Letshuoer S12 PRO

Disclaimer: Thanks to Letshuoer for supplying this unit; however, it's crucial to note that my review remains unbiased and impartial.

Summary:
To summarize the review, this is a170USD 14.8mm planar driver iem with good accessory package for the price. In terms of sound tonality this has a V shape signature, its clean with top end energy and sparkle, and good low dnd. This is the evolution/ refined version of the original S12, with smoother upper midrange and slight boost in the sub bass region

Sound signature: V shape

Overview
Letshuoer S12 pro is a planar iem with a 14.8mm planar magnetic driver. It has impedence of 16ohms and sensitivity of 102db. This comes in at 170USD.
Letshuoer as a brand is good, they have a good track record, so far each of their recent releases got a lot of hype. S12 pro is my first letshuoer I have owned and extensively used. Other than this s12 pro, I have tried the limited Z12gold, previous planar s12 and their triple dynamic driver set, DZ4. Coming to the S12 pro, I had high expectations and it fulfilled it.

Packaging/ Box Contents:
The packaging is tastefully done price considered. Included accessories are pretty good.
Cable: its a 2pin cable with interchangeable terminations 2.5/3.5/4.4mm.
3 sets of eartips, a set of foam and two sets of silicone. Quality is good.
The iems itself
Papers


Build and Design
Let’s start with S12 pro’s build, spoiler: its solid.The shells are made of CNC machined aluminum. The shells have nice weight to them, feels fairly substantial in the hands. The shells are small sized. This has the classic semi custom iem shape. The face plate design is plain, with a protrusion under the 2pin connector. Fingerprints were not an issue due to its matte finish but not so confident about scratches though. The 2 pin connector is flush type. The nozzle is width is medium but the length seems a bit short in my case, as the insertion was not as deep. Score: 4/5



Fit and Comfort
Moving on to the fit and comfort section, it is great. The shells sit nice and flush in my regular sized ears. Fortunately due to the lipped nozzle the eartips sit securely. Fit stability is ok, because of the shorter nozzle length the insertion is not as deep. Breathability is good. It is quite comfortable for longr listening sessions. In terms of passive noise isolation its under performing in my case due the shorter nozzle length. Score: 4.75/5

Cable
Talking about the cable it is one of the best if not the best in this price, I can nof say for sure but looks very similar to their letshuoer x Zreviews Chimera cable. This 392 strands of silver plated copper wire with 4 core construction. The pvc coating seems good. This uses a 0.78mm 2pin connector and has swappable terminations. Connectors and the Y split are made of aluminum.There is no audible microphonics. Cable memory is basic, but a bit more softer cable would have been great. The preformed earhooks are ok, they blend in with the color of the cable and did not cause any skin irritation. Cable weight and thickness is standard. In terms of looks this goes nicely with the blue color of the iems. Score: 5/5

Tested With
Source: cayin ru7, fiio btr5, apple type c dongle
Eartips: spinfit w1 (best pairing), spinfit sp145, Divinus velvet, Final E, stock foam, stock silicone.
Cable: stock
Music: Tested with versatile genre of music

Sound tonality
Bass
Let’s talk about S12 pro’s bass performance, spoiler: its great.
The bass is handled by its single full range planar driver. This has the classic planar bass characteristics which I personally enjoy with electronic and rock music. Transition from sub bass to mid bass is fairly linear with a very mild elevation from the mid bass. Sub bass hit has good slam and rumble. Mid bas is tactile. Overall speed is fast. Bass note separation is good and bass texture is decent. I quite enjoyed its speed and tactility including with its definition. Score: 4.75/5



Mids
To summarize the mids performance its clean and neutral.
Transition from mid bass to the mids is mostly linear. Male vocals sound thick and lush,I did not find any mushiness. Female vocals are clean and crisp. Although I would say male vocals have better body than female vocals. There is a good sense of air present in the female vocals and carried over to the instruments section. Talking about the instruments it retains decent level of detail without being too analytical. The upper mid range is smooth unlike several planars, including its predecessor, S12. I must say the balance between detail and smoothness is amazing in the mids, specially the female vocals. Score: 4/5

Highs
Going over to the treble section of the S12 pro, as a whole it is musical, fast and detailed.
Treble section is elevated significantly from neutral giving it V shape signature.. This is not the most analytical type of treble but rather musical. Details are crisp. I personally find this V tuning quite tasteful and it goes quite well with my library. S12 pro’s treble is quite accurate/ transparent without being offensive or aggressive in any way. Note weight is decent. This has good resolving capabilities. I enjoyed its sense of air/ spaciousness with live tracks. It has amazing speed and energy. Detail retrieval is above average. In certain circumstances its treble sounds a bit thin. As mentioned already sibilance or harshness is not an issue here, so this will be good choice for treble sensitive listeners who still want good details. Score: 4/5


technicalities (score: 4.5/5)
Soundstage: above average, it’s fairly wide, has reasonable forward backward depth. It does not reach far out the headspace.
Imaging: above average
Dynamics: good
Sound separation: solid
Resolution: good

Comparison with the original S12
I will keep this short as there is not much to it, basically this is a refined version of the original S12. This comes in a prettier color, modular cable and improved sound. Sub bass is slightly elevated and the upper mids is tamer, thus it’s quite a bit smoother. This was a complain against the s12 that a lot of people including me found it a bit fatiguing and I am glad that they fixed it.



Conclusion
If you are looking for a good budget friendly planar set, this is a good option in its price range. Personally I have not tried ghee hidiz mp145 yet so I do not know how it compares. If you are looking to upgrade from the original s12, this is not it. Thanks to Letshuoer for providing this unit.

Disclaimer:​

The Letshuoer S12 Pro was sent to me as a review sample from Ivy from LETSHUOER, for which I thank!


You might be thinking that I’m a little late, in fact, you’re right.


I am very happy to have had the opportunity to try another planar IEM like the Letshuoer S12 Pro, and I will make a comparison with the other planar models I own.


The price has dropped significantly given the imminent release of the new model, but I think it’s still worth talking about.


However, the review will still be 100% honest and, in no way biased.


I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.


So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.

Tech Specs:​

• Sensitivity 102db
• Distortion 0.5% ±0.1%
• Impedance 16Ω±1Ω
• Connector 0.78 dual pin
• Jack 2.5mm / 3.5mm / 4.4mm swappable
• Chassis material Aluminum alloy
• Machining process CNC
• Driver Planar magnetic 14.8mm
• Frequency response 20-20kHz
• Cable 392-strands monocrystalline copper

Packaging:​

The box of the Letshuoer S12 Pro is quite simple but very robust. All in thick cardboard protects and presents the product correctly.


The range of accessories is surprising:

• Modular cable with 3 adapters: 2.5mm / 3.5mm / 4.4mm
• 3 sets of 6 tips each: 1 Memory foam, 1 standard and 1 transparent ear tips.
• Faux leather carrying case
• Manuals, warranty and quality control

We find 3 types of tips for a total of 18 tips of very good quality, so you will hardly need to buy them separately. The modular cable is incredibly comfortable, I had never tried one thinking they were too delicate but I have to admit that this included one has excellent quality! The interchangeable jacks are definitively convenient. They can switch between connectors in less than 3 seconds and change sources just as quickly.


The cable is just a little too stiff but otherwise I love it!

Design/Build quality:​

As with the DZ4, the S12 Pro also has excellent build quality; there is a lot of attention to detail in the product and in its presentation. The shell is made of CNC-machined aluminum with a purple/blue color and some shiny, rounded edges. The shape is definitely more compact than I would have expected. Inside, we find a huge 14.8mm planar driver, probably the largest possible. The nozzle is of normal size, perhaps a little shorter than it should be. On the body, we find two holes for ventilation and pressure relief, one near the pin and the other on the inside of the headset.

Ventings and pin connectors
“LETSHUOER S12 PRO’s chassis design is a continuation of the predecessor. Multiple vent holes on both sides are effective in alleviating negative pressure build up within the ear canal, and thus protecting the hearing. The independent rear acoustic chamber design makes channel matching to be more consistent. In terms of sound performance, the structural design of the front and rear acoustic chamber effectively discharges the pressure inside the chassis, thereby attaining a more natural sound.”


The only problem encountered with the Letshuoer S12 Pro is due to the rigidity of the cable and the bend that the cable has around the ear, which in my case pushes the headphones outwards. I am therefore forced to use the included tips similar to the Kbear 07 in large size. The other tips in the set, having a smaller hole, sacrifice the soundstage, while the foam ones take away detail but are recommended if the highs bother you.

Comfort/Fit:​

As mentioned previously, the Letshuoer S12 Pro cable is a little stiff and forces you to position it in the ear a little, but if you find the correct position, they are very light, and you don’t even feel like you are wearing them. The shape of the shell does not bother me at all, as it is much smaller than expected. The Hidizs MP145, for example, is much larger and heavier. As for the isolation from external noise, it is not as total as on other IEMs, but they still isolate reasonably well. With Divinus Tips, you can improve a lot.

Initial sound impression:​

When you experience the sound of the planar driver you will find it hard to go back! The Letshuoer S12 pro also puts a large and detailed soundstage in front of you. No frequency overpowers the others so clearly as to make them secondary. I immediately felt the difference with the Hidizs MP145 where I will dedicate a detailed comparison later.

Final sound impression:​

Equipment used for testing above.


Device:

• iMac
• Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
• Poco M4 Pro Mediatek

Software:

• Foobar2000 24bit 192khz (iMac)
• Amazon music UHD 24bit 96khz (Both)
• Tidal Hifi Plus

DAC:

• Less Da1 (AK)
• Less Da2 (AK)
• F.audio KS01 (ESS)
• EPZ TP20 3.5 mm (Dual Cirrus)
• Hidizs S9 Pro Plus (ESS): Most Used
• EPZ TP30 (ESS)

My impressions are given using mostly the original accessories.


Unlike many other planar drivers that require a lot of power, Letshuoer has managed to make them easily to drive, even with DACs with 3.5mm output. You can easily use the phone directly, given its only 16 ohms and 102 db sensitivity. However, if you want to squeeze 100%, using a balanced output is always recommended.


