All I cared about was bone rattling bass and some vibrant energy. I wanted that guilty pleasure style eyelid shaking fulfillment from my earphones at that time. I suppose the one thing I am overly curious about is if EarAcoustics will try to add a bit more balance, less mirror shattering bass, and a bit more of an organic lean to their upcoming sets. One thing is for sure; I’m all for whatever this new venture is. When I heard that TFZ was coming back (in a roundabout way) … my ears perked. No doubt about it, I can’t wait for the SPA LE to arrive.
SPA / STA Series
Usually, a brand will introduce themselves slowly. They usually give their prospective buyers a chance to take them all in. So hobbyists can learn about them slowly, one set at a time. Most brands perfect that 1st entry into the market. They see where the market is at. Well, I surely have never seen a brand come in as hot as EarAcoustics. Friends, this is what I was met with, a total of 12 new releases at the same time in their SPA and STA series of iems. The SPA & STA series sets goes like this: STA Pro ($39), STA Pro Ultra ($49), STA Pro Max ($79), STA HI End ($49), STA HI End Max ($89), SPA Pro ($99), SPA Pro Ultra ($149), SPA Pro Max ($219), SPA HI End ($149), SPA HI End Ultra ($189), SPA HI End Max ($289), and the SPA Limited Edition ($429). The Limited Edition set actually comes in two distinct styles. One is the SPA Limited Edition 1 and the other is the SPA Limited Edition 2. Both are identical tuning wise. At least that I know of. The set I’m reviewing today is the SPA Limited Edition 1 (psst… I think it’s the better one… wink-wink. Don’t tell anyone I said that). Folks, do you see all of those sets?! Is this not the craziest launch of a brand that you’ve ever seen?! EarAcoustics flat-out unloaded on the market a whole line of iems and from what I can see they are all irrefutably and conclusively… gorgeous. Every one of them! Just… Nice work! Man, I hope they sound good.
Competition
Folks, the SPA LE just arrived and let me tell you, it’s a very nice rendition of a V-shaped sound. Without a doubt. So far, it is definitely a well done tuning. I spent about 30 minutes with them in my ears and then off it went to the burn-in station. I was very happy to hear that. However, that got me thinking about competition. What iems really compete with the SPA LE? Especially for this tuning style. I’m not talking about every set under $500 here. What “V-shaped” iems, bass enhanced sets compete? Then I went through my collection, and then I went through some of my friends’ collections and concluded that… there’s a lot. As far as I’m concerned, competition is the largest hurdle for the SPA LE. At least right now, early in the reviewing process. I’m very curious to put the SPA LE against some mid-fi single DD’s as well as a few other more V-shaped sets. We shall see. Anyways, I think I’m ready to get into this review, friends. So, without further ado… the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition…
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Disclaimer:
I received the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition from EarAcoustics Audio as a review sample, and in exchange I will conduct a full review and feature at Mobileaudiophile.com. I have not received any payment or any other form of compensation for this review. Also, EarAcoustics has not requested to pre-read any review and doesn’t have any control over “what” or “when” anything gets published to mobileaudiophile.com. All thoughts within this review are my own, though please take note that I will always have my own biases. This is impossible to get around. I try to be as objective as my subjective self can be, but this is an opinion piece folks. Thank you to the very kind people of EarAcoustics, and thanks for reading.
SPA LE Pros
-Build Quality is flat out awesome!
-Tops in class design
-Unboxing is fitting of a $430 flagship
-Very comfortable fitment
-Warmish, organic, and very textured timbre
-Smooth, warm and energetic V-shaped signature with a great dynamic balance
-Just enough bass emphasis, solid rumble, textured, well defined
-Great note weight (semi-rich) and density
-Mids are smooth, textured, crisp at the edges & fantastic for vocals
-Smooth easy going treble with enough crispness to define
-Nice details for a signature such as this
-Soundstage has very nice depth and layering
-Simply a well-tuned iem for the cost
SPA LE Cons
-Not for analytical heads
-Also, not for bass-bois
-Not for treble heads
-Some upper-mid/lower treble sharpness in the right tracks
Gear used for testing
–IBasso DX240 with Amp8 MK2
Packaging / Accessories
Unboxing
The unboxing experience is most definitely fitting of a $429 flagship iem. What arrives at your door is a decent sized (4.75” x 4.75”) square silver box with “Silver Angel” on the top and “SPA” on the side along with some specs as well. It’s a nice-looking package friends. Well laid out too. Take the box top off and you’ll right away see the beautiful SPA Limited Edition catching every last light reflection in the room as they chill in cardboard covered foam cutouts. Underneath the layer of cardboard covered foam holding the earphones you’ll find a box labeled accessories which houses the manual, eartips, and… the bracelet. Yes, you read that right. Inside you get a very thin black bracelet with a small metal pendant featuring a shiny EarAcoustics logo on it. Kinda cool and definitely different. Lastly, under that box you’ll see the carrying case and inside of the carrying case is the cable. No doubt the accessories are of solid quality and the unboxing is a nice experience.
