Letshuoer is a relatively young brand, but it's become increasingly popular for producing high-end sound that's also pretty cheap by audiophile standards. Until now, I've only tested out their pricey, Letshuoer Conductor. And I was a big fan of its incredibly speedy, natural and full-bodied profile. So, I was intrigued to try out one of the company's more affordable offerings, the S12, to see what it could deliver to audiophiles on a budget. How well does the S12 perform, and what can you expect from its sound signature?

What's In the Box

• Letshuoer S12 IEMs
• 3 Sizes of Memory Foam Ear Tips
• 3 Sizes of Silicone Tips
• Hard Leatherette Case
• Literature

Look and Feel

The S12 has a sleek, industrial aesthetic with its matte silver, aluminum alloy housing. The jutted out shiny rectangle on the faceplate also adds a touch of pizzaz to an otherwise unexceptional look. And judging by the weight and feel, the S12 appears to be a durable IEM that can withstand being tossed around and stuffed in a pocket.

The shells’ ergonomic, smooth curves conformed perfectly to the natural shape of my ears. The fit felt secure, and the seal provided effective sound isolation. Despite the snug fit, the S12 feels unobtrusive, and I quickly forgot I was wearing them. So, no complaints in this department.

Design

The S12 features Letshuoer's first-ever custom-designed pair of planar drivers, measuring 14.8mm in size. And, given the this IEM sells for 150 bucks, its incredible how affordable planar magnetic technology has become over the last couple of years. With an impedance of 16 Ohms, I had no trouble driving these buds. But if you’re using the balanced cable, you’ll probably really benefit from a small DAC/amp.

When buying the S12, you'll get a choice of a 3.5mm unbalanced cable or a balanced cable with or 4.4mm termination. (The Letshuoer 12 Pro will give you both options in addition to 2.5mm in the box). The cable is composed of 128 strands of silver-plated monocrystalline copper, which not only looks fancy, but gives it noticeable weight and a sense of sturdiness.

Sound Impressions

Soundstage

The soundstage on the Letshuoer S12 has impressive depth for this price point. And in this sense, it did a good job of transporting me to the heart of the music. While the stage may not be as impressive in terms of height, the accuracy of instrument placement makes up for it, still giving one the impression that the instruments are staged from various angles. The layering is also well done, creating a rich tapestry of sound that's easy to get lost in. But the space feels more intimate than wide, creating a “cozy” listening experience, rather than a vast one. Still, you can feel instruments coming from behind the ear, making the sound reasonably immersive. And while it may not be a thoroughly 3D soundstage, there's enough space between textures and tones to make for a colorful and engaging listen.

Low-End

The low-end on the S12 delivers a warm, super punchy bass that is both thick and well-defined. With significant presence in the lower-bass registers, the bass is particularly powerful in genres like pop, hip-hop and EDM. But acoustic tracks work well here too. Bass strings sound wide and well-textured, adding a sense of depth and majesty to the music. The S12 also excels in its delivery of sub-bass frequencies, creating a visceral rumble that adds an extra dimension to the music. And despite the significant presence of the bass, it avoids bleeding into the higher frequencies, allowing the other elements of the music to come through clearly.

Midrange

The midrange on the S12 earbuds is characterized by its equilibrium, allowing both, the low-mids and high-mids to have fair play in the mix. The low-mids are ever-present and contribute ample lushness and warmth to the music, without sounding muddy or indistinct. In fact, the low-mids are impressively well-defined, which is hard to achieve with this kind of balance. One thing to note is that there's not much emphasis in the upper-mids. This means that snares and female vocals in this range tend to fall within the mix rather than stand out in front of it. So, it may not be dynamic enough for those who enjoy a super lively profile. That being said, male vocals that hit the middle to lower-mids do sit in front, adding a feeling of intimacy to the overall mix. 

High-End

The high-end on the S12 maintains the same richness and depth that is present in the lower frequencies. Vocals in this range have a weighty, velvety quality rather than light buoyancy, giving them substance, rather than air. Overall, the presentation is smooth, and there’s also some great sparkle in the highs that adds energy to the music. However, it's worth noting that in the very highest treble registers, the S12s can become a touch piercing. This can be a problem for listeners who are sensitive to high registers, or for music that has a lot of high-frequency elements.

Summary

The Letshuoer S12 is a budget-friendly, audiophile grade IEM with great resolution and a crowd pleasing balance. It delivers a punchy, warm and full-bodied profile that at the same time feels accurate and clean. And the use of planar magnetic technology is somewhat rare for this price point. That being said, those who are particularly reactive to the highest frequencies (or tend to listen to high treble instruments) might be annoyed by the treble peaks. But overall, the Letshuoer S12 is a great all-rounder for audiophiles in search a sound that’s rich and versatile.

You can buy the Letshuoer S12 at Audio 46.

Specifications