LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition
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Intro
Reviewer collaborations are all the rage nowadays. What started as a way to “test-drive” the ideal tuning of some popular reviewers has now become an entire product line.Zeos from ZReviews is one of the most popular reviewers out there, and Letshuoer decided to take his input to tweak the popular S12 planar magnetic IEMs. The color scheme has been updated along with the stock cable.
Let’s see how it all stacks up and if the Z12 can differentiate themselves enough from the originals.
This review originally appeared on Headphonesty.
Packaging
The Z12 arrive in a compact box that depicts the gold-black color scheme of these special “Gold Edition” IEMs.
In the box
- Letshuoer Z12 IEMs
- 6 pairs of silicone tips (3 pairs of narrow-bore, 3 pairs of wide-bore)
- 3 pairs of foam tips
- PU leather carrying case
- Modular cable with interchangeable terminations (2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm)
The carrying case has an extra pocket to hold additional tips or terminations for the modular cable. Not the most pocket-friendly case, but it offers good protection.
The stock cable (named “Chimera”) is a 4-core silver-plated copper cable with heavy sheathing. It feels substantial in hand, and I like the pre-applied ear guides which have the right amount of tension.
Unfortunately, the modular system needs to be more robust for frequent termination changes.
The 4.4mm plug on my unit has developed connection issues after just a few weeks. This is likely caused by the female connector of the hot-swap mechanism having a shorter length than competing designs.
Design
Overall build quality is exceptional, with the gold color adding an extra dose of flair.Letshuoer kept the same chassis design of their previous S12 IEMs with the Z12. The only differentiating factor is the laser-etched Zeos logo atop the 2-pin connectors.
There are two vents: one beneath the 2-pin connectors and another on the inner side of the IEMs.
The CNC aluminum body with anodized shells feels durable, and overall fit and finish belie their low price tag. Subtleties like the machining marks around the Zeos logo add to the appeal.
Comfort and isolation
The Z12 is the most ergonomic of the current large-diaphragm planar magnetic IEMs.Comfort is excellent as a result, and isolation is above-average with the foam tips. The silicone tips are not as isolating.
Internals
The Z12 use a 14.8mm planar magnetic driver with a dual-sided magnet array.Since this particular driver type has become popular lately, companies differentiate themselves via various damping schemes that add an audible difference in the sound and overall tuning.
Letshuoer Z12 Sound
The Letshuoer Z12 have a V-shaped tuning with a noticeable focus on sub-bass frequencies.
Zeos suggested adding 2dB of extra boost under 50Hz, which is the sole difference between the Z12 and S12 tuning. This sub-bass focus can get too much at times, for me, at least.
Bass
Planar speed? Check. Dense sub-bass? Check. Noticeable bass slam? Check.So far, so good. The catch is in the subtleties. The bass lacks texture as the sub-bass hum dominates the scene. Snare hits have a dampened leading edge, losing the sense of naturalness.
Most of these issues can be solved via EQ if you turn down the somewhat excessive (+10dB over lower-mids) boost below 100Hz. Then again, this extra bass adds to the “fun factor.” Nonetheless, the driver is capable enough to handle such EQ, so I encourage testing things out.
Midrange
Male vocals sound chesty and somewhat far away in the mix. Female vocals fare a lot better with ample focus.
String instruments lack bite, as heard on Damien Rice’s Canonball. I suspect this is due to the damping scheme that rounds off the notes as a side-effect of controlling the driver response.
Nonetheless, there is no shoutiness in the mids, and the smoothed-out notes sound pleasing in the long run. I just wish the vocals were better articulated.
Treble
On the plus side, the treble has good extension and energy for the price. Cymbal hits are pronounced due to the peaks between 5-8kHz. There’s another peak in the upper-treble between 15-16kHz, which adds to the airiness.
Then come the downsides. Planar timbre is noticeable throughout the treble region, characterized by a metallic “sheen” to cymbals and hi-hats. The emphasis between 5-8kHz can also add hints of sibilance.
In bassy tracks, the treble peak is less noticeable. Songs with sparse instrumentations and little sub-bass in the mix can get intense. Poorly mastered tracks further exaggerate the planar timbre. Foam tips help in this regard, but they kill the dynamics.
Soundstage and imaging
The stage feels wide at times, but that’s due to the recession in the lower-mids. In reality, cymbals and hi-hats are much closer to the listener than they should be. Stage depth is lacking too. Stage height is good, thanks to the large driver.
Familiar failings appear in imaging, too, as positional cues originate from either left or right, with little information in between. If you require precise imaging, efficient planar magnetic IEMs are probably not the way to go (Audeze’s iSine series of IEMs being the exception).
Dynamics and speed
Macrodynamic punch is well reproduced, as sudden drops in bass or crescendos maintain their dramatic nature.Microdynamics are middling, as the excessive sub-bass masks low-level details and subtle shifts in volume.
Comparisons
Vs 7Hz Timeless and TinHiFi P1 Max
The 7Hz Timeless kickstarted the current planar hype train and are still one of the most popular pairs of planar magnetic IEMs around. In terms of build, 7Hz goes for a metal build and a more distinct circular faceplate design. Accessories are also better on the Timeless.As for the sound, the Timeless are smoother in the treble but still maintain the same sense of resolution as the Z12. The big difference is in the bass response, with the Timeless’ bass lacking body and slam in comparison.
Staging and imaging are similarly average on the Timeless, though center imaging is even worse. The smoother treble helps the Timeless avoid fatigue in the long run, even though both IEMs exhibit planar timbre.