Eartips
The EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition was packaged with six pairs of eartips in total. That’s, three sets for two different styles of eartips. The first style of tips are three pairs (S M, L) of white silicone tips which come with a narrow bore and a semi-firm flange. The other style of tips are three pairs (S, M, L) of white silicone eartips, but these ones are a shallow fit wide-bore eartips with a flimsy flange. I have to be honest; either style of tips for the SPA LE simply didn’t seal well in my ears. I actually tip rolled to find the best sound. Of course, I went through every style of eartips in my arsenal and the two styles that I landed on are the two styles that I used for all of critical listening. Those being, Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore eartips and Tenmak Whirlwind tips. I actually found the Whirlwinds to be the best in the end and have not changed them since. Both styles of tips are wide-bore, and both are very shallow fit. I really feel the sound opens up with a cleaner expression using both of these tips, the Whirlwinds in particular. I’m sure for some folks the included tips will be perfectly fine but for my ears I always need an eartips with some firmness. I cannot do flimsy, it doesn’t work for me. At any rate, the tips which come packaged aren’t bad tips by any means.
Carrying Case
EarAcoustics also added to the package a very nice, very classy looking and very well-built carrying case. I think it’s one of the better carrying cases that I’ve received at this price point. Truly a gorgeous case folks. So, the included case is a leather, round, zipper case with a fantastically textured leather cladding. This is not a small case either. It’s shaped like a hockey puck but it’s deep, or tall, and the material provides plenty of space inside to bring along your SPA LE’s, the cable, some eartips, and even a small dongle dac. Plenty of room. However, what I love is the textured cladding. It has this almost brushed aluminum design, yet it’s made of leather and looks absolutely baller. You’ll notice a cursive “Silver Angel” on the top of the case. I also like the silver zipper in the middle of a black contrasted flexible material which provides some movement to expand a touch more. Really a great carrying case. I say that but I honestly never use cases. Maybe once in a great while, but for the most part they collect dust. I actually have been using this one daily. It’s nice folks.
Cable
The cable is another bright spot. That’s, if you listen only using a 3.5 single ended connection. Unfortunately, there is no option for a 4.4 balanced jack, and definitely no modular cable offering at purchasing. However, that aside, the cable is very slick looking. It’s a beautiful white cable with almost a metallic white finish which pairs perfectly with the SPA LE aesthetically. Really a gorgeous cable. It’s got some fatness to it, it’s pliable, easy to roll up and store, no microphonics either. To be exact, the included cable is a 2-pin, 3.5 single ended wire made of OFC (oxygen free copper) and has a silver plating in a coaxial style with 403 branch cores in total. This cable is not braided, but rather it’s twisted, and the design looks pretty dope when connected to the SPA LE.
What did I use…
Having said that, I need 4.4 balanced cable folks. I do listen to some sources using 3.5 single ended, but the great majority of the time I’m going balanced. So, I needed to cable swap and find a cable similar to the included cable as far as design is concerned and it needs to be at least 4.4 balanced. I went through many cables, and I have many with the same appearance. However, the cable that I landed on is the Simgot LC7. The LC7 is probably my favorite cable costing less than $100, and it is so nice both design-wise as well as sonically when paired with the SPA LE. There’re a few others which sound pretty awesome too. Cables like the KBear Chord. It too is a budget cable that pairs wonderfully as far as sonics are concerned. However, folks, the cable included is a very nice wire. It truly is. If you have no other cable to swap out please understand that the included cable is pretty awesome. Another nice job by EarAcoustics.
Build / Design / Internals / Fit
Build Quality
My word folks! Where do I begin when it comes to the build? And how do I do this set justice?! Friends, the build quality may be the best I’ve ever seen in this price point. That’s highly debatable with myself, but the SPA LE may be the best built set that I’ve had in my hands. I am utterly blown away by both the build as well as the design. Truly exceptional. At any rate, the SPA LE is made using an all-alloy shell. I have zero idea what alloy it is, perhaps aluminum. No where do I see anything which divulges that info. These shells are built like an absolute tank. Not to mention the very solid looking faceplates made of resin material. The SPA LE is very ergonomic with a medium length nozzle. The nozzles hover right around 6mm in width as well. Friends, the entire structure of this set is one which screams durability and structural integrity. One of the best builds I’ve ever seen.
Design
However, it’s the design which really stands out and it’s beauty is instsntly apparent the second your eyes meet this set. Again, the Shells are made of this rough cut, bumpy, roughened and beautifully disheveled looking alloy metal and the look is just striking. I have never seen anything like this, ever. It’s this beautiful silver (aluminum?) with the coarse and rugged design language and to me it is a work of art. Taking that even further is the faceplates which incorporate countless inlaid faux diamonds underneath perfectly clear resin. In the middle of the faceplate, you’ll see the company logo in clean silver on one side and a curvy snake on the other commemorating “2025, The Year of the Snake”. Shoot, even the vent is adorned in a very ornate vent “mesh” covering. It’s all gorgeous. Folks, I could write a 5000-word review on the design alone. The level with which EarAcoustics took this artistic peice is so far past what we are used to seeing that it has zero competition in my opinion. At least from its price point. Truly a beautiful looking set of earphones. They look like they should be at the top of a trophy, the centerpiece of an expensive necklace, the hood ornament of a luxury vehicle. Friends let’s all give a round of applause to the artisans who designed this set. Okay, you don’t have to actually give a physical applause. At least, give a little nod of approval. These people deserve it. Whoever had the creative eye to add roughened alloy is genius. I would have never dreamed it could look so DOPE!! Just, awesome job EarAcoustics!
