Dont know why. When I found your channel, I start to enjoy and watch every video on your channel. Every video have noticeable improvement. I like you make ranking in every category comparison make it easy to understand👍
Oh, man, the amount of work you put into this - structuring, reference material, presentation - is astounding. Top notch! Thank you! I love the S08 cable but S12 family are more comfortable to me.
Absolutely Brilliant content Omar , watched full video and can not thank you enough for deep insight of all these IEMs , once again congratulations 🥂 and keep up the good work.
I have the S15 and absolutely agree with the assessment. Aside from the price it has incredible clean and detailed sound. Bass is strong but dry. No bloat. If paired with a quality source, music makes me smile with it. Very nice comparison. I was wondering about all these new releases. On another note I bought mine in a AliExpress sale. The price of all these drops a lot.
@@SoundMike Me too!!! Got all of mine on STEEP discounts during the July summer sales. :3 Except the S08/S12 2024. I bought those new as review samples.
One of the best production of yours up to date. i hope more manufacturers are able to appreciate(in anyway) the effort you are putting into this. With that being said, after listening to such extensive elaboration, i am convinced to NOT purchase any of the Letshuoer. it seem S12 or S12 Pro probably the units that i wanted but the price is a bummer. Fortunately Artti T10 is available, i will definitely go for that route. And right now, the newly launched KZ PRX caught my attention. Keep up the great work. it shows based on your subs alone within this short period of time. You are rockin' it.
@@faisalfirdausiinn4708 My PRX actually just arrived! Unfortunately I won’t have time to do a video before I leave on a trip to visit family and attend CanJam Dallas. It will definitely be high on my priority list when I get back.
Thank you for such a detailed and well structured guide. I've been out of the dragon-chasing game for years. I've been there when the top headphones to get was just the K701, HD6(5)0 or the DT990. I've been there when Vision Ears was the top pick, when the Chi-fi legion started. Too much FOMO, I've settled on a Sony MDR-7550 due to my taste that time and called it quits. You never can fully quit really. The audio bug suddenly came back rearing its head idk 2 years ago and I was so lost. The choice is huge now. Good for the consumers, but that comes with choice fatigue and paralysis. I tried to quell the want with a Celest Gumiho based on my sound preference. It did kind of okay on the want part. Alas, the hunger grew and grew until this month and I have been consuming videos and reviews for weeks, realizing that 11.11 sale will be coming up. Your videos, I feel like, is the most helpful of all the videos I've been cramming my head with to start (again). And bonus, tomorrow I have a local audio show. I hope I can find Letshuoer and other short-listed IEMs amongst the exhibitors. And I sure hope the S08 is among them, because thanks to you, I've set my eyes on them. The balance of price, sound signature and accessories just brings up the value proposition so much, I feel like I'm willing to spend even MSRP for it. So looking forward to 11.11 sale on AliX.
Incredible video, this is how any in-depth sound comparison should be made! Many kudos 🎉 For future, I think you should rank all categories by how you did in best in sound section, your unit and how you hear it, and then put asterisks depending on other people's sets and graphs only if you want to. This is your review of the iem you got first and foremost
Omar, thank you very much for your video, thanks to your video I got the S08. I wanted to buy planar IEM's for a while, and this one seemed like the correct choice. I tested it with a few songs with the black and the white tips, and in my opinion the black tips sound a bit too "dark". The white ones give me the perfect balance, so I have been using them ever since. What a sweet sound.. I don't want to get all audiophile with the adjectives like in a 90's HiFi magazine, but these sound so sweet, but airy and detailed. I think the word is effortless. I am using them with a Fiio BTR13 with the balanced output. Now I am curious about a more "classical" planar, one of those heavier on the highs and detail... Maybe an S12 if I can get one for cheap, or wait for the next generation of more affordable ones....
Thanks Omar... Pretty thorough and honest Letshuoer buyers guide. I was listening to my S12 2024 with my FIIO KA17 in desktop mode and balanced output last night as a matter of fact comparing it to my recently acquired Hidisz MP145... It sounds better than the MP145 to my ears... The T10 is still my favorite with my Shanling UA4 though... ☮️
@@Qboro66 The MP145 is a good IEM, and I think it does some things better than the S12 Pro, but me personally, if I had to choose between the two, I think I would choose the S12 Pro around 80% of the time.
Thank you omar, this video is exactly what i was looking for. Basically i want to try a planar / hybrid with planars in it and after reading and watching many many reviews I'm faced with the choice Kiwi Ears Canta at 80$ or spend a bit more over my budget and get the Letshuoer S12 pro. Still haven't decided yet and won't be purchasing any IEM before the Hexa 2 drops but this video is extremely helpful. Thank you.
@@AudioAmigoReviewsmost reviewers feel like the DD is handling the bass and lower mids. So maybe i won't get to experience that tight and snappy planar bass. Would you say that the S12 pro is good for female vocals? My favourite IEM is the Wan'er and im trying to get an upgrade with a similar tuning but with more details and just a little more bass and treble.