Tin HiFi P1 Max is another recent release priced lower than the Z12. TinHiFi opts for a resin shell instead of metal.
On paper, accessories are better on the Letshuoer Z12, but the modular cable appears to need to be more durable for frequent termination changes. Then again, the Z12 come with a good carrying case, so that’s a plus.
The P1 Max sound noticeably softer and laid-back compared to the Z12, with a flatter presentation. The resolved detail is superior on the Z12, though it’s mostly attributed to the extra treble.
Staging is also lacking on the P1 Max, but imaging is not as precise as on the Z12. Macrodynamic punch has a visceral presence on the Z12, whereas microdynamics are better rendered on the P1 Max.
The extra detail comes at the cost of fatigue on the Z12, whereas the P1 Max can be listened to all day long. As long as you can handle the bulky shells, that is.
Sonically, I recommend the Letshouer Z12 to those looking for the most exciting presentation. For a slightly more balanced tuning with the typical planar speed and resolution, the 7Hz Timeless are a good option.
The P1 Max stand out as the only laid-back planar in this comparison and should cater to audiences preferring a smoother tuning.
Conclusion
At this point, a similar theme is emerging across the current crop of planar magnetic IEMs.They are all above average in terms of resolution, with the treble tuning determining the sense of resolved detail. Almost all of them have mediocre staging and imaging. Price is also similar, once you take store discounts into account.
Thus, the listener’s preference determines the winner. In that regard, Letshuoer Z12 targets those who like some extra dose of bass and added presence in the treble. It’s an unabashedly colored signature, but it works for the most part with modern pop and rock tracks.
I just wish the tuning changes were more than just a couple of dB of bass boost. As far as collaborations go, the Letshuoer Z12 is fairly vanilla, with the color scheme adding most of the glamor.
LETSHUOER created a good buzz in the audiophile community in my country with the S12, a compact planar IEM that impressed its users with its sound capabilities. I myself got a chance to audition the beauty and absolutely loved it, the bass impact, the clarity, the resolution, everything was top-notch with the set. Then I got to know about the collaboration between LETSHUOER and Z Reviews releasing a Blue and Red colored limited edition variant for the S12 namely Z12. The pair said to bring some tuning changes and Zeos’s logo on the face covers and it literally got sold within a few days of release. Later, Letshuoer revived the Z12 in new dressing, releasing a new limited edition Z12 Gold Edition. This new variant came in Gold and Black colored ear shells matching the logo of Z Reviews. Tuning is said to be the same as the Z12 Limited Edition, and the set included an upgraded Chimera upgrade cable with modular connectors. I got my hands on a unit of Z12 Gold Edition courtesy of a review tour organized by HiFiGo in my country. Having spent a good 3 weeks with the set, I feel like now is the time to share some of my impressions and some comparisons as well.
I received the LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition as a part of a review tour in my country by HiFIGo. But that doesn’t affect my impressions of the pair, all impressions and opinions in this blog are my own based on my own experience with the set. Hope you enjoy reading this. For technical information or feature information, check out details on the HiFiGo website from the link below(Non-Affiliated).
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Design & Build Quality:-
The best part about Z12 Gold Edition is its color combination. The pair was released in three different color options, the one I have has a Gold+Black color combination the other two options are both gold and both black shells. I personally liked the Gold+Black combination more of the three. Design-wise, the shell shape and form factor is the same as S12, you just get a Z Reviews logo on the beveled portion of the face plate. Each unit has got its unit number like mine has Z12-208 printed on the side of the shells. The golden color here is not eye-piercing bright gold, but rather a smooth orangish gold. It looks beautiful IMO. Although the shells are shiny, they have a powder-coated finish and look quite premium in hand. Design-wise I am pretty impressed with its premium finish and exquisite metallic build. Despite being fully metallic, they are not very heavy and are quite comfortable to wear for long hours. I find the set best fitting with SpinFit CP100 silicone ear tips.
The included cable is LETSHUOER x Z Reviews Chimera modular cable. It’s identical to the stock cable of the S12 but with swappable connectors. I got 2.5mm+3.5mm+4.4mm connectors in the package. Just like the IEMs, the cable is also pretty well-built, the cable although is a little heavy.
Driving the Z12 Gold Edition:-
Z12 shines better with good sources. I have used it across a variety of sources including my MacBook(3.5mm output), HiBy RS2(4.4mm), and Shanling M7(4.4mm). It sounds better with dedicated DAPs, I mean it can be loud enough with the MacBook as well, but the clarity and resolution are better with dedicated DAPs. IMO, Shanling M7 synergized the best with the Z12 Gold Edition for me. RS2 was also quite good.
Sound Impressions:-
According to the brand, Z Reviews has adjusted the tuning of the Z12 with some primary changes in the sub-bass region. I find the Z12 to have a more balanced presentation than the S12(I personally find the S12 to have a more V-shaped sound profile in comparison). Z12 Gold delivers a good punch in the lower end, both the mid-bass and sub-bass are nicely balanced and are quite prominent in the output. But they don’t overlap the midrange and maintain good clarity throughout. The sub-bass reaches deep on the Z12 Gold edition. It produces quite a thunder in its sub-bass especially noticeable in bass-heavy tracks such as Bad Guy by Billie Eilish. Z12 actually has a very good lower-end response, listening to Tabla(an Indian musical instrument) in this track, Phero na Nazariya(region language), the tabla beats are precise and crisp. I like such a tight and precise lower-end response. It’s not just crisp, the lower end with the Z12 Gold edition has good speed and punch as well.
