Simar747

EarAcoustic Audio Products at KEEPHIFI

DISCLAIMER

The EarAcoustic VSA LTD was provided to me by AudioGeek Brotherhood for the purpose of this review. I wholeheartedly thank EarAcoustic & AudioGeek Brotherhood for sending this unit to me in exchange of an honest review. I was not paid or compensated for this review in any form. All impressions shared here are based purely on my personal listening experience across different tips, sources and extended listening sessions. I will also attach a link below to EarAcoustic’s official website and VSA LTD official store page, in case someone wants to purchase a unit for themselves.
https://www.earacoustic-audio.com/ProDetail.aspx?ProId=105

ABOUT ME

Since jumping into the hobby of Hi-Res Audio, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole exploring a variety of budget, mid-range sets and Flagship sets. I don’t listen at loud volumes, and I’m quite sensitive to treble, which is why I usually lean towards warmer sound signatures that let me enjoy long sessions without fatigue. My music taste is all over the place- from different genres to different languages- so I appreciate IEMs that can adapt and still sound musical. While I won’t get deep into technical measurements, I’ll try to keep things clear and relatable, with just enough info to help fellow enthusiasts understand how the IEM actually feels to listen to.

ABOUT EARACOUSTIC VSA LTD

The EarAcoustic VSA LTD is a standout model in EarAcoustic’s VSA series, sitting above the standard VSA range as a more premium offering. It shares its core driver technology with other VSA models. It also employs a 11.4mm titanium diaphragm dynamic driver; but is presented with an aggressively eye-catching and all-gold aesthetic. The shells are built with a CNC-cut diamond-like faceplates and the package also includes ornate cable that some listeners find gorgeous and others find too flashy for everyday wear.

Like the regular VSA models, The LTD also focuses on vocal clarity but still doesn’t follow a conventional path. The LTD clearly leans into a distinctive and bold identity that doesn’t try to fit typical tuning categories. The design and build make it feel like a flagship or collector’s piece within the VSA lineup; something meant to differentiate itself not just in sound but design as well.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Driver: 11.4 mm Diaphragm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Sensitivity: 110 dB
• Frequency Response: 5–40,000 Hz
• Shell Material: Electroplated alloy with CNC diamond-like faceplate
• Cable Terminations: Swappable 3.5mm & 4.4mm
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin

BUILD QUALITY & COMFORT

Build quality is exactly what you would expect from a premium-priced IEM. The shells feel extremely solid in hand and there’s no doubt that a lot of effort has gone into the finish and materials. The all-gold design is bold and unapologetic, and while I usually enjoy loud and over-the-top aesthetics, this one honestly felt a bit too much even for my taste. It definitely grabs attention, but it’s the kind of design that makes you either fall in love instantly or overwhelms you the moment you unbox it.

In terms of fit, the VSA LTD does a decent job. Comfort is alright overall and I didn’t face any major pressure points during listening sessions. That said, it’s not the kind of IEM that disappears in the ear. You’re always aware that you’re wearing something solid and weighty. Long sessions were manageable, but it never felt as effortless or ergonomic as some other high-end sets I’ve used.

One thing I did appreciate a lot was the cable. It’s easily one of the highlights of the whole package. The cable feels premium, supple and well-built, with no memory issues or stiffness. It complements the shells aesthetically and functionally, and I genuinely enjoyed using it. If there’s one part of the physical package I had zero complaints about, it’s the cable.

SOURCES & SYNERGY

I tried the VSA LTD across a handful of my usual sources to see if its tuning could be tamed or reshaped through pairing. The IEM does scale with cleaner and more powerful sources, but the core character remains largely the same across the board.

• VE Megatron: The sound gained a bit of body and warmth. The lower mids filled in slightly and the overall presentation felt more controlled. This pairing was more forgiving and easier to listen to for longer sessions, though it didn’t completely eliminate the upper-mid bite.
• Quloos MUB1: The VSA LTD sounded the most balanced to my ears. The treble felt a bit smoother and the overall presentation was way cleaner as compared to my other sources. Even then, sibilance could still show up on poorly mastered tracks.
• Fiio M21: The presentation came across as fairly revealing but also highlighted the peaky upper mids even more. The clarity was there, but on certain tracks the vocals leaned toward sharpness, especially at moderate to higher volumes.
• Fiio M11 Plus LTD: The sound shifted even further toward brightness. Upper mids and treble gained extra energy, which increased perceived detail but also made the IEM more fatiguing. This pairing exaggerated the VSA LTD’s already forward upper-midrange and was not ideal for longer sessions.
• Snowsky Echo Mini: The tuning became less enjoyable. The upper mids and treble came forward too aggressively. This made the sound fatiguing fairly quickly. This pairing made the VSA LTD feel more unforgiving than it already is.

