Lime Ears Terra VS Fiio FX17

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Build and presentation hit boutique vibes: a machined-aluminum shell with a clever nozzle dip that grips tips securely, a flat 2-pin socket with a top filter, and smooth finishing that feels premium in ear. The accessory set fits the price—SpinFit W1 and foam tips, cleaner, pouch—and the leatherette puck case looks simple but feels surprisingly durable. The stock 4.4 mm cable is aesthetically pleasing yet a bit stiff, with a loose chin slider; red/blue markers make orientation easy.

Tonally, Terra skews brighter with a touch of sharpness up top, bringing strong micro-detail and air while keeping a tasteful, impactful bass shelf. The 6-driver hybrid (including a 7 mm titanium DD for lows) delivers confident technicalities: fast attacks, clean separation, and a wide-open stage. FR observations show a gradual bass rise, good treble extension, and a mid-treble lift (around the 8 k region) that adds sparkle and excitement but can read hot for sensitive listeners.

Against peers, Terra tracks a refined “Harman-ish” contour with extra energy, feeling more dynamic and lively than several mid/high-tier alternatives while keeping mids even and uncluttered. Trade-offs exist: a hint of metallic timbre, occasional upper-mid glare, and imaging that can soften at micro level; yet the overall mix of bass quality, clarity, and stage makes music engaging. At $1,200, the Polish boutique package reads as a serious, distinctive choice—highly recommendable if a brighter tilt and vivid treble are on the wish list.

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Fiio FX17 packs a wild driver stack—8x EST plus 1x dynamic and 4x BA—and a price that hovers around $1,500–$1,700. The shells are large and a little heavy, yet comfortable with solid isolation; the matte-steel finish looks slick but is a fingerprint magnet. MMCX sockets sit in a blue-ringed collar, and the included cable is genuinely nice: chin-slider equipped with swappable 4.4 / 3.5 / USB-C ends. Packaging is classic Fiio with a generous spread of ear tips (including SpinFits). Overall fit and finish scream audio-jewelry, in both the good and the pricey senses.

Sonically, this is a very wide, “open” presentation with impactful bass and noticeable warmth—sometimes veering toward mud rather than cleanliness. Upper-mids energy is restrained, while the 8 kHz region pops, and treble air extends well; the net effect leans neutral / deadpan-neutral with a slightly warm tilt and not a ton of bass heft. The tonality mirrors Truthear Pure more than many top-end sets, which will delight listeners who crave that profile but leaves others wanting more sub-bass punch and less incisive 8k. Technicals—detail, slam, and stage—are strong, yet the value is debatable when alternatives like Fiio FA19 / FX19 (more bass, less 8k bite), Dunu Glacier (more sub-bass and fun without losing correctness), Softears RSV / RSV MK2 (similar upper-mids with calmer 8k), Aful Dawn X (less warmth, better air for the price), or NiceHCK Rockies (cleaner treble) exist for less. Recommended for those chasing Fiio’s neutral house with a grand soundstage; everyone else may want EQ (a gentle clean-up of warmth/8k) or to shop the cheaper powerhouses.