Coming on to the midrange, Z12 shows an upfront presentation. Actually, the overall presentation of the Z12 Gold is quite upfront. It’s not into the face, but it’s upfront. You get crisp vocals, smooth instruments, and an immersive, intimate presentation with the Z12 Gold. Personally feel Z12 Gold has a more organic tone than the OG S12 for vocals. The pair has more heft to vocals and instruments. They sound richer and lusher, I would say S12 had a slightly leaner tone than the Z12.
Treble Region is crisp and rich. It doesn’t extend as much as the S12 but it is smoother to listen to in comparison to the OG model. Soundstage is, as I mentioned above, a little on the intimate side. It has good depth but less width. Instruments are decently detailed, there’s good separation even in busy tracks. Imaging and Positioning are very much identical to the S12, IMO above average for the price point.
Things that could be improved:-
>Slight more width to the Stage would have created a good 3D experience.
>Treble could use a little more punch(just a tad bit more)(Nitpicking).
LETSHUOER S12 Vs Z12 Gold Edition:-
Even though I have already compared both the IEMs in the above-mentioned sound impressions, here I will summarise them quickly.
>S12 sounds more V-shaped, and Z12 Gold has a more balanced sound.
>S12 has leaner notes in comparison, Z12 Gold sounds richer.
>Z12 is more immersive, S12 is wider with its staging.
>Vocals sound better on the Z12.
>Love the modular cable of the Z12 Gold.
>Personally, Z12 Gold looks much better to me with its glossy Gold+Black shells.
LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Vs DUNU Talos:-
Talos is my absolute favorite Planar Hybrid IEM. It’s obviously not a fair comparison as the Z12 Gold features a Planar driver while the Talos also has BA hybrid mode. Let’s read my thoughts on both of these.
>Z12 Gold has more punch to the lower end.
>Talos feels more neutral-ish.
>Z12 has more note heft for both vocals and instruments.
>Talos has more details and resolution.
>Z12 Gold has better isolation for me personally.
>Z12 Gold is more inoffensive to listen to for long hours.
>DUNU Talos has wider staging.
Final Words:-
Z12 Gold Edition is a great-sounding Planar IEM, it packs a good punch, and has good vocal and instrument definition. I personally like its looks as well, the gold+black shells look so beautiful, heck my wife has called her ownership on this set for herself. Also, the added Modular cable is also good, at least for me. Well, that’s about the LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition from my side. Hope you guys find this review helpful and leave me a like on the blog!!
I received the LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition as a part of a review tour in my country by HiFIGo. But that doesn’t affect my impressions of the pair, all impressions and opinions in this blog are my own based on my own experience with the set. Hope you enjoy reading this. For technical information or feature information, check out details on the HiFiGo website from the link below(Non-Affiliated).
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Design & Build Quality:-
The best part about Z12 Gold Edition is its color combination. The pair was released in three different color options, the one I have has a Gold+Black color combination the other two options are both gold and both black shells. I personally liked the Gold+Black combination more of the three. Design-wise, the shell shape and form factor is the same as S12, you just get a Z Reviews logo on the beveled portion of the face plate. Each unit has got its unit number like mine has Z12-208 printed on the side of the shells. The golden color here is not eye-piercing bright gold, but rather a smooth orangish gold. It looks beautiful IMO. Although the shells are shiny, they have a powder-coated finish and look quite premium in hand. Design-wise I am pretty impressed with its premium finish and exquisite metallic build. Despite being fully metallic, they are not very heavy and are quite comfortable to wear for long hours. I find the set best fitting with SpinFit CP100 silicone ear tips.
The included cable is LETSHUOER x Z Reviews Chimera modular cable. It’s identical to the stock cable of the S12 but with swappable connectors. I got 2.5mm+3.5mm+4.4mm connectors in the package. Just like the IEMs, the cable is also pretty well-built, the cable although is a little heavy.
Driving the Z12 Gold Edition:-
Z12 shines better with good sources. I have used it across a variety of sources including my MacBook(3.5mm output), HiBy RS2(4.4mm), and Shanling M7(4.4mm). It sounds better with dedicated DAPs, I mean it can be loud enough with the MacBook as well, but the clarity and resolution are better with dedicated DAPs. IMO, Shanling M7 synergized the best with the Z12 Gold Edition for me. RS2 was also quite good.
Sound Impressions:-
According to the brand, Z Reviews has adjusted the tuning of the Z12 with some primary changes in the sub-bass region. I find the Z12 to have a more balanced presentation than the S12(I personally find the S12 to have a more V-shaped sound profile in comparison). Z12 Gold delivers a good punch in the lower end, both the mid-bass and sub-bass are nicely balanced and are quite prominent in the output. But they don’t overlap the midrange and maintain good clarity throughout. The sub-bass reaches deep on the Z12 Gold edition. It produces quite a thunder in its sub-bass especially noticeable in bass-heavy tracks such as Bad Guy by Billie Eilish. Z12 actually has a very good lower-end response, listening to Tabla(an Indian musical instrument) in this track, Phero na Nazariya(region language), the tabla beats are precise and crisp. I like such a tight and precise lower-end response. It’s not just crisp, the lower end with the Z12 Gold edition has good speed and punch as well.