They sounded good right out of the box, But I still did about 60 hours of burn-in.


The Letshuoer S12 Pro has exactly the speed and low distortion typical of planar drivers. The resolution is very high, the image is extremely sharp and precise, rich in macro and micro details, and perhaps you can slightly feel (sometimes) the famous cold note of the planar drivers, but only a slight sensation.


The sound is neither cold nor warm but well balanced to give the correct tone. Once you’ve tried some planars, and I don’t mean that rubbish of the KZ PR2 V2, which doesn’t even seem like a similar driver compared to these,

Tips Rolling?​

Out of curiosity I wanted to try different tips from those included. In my case I used the Divinus velvet ones which have a slightly elongated shape and significantly improve the angle compared to the ones included. The insertion is probably also decidedly deeper and I must say you can feel the difference.


The improvements range from superior comfort to even fuller bass but also the soundstage opens up considerably. I recommend you experiment with all the tips you have at home on every IEM you own.


Personally I think the tips included don’t do it justice in some cases.

Divinus tips + S12 ProShape and shadowsReally compact shellGood angleBreathing holeFaceplateCompact and ergonomicNormal size nozzleFilters1 Focus labeling2 Focus on venting3 Focus on nozzle

Bass​

The bass is fast, precise, detailed. Their consistency is consistent enough to make you perceive a vague sensation of enveloping without overpowering the other frequencies. The Sub-bass is also well represented and is only noticeable if the track really requires it.

Mids​

Even with regards to medium frequencies the Letshourer S12 Pro does an excellent job. Here too we have crystal clarity that allows us to capture all the nuances of the voices and musical instruments. The shade is correct, it appears slightly warm. There is also a certain airiness and brilliance.

Treble​

High frequencies are well represented by planar drivers. The S12 Pro works very well; the highs are bright, and the tonality is correct. In my case, I think they are slightly borderline and could be tiring after about an hour. This occurs faster if you like to listen to loud music. Good amount of macro and micro details.

Soundstage and Imaging​

The Letshuoer S12 Pro soundstage is wide, but not as wide as I would have expected. To describe it a little more precisely, the sound is not excessively expanded but maintains a natural shape that is more than enough to allow you to hear the direction each sound is coming from.


Obviously you could certainly ask for more from a planar driver. The image is very clear and full of detail, you will have no problem identifying each instrument, layering here is pretty rich.


It could have been done better? Probably for an Planar IEM from a year ago this result was excellent, indeed it is still excellent. As with all technology, just one month’s can make a huge difference.

Comparison:​

Vs Hifiman He400Se




The Hifiman He400Se, for being over ear headphones and considering their price, are certainly entry level ones to definitely take into consideration. Being openback they may not appeal to everyone, personally I find that there is a lot of dispersion outside the headphones which doesn’t happen with IEMs. As for the sound they are much warmer but quiet across the entire sound spectrum. I will do a detailed review later.


vs Hidizs MP145




The Hidizs MP145 is decidedly more recent than the Letshuoer S12 Pro, and the solutions adopted by the latter make it particularly different from all the other IEMs currently on the market. Their particular construction and pressure damping system can be felt, especially with regard to low frequencies, which discharge their pressure externally and not inside the ear canal. The result is a sound that cuddles you and a bass that envelops you in a truly remarkable soundstage.


Keep in mind that the size of the MP145 is important; the nozzle is considered by several users to be large. The Letshuoer S12 Pro is practically the opposite and therefore suitable for everyone.


It must be admitted that a very light driver flex is felt, similar to what happens on the He400se.

Conclusion:​

In every aspect, the Letshuoer S12 Pro planars that were introduced over a year ago are superb. On the planar driver side, the market is getting more competitive, prices are dropping, and the level is rising each month. These days, you can purchase sets for just more than 100 euros that were unimaginable only a few years ago. I’ll say it again: once you go planar, there’s no turning back. You get speed, clarity, clear images, and spacious soundstages. The S12 Pro is brighter and has a few more details than the MP145, which stays in the comfort zone. They’re totally different!


I personally slightly prefer the Hidizs MP145, but a italian friend of mine who is equally expert in the audio sector clearly prefers the Letshuoer S12 Pro. That said, it really depends on personal taste, but both are excellent pairs, and given the price, the S12 Pro deserves a place in my reference collection. Honestly, the S12 Pro and the MP145 complement each other, so if you have the opportunity, both should be tried.


There are also numerous S12 fans out there but unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity to try the previous version and compare them with the Pro.


I’m extremely curious about the new S15 that will be released soon. I think 2024 we will see a lot of planars!

Where to buy?​

LETSHUOER S12 PRO- Magnetic planar earphones Hi-Fi planar in ear monitors for audiopiles and music lovers

General Information:​

LETSHUOER S12 PRO utilizes a custom 14.8mm large-diaphragm driver with great details retrieval, punchy bass and clear trebles. 102db high sensitivity means that it can be easily driven to volume, be it a cell phone or dongle DACs, LETSHUOER S12 PRO will sound optimal pairing with most source/amps. LETSHUOER S12 PRO comes with a stock cable that is constructed with silver-plated monocrystalline copper, and four 98-strand cores are then weaved together. It is terminated in standard 0.78mm dual pin connectors, and the other end is a swappable jack with 2.5mm / 3.5mm /4.4mm jacks. This system will work with a great amount of source gears and IEMs. Magnetic planar earphones Hi-Fi planar in ear monitors for audiophiles and music lovers.

What's inside the box?
LETSHUOER S12 PRO IEMs.
Three pairs of black-colored memory foam ear tips.
Three pairs of black-colored narrow-bored ear tips.
Three pairs of transparent, balanced-bored ear tips.
Faux-leather case
Modular cable
A 3.5mm termination plug adapter.
A 4.4mm termination plug adapter.
A 2.5mm termination plug adapter.
Supporting documents such as an instruction manual, QC certification, warranty card, and contact card.
A product catalogue booklet.

Packaging is medium in size and inside is a everything I could need for an IEM. I found the shells to be well made and all metal build, they are on the smaller side so fit should not be a problem. I found the comfort and isolation to be very good.

Sound Impressions:
Bass:
The S12 Pro presents with a with a speedy and detailed attack, it sounds almost dynamic, impact is well defined but not very powerful, both the Sub and Mid-Bass have decent weight, and texture, although Mid is more prominent. The Bass in general has an almost neutral feeling at times to the overall bass performance but there is no mistake Bass has a good punch albeit with a rapid decay.

Mids:
Midrange is very clear and forward centered. Vocals have decent body, but male vocals have more weight to them.
The Mids themselves are very well defined and mildly there is a hint of warmth, with a fine texture and pleasant details. I found them not shouty and no harshness.

Treble:
The highs are crisp and detailed without over extending. They have a nice amount of openness and balance.
No harshness up here and just a perfect example of good tuning. Treble sensitive should be able to tolerate this well.

Soundstage:
Stage is wide open, and you can pinpoint things easily even on busy songs, it has good depth and height as well. The separation of each instrument is clearly noticeable. The technicalities in general are much better than most in this price range.

Afterthoughts:
The Lestshuoer S12 Pro is an instant classic and favorite. An enjoyable and very competent IEM most people should try for sure. It is well made and comfortable with excellent accessories.

𝑳𝑬𝑻𝑺𝑯𝑼𝑶𝑬𝑹 𝑺12 𝑷𝒓𝒐 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘: 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒓


|| 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ||

Planars have been buzzing in the IEM space as of late with back to back releases from brands such as LETSHUOER with their original S12 entry. Now they’re immediately back with a revision or a refresh of such a release with the S12 Pro at roughly $135 depending on where you buy one.




|| 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ||

• I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with the brands I review and do not give out preview privileges.
• This set is sent in exchange for an honest review. There is no material or financial incentive for me to do this review and I guarantee no exchange has been done by both parties to influence or sway our opinions on this product.
• My thoughts and opinions are of my own. My experience will entirely differ from everybody else. The contents of this review should not be considered factual as this hobby heavily leans on subjectivity. YMMV.

• I don’t do rankings or tier lists as they can get outdated immediately as a reviewer can change their thoughts of a product to a certain extent. If you do want a recommendation then feel free to reach out so I can help out

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𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 Letshuoer Audio 𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆.

𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗦𝗛𝗨𝗢𝗘𝗥 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝘀. 𝗜𝘃𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁. 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁

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| 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 |

It comes in a white box with a render of the earpieces and has text all over. The packaging design philosophy is very evident and consistent with other LETSHUOER products which is nice to see.



| 𝗨𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Removing the initial cardboard cover greets you another box with neat branding. Opening the box will lead you to the S12 Pro earpieces and an ear tip case, both of which are encased in foam.

Underneath that compartment is the included case that contains the remainder of the included accessories.

𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻:

Paperwork
LETSHUOER Product Catalog
LETSHUOER S12 Pro ear pieces
Silver-plated monocrystalline copper 2-pin cable with swappable terminations(2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm)
Black faux-leather hard-shell cylindrical case
A set of LETSHUOER vocal ear tips (S/M/L)
A set of normal-bore ear tips (S/M/L)
An encased set of foam ear tips (3 pairs)

Solid inclusion for the S12 Pro. All of the accessories are good quality and definitely adds to the value of the overall package


| 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

The S12 Pro is made out of high grade aluminum that feels great in the hand with a nice heft to it to not feel cheap yet light enough to be not so overbearing on the ears when worn.



The design of the S12 Pro isn’t much different from its predecessor with this very distinct look.

It comes with only a single color which is this satin royal blue finish that looks unique yet subdued. Overall shape is universal therefore making it have less grooves to make it fit more snugly in one’s ear.



A 2-pin connection is highlighted by this protruding section on the faceplate of the S12 Pro and is flush with the overall build.
The S12 Pro is equipped with a custom 14.8mm planar driver to deliver good sound and demonstrate the characteristics that planars are known for


| 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 |

Average isolation is what the S12 Pro has. The universal fit and nozzle did not allow for a deeper insertion that could bring more isolation. This is still able in blocking out some outside noise, though not the most optimal if that is what you are after


| 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 |

Fits snugly and comfortably in my ear, but only after getting the proper angle to ram it in my ear. I have experienced multiple times where the ear tip will just come right-off if not inserted in a specific way.

