LETSHUOER S12 - Next big planar? (Impressions & Discussion)

[nishan99]

They finally arrived...

First of all these are pretty efficient. You can power these fairly easily out of the apple dongle so I wouldn't be too concerned about source gear. And it's not really like IEMs scale a ton anyways. Anyways onto first impressions:

-There’s too much distance between the upper and lower midrange. It skews vocals to the thin side and borders on shouty with female vocalists in the upper registers.

-The 7-8k spike definitely introduces some sibilance. Anything that even encroaches that area can be piercing on certain tracks with certain vocalists. That sibilance is also exacerbated by the upper midrange skewed tonality and you're left with a lot of vocalist sounding shrill and lacking body. There can also be a odd grittiness to the decay of vocalists that just kind of leaves a sour taste in my mouth; resolution be damned

-This is mostly a matter of preference but there’s too much mid bass. It interferes with the clarity of acoustic instruments in the lower registers like stand up bass and brings to attention what was already a less than refined bass performance. Speaking of which...

-Bass quality is lacking. It decays too fast and and is on the compressed side. I'm surprised that the graphs of the s12 measure with as much bass (aside from the mid-bass) as they do because they sure don't sound like they measure. That decay (or lack thereof) leads to a bit of a "dry" timbre and that aforementioned compression leads to a softness to the attack of transients making kick drums especially come off as wimpy and lacking authority. The Sony MH755 puts the S12's bass to shame, but I'm pretty sure nothing under $1000 can compete in the bass with those little bastards anyways

-Upon initial listen straight out of the box, I didn't find them immediately or significantly more resolving than my $200 benchmark; the Tanchjim Hana 2021 or even the Etymotic ER2XR .. scratch that. Upon direct A/B comparison, Ya these are pretty resolving. There's a good bit more (quantify that however you want) clarity to every part of the frequency range in comparison to my benchmarks at the sub $200 range. The trailings ends of tones (or what I call micro-dynamics) are a bit of a closer comparison on that front, but the difference in sheer internal resolution is apparent. Likewise, the S12 has all the hallmark advantages that I associate with planar transducers; for better or for worse. Clarity across the frequency range, the ability to maintain that clarity with multiple instrument lines, and a speed to transients that keeps instrument lines from getting in the way of each other.

-Dynamics, macro or micro, don't immediately blow me away. I even tested them on my more sonically dynamic testing tracks and ya, the Hana has them beat in that category. The Hana has better sense of explosion with sudden changes in volume and likewise it has a really pleasant decay pattern that results in a very natural, pleasant timbre.

-Localization of instruments is passable and Imaging performance is decent as I can hear things like piano runs move across the head stage but overall width, height and depth are lacking when compared to the Hana 2021.

These are all just my impressions from an hour or two of just listening to my test tracks. I'm sure to have more impressions and a more thorough review once I get more head time with these. Feel free to hit me with any questions you have.

Thanks for your honest take but I'm curious about what amp/dac you used for them?.

 

[dharmasteve]