Coming on to the midrange, Z12 shows an upfront presentation. Actually, the overall presentation of the Z12 Gold is quite upfront. It’s not into the face, but it’s upfront. You get crisp vocals, smooth instruments, and an immersive, intimate presentation with the Z12 Gold. Personally feel Z12 Gold has a more organic tone than the OG S12 for vocals. The pair has more heft to vocals and instruments. They sound richer and lusher, I would say S12 had a slightly leaner tone than the Z12.
Treble Region is crisp and rich. It doesn’t extend as much as the S12 but it is smoother to listen to in comparison to the OG model. Soundstage is, as I mentioned above, a little on the intimate side. It has good depth but less width. Instruments are decently detailed, there’s good separation even in busy tracks. Imaging and Positioning are very much identical to the S12, IMO above average for the price point.
Things that could be improved:-
>Slight more width to the Stage would have created a good 3D experience.
>Treble could use a little more punch(just a tad bit more)(Nitpicking).
LETSHUOER S12 Vs Z12 Gold Edition:-
Even though I have already compared both the IEMs in the above-mentioned sound impressions, here I will summarise them quickly.
>S12 sounds more V-shaped, and Z12 Gold has a more balanced sound.
>S12 has leaner notes in comparison, Z12 Gold sounds richer.
>Z12 is more immersive, S12 is wider with its staging.
>Vocals sound better on the Z12.
>Love the modular cable of the Z12 Gold.
>Personally, Z12 Gold looks much better to me with its glossy Gold+Black shells.
LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Vs DUNU Talos:-
Talos is my absolute favorite Planar Hybrid IEM. It’s obviously not a fair comparison as the Z12 Gold features a Planar driver while the Talos also has BA hybrid mode. Let’s read my thoughts on both of these.
>Z12 Gold has more punch to the lower end.
>Talos feels more neutral-ish.
>Z12 has more note heft for both vocals and instruments.
>Talos has more details and resolution.
>Z12 Gold has better isolation for me personally.
>Z12 Gold is more inoffensive to listen to for long hours.
>DUNU Talos has wider staging.
Final Words:-
Z12 Gold Edition is a great-sounding Planar IEM, it packs a good punch, and has good vocal and instrument definition. I personally like its looks as well, the gold+black shells look so beautiful, heck my wife has called her ownership on this set for herself. Also, the added Modular cable is also good, at least for me. Well, that’s about the LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition from my side. Hope you guys find this review helpful and leave me a like on the blog!!
Quick Intro
Pretty sure most of us in the hobby already know about the Letshuoer S12 as well as Zeos of Z Reviews, If you do not know about either of them, most likely you've been living under a rock
(Just Kidding)
Letshuoer S12 took most of us by surprise with the sound quality and technicalities it offered in a pocket favoring price.
Letshuoer has now collaborated with Zeos from Z Reviews and launched the Z12 which is a slightly differently tuned variant of the S12
Disclaimer
I have received this unit of Z12 as part of a local review tour, and I want to thank HiFiGo for providing the unit and arranging the review tour. However, I am under no influence (monetary or otherwise) to write anything for or against the Z12. I am not a professional reviewer and following are my personal opinions and impressions of the Z12 based on my choice of music and the source gears used. You may look up or purchase the unit from HiFiGo HERE
I received this unit of Z12 without the retail box but with the modular cable and the carry case. This is a combination of Black & Gold Color shells where right earpiece is Gold Color and left one is Black. In my opinion, this looks amazing and different. The stock cable is indeed high-quality with 2-pin connectors. Having interchangeable terminations is s welcome change over the S12 and you can use either 4.4, 2.5 or 3.5 terminations. Build Quality of the IEM is rather premium and the shells are very light weight and comfortable to wear.
Sound Impressions
I am going to keep this brief and most of it is going to be relative to the S12 (that I personally own).
Bass on the Z12 is slightly boosted than the S12 that makes it a perfect planar IEM for the bass-heads. For anyone who enjoys listening to more of EDM, Pop or similar genres, and have preference for fun sound, will surely love the low end performance on the Z12.
Mids on the Z12 are clear and forward enough however given the slight bass boost, vocals may sometime seem a bit pushed back as compared to the S12. Overall presentation is smoother and slightly less energetic as compared to the S12. This is not really a bad thing, as this makes the overall sound less fatiguing than the S12 and makes it a better contender for long listening sessions.
Treble (and this is where it get's interesting), on the Z12 seems rather tamed as compared to the S12. Although, according to Z Reviews, the only change in Z12 is the 2dB boost below 50HZ range to enhance the sub-bass; but in my listening experience I did notice a rather softer treble overall. The highs are decently airy, but not as much as the S12 and I missed the sparkle and extensions as against the S12. Once again, this is not a negative thing at all as it makes the overall listening experience very fatigue free and one could listen to music for longer period without any issue.
Final Words
S12 has been a highly celebrated IEM and in my opinion the makers have done a fantastic job with the tuning of Z12 which retains all the amazing traits and technicalities of S12, but the slight change in sound signature makes it a great complementing IEM, thereby catering to everyone else who found S12 way too energetic and/or fatiguing for longer sessions. I also appreciate the novelties like Modular Cable and refreshing new colors. I would highly recommend everyone to listen to the Z12 as well as the S12, and there are high chances you might end up buying at least one of them - if not both
In the end - sound is subjective and everything is a matter of preference, which makes this hobby continuously interesting. Cheers!!
Pretty sure most of us in the hobby already know about the Letshuoer S12 as well as Zeos of Z Reviews, If you do not know about either of them, most likely you've been living under a rock
(Just Kidding)Letshuoer S12 took most of us by surprise with the sound quality and technicalities it offered in a pocket favoring price.