This is one of the problems I have on the S12 Pro that greatly influenced my experience with it. Despite being a universal fit, the overall shape of the S12 Pro doesn’t really sit well in my ear.


** 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗦𝗛𝗨𝗢𝗘𝗥 𝗩𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 (𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺) | 𝗭𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝟭 **


|| 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 ||

Before even trying this out for myself, I’ve already seen people recommending this and singing praises for it especially for things like competitive gaming and such. Now, I can definitely see the appeal and the reasoning for the positive feedback,


| 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 |

Surprisingly power efficient even despite the planar driver it’s carrying. I find myself not pushing too much gain to power these to get to my preferred volume. Planars like the S12 Pro really makes me think that with great implementation, you can get a planar that can be easily run.
I still suggest getting something to power these and not outright straight from devices like a smartphone.


| 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘀 |

Overall low-end of the S12 Pro is pretty tame. The low-end is more skewed for more mid bass than sub bass. There is minimal still somewhat noticeable rumble whilst the mid bass has more presence with tight and punchy hits that attacks and decays fast whilst avoiding bleed.
Bass of the S12 Pro is light overall. This will definitely not satisfy any local basshead in town but can serve someone who’s particularly into something with a light kick.


| 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝘀 |

Instruments sound airy and extended with ample presence given the much more tamed bass. Vocals are good but I’ve noticed that male vocals tend to sound more full compared to their female counterparts that sound lean from time to time. The S12 Pro still suffers from sibilance but is still tolerable and shouting isn’t much of a problem.


| 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘀 |

This is the area that the S12 Pro specializes in. It has great extension and details to serve you well when picking out small things on a recording. Timbre is also great with a very naturally sounding presentation and only in very few instances does it sound particularly like “how a planar sounds”.

I was under the impression that the S12 Pro will be quite bright and harsh, and was honestly worried about how my ears will interpret its sound seeing as I’m quite sensitive to mid treble, but it never sounded harsh(unless you go ham with the volume) during my experience.


| 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 |

Great performance across the board. I was able to discern every single source with ease even through the busiest parts of some songs. Staging is also quite wide allowing for a more spacious feeling and a more immersive experience.

This is great for both analytical work and competitive gaming in particular. I can definitely see why the S12 Pro is one of the few recurring recommended sets to people looking for sets that can improve their experience in competitive gaming on multiple social media sites.

|| 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ||

Great planar release without the planar downsides(for the most part). The S12 Pro is a great recommendation for those looking for a more lean and technical sound that still wants to have something that sounds quite natural and not something with an audible metallic sheen ruining the presentation.

[| 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 |]

https://letshuoer.net/.../letshuoer-s12-pro-magnetic...

(𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀. 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀)

We conducted a review of the LETSHUOER S12 last year. Today, we will be discussing its successor, the S12 Pro, which is touted as an upgraded version. While the S12 Pro maintains most of its looks from its predecessor, it introduces a new colorway. How about the sound? Is it an upgrade, or just a sidegrade? We'll find out!

DISCLAIMER:​

• I have no affiliation with LETSHUOER and have not received any monetary compensation during or after writing this review. This unit is provided to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
• As a non-professional reviewer, I aim to use simple terms that can be understood by both beginners and experts in the hobby.
• Please keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this review are subjective and based on my personal experience with the unit. I encourage you to try the product yourself to form your own opinion.

PACKAGING​

LETSHUOER always provides an exceptional unboxing experience, showcasing a level of professionalism that sets them apart from other Chi-Fi companies. While their competitors' unboxing experiences may seem random, weird, and barebones, LETSHUOER consistently delivers a well-curated presentation.



What's inside the box?

• LETSHUOER S12 PRO IEMs.
• Three pairs of black-colored memory foam ear tips.
• Three pairs of black-colored narrow-bored ear tips.
• Three pairs of transparent, balanced-bored ear tips.
• Faux-leather case
• Modular cable
• A 3.5mm termination plug adapter.
• A 4.4mm termination plug adapter.
• A 2.5mm termination plug adapter.
• Supporting documents such as an instruction manual, quality control certification, warranty card, and contact card.
• A product catalogue booklet. (This is very awesome, in my opinion)

SOUND​

The LETSHUOER S12 Pro takes on a U-shaped sound signature. Overall tonality is natural with a tiny evident bit of "planar sheen" on the upper frequencies. Still, this is a warmer set compared to other planar in-ear-monitors.

BASS
The LETSHUOER S12 Pro delivers bass with a swift attack and impressive dynamism, creating a remarkable impact. It is not very heavy, but the energy it resonates is very outstanding. The midbass carries sufficient weight, creating a thumpy and enjoyable texture to the overall bass response.

MIDS
The midrange of the LETSHUOER S12 Pro doesn't possess an aggressive, in-your-face quality, yet it offers a clean and euphonic representation of male and female vocals. Instruments exhibit a natural and intimate texture, providing a pleasant listening experience, especially on acoustic guitars.

TREBLE
Treble heads will rejoice because they'd be delighted to know that the LETSHUOER S12 Pro provides an ample amount of air and energy in the treble range. It is not excessively bright or harsh, striking a balance that allows for detailed and crisp sound reproduction.

TECHNICALITIES
Soundstage: It boasts a wider soundstage compared to other in-ear-monitors within its price range. It creates a spacious sound field that allows instruments and vocals to breathe and perform with ample room.

Imaging: It exhibits an impressive ability to accurately locate various instruments and vocals within the soundstage. As expected from a planar in-ear monitor, it delivers a high level of precision and excels in reproducing complex tracks. The S12 Pro excel at presenting intricate details, allowing me to fully appreciate the intricacies and nuances of the music.

COMPARISONS​

LETSHUOER S12: Of course, why shouldn't we compare it to the OG S12? When it comes to the design and physical aspect, the S12 PRO is like a Copy + Paste of the original S12 and doesn't deviate much from its roots, it only changed its color from titanium silver to Corsican Blue . The sound is a bit more refined on the S12 Pro removing that excessive treble spike. Both set are still warm overall, and technicalities are almost the same.

KZ PR2: The PR2 features a V-shaped tuning, characterized by an energetic bass and vibrant treble, while the midrange takes a more subdued presence. On the other hand, the LETSHUOER S12 offers a more natural and preferable listening experience. The S12 is more balanced and has better technicalities compared to the PR2. Nevertheless, the other one still has an advantage over the other. Notably, the PR2 being two times cheaper than the S12 Pro is already an advantage.

TEST TRACK​

CONCLUSION​

Pros:

• Excellent, thumpy bass
• Natural-sounding vocals
• Crisp, airy treble
• Modular cables.... at this price point? Not the first, but yes!
• It's very easy to drive

Cons:

• I believe it only has one colorway
• Bass could use a bit more texture
• Not a huge leap to the original S12

The LETSHUOER S12 Pro found its place as a remarkable in-ear monitor within the sub-$100 budget range. With its modular cable, exceptional sound quality, and impressive inclusions, it offers a compelling package that you might want to consider. It is highly efficient and can be effortlessly driven by smartphones or digital audio players, making it a convenient choice for portable audio setups. The S12 Pro strikes a great balance between affordability, performance, and ease of use, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious audiophiles.

LETSHUOER is an audio company based in Guangdong Province, China and it was founded in 2016 by an engineer that was formerly working at a prestigious Japanese multinational company along with his business partner who also happens to be an experienced engineer in a particular field. With their long years of experience that they have accumulated in the audio industry, they decided to put up their own company to provide the best possible audio products with fine workmanship, innovative implementation of new acoustic technologies and superb tuning.


What I have here right now is a LETSHUOER S12 PRO, this is an updated version of the original S12 and this model was particularly a special one as it is the chosen product to carry the deluxe edition for the 6th anniversary of LETSHUOER's founding. The difference between this one and its regular version was its new colourway and an improvement of its nozzle filter.



LETSHUOER S12 PRO uses a rather large, 14.8mm custom-made planar magnetic driver as its transducer. Planar magnetics are known to deliver an excellent sound quality with its fast driven, punchy bass response, clean and crisp midrange then a clear, energetic treble but the expense of requiring more power output just to optimise its peak performance. The planar magnetic of S12 PRO also gives the best possible technical performance like resolution, wider sound/speaker stage and coherency performance.



The planar magenetic drivers were enclosed in a solid aluminium shell chassis. These shell chassis were undergone in a CNC-milling process to give a seamless, smooth and better ergonomics of its contours. It has anodized cosmic blue-coloured matte-like finish for scratch resistance and minimising fingerprint marks on its surface. The overall design profile of its shell chassis is rather utilitarian and minimalistic in my opinion. There are two vent holes on S12 PRO's shells, one is at the centre of the cavity base while the other one is near the connector area that releases some excess air pressure coming out from high performance planar magnetic drivers to alleviate listening fatigue. Like all LETSHUOER products, it has detachable structure and uses a proven and more rigid 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism to swap cables.



Wearing these in-ear earphones into my lug holes is quite comfortable and cosy despite its slight heft on it. I don't feel any listening fatigue or any discomfort as I was able to use them for a long listening session. It also has a good passive noise isolation as it was able to block some external noises from the outside surroundings.



Another good feature of LETSHUOER S12 PRO was its stock cable. The said stock cable is of a modular design where we can swap different types of termination plugs. The wirings of its cable is composed of multi-strand monocrystalline silver plated copper that were weaved together for better conductivity flow. The available termination plugs for interchangeability are 3.5mm single ended, 2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced adapters. In my humble opinion, the concept of modular cables is to minimise the wear and tear of cable swapping for different types of termination plugs that the different sources of multimedia devices may have varying types of output jacks.



Like all LETSHUOER products, The S12 PRO packaging is commendable on its product presentation. It has a hard bound rectangular box with a quantity of inclusions included inside.



Here are the following contents inside of LETSHUOER S12 PRO's packaging box:


■ a pair of LETSHUOER S12 PRO IEMs

■ 3 pairs of black-coloured memory foam ear tips.

■ 3 pairs of black-coloured, narrow bored ear tips.

