LEAR LHF-AE1d hybrid fit earphones

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The LEAR LHF-AE1d
 
I had been eyeing the Lear LHF-AE1d for some time; but it being an obscure product from a relatively obscure company, I had my doubts. I am the type of buyer who makes sure the carrots are cooked before I make a purchase. That is, I cover every angle of a product before I buy it. While the few reviews I had read sang its praises, there was so little information to absorb about the Lears that they would be a leap of faith for me.
 
All my doubts melted away upon the audition.
 
The Lear LHF-AE1d is a special beast. It may refuse to cooperate at first. But once you score that perfect configuration, the reward is wonderful. Perhaps it is the audiophile's Japanese tuner car: sure, it's fine stock, but to get the most out of it you tinker, tinker and tinker until you find that perfect configuration.
 
Packaging and Accessories
 


 
Open the elegant black box, and you immediately find the chromed storage jar. While it probably isn't rugged enough to withstand too many drops or knocks, it is a lovely piece worthy of mention. It screws open and closed smoothly. The inside is rubberized, which is a clever touch. Inside you'll also find the simple cleaning cloth.
 

 
The tip selection is very impressive, with a total of 20 pairs to choose from. The usual silicon small-medium-large are included. There are also small and large tips with green cores, which are firmer than the usual cores. You'll also find silicon bi- and tri-flange, which may come in handy to get a deeper seal for the vented shells. There are three foam pairs: one resembling Shure olives, one regular-shaped, and one glossy foam which requires less rolling and slides in easier than regular foam. The included mini-screwdriver is for adjusting the bass knob.
 

 
Build Quality, Fit, Comfort and Isolation
 
The Lear LHF-AE1d's shells are lightweight chromed plastic. The chrome is eye-catching and stylish from afar, but very close inspection will show some minor blemishes on the chrome finish. This is normal with such delicate finishes. The blemishes are not at all noticeable when the shells are being worn. The shiny chrome does, however, strongly attract fingerprints and oil. The included cleaning cloth solves that easily enough.
 
On one side of the shells sits the bass knob. The 9-stepped bass knob on the Lear LHF-AE1d uses a variable resistor to control bass. Lear describes its superiority over most other bass tuning methods: filters are set tunings with no in-between, while physical air ports can compromise isolation. Digital EQ, if not well-implemented, can drastically lower sound quality. But Lear's knob actually works. Having first been used on the top-of-the-line Lear CIEMs, it has found itself all the way down to the AE1d.
 
The 2-pin connectors (not recessed) are found on the other side. They generally don't have any problems and the connectors sit snug without wobbling. The cable is a braided affair, with just enough memory wire at one end. The Y-split is a shrunk tube of plastic that, while not too glamorous, does the job. The straight 3.5mm jack is jet black plastic, but it looks fine and is low-profile enough to be phone case friendly. Red and blue dots differentiate the left from the right.
 

 
The AE1d go into my ears without any problem. Tip rolling is important here, though: I found medium Spinfits or the glossy foams to be perfect for me, but I'm sure everyone's ears will vary. They rest rather comfortably in my ears in spite of the large shells thanks to the light weight and relatively comfortable shape. Isolation, however, is only average. This is only natural being a vented dynamic IEM. A good fit will, however, ensure that it doesn't get too bad.
 
Sound Quality
 
Can the AE1d back up its pretty face with some serious sound? Hiding beneath the glint of chrome is a single 10mm dynamic driver in each earpiece. They have an impedance of 32ohms and 110db sensitivity, but in reality the AE1d is much more power-hungry than its specs imply - not in terms of volume as much as sound quality. Quite simply, the AE1d yearns for a better source than your smartphone. I paired it to with a Fiio E12 on low gain and a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, with satisfactory results. The most notable improvements included decongestion, improved overall clarity and tightening in the midbass. 
 
Bass
 
The adjustable bass of the AE1d is quite impressive. Throughout almost the entire spectrum, it remains tight and concise. It has a certain viscerality to it as well, but it seems a bit held back at the lower settings. It does do well with bass detail. On Victor Wooten's "Can't Hide Love", the bass virtuoso's riffs hold out quite well even above the chorus of voices. Each pick, slap and tap is rendered pleasingly. Midbass is mud-free, which is all I really ask from it. Kick drums hit with a satisfying impact and resonance, particularly on more "vintage"-sounding sets
 
How about quantity? Well, at the lowest setting, bass is overall surprisingly neutral. At 4/9, it picks up a bit more, gaining in quantity while still retaining most of the detail. 7/9 is as far as I can go, however. At this point the bass slams with ruthless abandon, and while the entire spectrum isn't exactly plagued with mud, the bleed into the midrange subtly begins at this point. It is still tolerable, but only just. At the max setting, though, I think there is simply too much for even the most devoted basshead. The excessive low-end causes ugly resonance and overpowers the rest of the music. I usually keep my set at around 4/9 or 6/9, depending on my mood or the genre I'm into at the time. Interesting enough, though, when the bass is adjusted, the rest of the signature is barely affected until that last max setting. Overall, the bass adjustment is well done on the AE1d and gets my thumbs-up.
 
Mids
 
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the signature. The midrange has an exacting, precise clarity to it that is delightful for the ears. In particular, strings do very well. On "Hotel California" from the Eagles' "Hell Freezes Over" album, the acoustic guitars sparkle; they take the center stage, holding your attention with their ethereal shimmer. Piano is also rendered nicely. Chopin's nocturnes sound full and the emotion seeps through every note. Electric guitars have a satisfying crunch to them, especially on the iconic intro for Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing". 
 
Vocals can brim with energy, bursting with feeling - or they can be velvety and sweet, serving up each syllable with a restrained passion. An example of the former would be on The Police's "Murder By Numbers", where Sting's high-energy voice peaks in the chorus, sounding every bit as mad as the lyrics leaving his mouth. An example for the latter, meanwhile, is none other than Louis Armstrong's "La Vie En Rose", where his husky voice has a subdued vibrance. Female vocals are wonderful as well, proving the AE1d's competence in the upper mids.
 
Highs
 
Probably my only real qualm with these IEMs is the lack of treble extension. There is a noticeable roll-off at this end of the spectrum, making cymbals and hi hats sound darker and more held back. While the highs do display satisfactory clarity and airiness, the roll-off can be observed in cymbal-heavy tracks. The dark tuning here does, however, ensure the treble isn't hot or tiring to the ear. In this way, the dark treble can be both a pro and a con.
 
Soundstage and Separation
 
The soundstage on this IEM is only average. There isn't congestion by any means, but this isn't exactly a standout category for the AE1d. I can still pick out individual instruments, but it doesn't come like it does on some IEMs or cans. Presentation is on the more intimate side, which may also be seen as a pro or con. In any case, the averageness of the soundstage doesn't do too much harm to the overall sound of the AE1d.
 
 

 
 
 
Last Notes
 
I couldn't be happier with my decision to purchase these. The Lear LHF-AE1d are a versatile, unique IEM with a very impressive accessory set, subdued style and - most importantly - best-in-class sound. These IEMs are perfect for the mood-swing kind of guy like me, whose favorite artist changes around every week and whose mood for music is around as constant as Bitcoin. Without any doubts or reservations, I recommend the Lear LHF-AE1d to anyone looking to get quality sound for $200. These are brilliant.