Letshuoer has now collaborated with Zeos from Z Reviews and launched the Z12 which is a slightly differently tuned variant of the S12
Disclaimer
I have received this unit of Z12 as part of a local review tour, and I want to thank HiFiGo for providing the unit and arranging the review tour. However, I am under no influence (monetary or otherwise) to write anything for or against the Z12. I am not a professional reviewer and following are my personal opinions and impressions of the Z12 based on my choice of music and the source gears used. You may look up or purchase the unit from HiFiGo HERE
I received this unit of Z12 without the retail box but with the modular cable and the carry case. This is a combination of Black & Gold Color shells where right earpiece is Gold Color and left one is Black. In my opinion, this looks amazing and different. The stock cable is indeed high-quality with 2-pin connectors. Having interchangeable terminations is s welcome change over the S12 and you can use either 4.4, 2.5 or 3.5 terminations. Build Quality of the IEM is rather premium and the shells are very light weight and comfortable to wear.
Sound Impressions
I am going to keep this brief and most of it is going to be relative to the S12 (that I personally own).
Bass on the Z12 is slightly boosted than the S12 that makes it a perfect planar IEM for the bass-heads. For anyone who enjoys listening to more of EDM, Pop or similar genres, and have preference for fun sound, will surely love the low end performance on the Z12.
Mids on the Z12 are clear and forward enough however given the slight bass boost, vocals may sometime seem a bit pushed back as compared to the S12. Overall presentation is smoother and slightly less energetic as compared to the S12. This is not really a bad thing, as this makes the overall sound less fatiguing than the S12 and makes it a better contender for long listening sessions.
Treble (and this is where it get's interesting), on the Z12 seems rather tamed as compared to the S12. Although, according to Z Reviews, the only change in Z12 is the 2dB boost below 50HZ range to enhance the sub-bass; but in my listening experience I did notice a rather softer treble overall. The highs are decently airy, but not as much as the S12 and I missed the sparkle and extensions as against the S12. Once again, this is not a negative thing at all as it makes the overall listening experience very fatigue free and one could listen to music for longer period without any issue.
Final Words
S12 has been a highly celebrated IEM and in my opinion the makers have done a fantastic job with the tuning of Z12 which retains all the amazing traits and technicalities of S12, but the slight change in sound signature makes it a great complementing IEM, thereby catering to everyone else who found S12 way too energetic and/or fatiguing for longer sessions. I also appreciate the novelties like Modular Cable and refreshing new colors. I would highly recommend everyone to listen to the Z12 as well as the S12, and there are high chances you might end up buying at least one of them - if not both
In the end - sound is subjective and everything is a matter of preference, which makes this hobby continuously interesting. Cheers!!
At the beginning of this year, Letshuoer came up with it’s first planar i.e S12, which gathered a lot of praise and appreciation due to its excellent technicalities and fun tuning. Afterward in Collaboration with Z Reviews, Letshuoer launched the Z12 with a Slight tuning change and a Modular cable. This will be my opinion and impressions on the Letshuoer Z12.
Disclaimer:-
Letshuoer Z12was provided free of cost as a part of a review tour organized by HiFiGo in India. I have no monetary benefit with this review, neither I am influenced by anyone to write positive or negative about the IEM. All thoughts are based on my own usage with the pair for about 7 days. I am no professional reviewer, just sharing my personal Thoughts and opinion regarding the IEM. If interested, you can check out more information on the HiFiGo website from the link below(non-affiliated).
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Design & Build:-
With the Collaboration with Z reviews, Letshuoer came up with a new color scheme for the Z12 with both the shells being either Solid matte black or gold or like I have Right earpiece is Gold and the Left is Black. Build quality is excellent with solid CNC aluminum shells with the Z reviews logo imprinted on either side. Shells are among the smallest compared to other Planar IEMs with 14+ mm drivers. Fit is pretty great as the shells are not that big and comfort with these is pretty good. These come with an assortment of eartips with varying bore widths along with Foam tips. With the new Z12, Letshuoer has included a high-quality modular cable with 2-pin connectors and 4.4mm, 3.5mm, and 2.5 mm interchangeable terminations.
Power Requirements:-
I drove the Z12 with my Xduoo Link2 Bal and it was more than enough to drive it with a lot of headroom.
Sound Impressions:-
As per Z reviews, the only change from the S12 to Z12 is just the addition of 2 db at around 50HZ mark but in my experience, there is more to it than just the bass.
The bass is very well extended from mid-bass to sub-bass, the attack and decay is pretty fast and the bass is pretty detailed, transition is quick with very little to no muddiness. Quantity is more than enough for a seasoned Basshead like me. The midrange on these is pretty smooth with instruments and vocals being very clear and crisp, Male vocals have a nice amount of weight to them and female vocals are emphasized and can get harsh at times. Treble on these is smoother than Before and decently airy but with at higher volume levels, the overall experience could get a little fatiguing. The soundstage is decently wide but not as wide as other planar IEMS we’ll discuss it later. Imaging and resolution on these are pretty good and among the best under $200
Comparisons
Letshuoer Z12 vs Raptgo Hook X
Hook X is among the best-tuned planar IEMs in the market with Smooth Fatigue free Sound with Above average technicalities and a wide soundstage.
Comparing these two, it’s evident that Z12 is no Match to Hook X in terms of overall Sound Signature and Soundstage. But where Z12 comes ahead is in terms of its Bass quality and Quantity. Overall clarity and Imaging are also better on Z12 with fast Transient response.