■ 3 pairs of transparent, balanced bored ear tips

■ a multi-banded, 2-core modular stock cable.

■ 3.5mm termination plug adapter.

■ 4.4mm termination plug adapter.

■ 2.5mm termination plug adapter.

■ an oval-shaped, black-coloured zippered faux-leather IEM case.

■ Some paperworks like instruction manual, quality control certification, warranty card and contact card.

■ Product catalogue booklet.



On amplification and scaling on power output, it is quite a common knowledge among us that planar magnetic transducers are quite feisty and demand more current output just to power it up properly to deliver an even more dynamic and full-range sound. But this is what make LETSHUOER S12 PRO standout and somehow different among its contemporaries with similar driver set-up, it is currently the easiest one to drive among the planar IEMs out there that even my LG smartphones with built-in high performance Hi-Fi DACs able to amplify it decently. Tricking the LG phones impedance mode on either medium gain or high gain, using DAC/Amp dongle, DAPs with proper power output and desktop DAC/Amp will maximise S12 PRO's potential to the fullest extent of its sonic performance.



LETSHUOER S12 PRO's tonality takes a more U-shaped sound profile; it has more prominent low frequencies, particularly on the sub bass, a neutral and linear midrange and accentuated upper mids up to the brilliance part of the high frequencies. Surprisingly, among the planar magnetic IEMs that I've tested, The S12 PRO is one of the most natural sounding out there and it manage to minimise the "Planar Sheen" that I usually experience when I'm testing planar sets whether its an IEM or a full-size can.


LOWS/BASS:

As I expected on bass response from a planar magnetic driver, S12 PRO possesses some of its usual sonic characteristics; tight, incisive, precise and agile that emits a very clean, detailed and deep bass. It gives a more prominence on the sub bass but mid bass have an ample texture to give definition on instruments to have an enough slam.

It has an excellent sub bass performance that synthesisers, drum machines, low tone guitars and octabasses have discernible reverberations and rumbling sounds generated from them. Mid bass on this one is rather sufficient just to give a sense of balanced representation on low frequencies. It has ample texture just to give decent note weight on bass instruments like bass drum kick, bass guitars, bass-baritones vocals and cello. bass kick drums has a sonorous and thudding sound on them while bass guitars have rasping with enough resonant for every plucking and strumming from bassists, bass-baritone vocals have just enough deep and heft but i just noticed that it isn't woolly enough and sort of lack of strength especially when I listen to Andrew Eldritch, Barry White and Peter Steele. And then on cellos, they have such lively and eloquence that I was able to feel its bowing and fingering notations.


MIDRANGE:

The midrange presentation of S12 PRO has some slight recession that I noticed especially on male vocals but it still has enough texture and depth not to sound too hollow. It has a clean, neutral and detail that will give more vividness on female vocals and most instruments especially on strings.

Male vocals like baritone have this smoothness, a bit smooth that somehow affects the warm and lush characteristic of some vocal qualities from the likes of Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Lenny Kravitz. Countertenors fares better on this one as I hear that velvety and light vocal texture from King Diamond of Mercyful Fate, Andreas Scholl and Yannis Papadopoulos of Beast in Black. Tenor singers like Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant when hitting their highest note have this spiciness, tinny and brightness on them while classical ones like Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo have this strength and brassy on their vocal quality. On female vocals, Contraltos like Tracy Chapman, Annie Lennox and Anggun have rather a less deep and a bit transparent than a usual rich and darker tone that their vocal quality should sound like, Mezzo-sopranos and sopranos fares better on this one as it sounds fiery and sweet on the former while it sounds shimmering and silvery on the latter one.

Meanwhile on instruments, it gives a more crisp and brighter tone on acoustic guitars and a metallic and vibrant sound on violins. Percussion like toms and snare drums have deep, penetrating and resonant sounds on them while pianos seem to have a more vivid and brighter tone. On brasses, trumpets have shrill and penetrating sound while trombones have eruptive and intense sound, and then on horns have a coarse to bright sound depending on note register. Woodwinds like flutes have a brilliant and shrill sound while saxophones have that lively and reedy timbre on them.



HIGHS/TREBLE:

Like almost planar sets that I have tested, LETSHUOER S12 PRO is indeed bright. That gleaming nature gives a good amount of details and crisper notes. The upper mids to presence part of the treble region is indeed elevated to give an energetic and openness on female vocals and percussive but there's a noticeable sibilance especially when I listened to more sibilant-laden tracks. That bright nature might be a concern for treble-sensitive listeners that might cause listening fatigue in the long listening session.

On the sounds of cymbals, it has a shimmering and sizzle to the point that it might be a bit exaggerated to the point that it might be a tad splashy but nonetheless, it will give more joy and smile to treble-lovers. Hi hats have this shortened, buzzing sound which I think is passable enough. It has an excellent treble air extension with a substantial amount of harmonics that gives me a sense of spaciousness.



SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Almost all planar sets, it will deliver excellent technical capabilities owing to the electro-mechanical principle performance of planar magnetics and S12 PRO is no different like its most contemporary with similar implementation of transducer.

It has an above-average to wide sound field, good height reach and up to mark depth as I was able to perceive it within my aural sphere as spacious. It has a concave presentation as I was able to pinpoint the location of instruments and vocals on its spatial points. It has a good separation of elements and well-defined dynamic and frequency layering on its sonic canvas.

Coherency is excellent given its planar magnetic performance that delivers a blazing fast transient speed and good handling on decay without any distortion or might sound "out of phase".

It has good resolution capabilities as it has precise and solid macro-dynamics while it has a sharp definition on extracting a substantial amount of micro-details and nuances. Like all planar magnetics, it has this typical characteristics which I classify as "Planar Sheen" as it has this buzzing and tinny sound that sounds a bit artificially boosted to my ears.



PEER COMPARISONS:


KZ PR1 BALANCED

◆ KZ claims that their planar magnetic driver is self-developed and that they are able to offer a cheaper price compared to its more pricey competitors like S12 PRO but at the expense of a rather cheap product packaging and a barebone inclusions. The shell chassis of it looks quite cheap too.

◆ KZ PR1 has a more V-shaped sound signature. It has a punch bass but there are some instances of bass bleeding across the midrange frequencies. A more recessed and somehow a tad warmer midrange and similar treble response but there are some occurrences that there are times that cymbals sounds a bit rounded and lack of snap.

◆ Technicalities capabilities are comparable on both sets but compared to S12 PRO, KZ PR1 is more of an above average when it comes to sound/speaker stage width. The micro-detail is also less well-defined compared to the S12 PRO which has a sharper and well-delineated one. It is also noted that PR1 is a bit harder to drive.



MUSEHIFI POWER

◆ MUSEHIFI POWER is a bit pricey compared to the S12 PRO. Like S12 PRO, it has similar dimensional sizes of their transducers but the shells of POWER are rather chunky and large and it is made of high quality resin materials. Inclusions on MUSEHIFI POWER is somehow decent enough.

◆ Like S12 PRO, The POWER has a U-shaped sound signature. It has more punchy and slamming bass but on some peculiarity, the bass kicks sound a bit hollow, it has a warmer midrange and bright treble that has more noticeable peaks on the upper mids up to the presence of the high frequencies.

◆ On technical aspect, The POWER has a rather above average sound/speaker stage dimensions, a two-dimensional imaging presentation and layering is somewhat unrefined as it struggles a bit on more complex tracks like jazz and orchestra.


TANGZU ZETIAN WU HEYDAY(First impression)

◆ HEYDAY is more pricey with an equally good amount of inclusions. Like S12 PRO, its shell chassis is made of solid aluminium alloy and it has a more intricate and aesthetically eye pleasing face plate. It also has a modular cable

◆ HEYDAY has a warmer, U-shaped sound profile. It has a more punchy and solid mid bass response, a warmer midrange to give more texture on male vocals and brass instruments. The treble register is rather safe and balanced which exudes less shimmering and less sparkling compared to S12 PRO.

◆ It has similar technical performance but among the planar magnetic sets that I have tested. It has less "Planar Sheen" that it sounds closer similar to a high quality dynamic driver.


As I end my assessment on LETSHUOER S12 PRO, Its looks like S12 PRO is one of the best among the planar sets that I have tested so far with a more solid construction and more utilitarian design that appeases the minimalists and a well-thought out tuning as it tries to balance the tonal aspect of its frequencies with excellent technical performance.

With good amount of inclusions and a modular cable that will be more versatile to use to all existing type of sources with different output jacks, LETSHUOER knows the sentiment of some audio enthusiasts that too much cable swapping might lead to wear and tear issues on the receptacles of cable. The tuning of S12 PRO might not for everybody that it might be unbearable to treble-sensitives out there.

Overall, LETSHUOER again delivers a set that is competitive and a reliable product in the ever-expanding portable audio market that solidify its reputation and credibility as one of the best and a coveted audio companies out there.


LETSHUOER S12 PRO is currently available on their official online store. Just check the link below.


◆◆LETSHUOER S12 PRO - OFFICIAL SITE◆◆


And also checkout my other full reviews and first impressions on LETSHUOER products:


◆ LETSHUOER GALILEO

◆ LETSHUOER CADENZA 12

◆ LETSHUOER EJ09

◆ LETSHUOER CONDUCTOR

◆ LETSHUOER D13





SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: LETSHUOER S12 PRO
IMPEDANCE: 16Ω
SENSITIVITY: 102dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTORS
PLUG TYPE: MODULAR 3.5MM, 2.5MM, 4.4MM
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) PLANAR MAGNETIC DRIVER


Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*



P.S.

I am not affiliated to LETSHUOER nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to LETSHUOER for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

Introduction
The current market for "budget" IEMs (under $200 USD) is saturated with single dynamic driver earphones, where some models don't present significant differences from others. However, the implementation of affordable IEMs with planar magnetic drivers has been on the rise lately. Today, I will analyze the LETSHUOER S12 PRO, a pair of planar magnetic earphones with a modular cable and exceptional construction, available for $135 USD.