Internals
From looking at EarAcoustics promotional material it states that the SPA LE is a single dynamic driver earphone which has a huge 11.4 mm titanium (gold colored) ball top diaphragm and a dual sided silicone + crystal edge material. The SPA LE has a N52 dual magnetic structure sitting in a dual sided acoustic cavity. It states that the magnetic flux reaches up to 10000Gs (Gaus), which equals 1 Tesla of magnetic flux. EarAcoustics took things up a notch with their attention to detail and their exhaustive attempts to get the positioning of the driver correct within the cavity. They went through hundreds of repositioning simulations to achieve the perfect position for these large dynamic drivers. It’s the little things folks. Especially in audio. A hair off in the placement means bug changes to the overall sound hitting our ears. I can tell you for sure I’ve never heard a dynamic driver with this exact material combo and the end result is flat-out great. No doubt about it, this driver is a very solid one.
Fit / Comfort
Another aspect of the design is with the fitment and ergonomic shape that EarAcoustics crafted in this set. Without question it is one of the more comfortable set of earphones that I’ve had in my ears. I am just so very impressed by the quality. This set fits like a glove and is so very comfortable for me. Obviously, you may be different than I am and possibly this set is not as comfortable. Though, I really don’t think that’ll be the case. The nozzles aren’t too long or too short. They aren’t too wide. Also, the SPA LE isn’t too large or heavy in the ear. It’s kind of perfect. At least for me. I would think the SPA LE would fit the vast majority of hobbyists without any issues.
Drivability / Pairings
Output Power
The SPA LE is rated with an impedance of around 25 ohms and a sensitivity of 111 db’s. This basically means that this is a fairly sensitive iem with which you can certainly use with lesser powerful source devices. I listened to the SPA LE with every single one of my weaker sources and each one sounded dynamic and I could get to nice volumes as well. Everything I have on hand has the ability to drive this set. However, like most any set anymore if you add some more juice, it’ll definitely bring on a slightly more refined, tight, and more dynamic result. I don’t think you need a huge ton of power, but I certainly began to see some nice results simply using one of my more powerful dongle dacs on 4.4 balanced and high gain. To add to that, my best results came using the Fiio Q15 and the Shanling M6 Ultra. Without a doubt the spectrum tightens up folks. Again, you don’t need 8-million watts, but something more than a smartphone will begin to bring the SPA LE to its best result.
Source pairing
I find that the best source tonalities range from warm/neutral to neutral when pairing with the SPA LE. Being that this set runs slightly warm (in general) yet with some very slight brightness from the treble region, those two areas almost offset to form a nice balance tonally. So, like I said, I would find a source which runs about warm/neutral to neutral. I would not use a cold sounding source with this set. My cold sources seemed to make the highs a bit more tizzy and tinny than I’d like. For whatever reason the Fiio KA3 didn’t jive with the SPA LE and a few others which have a bit more treble emphasis. However, by-and-large most of my source devices sound great. I don’t like getting into this “synergy” game that we in the hobby like to play. Not that synergy doesn’t exist, I just think it’s a bit broader than some reviewers lead people to believe. For instance, I don’t think there is one perfect source that magically synergizes with the SPA LE perfectly. I think that a wide span of sources works great. I simply wouldn’t use a colder source. That’s my opinion. I think cold and bright goes against the tonal strengths of this set by making the SPA LE sound almost artificial up top. If that makes sense to you. Still, at the end of the day, just about any source made recently will work very well.
What do you need?
Like I said, find a source with some decent juice. Most any dongle dac made within the last three years costing iver $50 should have plenty of power for the SPA LE to shine. It doesn’t need much, but it certainly thrives with more power than a weak smartphone. I’m talking about “at least” 75mW @32 ohms. Not much power, but more than a smartphone. Most any dongle dac above $50 anymore has much more than that out of the balanced circuit. Without question added juice helps this set folks. Also again, any source ranging from neutral to warm/neutral should pair nicely.
Sound Impressions
*Note: This is a note that I want you to pay attention to and please disregard any notions that burn-in doesn’t make sense. Please. Burn this set in for at least 50 hours. Probably more actually. I gave the SPA LE about four full days folks. I’m telling you the sound certainly tightened up, got less splashy up top, bass became more focused, denser, and the sound became more defined. You don’t have to believe me, but… just humor me. The eartips that I chose to get the best playback from the SPA LE were shallow fit wide-bore eartips. I used the Tenmak Whirlwinds for the great majority of critical listening as well as the Divinus Velvet Wide-Bore tips for a bit too. The wider bore brings out the best in this set for my ears. I listen using flac or better files which are stored on my devices, and the Android music app of my choice is UAPP (USB Audio Player Pro) and at times Hiby Music Player.
What’s it sound like?
The EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition is a smooth and fairly clean sounding set with ample energy which comes across in a controlled manner. In my opinion, the SPA LE carries a subtle warmth which does cascade across the mix to a minimal degree. The SPA LE is dynamically expressive and dynamically balanced across the mix making the sound across the spectrum clear, voluminous, and vigorous. The greatest energy in the low-end matches the peaks within the treble region as they sort-of “offset” each other very well. I would call the SPA LE a slight V-shaped sound signature though I definitely wouldn’t argue with anyone if they called it a U-shaped signature. I say “slight V” because the midrange is not as recessed as a classic V-shaped tuning. The midrange actually has some nice prominence within the mix, somewhat forward and not distant. For instance, vocalists fare very well with this set, much better than I initially expected. They sound accentuated, prominent, and fairly bold. Also, the sound coming from the SPA LE is generally smooth with a feathering of crispness to help define the edges of some notes. You have adequate emphasis up top which provides the sharp snap for percussion as well as some highlighted shimmer for female vocalists and instrumentation as well as a forward and bullish bass. This is a good one folks.