Letshuoer Z12 vs 7hz Timeless OG
Here Timeless is ahead of Z12 in pretty much every area you can count except Bass. Apart from it, Clarity, speed, and dynamics are better on Timeless.
Final Words:-
This collaboration is Z12 has resolved pretty much all the issues I had originally with S12, being Harsh and fatiguing with the addition of a modular cable the overall experience has been elevated. Z12 is a competent IEM with an overall Smooth sound signature with Very good Bass. If you’re looking for a Planar IEM with excellent resolving capabilities and satisfying bass quality and quantity, look no further, Z12 is among the best-tuned and technical IEMs in the Market.
Disclaimer:-
Letshuoer Z12was provided free of cost as a part of a review tour organized by HiFiGo in India. I have no monetary benefit with this review, neither I am influenced by anyone to write positive or negative about the IEM. All thoughts are based on my own usage with the pair for about 7 days. I am no professional reviewer, just sharing my personal Thoughts and opinion regarding the IEM. If interested, you can check out more information on the HiFiGo website from the link below(non-affiliated).
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Design & Build:-
With the Collaboration with Z reviews, Letshuoer came up with a new color scheme for the Z12 with both the shells being either Solid matte black or gold or like I have Right earpiece is Gold and the Left is Black. Build quality is excellent with solid CNC aluminum shells with the Z reviews logo imprinted on either side. Shells are among the smallest compared to other Planar IEMs with 14+ mm drivers. Fit is pretty great as the shells are not that big and comfort with these is pretty good. These come with an assortment of eartips with varying bore widths along with Foam tips. With the new Z12, Letshuoer has included a high-quality modular cable with 2-pin connectors and 4.4mm, 3.5mm, and 2.5 mm interchangeable terminations.
Power Requirements:-
I drove the Z12 with my Xduoo Link2 Bal and it was more than enough to drive it with a lot of headroom.
Sound Impressions:-
As per Z reviews, the only change from the S12 to Z12 is just the addition of 2 db at around 50HZ mark but in my experience, there is more to it than just the bass.
The bass is very well extended from mid-bass to sub-bass, the attack and decay is pretty fast and the bass is pretty detailed, transition is quick with very little to no muddiness. Quantity is more than enough for a seasoned Basshead like me. The midrange on these is pretty smooth with instruments and vocals being very clear and crisp, Male vocals have a nice amount of weight to them and female vocals are emphasized and can get harsh at times. Treble on these is smoother than Before and decently airy but with at higher volume levels, the overall experience could get a little fatiguing. The soundstage is decently wide but not as wide as other planar IEMS we’ll discuss it later. Imaging and resolution on these are pretty good and among the best under $200
Comparisons
Letshuoer Z12 vs Raptgo Hook X
Hook X is among the best-tuned planar IEMs in the market with Smooth Fatigue free Sound with Above average technicalities and a wide soundstage.
Comparing these two, it’s evident that Z12 is no Match to Hook X in terms of overall Sound Signature and Soundstage. But where Z12 comes ahead is in terms of its Bass quality and Quantity. Overall clarity and Imaging are also better on Z12 with fast Transient response.
Letshuoer Z12 vs 7hz Timeless OG
Here Timeless is ahead of Z12 in pretty much every area you can count except Bass. Apart from it, Clarity, speed, and dynamics are better on Timeless.
Final Words:-
This collaboration is Z12 has resolved pretty much all the issues I had originally with S12, being Harsh and fatiguing with the addition of a modular cable the overall experience has been elevated. Z12 is a competent IEM with an overall Smooth sound signature with Very good Bass. If you’re looking for a Planar IEM with excellent resolving capabilities and satisfying bass quality and quantity, look no further, Z12 is among the best-tuned and technical IEMs in the Market.
Attachments
The Review Of The LETSHUOER Z12 Gold Edition
Introduction
The company LETSHUOER hails from China and It is a very reputable entity in audio business. When it comes to their products, S12 and Ej07M are one of their best IEMs releases. They have also collaborated with Bad Guy Good Audio Review and released Kinda Lava. But today I will be reviewing their new latest release, 'Z12' which is a differently tuned S12 with collaboration of LETSHUOER and a highly respected audio gear reviewer popular on youtube known as ‘Zreviews’.
Disclaimer
*Thanks to HiFiGo team as this unit tour has been arranged by HiFiGo, lovely people. And as mentioned in all of my reviews, same goes with this one too and that is, each and every thoughts below mentioned are my personal own thoughts and they are not fiddled with any outside influences. The following link is where you can go and own one for yourself :-
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
*I will be referring these IEMs to as 'Z12' for the rest of the review.
*And at last I will only be reviewing the Z12 on the basis of their performance, I do not care what these are made of or packaged with when newly purchased unless it affects the sound in any sense what so ever.
Specification
The Z12 is a planar magnetic IEM with a 14.8mm driver and it is given an IPX3 rating. The frequency response is from 20Hz to 30kHz with an impedance of 16 Ohms. The sensitivity is of 102dB/mW and the THD is 0.5%.
Sound
The sound of the Z12 is more towards sounding V-shaped where the bass is punchy and hard hitting and the treble is extensive and crisp. The mid-range is tonally good with lively presence. The sound stage is wide and the imaging is sharp. The separation is spacious and the resolution with detail retrieval is excellent. The speed of notes are fast in response.
