LETSHUOER S08 (black)
Let's get started. So first off, let me thank Betty and
@LetShuoer Audio for providing me this unit for review. I'm very appreciative for the opportunity, and thankful they did. My opinions are unfettered, and unbiased, and I've not been told how to structure my impressions and thoughts. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased review with heartfelt observations, and now on to the fun stuff.
The unboxing experience was quite simple. Nice box. Nice design. The hard black box had the Letshuoer brand on the front, and on the inside, we get some paperwork and a QC approved triangle. The IEMs sit on foam cutouts, and the hockey puck style metal carrier is centered right below. Upon opening up the puck, you get a very nice cable by Letshuoer, with branding. Now the TFZ style 2 pin connector isn't my favorite, as I prefer recessed or standard 2 pin, but this one is fine, and the cable is fairly thick, quite pliable, and conforming. Initial impressions were done with the stock cable, as it's really nice, just like the stock cable providing in the Letshuoer S12 (2024). I felt this cable gave it a bit warmer character than I usually like, so I used it for my initial notes and music listening, then eventually changed it out for a Tripowin Altea cable, but if you're not into cable rolling, you won't have to with the stock quality. It's also modular, with 3.5mm and 4.5mm terminations. The tips are a nice selection, and as is always the case, they are too small for gigantic ear holes like mine, so I admired the quality of the stock tips, while rolling to the AZLA Crystals. Still, for the asking price of this IEM, the accessories are very high quality. The shells are very small! They are quality metal shells, with an 8 design, signifying the S08 model type. Small and elegant is how I would describe the shells and design. They are quite ergonomic and comfortable in ears, and so this is a sector I'm quite pleased with.
So now that we have the unboxing experience out of the way, let's move on to the sound, shall we? That's what you're all here for anyways!! I know I am! So let's begin...
THE SPECS :
Letshuoer S08:
Technical Information:
Letshuoer S08 frequency response graph courtesy of @
cqtek
PRICE : $99.00
Available for purchase at
this location.
The Gear :
What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??
I'm a huge believer in source rolling to optimize your sonic experience, so for this review, I featured only one source that was tethered, while the other three DAP sources remained untethered. This is because the S08's planar magnetic driver isn't very hard to drive, so it doesn't need extra juice or power to get it to volume. So the sources used would be the Sony NW-A55 + FiiO Q1 II amp with a Lunashops Palladium Graphene interconnect. Followed by the Cayin N3 Ultra (Solid State, No EQ, M gain, Slow roll off), Hiby R3 II, and the Sony NW-A25. All of these DAPs provide a high quality, high fidelity sonic experience.
Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?
Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Adon - Adon
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn
SOUND IMPRESSIONS :
Dynamics : 4
Resolution : 3
Details : 3
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 4
Sibilance : 1
Soundstage : 4.5
Overall score : 4
BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :
The S08 came to me with some mixed reviews, as far as the dynamics and treble extension of the IEM. I've got many planars in my collection, with includes the Tangzu Wu Zetian, Letshuoer S12 (2024), HZSound Luna, KZ PRX & PR2, and the incoming FiiO FP3. I've had the NiceHCK F1 Pro, RHA CL2, and 7HZ Timeless, so as you can see, I like my planars. Now with all of these, almost universally, they have a degree of "planar timbre", very quick note decay bass, and shimmery treble, of varying airiness, and almost all of them have a degree of incisiveness in the midrange. The most polite of all of these would be the KZ PRX and the HZSound Luna. The brightest would be the KZ PR2, RHA CL2, Timeless, and above all of them, the F1 Pro. So I was told by several reviewers that the treble was rolled off, safe, or dark, so when Betty approached me about doing a review, I was curious but hesitant. Now the reason I said yes was because
@thaslaya was lending me his unit, so I figured if I didn't like it, I could always just return the unit unused to Betty and Letshuoer. No harm no foul. Well, come to learn, I LOVED IT!! So when I popped these little shells in my ears and began a critical listening session, a smile overtook my face. Again, I have a lot of planar magnetic IEMs, and that includes the more expensive big brother to the S08, the S12 (2024), which is an IEM that sits quite high on my list of favorites and also places high in my rotation. So I'm not easily swayed, but in this case, I was.
The first thing that struck me was the bass response. It was very hearty, with much slower note decay that you usually get with planars. Now, let's not assume this is a bad thing. It's not. It's quite similar to the bass response of a dynamic driver. One of the universal knocks of planar bass is the elasticity and the fast note decay, which leaves the listener with quite resolving and punchy bass, but lacking in dynamics, heft, or sub bass thump. In the case of the S08, the bass is quite thumpy, has a darker dynamic, and though not the most resolving, it provides sub bass thump, some punch, and still enough incisiveness to keep up during busy tracks and double bass kicks. So yes, it's slower, but that provides a bit more dynamism in the low end to make the bass on most genre tracks a very pleasing experience. It's not necessarily heft, but impactful, and as anyone who has listened to a planar IEM knows, this is something you embrace when you get it. This is fantastic bass that is satisfying! It just trades elasticity for thump.
The midrange is where we get a very clean presentation. In comparison to it's big brother the S12 (2024), it's less thick, less "muddy", and less warm. Now there is a warmth to the midrange that is unmistakable. So this isn't a crystal clear dry midrange, where the clarity and stage is pristine. There's a level of warmth that provides a musical and dynamic program. So it's not brimming with details, separation and bite. The upper mids lack a bit of bite, and crispness. It's tuned to deny the planar timbre that can and does arise from this type of loose tuning of a planar magnetic. It's what you get from the Timeless, the F1 Pro, or the CL2. Now, this is present to a lesser extent with the S12 (2024), but the upper mids are a bit bitier and strident than the safer tuned S08, but this really is what the S08 needs to stand out and separate itself from the sea of budget range planar IEMs. So female and male vocals have an emotional dynamism that's very pleasing. Mid bass and lower midrange has a weight that's welcomed and fascinating, while the tradeoff is details don't always pop, and the separation in the midrange floor isn't as transparent as some others. Upper mids again. are musical, incisive, and present, while forsaking bite and crispness, and replaced with smoothness.