Sound cont…
I’d say that the tone and timbre of the SPA LE leans organic, leans rich to semi-rich, but also leans sprightly and agile, airy, precise without coming across overly clinical. The timbre itself offers natural tones with almost an analog style. Attack is not the sharpest I’ve ever heard, and decay is not the quickest (certainly not slow either). I’d say attack through sustain is close to natural. You don’t have any fast decay clipped harmonics, and you also don’t have a lagging decay either. It presents itself somewhere in the middle, again… naturally. However, in my opinion the way the sound comes together offers sharp enough notes with a smooth underbody. It’s really a pleasant sounding iem. I’ve been very pleased with the non-offensive nature of this set which does provide that organic warmth yet also carries some very nice clarity and resolution. It’s really a nicely measured mix proving a testament to EarAcoustics ability to create a sound that’s very melodic and emotionally capable, yet in the same breath it provides a detailed listen. Full bodied with nice note density as well as sharp and precise in its naturally formed transients. I enjoy the fact that the SPA LE has a slightly richer note body but also has that stop-on-a-dime or stop-&-go dynamic muscle using all of the skills of this talented driver. Great for complicated tracks or songs with quick and vigorous dynamic shifts.
Musicality & Precision
I also hear a fairly textured sound. Nothing about this set comes across necessarily blunted or too smooth, and it has just enough abrasive edge to offer clean enough lines around notes. Each note has some grit to it, some sand, some palpable texture outlining the crest of each note giving my music some tactility. I’d also say that the SPA LE has some fairly bouncy and vivacious macro-dynamics with nice tonal contrast to keep things interesting.
No doubt the SPA LE has some subtle gripes that I will detail as this review tracks along. Stuff like; there is some upper mid sharpness in brighter tracks and there is a small amount of sibilance at times as well. Bass isn’t the fastest. Stuff like that. However, from what I’ve heard the last few weeks, the SPA LE is a certain contender for hobbyist dollars and also…the good far outweighs the bad.
Complete Package
To be quite honest, the SPA LE is one of the best V-shaped sets that I’ve heard at this price point. It’s simply a complete tuning which works wonderfully for most any genre of music. It’s very fluid and rhythmic, and as I said; the sound doesn’t lack in the technical department as I first suspected either. At least in respect to the tuning. I recently did a Facebook post in which I declared (in a round-about-way) that the SPA LE isn’t the best at recovering details. Well, it’s actually much better than I thought. Post burn-in and post brain burn have helped to transfer my thoughts a bit. At any rate, I’ve conducted a few reviews lately where I’ve uttered the words “musically technical”. To me, that means that the set I’m featuring is both musically gifted as well as technically adept. This is so very true for the SPA LE. Without question the SPA LE seems to excel at both disciplines. So, I’ll say it again, the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition has a very complete tuning. There are sets which are more musical, some more organic, some more equipped to produce subtle details too. Heck, there are other sets which have a better balance. However, in my mind the SPA LE really does offer a complete package. At the end of the day this is a very fun sounding set, yet also a highly competent iem technically. Again, a pretty nice mix of musicality and precision, or Harmoniousness and fine-lined dexterity. It’s been a joy guys and gals.
Bass Region
The lows on the SPA LE have some real nice weight to them. It’s a heavy bass filled with some bulbous note density and textured mass. Nothing about the low-end sounds or feels weak. It’s a hard-hitting bass with pretty decent note definition. Having said that, the bass also isn’t boosted past the balance. Yes, it has a somewhat more focused bass region, but I wouldn’t call the low-end a dominant frequency that spreads its warmth and weight frequency wide. It’s almost as though EarAcoustics tuned this set to have just enough emphasis to keep feet tapping with a satisfying presence while also keeping things controlled, clean, and never muddy. No doubt it’s a balancing act. With that in mind, I definitely wouldn’t refer to this bass as “basshead”. I hear a natural transient display which is about average in speed and agility. There’s a smoothness to the low-end too as it isn’t the most rock hard on attack. There’s some subtle softness there. It’s deep, full bodied, and dense, but there’s a slightly softer attack than some sets which have an even punchier and snappier nature about them. I always liken it to a hammer wrapped in a sock. Don’t ask me why either, it’s just where my mind goes. Without question the bass is very gratifying when it hits that hard bass drop or grumbles with a mean sounding and viscous rolling bass guitar jam. It’s completely satisfying folks. Don’t expect the fastest and most nimble bass replay though, it’s spry and dexterous for the size and weight it offers but again, it won’t compete with sets tuned with a more agile bass. Be that as it may, it’s clean, layered, moist, and ductile enough to maneuver around most any bass passage fairly well.
Sub-Bass
The sublevels of the low-end have an above moderate and meaty growl down low with excellent extension into the lowest of lows. Certainly, deep enough for those fans of a heavy low-end to enjoy, I would think anyway. I know that I enjoy it. The sub-bass definitely gives off some haptic vibratory feel to sub-level notes (depending on the track). This is not an anemic low-end at all. It has the capability of growling very low and deep in pitch. To add to that, the sub-bass also has a very clean sound, not mucked up in droning bloom. There’s some true definition to sub-level notes which offers better than average layering abilities and better than average resolution. Especially per the size. Notes are round, thick, substantial and very satisfying. You can hear this low droning and thrumming rumble slowly grow in weight when you listen to “Heavy is the Ocean” by Bush. The density pulsates in a very deep pitched, viscous, and guttural bass guitar roar as it moves into the main verse. What I like is that the SPA LE doesn’t lose that note edge in a mishmash of bass rumble. Very clean without masking other frequencies too badly. Another track is “Paradigm” by The Head and the Heart. Yet again, a super deep rumble which sounds well delineated, separate, defined, but also very authoritative.