Video Review here

If you wish to read this review in spanish, click here

Disclaimers

• The product was provided by LETSHUOER for an unbiased review - You can find the S12 PRO here: https://letshuoer.net/products/lets...-ear-monitors-for-audiopiles-and-music-lovers
• Review based in 2-4hs listening sessions each day across 6 days
• All music is lossless (Qobuz > 16bit - 44.1kHz).
• Gear Used: IFI Zen Air Can (AMP) + Fiio E10K (DAC) / TempoTec Sonata HD PRO (dongle)

Unboxing, Build & Comfort

The box is of considerable size and weight, but once opened, it is understood why its dimensions are that large. Inside, the first thing we find is a catalog of their products. Just below that, we can see the bright blue IEMs, along with 3 pairs of foam tips. Finally, at the bottom, there is a faux leather case that contains a modular* cable of very high quality for the price, 3 pairs of wide-bore silicone tips, 3 pairs of narrow-bore tips, and some paperwork such as the manual and product certification.

*modular: allows for interchangeable terminations between 2.5/3.5/4.4mm.




If I were to see these earphones for the first time without knowing the price, I would easily say they could be worth more than $200 USD. The housing is designed with an aluminum alloy which feels very solid to the touch and has well-hidden vents that relieve pressure build up in the ear canal. The driver used in the S12 PRO is a 14.8mm single sided planar magnetic driver.


Summary of how the driver works: This type of driver works through a thin metal diaphragm with an array of embedded "wires." On each side of the diaphragm are magnets with opposite polarities. When connected, the current passing through the wires generates a magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnetic fields of both magnets, creating undulating movement in the diaphragm thus producing sound.

The included modular cable is of very good quality. It is built with silver-plated monocrystalline copper and has 4 cores, each consisting of 98 strands. Its connector type is 0.78mm 2-pin with interchangeable terminations for 2.5, 3.5, and 4.4mm. One criticism I have in this regard is that the cable is heavier than average (by quite a bit, in my opinion), and it can be uncomfortable during long sessions. Also, the plastic cable earguides that go over the ears are uncomfortable, and I would have preferred if they were not included.



The number of silicone and foam tips is a very positive aspect (9 pairs in total!). I mostly used my favorite ones, which are the wide-bore tips, but the foam tips feel of good quality for those who need isolation.



The comfort of the S12 PRO was just okay for me: as I mentioned before, the plastic guides are not of my preference and the heavy cable doesn't help that much either. However, when they are properly positioned in the outer ear, they seal decently (it's not the best seal, but it provides enough isolation), and I had to readjust them only a few times. It's worth noting that they protrude a bit, so I wouldn't recommend using them while lying down.

One small aspect I'm going to add in this case is the driving power needed for the S12 PRO. It's known that planar magnetic drivers can be difficult to amplify, but that's not the case with this LETSHUOER set. When I used them with my smartphone (directly into 3.5mm input), I only needed to increase the volume up to 50% to reach a comfortable level when listening to music.

Frequency response description

Credits: https://aftersound.squig.link/

• Slight V-shaped signature
• Subbass and bass above neutral
• Mid frequencies with a more subdued character but without losing prominence
• Treble somewhat lively but peaky and with good extension

Subjective sound description

Bass
Despite what the measurements indicate, I found the a sub-bass and bass near neutral. The bass have good definition but lack impact for basshead users.

In songs like "Paris" by M|O|O|N (Hotline Miami soundtrack), the sub-bass has a strong presence, and you can feel it “deep within you” throughout the entire song as it takes the spotlight. The same happens in "Xanny" by Billie Eilish, where during the chorus, those sub-bass frequencies can be felt “down to the bones”.

On the other hand, in "Back Around" by Tiesto, I experienced what I mentioned earlier: the impact of the bass during the drop leaves me wanting 1-2dB more for EDM songs. However, this reference tuning is particularly good for other genres as we'll see next.


Mids
As someone who listens to various Heavy Metal/Rock artists and different orchestras, I consider myself familiar with the sound of string instruments. In the case of "Meet Your Maker" by In Flames, the electric guitars have a good sense of texture in each note and avoid being piercing to the ear.

Switching genres, in "Yellow" from Coldplay's concert in Buenos Aires 2017, from minute 2 to 2:56, the electric guitar accompanies the song very gently, only to reappear seconds later. In this chaotic harmony, where instruments and the lead singer's voice come together, you can clearly distinguish each individual sound. Chris Martin's voice has a natural timbre to my ears, and both female and male voices have good weight in the region.

Lastly, in "Nessun dorma!" performed by Pavarotti, the Italian's voice is out of this world. There is particularly good harmony between him and the orchestra (choristers, violins, horns, trumpets, piano, etc.).


Treble
Again, the graph shows quite pronounced peaks in the 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz regions, yet the previous song by In Flames with continuous cymbal splashes did not come across as piercing at all.

Furthermore, in classical music such as Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Mozart's "Divertimento in F Major, K. 138" performed by the Quatuor Van Kuijk, I noticed that these IEMs are not super analytical or bright. In fact, for those seeking to gather every tiny detail in their music, they may find themselves wanting a bit more from the S12 PRO.


Soundstage & Imaging
In the previously described Coldplay song "Yellow," I could perceive a sense of distance between the audience and the band. However, to my ears, the soundstage is wider than it is tall and deep. There is good distinction of distance between the sides, but not as much towards the front and back.

But here's where it gets exciting: the imaging capability is spectacular. In Avicii's "Waiting for Love," the single-sided planar magnetic driver manages to separate the different layers of the song's introduction. If I were to describe them from "top to bottom" what I hear is: first, Avicii's vocals above everything else, in the middle the rhythmic sound of the piano keys, and then below or in the background, the drums with their kicks and cymbals accompanying the song. Both instruments and vocals disappear during the build-up to the drop and are replaced by synthetic sounds. When the drop hits, these instruments reappear in the same "layers". The drums only play their cymbals while the song’s bass is carried by a synthesizer that is introduced at this moment.

This description showcases the capabilities of this type of driver, providing a precise image that allows the listener to clearly differentiate which instruments are being reproduced and effortlessly separate them from one another.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, I cannot speak about the improvements LETSHUOER made to this IEM compared to the first S12 as I did not have the opportunity to try that model. However, based on my experience and comparing the presentations of the S12 and S12 PRO, it is evident that it was not a simple tuning change. Adding a modular cable of even better quality than its predecessor (128 strands vs. 392 strands) and maintaining the same solid construction makes those extra $15 USD worth it. In terms of sound, I had some criticisms but there are more positive aspects that I can highlight about these IEMs, and I must say they are a great way to enter the world of planar magnetic IEMs.

MatAudiophiles

Letshuoer s12pro​

Prelude:
Letshuoer is a relatively young and very dynamically developing brand that produces equipment that is well received by audio enthusiasts. The first product that I came to check,, with my own ears, will be the s12pro model, which will complement my collection of planar IEMs and sit next to the TIN P1 and P1MAX. I do not hide the fact that I am a lover of planar headphones. The S12PRO has two major differences from the S12. Apart from the color, it is an additional high-frequency filter and replaceable cable plugs. So let’s move on with the review.



Unboxing:
First of all, I had the feeling of communing with a premium product, and yet currently s12pro are priced at 139 USD. The white cardboard box contains an information leaflet and a handful of documentation. Three pairs of wetsuits in sizes s, m, l and two sets of tips in sizes s, m, l (black and transparent with a black sleeve). Going further, the manufacturer took care of a beautiful leather case made of eco-leather and a great quality coaxial cable terminated with a 0.78mm connector and a multi-plug, we have at our disposal a 3.5mm se, 2.5mm and 4.4mm bal plug. So basically we already have a fully functional set and we don’t have to worry about anything. The conical cord, despite its considerable thickness, is flexible and comfortable to wear. The headphones themselves are small and have similar domes to the ikko OH1. In addition, two ventilation holes were taken care of, but in discreet places, so the insulation did not suffer that much. The domes fit securely in my ears, which provides a great listening experience. The stock case is small and discreet, but easily holds headphones and accessories. The set and the presentation are really impressive and thought out in every smallest detail.



Sound:
Moving on to the sonic value now, having a pair of planar IEM headphones at home I can confidently say that the competition in this area is really growing. Which makes me very happy.

Bass:
 Low frequencies are almost linear and very technical, great bluntness and very decisive impact. Huge dynamics and lightness of low frequencies are really surprising. Rock, rap and electronic music literally began to burst with life. In the pop or kpop genres, the effect was less noticeable, but still visible and able to impress. It’s hard to achieve such results in dynamic converters. Of course it is possible, but not in this price range. The whole thing was additionally complemented by a strong and decisive sub-bass that made the drums or other instruments easily felt.

Mid tones:
Here I had the pleasure to hear a little curiosity, namely Letshuoer in the s12pro model used a very interesting effect by withdrawing the vocals. Which resulted in a lot of depth and breadth of the message, without causing the feeling of detachment of the vocals from the whole. The instruments resonate selectively and strongly technically. It will not be an exaggeration to call this presentation definitely technical which is very impressive in this price range. Every instrument is heard and felt. The vocals do not disappear in the background, but stay close to neutrality and encourage you to analysis of subsequent tracks, which gives great results. It allows you to analytically break down our music into prime factors, and at this price it is a rarity.

Highs:
They are soft and pleasant, showing the brighter side. I like the great and still neutral timbre despite the brightening, and the excellent presentation of the instruments. The technical layer of the treble is definitely over the budget that we will pay for the s12pro. We also have no problem with sharpness and unpleasantness in the case of music based on a large number of string noumens. Classical or jazz music will definitely appreciate it.



Stage and imaging and control:
As I said, the soundstage is large, especially in depth. The imaging, layering and technical side are beyond my expectations, which allows me to increase the feeling of money well invested. The S12pro definitely needs amplification, but most portable dongles will certainly drive them without any problems. iBasso DC04PRO, xDuoo link2bal, dunu dtc500 had no problem.


Comparisons:

Letshuoer s12pro ($139) vs Tin p1 max($99):
Both proposals are based on a planar transducer, in the case of s12pro it has a diameter of 14.8mm and in tin p1 max it is 14.2mm. Letshuer s12pro have aluminum and slim housings, while P1MAX are made of resin and have larger domes. Sonically, the P1max are definitely more direct, less technical and smoother. Vocals in the s12pro are more technical, but also less direct. In the S12pro, the technical layer is much more on the podium, but the P1max have a more forward midrange.

