LETSHUOER S12 - Next big planar? (Impressions & Discussion)
- Thread starter Skev
- Start date
-
- Tags
- letshuoer letshuoer s12
deformographist
New Head-Fier
Well, I'll have the Olina next week thanks to Amazon but who knows how long it will be on my S12. Tracking says "Outbound" from China 4 days ago. Really hope it doesn't end up stuck in this "Pitney Bowes" facility for two weeks like the cable I ordered. It'll be good to give the Olina a couple weeks of burn in and getting accustomed to and then immediately contrast with the S12, though.
Very interested to pit them against each other since they both seem to be the new hotness. I'm only keeping one so whichever is more of an all arounder will become the Highlander of my listening habits.
I can't believe I went from needing a replacement cable for my Tin T4 to ordering TWO new IEM's lol. The audiophile hype factory is no joke.
That review has me hyped but it almost seems like too much? Like, I was under the impression that case is faux leather, not real leather like he says. Furthermore, I feel like most IEM's in the price range come with decent cables, cases, and a bunch of replacement tips these days, at least all the ones I was considering. Certainly reassuring to see someone so in love with something I just spent $130 (better than HD6xx huh?) on, comparing it favorably to equipment I doubt I'll ever be able to comfortably afford, but it almost seems too good to be true at such a price point.
Guess I'm just going to have to sit on my hands and wait to find out for myself.
Very interested to pit them against each other since they both seem to be the new hotness. I'm only keeping one so whichever is more of an all arounder will become the Highlander of my listening habits.
I can't believe I went from needing a replacement cable for my Tin T4 to ordering TWO new IEM's lol. The audiophile hype factory is no joke.
That review has me hyped but it almost seems like too much? Like, I was under the impression that case is faux leather, not real leather like he says. Furthermore, I feel like most IEM's in the price range come with decent cables, cases, and a bunch of replacement tips these days, at least all the ones I was considering. Certainly reassuring to see someone so in love with something I just spent $130 (better than HD6xx huh?) on, comparing it favorably to equipment I doubt I'll ever be able to comfortably afford, but it almost seems too good to be true at such a price point.
Guess I'm just going to have to sit on my hands and wait to find out for myself.
Looking forward to your comparison between the S12 and Olina! @nymz mentioned they are more complementary sets than rivals, but I'm curious which one you will be keeping.
How is the power requirements for Shuoer S12? I remember using Tin HiFi P1 Plus and P2 both of which loved extra power thrown their way.
dharmasteve
Headphoneus Supremus
They are not hard to drive but sound better when given a good source. On my various phone's the bass does not show it's best. With a 2.5mm stock cable (from my Tape Pro) using my ES100 as a USB DAC, and thus getting UAPP hardware control, upps the bass and other factors. The Little Bear B4-X hybrid tube amp, 2.5mm, improves it even more. From my HiBy R5, 4.4mm, with the stock 4.4mm cable, the S12 shines, and probably becomes the best IEM in my collection, and an absolute pleasure to listen to when streaming Amazon HD and Tidal .
Last edited:
I have my M11 ltd on med gain and using 4.4 balanced. She rocks
Rafinnnnnn15
Head-Fier
Hello friend, I hope you are well
I currently have the Timeless, and I listen to: Turisas, Epica, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, Disturber, FFDP, Bullet for my Valentine, PowerWolf, Nightwish, Rhapsody of fire, Korn, etc.
Daps: M11, Hiby R2, Zishan Z4
Dongle: Sonata E44, VE Megatron
Could someone help me with a versus between Timeless, Olina and S12?
How do you see the option to buy both Olina and S12?
I currently have the Timeless, and I listen to: Turisas, Epica, Avenged Sevenfold, System of a Down, Disturber, FFDP, Bullet for my Valentine, PowerWolf, Nightwish, Rhapsody of fire, Korn, etc.
Daps: M11, Hiby R2, Zishan Z4
Dongle: Sonata E44, VE Megatron
Could someone help me with a versus between Timeless, Olina and S12?
How do you see the option to buy both Olina and S12?
drewbadour
100+ Head-Fier
If you have Timeless, S12 might not be worth it. Olina is very different from S12 (and by extension Timeless) so it could be worth picking up to have a contrasting IEM.
rarewolf
100+ Head-Fier
I’ve had my S12 set for several days, and I’m finding it difficult to find the sweet spot regarding proper fit relative to tuning and comfort. I’ve ordered several types of eartips from Spinfit and Azla, and I’m confident I’ll find the right combination, but relative to how easy it was to find the right eartips for the similarly tuned Moondrop Katos it begs the question. I’m wondering if planars are different from DDs in this respect—that is, very sensitive to isolation and placement?
deformographist
New Head-Fier
I don't even think I'm going to open the S12's because I'm in love with the Olinas and I'm not sure the Sony NW-A55 is really going to be enough to power them to their fullest potential. Like, I'm sure they will still sound great through it, but it seems a waste to use them exclusively as portable IEM's through a DAP that isn't known for pushing out a lot of power when pretty much all the impressions I've seen seem to indicate they really shine with a bit more oomph. If I were someone who was going to alternate between using them on the go and at home with a high powered set up they sound like they would be perfect but I'm wondering if the Olina are more what I'm looking for because honestly, as it stands right now, I'm pretty well satisfied with how they sound.