Mid-Bass
The mid-bass has a hair more emphasis than the sub-bass with a very palpable and textured slam. I don’t think the two regions are worlds apart or anything, but there’s a hair more lift in the mid-bass. It has a slam which can erupt, it can be bulbous, it’s smooth, and it’s refined. This is not a mid-bass all caked up in sub-bass haze. The mid-bass is distinct, pronounced, forward, and defined. It is not sloppy. Like I said earlier, there are some tracks which show off a slight softness on attack, but in my opinion the SPA LE’s mid-bass has some high resolution for its size & overall emphasis. Again, it’s got some texture to it. This isn’t some overtly smoothened-over, obtuse, and edgeless bass. No sir, this is a fairly fleet footed and punchy style bass that can add some booming weight when a track calls for it. Like “Kids with Guns” by the Gorillaz. That bass guitar is so sharp on its edge, so wonderfully abrasive, so full. It’s just nice folks. Or the awesome bassline on the track “So Sensitive” by Ice Cube. Each beat is so exact, precise, but also dense and weighted. The mid-bass never blurs the image, never casts a veil either. Always held in check. Just like the sub-bass, the mid-bass is also very satisfying. Another thing, the bass only carries over slightly into the midrange. Just enough to add a hair of warmth, but not enough to sound less defined. If anything, the bass bleed is a huge benefit to the overall sound to my ears. Really, it’s a nice bass folks.
Downsides to the Bass Region
I think the obvious first downside would be the emphasis. We all know a bunch of people who only want and desire a leaner sound down low. Something with less of a focus, less meaty, less added warmth. These folks usually enjoy a more pristine and neutral sound across the mix. The SPA LE will add some warmth, it is more authoritative, it is a bit more robust, and it will (at times) mask certain frequencies. Don’t get me wrong, those are only in heavily bass induced songs, but it happens. I personally feel that the bass has just the right emphasis, but that’s me. Also, this is not the quickest transient display I’ve ever heard in a bass. I would never call it sluggish, or laggy, but it also isn’t that snappy, planar style quick reaction bass either. Having said that, the SPA LE makes its way around “Teen Town” by The Weather Report with relative ease. Which is saying a lot. I use that track to test every set for bass speed and quick rebound dynamics of the bass. The SPA LE did really well. I am very happy with this set and the bass is a huge reason for that.
Midrange
The midrange was somewhat perplexing for me. I only say that because prior to burn-in I actually thought it was fairly sharp sounding in the upper mids and kind of blah in the lower. Boy did that ever change. Actually, in my opinion, the midrange is really nice. I mean, vocals sound fabulous with their lean-lush and prominent style. I hear this perfect mix of musicality and precision which tends to lean rich but remains snappy. This is not a super-rich sound though. Again, pre-burn I felt the mids were almost overcast in warmth. I honestly don’t feel that way now. I hear something more akin to warm/neutral yet with a foot teetering towards the neutral side. Furthermore, the mids have plenty of crispness and bite when a track calls for it. There’s some vibrancy to this midrange, there’s some sprightly yet controlled energy. There’s some air to the sound, good separation, fantastic positioning and imaging. However, this is not usually a coarse sounding midrange. It’s mostly sweet, it’s melodic, it draws emotion from my music while it illuminates subtle details. I find the midrange to have a natural tone and timbre with a certain organic tinge to my music. Now, the upper-mids can become a hair sharp in tracks which are recorded as such (for those who are sensitive to it). But for the most part this is a highly refined midrange for a single DD and it’s clearly one of my favorite aspects of this set.
Lower-Midrange
This was somewhat of a surprise to me, but the lower midrange presents male vocals in a very nice way. I mean, very nice! I hear just enough note weight to sound natural and I don’t find the low-mids boring, dull, or recessed. In fact, male singers really do sound great. Take the track “Remember My Name” by Sam Fender. His voice sounds so resounding and authoritative. There is this subdued prominence to his vocals while coming across extremely eurythmic and sonorous. Another track is “How it Feels” by Zayn. Just awesome. His super soulful and edgy voice carries this constantly throaty eloquence, especially as his voice carries. The fact that the SPA LE can sound vibrant as well as never embellish those more edgy and coarse moments in his vocals says it all. It has control folks. It must be this driver. At any rate, males sound awesome folks. I literally have the same words towards almost any other track that I listened to. There are some higher pitched males which tend to thin out a bit, but even then, the sound leans natural. Instruments in this region walk the same line as they do carry some slight warmth, sound natural to the ear while also coming across relatively precise. The low-mids are a highlight of this set.
Upper-Midrange
This takes us to the upper-mid area. Now, as I’ve said a couple times the upper midrange can have some sharpness, or some slight glare. This is simply a casualty to the tuning. Also, I really mean this, it rarely, if ever, bothered me. I simply know that some of you have a hard time with even slight vivaciousness. That said, I think females also shine with this set. I do think they veer a hair thinner, less inviting sometimes than males, but still very charming in their own right. Also, it depends on what track you are listening to. Take the track “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones. This song trumps just about every male on this set. It’s so silky smooth, so enchanting, bewitching even. However, a song like “Yellow Roses” by Ilsey sounds the faintest bit too illuminated in bright hues, not as organic as males. Still very alluring and sweet-toned, but not as authentic to life and a hair dry too. So, I suppose it comes down to what track you are listening to. Still, do not get me wrong, female vocalists sound forward, they have awesome presence, and they are always harmonious. In my opinion “vocals” in general sound nice with this set. Whether it’s upper or lower mids.