Overall, the VSA LTD clearly prefers cleaner and slightly warmer sources. While source pairing can help control its sharper edges to some extent, it doesn’t fundamentally change its tuning.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

First Impressions:

The VSA LTD makes a strong impression right from the start. It is an energetic, highly resolving IEM that clearly prioritizes excitement and clarity over a relaxed or laid-back presentation. This is not a tuning that slowly grows on you. Instead, it presents its character upfront. Over time, I started appreciating what EarAcoustic was aiming for here, even though certain aspects of the tuning didn’t fully align with my personal preferences.

BASS

The bass performance is actually one of the highlights of the VSA LTD. Sub-bass reaches deep and delivers a satisfying rumble with good texture. There is a proper sense of weight down low, and the bass has enough authority to keep electronic and rhythm-heavy tracks engaging. Mid-bass is well-controlled and punchy, adding impact with only a little bleed into the mids. The bass feels fast and articulate, which helps maintain clarity across busy mixes. While it doesn’t overpower the presentation, it provides a solid foundation and keeps the overall sound lively and dynamic.

MIDS

The midrange is where the VSA LTD becomes more divisive. The lower mids are slightly recessed, which reduces body and warmth, especially for male vocals and thicker instruments. This gives the presentation a cleaner and more spacious feel, but at the cost of natural fullness. The upper mids are more forward and energetic, bringing vocals and lead instruments to the front. This tuning adds clarity and presence, but it can also sound peaky at times. On well-mastered tracks, vocals cut through the mix nicely and feel detailed. On poorer recordings or at higher volumes, the upper mids can come across as sharp or slightly sibilant. Tip rolling helped quite a bit, especially the standard Final E eartips. They helped in smoothing things out to some extent, but the upper-mid emphasis remains a defining trait of this IEM.

TREBLE

Treble is extended, airy and energetic. There is plenty of sparkle and openness, which contributes to the overall sense of detail and resolution. Cymbals and high-frequency elements have good presence and definition. However, refinement is not the strongest point here. On brighter sources or aggressive tracks, the treble can edge toward fatigue. With the right pairing, the top end sounds lively and engaging, but it is not the most forgiving tuning. Listeners who enjoy a crisp and energetic treble will likely appreciate this, while treble-sensitive users like me need to carefully select source and even volume.

TECHNICALITIES

From a technical standpoint, the VSA LTD performs at a respectable level for its price bracket. The soundstage is fairly wide, giving instruments enough room to breathe, though it doesn’t extend very deep. It creates a sense of openness rather than a fully holographic presentation. Imaging is accurate and predictable, making it easy to track instrument placement in the mix, especially in metal and electronic tracks.

Instrument separation is good overall. Even when the mix gets busy, elements don’t collapse into each other and maintain their individual space. Detail retrieval is also above average with micro details coming through clearly. You can hear background nuances without having to increase volume.

Timbre is where things get slightly mixed. While the bass sounds natural and textured, the mids and treble can occasionally feel a bit artificial, likely due to the elevated upper-mid and treble energy. This doesn’t completely break immersion, but it does keep the VSA LTD from sounding truly organic. Dynamics are decent for the price though.

EQ RESPONSE

The VSA LTD responds reasonably well to EQ, but with some limitations. Taming the upper mids around the problem region helps reduce sharpness and makes vocals more tolerable over longer sessions. This adjustment immediately improves listenability without hurting clarity too much.
Boosting the lower mids helps restore some body to vocals and instruments, though pushing this too far can make the presentation slightly congested.
That said, this is not an IEM that transforms dramatically with EQ. You can smooth out the edges and improve balance, but the core character remains the same. It’s best used with light corrective EQ rather than heavy reshaping.

CONCLUSION

The VSA LTD is an IEM that clearly knows what it wants to be, even if that direction won’t work for everyone. It brings a bold and energetic presentation with a strong low-end foundation and an upper-range focus that prioritizes clarity and bite. The bass performance is genuinely impressive due to good amounts of rumble, texture and control; giving the overall tuning a solid backbone. It makes genres like Metal and EDM, sound engaging and impactful.

At the same time, the tuning choices in the midrange and treble make it a bit more situational. The recessed lower mids and forward upper mids shape a sound that feels clean and energetic, but can occasionally come across as sharp or fatiguing depending on the track, volume, and source. With careful pairing and some light EQ, the VSA LTD becomes far more balanced and enjoyable, though its core character always remains intact.

Rather than being a universally safe or relaxed tuning, the VSA LTD feels like a statement piece. It is made for listeners who enjoy energy, presence, and a forward presentation. Also, those enthusiasts who don’t mind investing time in tip rolling, switching sources, or EQ to get the best out of it. It may not be my personal preference in the long run, but I can appreciate what EarAcoustic was aiming for here, and in the right setup, it can be a very engaging listen.

EarAcoustic Audio Products at KEEPHIFI