EDIT: I opened them. I prefer the S12 by a large margin. I can't believe how good they sound, even through just a FiiO X1. Truly blown away.
EDIT: I opened them. I prefer the S12 by a large margin. I can't believe how good they sound, even through just a FiiO X1. Truly blown away.
Last edited:
rarewolf
100+ Head-Fier
I introduced myself here earlier as a IEM newb, and having bought into respected DD and planar monitors. I have a huge library aquired over the last 60 years, and I’m enjoying the hell out of both sets while re-introducing myself to all the instruments. Both the Kato and S12 monitors sound excellent but provide different character. My library consisting of blues & rock, and folk & singer-songwriter.
My goto monitors so far have been the Kato set, if for only a single reason, comfortable for hours. As for the S12 set, it seems I can achieve both the excellent sound and comfort via swapping tips, but not both. If uncomfortable, the bass will disappear if I stretch my ears. If I use a comfortable ear tip, but the bass isn’t quite there, I’m generally able to find the bass by tilting the tip upward into my ear, but it won’t stay.
I’m waiting for delivery of 2 different ear tips, Azla Xelastc (hoping if acoustic fit is achieved it will stay there), and Spinfit CP145 and CP100+ tips (hoping for comfort similar to the Moondrop Spring tips, and for the Spinfit alignment tilting into my ear canal).
In my ears, at least, I’m finding the S12s’ bass is extremely sensitive to acoustic fit, much more so than the Kato set. I don’t know if this is a characteristic of planar drivers, but I’m very much interested in your stories of how you achieved nirvana with the S12 set… because I love their sound when I can get there, even only if for a short time…
Edit: I should mention both IEM sets are being driven by the L&P W2(131) balanced output, low gain, volume 55-65…
My goto monitors so far have been the Kato set, if for only a single reason, comfortable for hours. As for the S12 set, it seems I can achieve both the excellent sound and comfort via swapping tips, but not both. If uncomfortable, the bass will disappear if I stretch my ears. If I use a comfortable ear tip, but the bass isn’t quite there, I’m generally able to find the bass by tilting the tip upward into my ear, but it won’t stay.
I’m waiting for delivery of 2 different ear tips, Azla Xelastc (hoping if acoustic fit is achieved it will stay there), and Spinfit CP145 and CP100+ tips (hoping for comfort similar to the Moondrop Spring tips, and for the Spinfit alignment tilting into my ear canal).
In my ears, at least, I’m finding the S12s’ bass is extremely sensitive to acoustic fit, much more so than the Kato set. I don’t know if this is a characteristic of planar drivers, but I’m very much interested in your stories of how you achieved nirvana with the S12 set… because I love their sound when I can get there, even only if for a short time…
Edit: I should mention both IEM sets are being driven by the L&P W2(131) balanced output, low gain, volume 55-65…
Last edited:
it seems you enjoy both kato and s12, i guess some songs sounds best on s12 and some other on kato - is it 50/50 or more 80/20 ? if the last, is it in favor of s12 or kato ?
about the tips you may have considered the final e-tips because they come in 5 sizes which helps with a better fit (no idea why most tips come only in 3 sizes)
Last edited:
i had a good fit with s12 stock tips. my experience about fit is that it depends on the match between our ear canal shape and the iem nozzle lenght and orientation, tips being the only variable of adjustment to fix this mismatch. as we all have different ear canal shape, no iem will have a perfect fit for everyone, we have to try many iems before finding one that is a good fit.
too bad iem makers don't offer variable nozzle angles/length to get a perfect fit for our individual ears, rotating tips a la spinfit is our best alternative to compensate for this unique nozzle shape that is a mismatch for most ears.
it reminds me that shoes initially where not ergonomic either, there was no left and right shoe, only a single straight shoe that hurted both the right and left foot equally so there is some hope for iems in 20 or 50 years
)
Last edited:
He's only telling the truth. To my ears the Letshuoer S12 is way up there with the best I have heard. I got these for $129, which is insane. They take EQ like a champ.
[/QUOTE]
he is a bit over enthusiastic, when he says this $150 iem beats all iem under $1000 i am not sure most of us agree with that statement. but you are correct that s12 take equ very well, especialy impressive in the bass, you can boost it +12db and it remains super clean
[/QUOTE]
he is a bit over enthusiastic, when he says this $150 iem beats all iem under $1000 i am not sure most of us agree with that statement. but you are correct that s12 take equ very well, especialy impressive in the bass, you can boost it +12db and it remains super clean
rarewolf
100+ Head-Fier
I agree. Unfortunately, it’s only the Kato set that would allow for nozzle mods…
Users who are viewing this thread