A few more points…
I also love the fact that details emerge fairly easily in this midrange. I have zero issues catching the faint little micro-details as the SPA LE is certainly tuned in a way that brings those subtleties to the surface. I’m not at all saying, “best-in-class”, but I am saying that details are very nice. Instrument separation is clean as well as distinct. Also, vocalists are always dead center (unless a track is recorded differently). All of the other elements within the stage sound nicely positioned as well. I hear pretty darn nice transients too. Nice meaning, they are clean and as precise as they can get whilst remaining on the organic side of the aisle. Not BA style transients, or planar style, but a really good DD style transient behavior. It helps instruments to really perform well folks. Percussion has a very ardent snap and exact crunch. Strings sound authentic, especially acoustic guitar. They sound simply awesome. Every last scrape or finger slide is picked up. Woodwinds sound natural as do brass instruments. Piano also comes across with an organic sound. Folks I’m just pleased with what EarAcoustics did with this single DD.
Downsides to the Midrange
I’d say I gave this set a very good review for the midrange. It has some tiny quarks, but what doesn’t? Now, if you are a vocal-first type of listener, I would direct you to a few other sets. Just because the SPA LE is very nice for vocalists doesn’t mean there aren’t better sets for that purpose. There are less expensive sets which portray the human voice a bit better. However, what makes the SPA LE nice is the overall package and the midrange is a huge contributing factor in that. It is a very nice midrange that I’ve personally grown to enjoy. Again, it can get a bit hot in the pinna area. But, as truthful as I can say it folks, it is few and far in between that I ever had an issue. I simply know the people of this hobby and I don’t want to lead them astray. Yes, there are times that the elated nature of the upper mids will catch a hot track and some of those frequencies can sound a hair glaring. Also, those who only desire perfectly pristine and unsullied midranges with no extra warmth, no bass influence, more analytical, clinical, and totally emotionally gutted, those folks will likely not want this set. This set is dynamic, vigorously exuberant, it has richness, it has texture for days and it’s not going to be for those analytical heads. The SPA LE has a musicality first sound while technical proficiency is a very fortunate and totally refined by-product of solid tuning using solid drivers.
Treble Region
When I think of the treble I think of balance. EarAcoustics did a fine job of making sure the treble offsets the low-end with more than adequate emphasis. The treble (to my ears) is smooth across the board, with a very organic style timbre and some nice note weight as well. I hear nothing which takes away from my listening experience up top. Nothing artificial, nothing grainy, nothing overly coarse, or too sharp, and rarely any sibilant sounds. It’s a treble which shows up when it’s needed and doesn’t have to be the center of attention. I’d say moderately brilliant, with just enough resplendent energy to uplift the whole of the frequency as well as provide some air to the rest of the mix as well. It’s simply a very well-balanced frequency range. I do detect a hair of upper treble roll-off as the extension into the highest of highs isn’t groundbreaking or class leading. So, I don’t hear those ultra tinsley style treble inflections, those bright upper register harmonics and to be totally honest; I think it does this treble some good. To my ears, as it is, the treble remains organic and smooth, easy on the ears, balanced, while carrying just enough fine-lined crispness and note weight to provide a decent presence from this region. To me, the treble comes musically inclined with a very pleasant and natural timbre.
Not bad at all
Having said that, I should also state that there are some rare moments in which the right track will produce just a hair too much shoutiness. As I’ve said before in this review, it never really bothers me to the point of discomfort, but it’s there at times. However, by-and-large the treble stays in control, has enough brilliance to uplift, adds some sparkle, adds some shimmer, provides a little dynamic driver style snap and crunch and then goes on its merry way. Again, don’t expect anything near a treble head’s paradise with this set. Don’t expect a treble with all the radiant bite, punch, crunch, and crispness at a top tier level either. It’s smooth, it’s bodied, it’s textured, it’s got some note density, and each note comes through darn near crystal clear. To add to that, I hear above average detail retrieval up top as the treble does have a sprightly enough demeanor with natural transients along with solid note/instrument separation. Not quite to the level of a well-tuned EST, BA, or Planar, but for a single DD the SPA LE does a fine job of presenting the subtleties in my music.
Speedy, articulate
I should also add that the treble on the SPA LE is pretty speedy. Well, speedy enough to keep up with most any Billy Strings track, like “Ice Bridges” or really any of his tracks which are very fast moving, many moving parts as well. Beyond just speed, the timbre holds true as you’ll hear in the track “Eye of the Untold Her” by Lindsey Stirling. Every note sounds organic, not too abrasive either. This is a track which becomes almost symphonic, rhythmic too, and the SPA LE truly does a great job of presenting those more rambunctious moments within this track. Also, “Bishop School” by Yusef Lateef is another track which is littered with treble activity. The SPA LE seems to handle this song without breaking a sweat while the timbre sounds bodied and enriched with enough brilliance and control for a track like this. So, in the end the treble is actually quite well done. Again, don’t expect top level or tops in class treble play, but do expect a somewhat lively and well detailed treble that can make its way around just about every track with a mostly non-offensive and smooth dynamic expression. I find the treble fits the tuning wonderfully folks, EarAcoustics is a legit brand. Nice work.