Treble
The treble is very exciting and energetic. The upper treble is informative, crisp and extensive. The lower treble is very energetic and active while being a little hot and sibilant in the mix. The overall treble is vulnerable to the musicality of the mix as it never sounded weighted or dense, like the rest of the mix. Therefore I am subjected to this sound as offensive. However, this region is purely clean and airy, which makes me listen to it more. There is sometimes harsh or shouty sound that I heard with bright tunes, the higher octaves of vocals were presentative. The instruments like cymbal crashes or snare hits were not properly projected and sounded hot and peaky. The overall presentation is extensive and crisp.
Mid Range
The mid-range is musically and tonally nicer than any of the planar IEM I have heard. The upper mid-range is vibrant and thorough with the presentation. The sound is very lively and clear, though it is still not greatly over the mix, it is properly tuned. The female vocals are extensive and rounded, they do not overextend and exercise over the line which may have made them sharp. The same goes for the male vocals, though I felt the male vocals were shy and burdened in the mix. The instruments were averagely spaced and sounded upfront and metallic. The lower mid-range is dense, weighted and fuller. The vocals in this region are warmer, the instruments are tonally mature as well as the notes are clean and thick. The overall performance of the mid-range is smooth and energetic with non offensive presentation. I am genuinely intrigued with the mid-range.
Bass
The bass is deep and hard hitting. The bass is very well extended to the sub bass, The emphasis in this region is over the sub bass, though the mid bass has definite presence in the mix. Therefore it gives body to the lower mid range and closely bleeds onto it which surprisingly doesn’t concerns me. The sub bass is punchier and hard hitting than any of the planar IEM I have heard. The vast extension with proper resolution is an achievement to the tuning because it is still very well controlled. The mid bass slams with a good amount of thumps and boom which sounds fun and exciting. The overall performance of the bass region is punchy and slamming with good detailed notes.
Technical Performance
Coming to the technical performance, you can expect the best out of a planar IEM. The soundstage is properly set with good wide stage, the imaging and layering is sharp while the separation is distant and spaced. The resolution is excellent and the detail retrieval is prosperous while the speed is swift and responsive.
Soundstage, Sound Imaging & Separation
The soundstage is wide and properly set, where most of the presentation is from left to right rather than a 3D representation. The imaging and layering is precise and sharp where the separation is distant and spaced out for any of the sound element to sound harmonious and fuller.
Speed & Resolution
The resolution is purely magical of a planar IEM, the details are richer and revealing. The attack and decay of the notes is fast and quick in response, therefore the speed is sprightly responsive.
Conclusion
To conclude this review of Z12, I would recommend to someone who is motivationally biased towards V-shaped sound where the bass presentation is fun and exciting while the treble is informative and clean and the mid-range smooth. If you are more subjected towards a balanced sound go for timeless, otherwise these are the best you can find in this price segment.
Sources And Tracks Used
Sources
Apple iPhone XS Max
LG G8X
iPad (4th generation)
Apple Dongle Dac
Shanling UA1 Pro
iFi HIPDAC
Venture Electronics Megatron
Apple Lossless
UAPP
Locally stored Flac and Wav Files
Tracks
Curtis Mayfield - Pusherman
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Boston - More Than A Feeling
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere(Remastered)
Toto - Africa
The Police - Every Breath You Take
George Benson - Affirmation
Daft Punk - Doin' It Right
Daft Punk - Derezzed
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (End Titles)
GOJIRA - Amazonia
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP
Fergie - Glamorous
50 Cent - In Da Club
Jay Z - Holy Grail
Erbes - Lies
Nitti Gritti - The Loud
Juelz - Inferno
Letshuoer Z12 - The smooth Criminal!
Gears used - Ifi Gryphon, Astell & Kern Kann Max, Vorzuge Pure 2 plus, Kingsound M03 (with iematch and SE and Ultra)
Albums used for testing - After Hours by the Weeknd and Inception by Hans Zimmer.
A big shoutout to hifigo who sent me this highly capable planar iem for my impressions, as part of a review tour.
Z12 can be bought from hifigo using the link provided below :-
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Also, please check the above link for the iem specs.
I just received the black iem box along with the included set of stock tips and terminations, and of course the iem and the cable. I must say that both S12 and Z12 have excellent cables included as a part of this package. I didn't find them to have any major microphonics, also the IEMs fitted me like a glove, and actually had great passive noise cancellation abilities which surprised me. Reminded of my kse1200, which used to give me a similar experience.
Build quality of this iem is quite premium, just like what it was on the S12, and the addition of black and gold colour scheme does make it look very different and appealing to me.
Let's delve straight into how it sounded to me :-
1. Sub-Bass - Sub-Bass has more lift than S12, making it more suitable than S12 for genres like EDM, Pop etc, esp tracks like Blinding Lights from After Hours shine more on the Z12.
2. Mid-Bass - Bass guitars and Kicks have tighter bass decay on S12 than on Z12 making the Z12 sounding a bit more rounded and slower comparatively, esp on tracks like Mombasa from Inception.
3. Lower Mids to Middle Mids (for my lack of vocabulary for the correct term - From lower mids until it reaches the upper mids, Z12 has smoother, slightly less transparent tone compared to s12. It doesn't mean that it lacks clarity, but just that it has lesser bite that makes it sound mellower on tracks that employ more of arrangements like Guitars, Sitars, Violins, Pianos etc, and Male Vocals. This iem is very suitable for tracks with relatively softer male vocals like Hardest To Love from After Hours.