Letshuoer s12pro ($139) vs Tin P1 ($169):
Tin P1 is a true legend from which it all began, but it is very difficult to control them correctly, which is not the case with the s12pro. In addition, the P1s have a much sharper treble, requiring much more synergy. Letshuer s12pro also have a much better and better controlled bass, which is their strong asset. The stage in the s12pro is also bigger and deeper. In turn, p1 are definitely more linear in presentation.

Letshuoer s12pro ($139) VS iBasso IT01X ($119):
iBasso in the IT01X model perfectly matched the midrange and turned up the bass strongly, as for dynamic headphones with a double beryllium-plated speaker, they managed to achieve a great effect. Despite everything, the technical layer and the speed of the transfer stand out strongly on the Letshuoer s12pro side. However, the vocals are closer and more saturated in it01x.



Summary:
Letshuoer s12pro for the price of 139 USD present a completely different approach to the topic of planar IEMs compared to the competition, primarily focusing on the excellent technical and vocal layer. They have an excellent and ruthless character that cannot be denied. All in all, they are a must-have item for any budding audiophile on a budget. They make it possible to understand and accept music in accordance with its raw technical layer. This is a good proposition for lovers of fast and dynamic music with a pleasant and good bass. The vocals are a bit specific, but they do not stand out in the background. Although privately I prefer those in TIN P1MAX. This is not yet the level of top headphones or over-ear headphones, but for the price it is indecently good and it’s a great direction. The ergonomics were amazingly good, and the insulation far exceeded my expectations. Which additionally intensified the excellent impressions after many hours of listening. The use of short nozzles facilitated the implementation. For my tests I used tidal, apple music, my own tracks, including dense DSD files. It is worth noting that in this case, the better the quality of the file, the more we could get out of the headphones. s12pro is a model which, however, like electricity very much despite easy control. letshuoer s12pro has long proven its incredible value against the backdrop of many recognized reviews. It is no different in this case, the headphones are really amazing and worth every dollar spent on them. I heartily recommend them and love them.


TIPS:

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don't use affiliate links.
The regular price of the S12 PRO is $169 but you can find it as low as $135.20.
You can order yours from the LETSHUOER online shop.

LETSHUOER S12 PRO

LETSHUOER is a China based company run by expert audio engineers and keen audiophiles that makes custom and universal in-ear monitors while they have recently expanded their line of products to include a mini-sized USB DAC dongle.



The S12 PRO is the company’s 6th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the original S12 that was a big success and made LETSHUOER wider known to the audiophile world.
The PRO edition comes with an upgraded custom 14.8mm planar magnetic driver which has a 102db high sensitivity that means that it can be easily driven by a cell phone or dongle DACs.

The chassis design is a continuation of the predecessor.
Multiple vent holes on both sides are effective in alleviating negative pressure build up within the ear canal and thus protecting your hearing.
The independent rear acoustic chamber design makes channel matching to be more consistent. In terms of sound performance, the structural design of the front and rear acoustic chamber effectively discharges the pressure inside the chassis, thereby attaining a more natural sound.
Furthermore a new nozzle filter was used to achieve a minor tuning update.



Cable

The stock cable of LETSHUOER S12 PRO is constructed with silver-plated monocrystalline copper and 4x98-strands cores that are weaved together.
It is terminated with standard 0.78mm dual pin connectors while the other end has a swappable jack with 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs.
The metallic plugs get attached to the cable with a push and click action which is not as secure and durable as the screw system.
The cable is of good quality with low microphonic noise and it doesn't get easily tangled but it is too thick and heavy.



Accessories

The package includes standard, transparent and memory foam ear tips at three sizes each and a faux-leather carrying case of good quality.



Build quality and fit

The S12 PRO has a minimalistic industrial appearance with a smooth space-blue finish and excellent workmanship.
The compact, aluminum made earshells are lightweight and anatomically shaped so they can fit comfortably and tight offering a relaxed wearing experience with good passive noise attenuation.



Associated gear

The S12 PRO was left playing music for about 100 hours in order to break in.
Various sources were used like the iBasso DC03 Pro, iFi Go bar, Questyle M15 and FiiO M11S among others.
The earphones are easy to drive so you are not going to need a very powerful source but make sure to use something decent because the S12 PRO scales pretty well.



Listening impressions

The overall tuning is balanced and natural with good sub-bass extension, an even mid-range and a well extended but not fatiguing treble.
The S12 is a slightly warm and very enjoyable set of earphones that balances its sound signature between sounding reference and musical while retaining good levels of transparency and technicalities.

The well extended bass has a near neutral tuning without over emphasizing the mid-bass so it doesn't cloud the rest of frequencies and leaves plenty of free space for the mids to shine.
Clarity, layering and definition are above average while the bass is tight, fast and controlled with good timing.
It is well contrasted and dynamic, impactful and weighty but it can sound a little hollow and a touch dry.
With a near reference tuning and a good suit of technicalities, the bass is one of the S12 PRO strongest points.

Equally strong is the mid range which is very well tuned with great coherency and a touch of a tasty upper-mids emphasis that adds some flavor without leading into sibilance and excessive projection.
There is plenty of harmonic wealth and realism, the timbre is natural and colorful with great chromatic variety, you can hear the uniqueness of every singer's voice and single instrument.
The S12 PRO is resolving, crystal clear and transparent in the mid-range with a natural voicing that is combined with the already excellent bass performance to make for an immersive and realistic listening experience perfectly suitable for classical music and not only.



The treble on the S12 PRO is well extended and clear with good detail retrieval that doesn't resort into becoming analytical.
There is plenty of energy here and a touch of brilliance but only as much as is needed for giving a shining and luminous character to the sound never crossing the point to harshness and stridency.
You can listen for hours on without feeling listening fatigue even with poorly recorded or already bright material.
What happens though is that the timbre is just a touch metallic and artificial while the S12 PRO is not that resolving and refined in the treble as in the mid range.

The soundstage is wide and spacious with good positioning accuracy but it is mostly expanded in the horizontal axis without any significant depth layering and holographic relief.
Nonetheless it manages to stay free of congestion with plenty of air around the performers even during the most demanding symphonic and choral works.



Compared to the TinHifi P1 MAX (From $129 to $99)

The P1 MAX from TinHifi is another example of a budget friendly earphone with a planar magnetic driver that has an admittedly great audio performance for the price.
The original price is $129 but you can find it as low as $99 so it is considerably cheaper than the S12 PRO but it comes with a simple detachable cable without modular plugs and with a plain pouch instead of a carrying case.
The resin ear-shells are anatomically shaped and lightweight but considerably bulkier than that of the S12 PRO.




The P1 MAX is considerably smoother tuned and subdued from the upper-midrange to the treble so it sounds more inoffensive and forgiving than the S12 PRO.
The sub-bass on the P1 MAX rolls a little earlier while the bass is leaner and drier sounding but with a touch of extra control and clarity compared to the S12 PRO which is fuller and weightier but more hollow and looser.
The S12 PRO has the upper hand when it comes to dynamic contrast and bass impact while soundstage is a draw, the P1 MAX is somewhat narrower and less open but it has a sharper imaging and more accurate positioning.
Two great earphones to get you into the planar magnetic sound without spending a fortune.



In the end

The S12 PRO is a great step into the planar magnetic sound at a very reasonable price.
It has a balanced, reference type tuning with plenty of musicality and good technicalities while it is lightweight, comfortable and it comes with a modular cable and a carrying case.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2023.

Letshuoer S12 PRO: Going the Extra Mile!



Summary:

Launched in Oct'2022, Letshuoer S12 PRO is the newest & upgraded version of the already very successful S12 IEM. It promises better musical performance while doing away with the weaknesses of the S12. Based on our impressions, we can confidently say that they have achieved much of what they had promised and more.

Disclaimer: Letshuoer had sent me a review unit for my impressions & views. The opinions below are based on my experiences with the unit and my own. I have tried to be as comprehensive as I could be - to give a complete picture to the audience.




Introduction:


Without any delays, let's quickly dive into the details without making the introduction very lengthy. The Letshuoer S12 pro utilizes a custom 14.8mm large-diaphragm driver with great details retrieval, punchy bass and clear treble.

The Letshuoer S12 PRO is priced at $135.20.




Design & Build:

The shells look very ergonomic & premium and are made of machined aluminum nicely shaped out. The finishing is smooth to the touch thanks to the five-axis CNC machining process. It’s strong, touch and without sharp edges.

It is described as the following on the website:
LETSHUOER S12 PRO utilizes a custom 14.8mm large diaphragm driver with great details retrieval, punchy bass and clear trebles. 102db high sensitivity means
that it can be easily driven to volume, be it a cell phone or dongle DACs, LETSHUOER S1 PRO will sound optimal pairing with most source / amps.

The stock cable of LETSHUOER S12 PRO is constructed with silver-plated monocrystalline copper, and 4 x 98-strands cores are then weaved together. It is terminated in standard 0.78mm dual pin connectors, and the other end is a swappable jack with 2.5mm / 3.5mm /4.4mm jacks. This system will work with a great amount of source gears and IEMs.





Specifications:


The Letshuoer S12 PRO comes at $135.20 price tag and the specifications are as below:

https://letshuoer.net/products/lets...-ear-monitors-for-audiopiles-and-music-lovers

and

https://www.linsoul.com/products/letshuoer-s12-pro





The Box & Accessories:

LETSHUOER S12 PRO comes with these accessories:
•Memory foam, standard and transparent ear tips. Each set comes in three sizes.
•Stock cable with 2.5mm / 3.5mm / 4.4mm adapter
•Faux leather carrying case
•User manual





The Cable:

The stock cable of LETSHUOER S12 PRO is amongst the best I have seen in this price point with silver-plated monocrystalline copper, and 4 x 98-strands cores are then weaved together. It is terminated in standard 0.78mm dual pin connectors, and the other end is a swappable jack with 2.5mm / 3.5mm /4.4mm jacks. the jacks seem quite strong unlike the Z12.




NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUND....

Items Used for this Review:

DAC/AMP & Dongles: @Questyle M15 Dongle DAC/AMP, Cain C9 Portable Amplifier
Portable Players / Sources : @Questyle QP2R, Cayin N8ii, Lotoo Paw Gold Touch, A&K SP1000M
Streaming Source: QOBUZ



Ear Tips:




I've tried tip-rolling with a variety of tips such as: @Final Audio E series red & black ones, JVC Spiral dots, Spiral Dots+, @SpinFit Eartip W1, CP500, CP155. Out of all of these I have found the Azla Sednafit Shorts to be the best fit for my ears in terms of overall fit, isolation & comfort.

Tracks Used:
The tracks I have used can be found from the below playlist that I have used and generally use for most reviews...






Pairing Performance with different sources:

Dongle DAC/AMPs:

Letshuoer S12 PRO had the best pairing with @Questyle M15 and Cayin RU6 dongles.
The BEST pairing however came with Cayin C9 + LPGT with Class-A amplification enabled. That just took the performance of the S12 PRO to the next level.





Portable Players:

Obviously the Letshuoer S12 PRO had the best pairing with the LPGT & specially Cayin N8ii since that comes with Class-A amplification and a new DAC which is super resolving and not to forget the Nutubes! But those are $3500+ range also and out of reach for most people! But it performs well with other players also.




Letshuoer S12 PRO Sound Impressions in Short:

The BASS:

The S12 PRO has a good overall bass performance. There's details coming from the sub-bass region and the mid-bass has good rumble and slam. In fact, it is amongst the best bass performances from a planar IEM of this price range. Tracks like: "Hotel California (Live on MTV 1994) – Eagles" and "Fluid - Yosi Horikawa" you will enjoy the punchy bass performance.

The MIDS:

The midrange of the S12 PRO is quite open and clear with ample amount of texture and details. There's no bass bleed and the midrange is quite muscular and full. Vocals are very immersive and both male and female vocals come with good texture and feel very real. Instruments felt very natural and real with high accuracy and the separation between them is also great. In tracks like: "Anchor - Trace Bundy", "A dog named Freedom – Kinky Friedman" and "Ruby Tuesday – Franco Battiato" it’s really easy to get lost into the music as it comes with ample detailed transients, texture, excellent vocals and details.

The TREBLE:

The Treble is non-fatiguing and with the right amount of texture and details. The instruments sound great without sounding peaky or harsh.

Treble in tracks like: "Paradise Circus – Massive Attack", "Mambo for Roy – Roy Hargrove” and "Saints and Angels – Sharon Shannon" feel very immersive and enjoyable from the treble perspective.


The SOUNDSTAGE:

The Staging capabilities of the S12 PRO is above average and very good. In fact, it might be amongst the best in the price range. It comes with the right amount of width, height, depth and is well defined and just as much as the track requires. Tracks like: “The Secret Drawer – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones” or “She Don’t know – Melody Gardot” or “Bohemian Rhapsody (live aid) – Queen” sound amazing & enjoyable. This is amongst the strongest trait of this IEM.

Imaging & Timbre:

The Imaging & instrument separation performance on the S12 PRO is great and sense of location is good for the price. The Timbre also feels natural. Tracks like: “Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South “or “Hello Again - Howard Carpendale & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” just shine through.



Comparisons:



Letshuoer S12 PRO vs 7Hz Salnotes Dioko:

Both IEMs are planar based IEMs and come close to $100 price range. Hence the comparison becomes imminent from a customer's perspective.



Bass: The Dioko has much better details coming from the sub-bass while the S12 PRO has more punchy mid-bass. Really comes to personal preferences... I fell Dioko suits my preferences better.

Mids: The midrange of the Dioko is amongst it's strengths, but having said that - the S12 PRO just sounds more clear, textured and enjoyable mainly owing to the better resolution and vocal performances.

Treble: This is where the S12 PRO really excels and the overall experience is very enjoyable. mind it that the Dioko is also not lacking behind in treble performance, but just not as good as the S12 PRO.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation: The staging on the Dioko is quite wide and above average. The staging on the S12 PRO just felt the next level and clearly better.



Conclusion:

The S12 PRO is quite a performer both in terms of technical performance and also the musical experience. The cable and package makes it truly PRO grade within the price range. Given the above facts, it becomes an easy recommendation for people seeking a good planar IEM within $100-140 range.

Introduction

Due to the sixth anniversary of the brand, Letshuoer has seen fit to revise one of its latest successful models: the S12. And of course, the model could not have a different name than the Letshuoer S12 PRO. For this new model, the highlights are the new Space Blue colour and the inclusion of a new modular cable, which can change its connectors to 2.5/3.5/4.4mm. It's true that the changes are not only on the physical side, but the sound has also received a slight tweak. As far as I've been able to tell, the mouthpiece filter has been changed, resulting in some subtle alterations to the overall tuning of the set. Broadly speaking, the sub-bass has been raised slightly, resulting in a cleaner transition into the mids. The mid-highs are subtly softer and the treble has been slightly lowered in both exposure and extension. The changes may not be so obvious, but they are sure to be a clear success, as both the modular cable and the changes in tuning will be eagerly awaited by users who were still hesitant to buy the S12. With the S12 PRO version, a more accurate profile has been achieved in some critical and sensitive areas. We will see all of this in the next review.



Specifications

• Driver Type: Planar 14.8mm
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz.
• Sensitivity: 102dB/mW
• Impedance: 16Ω±1%.
• Distortion: 0.5%±0.1%
• Cable length: 1.25m
• Cable type: 392-wire silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable.
• Interchangeable jack connector with a choice of 3.5mm Single Ended, 2.5mm and 4.4mm Balanced.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm

Packaging

Not much has changed in the presentation of the new model. The Letshuoer S12s come in an eminently white box, measuring 152x104x67mm. On the front side there is a large real image of both capsules, without any cables. On the top left is the logo and the brand name in black ink. On the bottom left is the model name and on the right the Hi-Res. logo. On the back side, starting from the top, is the slogan, in larger letters. Underneath are the specifications, in several languages, including English and Chinese. From the centre to the bottom, there are the brand's markings, more logos and the certifications that the product meets. There are also a couple of seals of authenticity.
With the outer cardboard removed, the white box is revealed with the brand name between the main face and one side. The catalogue is the first thing you can see, after lifting the lid. Underneath are the capsules encased in dense black foam rubber, located at the top. On the bottom is a transparent plastic case with foam tips inside. On the bottom is another layer of foam with the rest of the accessories. In a nutshell:

• The 2 S12 PRO capsules.
• 1 silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable with 392 wires and 4 strands, 2 to 2 strands, with three interchangeable connectors.
• 1 oval, black, zippered carrying case.
• Instruction manual.
• Brand card.
• Warranty card.
• Quality control card.
• 1 set of grey silicone tips, sizes SxMxL.
• 1 set of transparent silicone tips with black core, sizes SxMxL.
• 1 set of black foam tips, sizes SxMxL.

There are not many differences from the S12, the changes are subtle. I keep commenting that the grey silicone tips are too soft for my taste. But I must also comment that the inclusion of foam tips and the zippered case are to my liking.



Construction and Design

Except for the colour (Space Blue), little has changed externally on the capsules. Constructed from aluminium alloy and machined with a 5-axis CNC, the finish is smooth and micro-sandblasted. The legend on the rim, written in white ink, now includes the brand name in capital letters on the top line and the model on the bottom line, as well as the R or L channel inscription.
The capsules, on the outside, are almost triangular in shape, with very rounded corners. In reality, there is only one flat side and the rest is a single curve. The outer face is flat, but there is an overlapping rectangular piece, which houses the 2Pin 0.78mm connection. This connection is shallow and the connectors are inside a piece of translucent plastic, which in turn are inside the capsule. Next to this connection, there is a hole that goes all the way through, but is protected by an internal gold-plated grille.
After a slight edge, the rim is also rounded and the line separating the two sides is visible. There is another hole in the centre of the inner face.
The nozzles grow from the centre of the inner face, although they are not very long. They have two tiers and are 4mm high. The first tier has a smaller diameter of 5.25mm. The second and outermost tier has a diameter of 5.85mm. The mouthpiece is protected by a perforated metal grid.
All in all, the capsule lines are rounded and smooth, but the mouthpieces are somewhat short.
The cable is made of silver-plated monocrystalline copper with 392 wires and 4 strands, two by two, with three interchangeable connectors: 2.5/3.5/4.4mm. The colour is matched to the capsules. The plug is relatively large and the interchangeable connectors are press-fitted. They have 4 gold-plated pins and a guide for easy fitting. The removable part is completely cylindrical. The fixed part has a rough edge. There is a Velcro strap to collect the cable. The dividing piece is a smooth cylinder, in the same blue colour as the plug sleeve. It is 13mm long and almost 8mm in diameter. Repeated shape and appearance for 2Pin 0.78mm connector sleeves. The plastic base on which the pins sit is red for the right channel, transparent for the left channel. On this occasion, this piece is completely flat. The cable, at this end, has a semi-rigid guide on the ear. Finally, the pin is a simple piece of translucent plastic, small, cylindrical, with an 8-shaped hole inside, through which the cables pass.
The cable is now modular with 3 interchangeable pins, has more wires, but a very similar design to the S12 model.
As you can see, the changes are minimal, but the improvement of the cable and the colour change are worth mentioning. Since the mouthpiece filter has been modified, a pair or three screw-in filters could have been created, as the D13 model has, and several subtle tuning changes could have been added to the set, in one model.



Adjustment and Ergonomics

If the model is the same, the fit and ergonomics do not change. The different cable does not affect this. I still find the fit very good, the minimal rotation inside the bell is maintained. The mouthpieces are somewhat short and unchanged, there is little to comment on this. The insertion remains shallow. The level of isolation is maintained and will depend on the tips used. With my homemade foam-filled tips they have a good level of seal and occlusion. The fit, although simple, may require a little tweaking, but the sensation in the ear is very good. Both the surface and the rounded shape make contact and rubbing pleasant. Also, its contained size raises the level of comfort and ergonomics. It is pleasant to wear for hours on end and I repeat that only the weight can be a slight inconvenience if you make quick or more abrupt movements.