Downsides to the Treble Region
I would first reiterate what I said a couple paragraphs ago, that the SPA LE can “at times” and in the right tracks sound a hair sharp. Or maybe it has just a bit too much luminance. Again, very few and far in between, but I’ve heard it so, I’m reporting it. Also, this is not a treble head style treble. Basically, I wouldn’t think that treble bois among us would be coming out of the woodwork to hear the SPA LE’s treble replay. Granted, EarAcoustics did a very nice job, but just not to that level. As I’ve said, the treble on this set is mostly easy going and won’t cause very much discomfort. I hear great resolution, some slight crunch and bite and the treble does add some air and levity to the overall sound of this set. Altogether it’s a very nicely balanced sound that works fantastic within the parameters of this tuning. Not bad at all.
Technicalities
Soundstage
The one standout feature of the SPA LE’s soundstage would be in its ability to render the depth of the sound field. I’d say it has about average width and height. Of course, these are only opinions, but I’d say average for the price point against what I’ve heard. Let’s put it this way, the stage is not at all congested or restricted. It’s an open sound, spacious even, but probably average in overall size both in width of the sound field as well as the actual perceived height. However, I hear great depth folks. I feel that depth is the most important aspect of a stage for me. Granted, it’s all important, but the depth is what gives your earphone that extra dimension. That all said, you can have a deep stage that sounds sloppy with instruments and vocals out of place as the sound could be all over the place and still be considered deep. A good stage has to also have good placement and solid imaging capabilities. Which brings me to the next section…
Separation / Imaging
Okay, so, I’d say that the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition has pretty good instrument separation. I’m not going to say it’s great. It’s good and I wouldn’t change a thing. I only say that because this sound is not tailored to that. You have a semi-rich note weight. This is not some thin-bodied, analytical and ultra-airy sound. Though, it is airy to an extent, but the note body in each frequency division has some mass, some density. You simply aren’t going to have amazing sound separation with these attributes unless you spend a lot more money. Again, I wouldn’t change a thing. However, separation of the elements within an imaginary stage is definitely good for the tuning. EarAcoustics did a fine job with this set folks. I can distinctly hear each instrument and the outline of those images, and I can track and follow each instrument easily. Which brings me to imaging. I think the SPA LE has very solid imaging capabilities. I have zero issues with its placement at all. It’s definitely one of the better imaging sets under one condition; that you aren’t listening to a supremely bass heavy track. The bass can mask certain sounds and so those tracks can come across less distinct. Perhaps really highly complicated tracks as well. But that’s just because it’s harder to pinpoint individual elements in the stage. I also hear fantastic layering of sounds. I mean, very good. Again, really a solid job by EarAcoustics.
Detail Retrieval
Another solid aspect of the SPA LE’s sound is its ability to render subtle details. I know I’ve spoken on this a bit already but the SPA LE really has zero troubles catching the finer stuff in my music. Of course, the same exact caveats which give separation and imaging some slight issues will also add those troubles to detail detection. Having said that, the SPA LE has such a resolute warmth and the sound has fantastic control over the spectrum. The sound has some subtle air to it, clean note outlines, not fuzzy, grainy, or overly sibilant. There just isn’t a whole lot that trips this set up. I would advise that you do not judge this set until you’ve let it burn-in or at least listen-in for a few days. No doubt about it the spectrum tightened up and became cleaner and simply more cleanly contoured after that period. Really, this is a nicely detailed set folks. One more thing, I’ll reiterate what I said earlier. Before burn-in I made a post (on Facebook) about the SPA LE and how it isn’t the most detailed set. This is why I don’t go too in depth before critical listening. Because I always feel like I’m kicking myself over those thoughts and that could lead someone astray. That’s it. At the end of the day the SPA LE is a nicely detailed listen.
Is it worth the asking price?
This question is always a tough one to answer, especially for a set costing upwards of $430 to own. However, I have to put things in some sort of a context. That is, against similarly priced iems does the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition stand next to some of the other iems that it’s priced with? To answer that in a genuine and knowledgeable way I would’ve had to at least heard some of those sets. Thankfully, I haven’t missed many over the years and have a pretty good handle on what’s hovering around the $350 to $450 price segment. I can tell you that without the shadow of a doubt the SPA LE certainly deserves its price in comparison with the other sets. Especially if you are only looking at single DD iems around this cost. If that’s the case, then this is one of the easiest no brainers that I’ve reviewed. Still, paired against other sets of any driver configuration and I’d still maintain that the SPA LE is certainly worth the cost of ownership.