@@ivanchakar I personally think the S12 is a bit better for female vocals than the S12 Pro, and it'll be a closer match for your Wan'er just with more harmonic energy and brighter cymbals. If you want to play it safe, go S12 Pro
@@AudioAmigoReviews Thanks. I think I'll stick to the pro since I listen to alot of genres and it seems to be more versatile it's just that most of what I've been listening to lately has had a focus on female vocals. Also fancy modular cable.
I have the OG S12, S08, plus the Timeless and OG P1 Max. I would pick the S08 as my favorite of those. Funny that your take on the case matches mine, I actually switched the cases between the S08 and S12, because I like the zipper case more.
Hello, great channel and reviews! I hope you can review in the future the Lafitear LV1. I just purchased it and paid only $29 Canadian, I'm using it with the Rhyme Cable too. In my opinion, it is an accurate, clean technical resolving set with almost equal Castor Bass, but more accurate, clean bass. On Paul W's Saga video, I wrote my listening impressions comparing it to my other budget sets: Castor Bass, Coffee Bean and CA2. Cheers 😊
Absolutely excellent guide! Im curious if you've ever tried the og Zetian Wu. It's discontinued now but it was really the leader in the movement for the warmer more relaxed style of planars. Thank you for another great one! 👍
Oh thank gawd, finally, covering the Planar Haus of IEMs and done a buyer's guide on xD Love, love, love the content and grind 👏👏👏 S12 2024(#540) is my personal baby stored in its hockey pock, inside a vacuum-sealed container, inside a n oak cabinet, in a low-humidity room lol. Mine luckily was with the supposed warmer, tamed treble tuning; only one that I could crank the volume up without shouting me to another dimension unlike EW200, PR1 Pro, or MagicOne without some EQ wizardry. But seems like Letshuoer is pretty much sunsetting S12 series and probably classic old planar-ness as a whole. S08 might be the start of a dawn of a new more palatable planar signature moving forward........well until before MEMS eventually takes over the IEM space entirely in the future. 11.11 incoming and a sizable discount on S08 is what I'm looking out for, but damn it, I hope it comes much sooner cuz a $55 EA500LM deal is staring me in the face at the moment and I'm not sure if I can hold out any longer 😅🙃 Now if we could maybe get a brand focus and buyer's guide on the Art, Science, & Stainless Steel psychos in Simgot mainly with their EW, EA(and even EN) series plus the EM6L & SM4 hybrid brothers but that just screams a 1600 buck owie LOL Welp, might as well just settle on Aful P5+2 and all the world's(mostly just audiophile things) problems disappears hahahaha
I have a Simgot guide planned, as well as some other, more price specific ones coming out before 11/11. I can't wait for the P7 to launch, I'm so excited for it. The S08 was down to $68 for Amazon Prime day for Prime members. I suspect it might drop to $70ish or lower for 11/11
Now AFUL, that's a brand. Absolutely killing it in the scene; banger after banger.......well almost. MagicOne , yeah, just became a daily........a non-music content kind of daily and not for spirited listens nor background music duties Some say.......the equation 5+2 actually equates to something different. In AFUL's world, 5+2=More Sound Greatness & More Naming Confusion xD
Could be worse...........thank goodness their line up didn't end up as Performer 1, 3+1, 4+1, 7+1, and 4+2+1 😅 That be just them having fun with ppl's confusion........that averted possibility makes Myer-Audio Sliivo SL-41 Mk2 sound a little bit more reasonable each time lol
Really informative video! I listened to the whole thing. I’m new to the IEM world I just bought the S12 Pro and they’re great! But now I’m looking at the new Aful Performer 5+2 would it be worth the “upgrade” ? Thank you 🙏
I'm actually in the middle of writing my Aful P7 review. The sound on both of these is actually quite similar. The P7 is a bit more chill with a bit less bass, bit less treble, and slightly fuller mids. The S12 Pro comes off more V-shaped by comparison. More treble energy, more bass. I do think the P7 is an upgrade in general technicalities. It's a very coherent hybrid. But I don't know if it's enough of an upgrade to justify the cost if you've already got the S12 Pro. I'd save up more for something higher up the ladder. Now if you want to compare hybrid vs. Planar tonality and techs for yourself, I'd say go for it. The P7 is an awesome set.
Yeah! its indeed what i though... I got the S12 OG for 50$. and i like it a lot with deep insertion. Im wating for the MP145! hope i´ve made a good buy.
Thank you for the video Omar (and others like the one on T10). What I appreciate most is your honest comments on both sides of the coin 👍Looking forward to more great videos. Any plan to include some short sound demo comparisons along the way? Subscribe and liked ❤
@@RaeErn-g1r Thanks for the sub! I would very much like to include sound demos, but there are a few complications: 1: I’m still learning how to record them so that they sound decent. 2: I would really like to use copyrighted songs, because it gets my message across easier. 2 isn’t that big a deal, I can use RUclips audio library and maybe start a patreon for more demos. 1 I’ve been working behind the scenes to solve slowly. Getting there. Hopefully soon.