I've listened to the Shuoer S12 exclusively for a few weeks and have got to know them well, so I decided to listen to them alongside the HZ Heart Mirror and the KBear Believe, both IEMs I like. I put a 4.4mm terminated, sixteen core pure copper NiceHCK cable on the Heart Mirror, and the same cable as the stock S12 cable on the KBear Believe, but with a 2.5mm to 4.4mm adapter. Stock 4.4mm on the S12. On the Believe and S12, L Azla Sedna Earfits and on the Heart Mirror L Azla Xeleastecs. I listened on the HiBy R5 4.4mm, with my preferred HiBy MSEB equalisation.
The deepest and strongest bass was from the KBear Believe, but the Bass on both the HM and S12 is more detailed with better texture, the HM does not sound overly lacking in bass, because the quality is so good using a copper cable, although lesser. All three have fairly fast bass decay with the Shuoer being the fastest. The HM and S12 are brighter with the HM being the brightest. Both the HM and S12 can be mildly sibilant on some tracks. All have discernible and well textured sub bass on Why So Serious, Hans Zimmer, the HM having the least, but because it is has a definite clarity and presence it does not sound like it is lacking by much. On Sibelius Violin Concerto, Philarmonia, Adrian Justus violin, the KBear has a thicker note weight on violin, but the HM notes are thinner but more with clarity and more dramatic. Timbre is good on the HM, probably more realistic. The note weight on the S12 is in between, smoother, yet very engaging and sounds bigger than both others. The S12 does not quite have the timbre of both the Believe or HM but is more fluid in it's planar way. The S12 is more detailed than both the HM and the Believe, but the HM has a purity of sound and a smooth brightness. On the Golden Fly One, Alessandra Celletti and the whole album too, the timbre of the piano is perfect on the HM, good on the Believe, and slightly unnatural on the S12 (not good for classical piano). On Headful of Blues, Snowy White, the Believe takes the bull by the horns with it's impact and solid bass, the HM leaner with good timbre on guitars, the S12 just seems to pull in more information and has more planar details and is more resolving in the bass strings and drums yet still has enough bass impact.
In general the Believe is slightly thicker with more bass impact yet quite resolving great for rock and blues. The HM has a slightly leaner approach, but guitars again have the lovely timbre. The S12 has more resonance and texture than the HM and Believe, and seems to have more details......just more than the others.
3 great IEMs. For the price the HM is sensational, it's relatively bright but with great timbre. The Believe has substance, slightly darker but because of it's BE driver it is still agile and so good on rock and blues. The S12 brings in another layer of details and resolution, doesn't have the timbre of the other two, but is probably the most involving, with a lot of immediate presence. None of them have great staging compared to hybrids, just average, but good enough.
I wasn't sure if the S12 would hold up against the other two, but it does. I don't score, but for timbre, smoothness, and purity the HM.......for impact and analogue sound the Believe.......for bringing in all the details and resolving bass and drums and a more wholistic, integrated sound the S12.

Edit

The S12 is a bit of a planar blank slate regarding equalisation. Whilst I find bass exceptionally realistic on the S12, bass can be dialled in to get a lot of sub bass and really full and impactful mid bass. Really high quality exciting bass.

 

[gael]

I've listened to the Shuoer S12 exclusively for a few weeks and

This was greatly useful, thanks a lot!

 

[BokTroy]

Thanks for your honest take but I'm curious about what amp/dac you used for them?.

Listening was done pretty much exclusively through the Apple lightning dongle and the FiiO BTR5 (both wireless and as USB dac/amp)

 

[amanieux]

Listening was done pretty much exclusively through the Apple lightning dongle and the FiiO BTR5 (both wireless and as USB dac/amp)

do you hear any difference on s12 between your apple dongle and your btr5 ?

 

[willywill]

Finally I can Shuoer

 

[BokTroy]

do you hear any difference on s12 between your apple dongle and your btr5 ?

Yup. Subtle but definitely there. This applies to pretty much every headphone I've tested but most notable are soundstage, layering ("space" between instruments), and smoothness in treble. Also the gap lessens if you're using the BTR5 via bluetooth vs as USB dac/amp. I will say though the BTR5 is not 10 times better than the Apple dongle. If i could do it all over again I'd keep the dongle and save up for a better source than the BTR5.

 

[amanieux]

after few days brain burn in on s12 i find it has great details and depth, my disapointment is in male vocals that are a bit too bright and lack body making them not very natural so i ordered olina to fix that aspect, i'll compare them when i receive olina. (even my $40 heart mirror sounds more natural on acoustic instruments, so planar has great resolution but imperfect timbre)

 

[HiFlight]

For those who feel the S12 highs can be uncomfortably sharp, a small piece of 3M Micropore tape placed across the nozzle screen provides a simple method of smoothing the overall tonal balance and adding a bit of added warmth. The tape is quite thin and the tips slip back on easily, making your mod invisible and easily removed if desired.

 

[redrol]

Nice mod! I like it.

 

[TheRealShinku]

I'm pretty disappointed with my pair. I don't notice the increase in detail and resolution relative to some of my better hybrids (less, in fact). Bass texture is boring and not to my liking and occasionally the treble can be pretty piercing despite it not really being elevated much. Not to mention I have some severe driver flex on my left IEM that basically makes me never want to use them ever again. The cable was also too stiff and thick and prevented me from getting a good fit until I switched it out.