The Why…
Because the packaging, accessories, and overall presentation are very nice for the cost. It’s all laid out very nicely. Definitely fitting for a set costing this much. Also, the build is one of the best that I’ve ever seen, on any set, at any cost. Friends, I cannot emphasize this enough… the build is BONKERS good. Of course, walking hand-in-hand with the build quality is the design. Friends, I still haven’t properly expressed how nice this set looks in real life and in my hand. It’s probably the most artistically intricate and creatively moving piece that I’ve seen in iem form. Because make no mistake… this set is a work of art. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone with some disposable income pays the $429, simply for the design. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Well, I’ll break it down like this; the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition is a Rolls-Royce in a world filled with 2001 Honda Civics. Simply stunning. Actually, I may have taken that a bit too far as there’s some great looking sets out there, but you know what I’m trying to say. The driver that EarAcoustics used is very unique and cool to see as well. However, the true worth of any set always comes down to sound…
That sound
What sets this single DD apart (in my opinion) is its surprisingly great sound quality. Folks, the SPA LE truly has a complete tuning. This is a set that you could listen to just about any genre of music and find yourself getting lost. EarAcoustics did the work, the R&D and spent their time and resources to perfect the SPA LE’s sound. Hundreds of trials trying to get the sound just right. That my friends is called integrity and an unwillingness to accept anything other than great. I gotta say… they definitely succeeded. This single DD plays the spectrum as though it is a Hybrid folks. I hear awesome layering of the deep and holographic stage. Detail retrieval is light years better than I thought it’d be. Imaging is absolutely spot-on. Oh, and the timbre, it veers natural, leans organic, yet never leaves out the fun, or the emotion and is still very much technically proficient. The bass is big, bold, beefy, but also very well defined with great control over the region. The mids carry that nice semi-rich note weight, very melodic, emotionally charged, very musical whilst also keeping a clean note edge throughout with great resolution and an energetic demeanor. The treble has that nice balance with the low-end but also adds air, openness, levity and some snap to the mix. Timbre up top is nice, note body is nice, layering is nice, and the treble is so smooth and non-offensive. Friends, the sound is really nice. I’d put this set up against any of the others and I feel the SPA LE would perform admirably. So yeah, this set is worth the cost. Perhaps debatable, but for me… it’s irrefutable.
Final thoughts on the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition
The EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition is an intriguing offering in a world of constant releases as every week there’s a new flavor, a new temporary high that lasts as long as the social media gauntlet allows them. Perhaps our joy has found complacency in spite of all of the amazing iems unloaded upon the market at such a fast rate. Sets which undoubtedly would have cost three to four times as much only a short while ago. Here we are, set after set saturates the market over-stimulating that childlike joy that each one of us have. It’s been a problem which none of us could have foreseen. However, it’s certainly not a bad problem to have. No doubt there are a multitude of sets which never truly received their flowers. I’m almost annoyed by it as I type this. How easily we forget. That said, isn’t it that much more important for these brands to just STOP! Stop and recollect their ideas, their mission statements, and truly ONLY create a set which is in some way or another set-apart. I think that TFZ did just that when they created EarAcoustics Audio. They stopped, washed it all down, changed the name, new mission statement, new drawing board, creativity budding, juices flowing… new idea. That “idea” happened to be what they released upon the market without any leak to the public. In the shadow of night, they toiled and, in the morning… they unveiled their creation. In comes the SPA and STA series of iems. Brilliant!
Recommended
The EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition is without question the end result of superior creativity intertwined with superior attention to detail and superior knowledge. The perfect storm. The aftermath of a company trying to save themselves and pulling out all the stops to do so. The SPA LE is the flagship version of that end result, and it’s beautiful. Inside and out. Both design and function of the SPA LE is creativity, ingenuity, and experiential knowledge in iem form. Is it the best under $500? Well, probably not for everyone, but definitely for some. Though, that’s a highly subjective question. The hardest part of this review was the countless times I asked myself if the SPA LE belonged at $429. You can’t have budget mistakes at $429. You can’t have cheaply cut corners. I hear and see none of that with the SPA LE. At $429, a set has to be pristine across the board for whatever tuning target the brand is shooting for. Because if it isn’t, then there’s a litany of iems which are less expensive that’ll meet that target. The differences between +$400 and sub $200 are so very minimal anymore. They’re incremental. We pay for those small increments happily though. Also, we’ll continue to do so as long as the standard is met. The point being, the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition meets every standard and exceeds those standards in so many ways. In my humble opinion the SPA LE truly is worthy of the price tag. To be perfectly honest; there isn’t another set +$400 quite like it. Basically, what I’m getting at is… I fully recommend the SPA LE.
Conclusion
To conclude my full written review of the EarAcoustics SPA Limited Edition, I first have to thank the good people of EarAcoustics Audio. Especially the contact that I have been working with. Truly an excellent communicator who answered all of my questions professionally and in a very timely fashion. Never once has EarAcoustics ever tried to ask me to alter my view, change my words, or compel me to write anything other than my honest and true thoughts. Good or bad. This is the type of company who will only get better folks. When they aren’t trying to control the narrative and instead seeking to get better, well, you know you have a brand that will succeed. TFZ was great, but EarAcoustics is better. Already I can say that. So, thank you EarAcoustics for your generosity and for your understanding. Next, I have to thank you, the reader, for clicking the link to get you to this review. Mobileaudiophile.com survives off of clicks, views, and time spent. It may not seem like much but the fact that you took time in your busy day to check out my thoughts (or anyone else’s thoughts at MBA) means everything to us. Thank you.
Other Perspectives
Folks, we want you to get this purchase correct. That’s the end goal of these reviews. Well, they are a great creative outlet for me, but that’s beside the point. The end goal is you finding your musical zen with the perfect set for your dollar… in your ears. Of course, the best way to make sure you know the characteristics of every set you’re in the market for is to read, watch, or listen to many reviews. Friends, please hear me, no two people are the same. What I hear may not be what another person hears. We each have our own preferences, and biases, likes and dislikes, we may have different gear, and even a different ability to hear certain frequencies. Heck, one of the biggest contributing factors of differing views towards a product arises because not all of us have been down the same road in audio. We are different folks. I beg the community to try to understand this. Please, check out other thoughts. It’ll only benefit you. Don’t simply lean on me unless you completely trust my perspective and know my perspective. Even then I’d tell you to check a few others. At any rate, I think I’m about done folks. So, please take good care, stay as safe as possible and always… God Bless!!