4. Upper Mids - Z12 again is somewhat defanged compared to S12, giving it a much more smoother appearance, and making it sound more suitable and less fatiguing than S12. As a trade off, female vocals seem to have a bit less energy, and higher ocatve violins may also sound lacking that bite to some extent. But it all depends on user preferences and listening moods, as to what one is really looking for. So people looking for a softer presentation will surely be in for a treat. As for myself, I pick up IEMs depending on my mood for the day, so I can see both the S12 and Z12 existing side by side as complements, so far.
5. Upper treble - The Z12 sounds effortless and smooth without depicting any peaks as such. Again, for tracks like Hardest to Love, it sounds just about right on Z12 more than S12. Also, Z12 has pretty decent, albeit slightly lesser amount of air, when compared to S12. This will be very useful, again, to have a fatigue free experience and to have longer listening sessions compared to S12.
6. Dynamics - Z12 is just a trifle softer on dynamics compared to the S12, but nothing that will really bother one a lot, depending on what you're looking for.
7. Staging - The stage depth seems to be a bit better on the Z12, possibly by the virtue of its bass lift. Width and Height remaining more or less the same, with S12 maybe nudging ahead by a fraction. On the whole, they aren't really far away from each other. The sound appears to be wee bit more open on S12 due to overall higher energy on the mids and treble than Z12. Overall, the presentation is a bit more relaxed on the Z12.
Overall Conclusions - I am mighty impressed with the Z12 for what it can do at its price point, becoming one of the most vfm IEMs that I've had a chance to listen to. Both this and the S12 can surely find a way into your collection for different purposes, but overall, an amazingly happy listening session from both can be achieved. The provided modular cable to the z12 is a definite plus, and given the fact that it scales pretty decently when amped, also adds to the experience for people who love to add an amp to their stack.
Gears used - Ifi Gryphon, Astell & Kern Kann Max, Vorzuge Pure 2 plus, Kingsound M03 (with iematch and SE and Ultra)
Albums used for testing - After Hours by the Weeknd and Inception by Hans Zimmer.
A big shoutout to hifigo who sent me this highly capable planar iem for my impressions, as part of a review tour.
Z12 can be bought from hifigo using the link provided below :-
https://hifigo.com/products/letshuoer-z12-zeos-edition-on-s12
Also, please check the above link for the iem specs.
I just received the black iem box along with the included set of stock tips and terminations, and of course the iem and the cable. I must say that both S12 and Z12 have excellent cables included as a part of this package. I didn't find them to have any major microphonics, also the IEMs fitted me like a glove, and actually had great passive noise cancellation abilities which surprised me. Reminded of my kse1200, which used to give me a similar experience.
Build quality of this iem is quite premium, just like what it was on the S12, and the addition of black and gold colour scheme does make it look very different and appealing to me.
Let's delve straight into how it sounded to me :-
1. Sub-Bass - Sub-Bass has more lift than S12, making it more suitable than S12 for genres like EDM, Pop etc, esp tracks like Blinding Lights from After Hours shine more on the Z12.
2. Mid-Bass - Bass guitars and Kicks have tighter bass decay on S12 than on Z12 making the Z12 sounding a bit more rounded and slower comparatively, esp on tracks like Mombasa from Inception.
3. Lower Mids to Middle Mids (for my lack of vocabulary for the correct term
- From lower mids until it reaches the upper mids, Z12 has smoother, slightly less transparent tone compared to s12. It doesn't mean that it lacks clarity, but just that it has lesser bite that makes it sound mellower on tracks that employ more of arrangements like Guitars, Sitars, Violins, Pianos etc, and Male Vocals. This iem is very suitable for tracks with relatively softer male vocals like Hardest To Love from After Hours.4. Upper Mids - Z12 again is somewhat defanged compared to S12, giving it a much more smoother appearance, and making it sound more suitable and less fatiguing than S12. As a trade off, female vocals seem to have a bit less energy, and higher ocatve violins may also sound lacking that bite to some extent. But it all depends on user preferences and listening moods, as to what one is really looking for. So people looking for a softer presentation will surely be in for a treat. As for myself, I pick up IEMs depending on my mood for the day, so I can see both the S12 and Z12 existing side by side as complements, so far.
5. Upper treble - The Z12 sounds effortless and smooth without depicting any peaks as such. Again, for tracks like Hardest to Love, it sounds just about right on Z12 more than S12. Also, Z12 has pretty decent, albeit slightly lesser amount of air, when compared to S12. This will be very useful, again, to have a fatigue free experience and to have longer listening sessions compared to S12.
6. Dynamics - Z12 is just a trifle softer on dynamics compared to the S12, but nothing that will really bother one a lot, depending on what you're looking for.
7. Staging - The stage depth seems to be a bit better on the Z12, possibly by the virtue of its bass lift. Width and Height remaining more or less the same, with S12 maybe nudging ahead by a fraction. On the whole, they aren't really far away from each other. The sound appears to be wee bit more open on S12 due to overall higher energy on the mids and treble than Z12. Overall, the presentation is a bit more relaxed on the Z12.
Overall Conclusions - I am mighty impressed with the Z12 for what it can do at its price point, becoming one of the most vfm IEMs that I've had a chance to listen to. Both this and the S12 can surely find a way into your collection for different purposes, but overall, an amazingly happy listening session from both can be achieved. The provided modular cable to the z12 is a definite plus, and given the fact that it scales pretty decently when amped, also adds to the experience for people who love to add an amp to their stack.
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