Sound

Profile

As I mentioned in the introduction, the S12 PRO's profile has been accentuated at the sub-bass end, with a subtle lowering of the transition into the mids. The mid-highs have been very slightly shaded, as have the highs, which have been rounded down to between 8 and 10kHz. All in all, the U-profile has been pivoted to the bass side and the high end has been softened. There is still energy in the treble and its linearity is still maintained, but the slight adjustments in all ranges can give the impression of a more restrained touch in that upper region.
I still think both frequency responses fit my ideals. But I must admit that the S12 PRO tweaks still fit more closely with my imagined reference FR in SquigLink, even though it may be elevated in the sub-bass. But the ideal of a frequency response curve can be just that, an ideal. Because such a profile must be supported by the actual sound of the headphones. And what do we have here? Well, what I like most about the S12 and also the S12 PRO is the feeling of fullness across the entire range. Without a doubt, it's a full-bodied, seamless, thick-as-a-wall sound. I still maintain that the S12 PROs are not very detailed, but very enjoyable, musically speaking.
Finally, I would like to talk about both the tone and the timbre of this ensemble. Natural and appropriate timbre is always spoken of, although I understand that it is never clear that this matches the reality. I myself, to be honest, might feel unable to speak accurately about these terms. Because these properties can vary greatly from headphone to headphone and many reviewers would argue that most of the time they are natural.
My idea of the S12 PRO's timbre is its restrained and realistic nature. As I think its tuning is quite good, without seeming bright or dull to me, I think it has a neutrality that holds a bit of warmth. Overall, I find the timbre inoffensive, I don't think about it, nor do I judge it. It's just its timbre. And that can be a reference. I am left with the idea that things sound as they should, to a fairly large degree.



Bass

I could describe the bass of these planars as the best hybrid combination of a BA driver and a DD driver. There are characteristics from both sides. The sonority is much better than a dedicated BA driver for bass. At least in this price range. When playing pure tones, the performance can be reminiscent of the vibration of a BA in the distance. But the result is better. There is a subtle colouring that does not affect the music. On the good side is its technical ability and speed. On the dynamic driver side it acquires its physical ability, forcefulness, punch, even its colour. It doesn't give the feeling of moving as much air, nor is it as deep, but the combination of all these aspects elevates the bass almost to the excellent.
I'm talking about the S12 PROs as if I haven't reviewed the S12s before. Now, I take a break and reread my opinion about them. And it's no coincidence that the idea of this planar bass keeps resurfacing in my mind. Words like precision, definition, speed, dryness, fast decay and tight execution keep coming back, both in my head and in my writing. I still miss some more roughness, texture, but I think it has gained a point of physicality, depth and overall bass presence. I'd even say it's a little cleaner in its midrange roll-off, something that refines its behaviour. That amount of extra punch takes over my little bass-head heart and raises the score over its original siblings.
I should also point out that the S12 PROs don't shy away from anything; there's no hint of equivocal performance, lack of power or inability to execute saturated, dirty or dangerous bass lines without flinching, even at high volumes. In line with the best dynamic range drivers and a total reproduction insurance. Moving up.



Mids

I continue to be amazed by the planar ability to split frequencies. It is admirable to discern a hard sub-bass line from vocals and not feel that they blend at all. I think there is an improvement in that respect, without any loss of fullness in the setting. I again miss a little more definition, a little more analytical edge to bring out more obvious micro detail, but it's still not there. I notice that I have this feeling of a complete wall of sound again, but without it being completely flat. I think there is a point of greater transparency, even if it is not its greatest virtue. Thus, there is a noticeable clarity in the vocals, and a good level of precision in the instruments. But, while everything seems to be there, everything is well executed, well presented, I'm still looking for a little more three-dimensionality and space between elements. Depth is not as evident in the mids and despite the precision of the playing and positioning, I find the volatility and gas around the voices and instruments lacking. The tuning still seems very good to me and I like the weight of male and female voices, as well as their balance with the instrumentation. A certain distance to the listener is respected, without the mids seeming too intimate and not in the foreground, but occupying a noticeable overall space between all the elements. And back to the beginning, combining and rendering all the music with a good level of presence and separately, still seems to me to be the best virtue of the S12 PRO. Now, slightly improved. And that's what elevates these IEMS as one of the best options for many usage scenarios and music genre playback.



Treble

If the treble of the S12s already seemed good to me, it is now superior. Some peaks have been reduced and linearity has been improved, just a little bit of air has been lost. There is a slight softer nuance that gives it a superior value over the original, at least in my opinion. It's not a remarkable change, but it is something that can be noticed over the hours, as a smoothness that allows for more extended use. The idea of a plateau persists in its presentation, allowing for a more extended travel and improved overtone execution.
The great balance between presence, precision, delicacy and sparkle of its predecessor is maintained, offering a range as a reference in the balance of energy, projection and extension, maintaining control without the need for artifice or limitation in its presence. Perhaps you might assume that such a plateau could be elevated or contain a dangerous level of power. But this is not the case for me. I prefer this more homogeneous representation, rather than inequalities that alter the naturalness of reproduction. Not that I am a staunch supporter of the flat response, but I do support this type of representation in this band, as long as the energy level is in accordance with the rest of the bands. And this is the case. The result is an exquisite example of how to reproduce sibilance: pure control and finesse. Not to mention the overall range as a whole. Within the reach of few drivers.



Soundstage, Separation

The sensation of a wall of sound offers a large and wide stage. With noticeable headroom, even. I still find that this is not the deepest, most three-dimensional, separated and airy sound in this price range. The presentation is front-facing, with a noticeable stereo feel, with great side detail. Positioning is adequate, although the relationship between elements feels somewhat fixed, without much three-dimensional space between them. Many elements remain well defined, not crowded, but feel somewhat immobile in their projection. It's a scene that's shown all at once, striking at the outset for its lush presentation, its ability to recreate planes and layered layering with precision and fluency. The S12 PROs have a great ability to expose many elements without blending them together and without looking fuzzy. And the better the source, the better that ability will improve. At the limit, I still miss a point of greater depth, a more oval and concave presentation, as well as a point of more air, gaseous feel and volatility. But maybe that's the thing about such a full, complete sound.



Comparisons

NiceHCK F1

Again, I use IEMS which I have not yet reviewed in a comparison. Many brands have jumped on the planar driver bandwagon and practically all brands have gone for it. NiceHCK has been no less. In this sense, it's good to see that not all planars are the same, nor do they have the same profile. F1s have something that is not unique, three mouthpieces to change the tuning. For this comparison I have used the Silver mouthpiece, whose frequency response is flatter, both in the bass and treble areas. It could be said that from 200Hz to 1.5kHz, both FRs are the same, so there seems to be some commonality in these drivers. Although the F1's FR is flatter, its profile is brighter. While the S12 PROs have a warm neutrality and noticeable bass punch, the F1s are lighter overall, but also more defined, precise, cooler and more analytical.
There is a clear superior bass punch in the S12 PROs, as well as greater depth. Whereas the F1s are more restrained and have a thinner bass, with less attack. Technically very good and with a more detailed expression, the F1s do not have anaemic bass, far from it, but I do notice a little more colour, more finesse, less density and physicality. The S12 PROs have a wider, bigger and heavier bass range, which tends to take up more space.
In the mid-range the S12s feel more neutral, but also a little warmer. That sense of naturalness and attachment predominates. While the F1s show more luminosity, transparency, though less body as well. They are lighter and more volatile, also cooler and more expansive. I find more separation and freedom in the F1s, as well as a higher degree of resolution. There is also more joy in the F1s, despite being cooler, the notes are more sparkling, the sound is crisper, even though the FR comparison seems to have a less energetic treble. Everything is less punchy, but there is also more separation, a more gaseous and volatile sound, also more delicate and analytical. In addition, they offer a larger stage feeling. If someone thinks the S12s are brilliant, I don't recommend the Gold and Silver filters of the F1s. But you could definitely use the Black filter.
The F1s don't offer that wall-of-sound feel that the S12 PROs do, but they can also feel a little more muted.
On the physical side, I have had trouble finding suitable tips for the F1, their mouthpiece is not very long and perhaps the orientation is not so suitable. They weigh less though. But I prefer the more occlusive and perfect fit of the S12 PRO.
Currently, the S12 PRO are cheaper than the NiceHCK F1, but there can always be price changes and offers on both models.



Conclusion

The brand's sixth anniversary has served to give one of its most emblematic models a PRO version. And they have also taken the opportunity to make some improvements to a model that was already very good in itself. I think Letshuoer has taken the pulse of the current trend by adding an improved modular cable. But they have also listened to those fans who said that the S12s were a bit shiny. For them they have redefined the FR of the new PRO model, adding a more emphasised bass at the low end, with a cleaner midrange roll-off. In addition, they have achieved a more level and neutral sound, from that middle part, all the way to the end of the frequency range. The result is a bigger, juicier, even more balanced wall of sound, with a timbre that blends a hint of warmth with the innate naturalness of the early model. The fullness, presence, impact and punch of its presentation is evident from the very first moment. It's hard to shake off that physical, corporeal sense of density, musicality, its full, spacious stage, without ever sounding congested and everything having its living room intact. At its core, the S12 PRO sounds like live music, surrounding and totally immersive, powerful and intoxicating. But all of it inside your ears, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. And, for this price, it's really not. The S12 PROs are still at a level that few others can offer.



Sources Used During the Analysis

• Aune Flamingo.
• Earmen Angel.
• TempoTec Variations V6.
• Hidizs AP80 PRO-X Red Copper Limited Edition.
• ACMEE MF02s.
• xDuoo XD05 BAL.
• TempoTec Serenade X + iFi Zen Can.

Ratings

• Construction and Design: 87
• Adjustment/Ergonomics: 80
• Accessories: 82
• Bass: 87
• Mids: 89
• Treble: 93
• Separation: 83
• Soundstage: 82
• Quality/Price: 95

Purchase Link

You can read the full review in Spanish here