To say that I regret buying them would be an understatement. If you're looking to get a taste of planars around this price point and you don't mind headphones, the Hifiman HE400SE run about a hundred circles around these in every category except maybe vocal forwardness.

 

[hoofman]

To say that I regret buying them would be an understatement. If you're looking to get a taste of planars around this price point and you don't mind headphones, the Hifiman HE400SE run about a hundred circles around these in every category except maybe vocal forwardness.

But it's hardly fair to compare a small IEM like the S12 to a big open-back headphone like the HE400SE though.

 

[Zigg08]

For those who feel the S12 highs can be uncomfortably sharp, a small piece of 3M Micropore tape placed across the nozzle screen provides a simple method of smoothing the overall tonal balance and adding a bit of added warmth. The tape is quite thin and the tips slip back on easily, making your mod invisible and easily removed if desired.

Can u pls take a picture of how much tape to put o the nozzle . Tnx

 

[firesign]

I'm pretty disappointed with my pair. I don't notice the increase in detail and resolution relative to some of my better hybrids (less, in fact). Bass texture is boring and not to my liking and occasionally the treble can be pretty piercing despite it not really being elevated much. Not to mention I have some severe driver flex on my left IEM that basically makes me never want to use them ever again. The cable was also too stiff and thick and prevented me from getting a good fit until I switched it out.

To say that I regret buying them would be an understatement. If you're looking to get a taste of planars around this price point and you don't mind headphones, the Hifiman HE400SE run about a hundred circles around these in every category except maybe vocal forwardness.

It's just an opinion, like any other.

I have had the HE400se, and now I have the S12, and I prefer this last one.

 

[blorg]

I'm pretty disappointed with my pair. I don't notice the increase in detail and resolution relative to some of my better hybrids (less, in fact). Bass texture is boring and not to my liking and occasionally the treble can be pretty piercing despite it not really being elevated much. Not to mention I have some severe driver flex on my left IEM that basically makes me never want to use them ever again. The cable was also too stiff and thick and prevented me from getting a good fit until I switched it out.

To say that I regret buying them would be an understatement. If you're looking to get a taste of planars around this price point and you don't mind headphones, the Hifiman HE400SE run about a hundred circles around these in every category except maybe vocal forwardness.

What hybrids are you comparing to? I have hybrids I also consider better (Moondrop Blessing 2 Dusk, Variations), but they are also 3-4x the price. The S12 really needs to compared against $120-150 IEMs IMO. I also have the HE400SE, it's a great headphone for the price, but it's a headphone, much bigger, needs a desktop amp, etc. I use IEMs in different circumstances to headphones, travelling or going out, but even at home, I'll pick an IEM over an overear just walking around at home, or if I want to lie down in bed. Different use cases so I don't tend to consider them direct alternatives.

I have driver flex on the right one. It's not too bad, but it's there, it seems to be a thing. I can sometimes hear my heartbeat in it if no music is playing, and can make it crinkle with jaw movement. But it's pretty subtle and not an issue when actually playing anything. I have worse driver flex on the 7Hz Timeless, and on that it's more a click than a crinkle. I don't have it on any other IEM, which is why I wonder if it's a planar IEM thing.

The S12 comes across to me as a bit more detailed and sparkly than the HE400SE, it has more in the high end. Some people that may be a positive, I find the HE400SE a bit veiled in the top end compared with the Ananda or Edition XS, but only in direct A/B comparison, listening to it on its own, it sounds fine. S12 also has more in the low end, it's more V-shaped, more lively and exciting sounding, but less neutral.

If you wanted less treble, the Timeless might be a better choice for you. It is less hot and probably a slightly better overall tuning. Loses a little in the way of detail with the lower treble. I wonder if they aren't the same driver despite denials, the key difference seems to be the treble and the Timeless has some tuning foam in the nozzle, while the S12 is an empty tube. Some foam in there and it might sound identical to the Timeless.