The mentioning of smoothness brings me to the treble of the S08. Here is where as a treble connoisseur, I will respectfully disagree with many a reviewer of the S08. The treble is actually incisive enough, extended enough, and airy enough to NOT sound dark, lazy, or recessed. It's just smooth but PRESENT. I liken this response to the AFUL Explorer, where you get a very similar treble extension and shimmer that's not crispy, in your face, or hyper incisive that it produces the dreaded "planar timbre and tonality". What you get is a very mature, tonally correct, and airy treble that behaves. Now it's not treble that goes on for days, that's ethereal, or wispy. It is none of that, but it does show itself as present and detailed. Whereas the midrange warmth can hide details, the treble smoothness doesn't hide details at all, and will present the overtones and resonances with a preciseness and a presence that's quite satisfying, even to a treblehead like myself. I think it probably walks the line, but never crosses over into dark or rolled off territory. The treble, once more, is not rolled off or dark, but smooth and articulate. You never get any sibilance or crispiness, and the soundstage is still rather full and wide despite the treble tuning. Now it's not the deepest, but depth is perceptible. Not the tallest, so it's not orbital, but there's enough front back side to side, with enough warmth, to provide the listener with an enveloping stage and musicality that makes the Letshuoer S08 bely it's price point, and makes it a contender for
BEST price to performance planar IEM. Imaging is good to above average, as is the layering. Is it top rankin'? Probably not, but there's enough technically to pick out instruments in the mix, and never get a feeling of cogestion or blur. Yes folks...it's that good.
OVERALL :
There is no hyperbole to the previous remark. The S08 is just that good. That engaging. That fun! I don't think I used that word enough in the aforementioned review. This is a darn fun and musical IEM that makes your head bob, your foot tap, and your body shake. So if you listen to reggae, jazz, hip hop, soul, pop, or dance, it's going to provide you with a feel goods. The bass will be present and engaging, the mids will provide emotional cues, and the treble will never be harsh, but will keep the high end interesting and smooth. Listen to metal? No problem! The S08 will keep up with the busier or congested of tracks, and though it won't be a detail monster or technical titan, it will emotionally grab you by the feels, keep you engaged, and it won't blur, smear, or shout. Three things that are the bane of metalhead listening sessions. This is about banging your head, and well, this is what you will do with the Letshuoer S08. GUARANTEED!
COMPARISONS :
Letshuoer S12 (2024) : The bigger brother of the S08 costs $199.00. It's also a limited edition limited to 2024 serial numbered units worldwide. As an owner of this particular IEM, it makes sense to do a comparison. So the S12 (2024) sits loftily high in my rotation. It's a more mild V/moderate U shaped, so the bass, primarily the mid bass, is much more present and commanding that the S08, but also that does create more bleed and more warmth into the lower midrange, which can cause the midrange of the S12 to appear less clean and more veiled. Now I think that this tuning choice is combatted by the extended treble response, which is far airier, shimmery, extended, and less mature than the S08, so you're trading smoothness for sparkle. Because of this, there are times when the S12 can get a touch sibilant, and can also show some planar treble, but in my opinion, it's never offensive. It's also musical, with a more orbital soundstage than the S08, but at the detriment of clarity in the midrange, but you get more clarity and details in the upper mids, so there's constant tradeoffs. Technically, the S12 is superior, but I wouldn't call it more fun, because they both have their hands and feet strongly on the side of musical. The determining factor comes down to do you want treble sparkle, or treble smoothness? Do you want to spend $100 more for the limited edition, but maybe a more troublesome fit? It's close so...Advantage : TOSS UP.
KZ PRX : The PRX can be purchased for approximately $70.00, with sales taking it down to as little as $55.00. The PRX and the S08 have more in common that both being planar magnetics. They both provide a smooth treble approach, but the treble of the S08 is more incisive and has more air. The PRX is tuned to be very safe, and also does not suffer from planar timbre. The midrange is also a tad more recessed with the PRX than the S08, with much more sub bass and mid bass punch and heft, so you feel the bass on the PRX more than you do the more balanced S08. So that does mean that the PRX is more a top blunted v. What this does is make details even less present that the S08. The PRX presents a 4th generation planar magnetic, with very good technical performance, but it's tuned to be "new meta", so you lose the incisiveness and the extension you get with the S08, and what you're left with is a safer, bassier, and equally musical affair, but it falls short of the stage and imaging of the S08, while not being as engaging. Is it cheaper? Yes. It is bassier? Yes. Bassheads will love is planar bass. But is it more engaging and detailed? No. The S08 is more balanced, more detailed, and more engaging than what I feel is the more boring KZ PRX. So when push comes to shove, I'm gonna reach for the S08 every single time. No-brainer, and definitely worth the extra $20.00 or so. Advantage :
Letshuoer S08.
CONCLUSION :
So if you've been turned off by planars for being too shouty of tonally off in the past, the S08 is a good place to make your return in confidence, or if you've never tried a planar magnetic, and you don't know where to start, then the S08 is the perfect starter kit for your new experience, and at the price point of $99.00 (and less during sales season), it's one of the more affordable IEMs that provide you with excellent musicality, smoothness, and performance. It's now one of my favorite IEMs in my rotation, and never fails to impress me with toe tapping fun, without fear of killing my eardrums with skreech, crispiness, or off timbre, so I share my recommendation and welcome you to fun!
Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...
AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!