I have the S08 and the S12 and I prefer the S08, I find them more comfortable on my ears and the sound to be more relaxed. Also the cable adds up because it's modular but I feel I like more the S12 cable, I think it has a slight edge on quality and feel. On tips I didn't use stock since for me what fits me the most are the T-Tips from TRN, gorgeous tips if you ask.
@@PaulAup62 I only have the Heyday, not the OG (and there’s a new 3rd version coming soon!) The heyday is a more balanced version of the S12. Less bass, a bit more upper mids, and more chilled out treble. In terms of driver performance: it’s all the same driver, so they’ll essentially be equal. I’m excited to see what Tangzu Cooks for the return of the Empress. I’m hoping a price reduction.
Hey, Omar! I have the S12 and the S08, and I'm thinking about getting the Tangzu Zetian Wu Heyday on 11.11. Have you ever listened to them? Are they an upgrade to the S12? Thanks!
@@dufinocchiaro298 I do have them! They’re a great set. Funnily enough, the tonality is between the S08 and the S12. Not as warm as the S08, but not as bright as the S12. It does lean closer to the S12 overall though. It’s one of the smoothest, most neutral Planars out there. In terms of technicalities it’s essentially identical to the S12 (same driver). If that’s what you’re looking for, go for it. I like it a lot. And the cable is really nice.
Just got my S08 in today on sale from amazon for $63… coulda used points and got an extra $27 off but i wanted to save it for other things. Pretty happy with it and the bass is good and the rest of the fr is not peaky so far unlike the timeless is for me. It’s like a bassier P1 Max from my thoughts so far
i already own moondrop kato so was looking to buy new set, how would you compare s12 pro to aful explorer ? i like sound signature of both. Is planer s12 pro better upgrade to aful in terms of tech/resolution or is explorer is a better buy ? In my region BOTH COST THE SAME.
@@mrigankadeyMD the Explorer is less V-shaped and more warm. The mids are fuller and the treble is much more chilled out compared to the S12 Pro. In terms of tech/resolution I’d say the S12 is maybe slightly ahead, but mostly because the tuning helps the techs come across better: it has better treble extension and more energy overall in the treble. If all you want is tech, grab the S12 Pro. If you want the chilled out sound grab the Explorer
@AudioAmigoReviews I have around 80 sets of iem and I have to open all of them to retune them.i listen at 90 dB volume. Well. Between 85 to 90. And they all kill me with treble. That's why I can't have low tuk mid bass. St high volumes the instruments sound thin. And because I was a musician, I know the instruments natural tone.
@@paulosilva8200 Makes perfect sense to me. I'm a piano/keyboard dude and have many musical friends. My listening tests are usually done at 77dB measured, but I also do high volume testing because well... sometimes you just gotta jam. The S08 is PERFECT for that. :) S15 too, but it's too expensive
Hey i saw you have graphed the kato on your squig site. I can get it for less the 90$,Im also looking at the ew300,mainly for jpop and female focused libraries,what should i go for?is the kato better then the ew300?
If you're library is J-pop and K-Pop Focused, I think you'd prefer the Kato over the EW300. The Gold Nozzle of the EW300 is too Warm, and the silver nozzle cuts down on the mids a bit too much for me.
@@Neg-h8k With the Gold nozzles, 100% the Kato is better for Vocals. With the Silver nozzles it's closer, but the more filled in mids on the Kato will be better for vocals overall.
If I already have an Aful Explorer should I get the Letshuoer s08 or Nicehck F1 Pro ? it's price around the same in my country (I'd like to try Artti T10 but can't stand how it looks)
The Aful Explorer will be very similar in overall sound to the S08, while the NiceHCK F1 Pro will be brighter and more energetic in the treble. If you want something different go F1 Pro
@@AudioAmigoReviews I also have simgot supermix 4 if I want to try different sounds like mid focus with good bass and detail do you have anything recommend? (I like tinhifi t2 balance sound but I can't seem to find any similar upgrade)
@@kerkOOO Tin T2? But with a bit more bass? Mid-focused? Go for the Aful Magic One! It’s $70 on sale right now and is a great little neutral set. Just don’t expect a ton of sub-bass rumble. It’s surprisingly punchy for a single BA.
Yeah, I really want to be able to justify a s15 purchase, the s08 has quickly become a comfortable allrounder for me and the idea of a iem that has a similar but more refined sound appeals... but it is a hard sell even on discount.
100% Agree. Like I said, I don't think I ever would have bought one for myself (Thanks again wife). But as a reviewer, I'm happy I have one so that I can tell y'all that it just isn't worth it unless you want that specific experience.
For $300 total max, what two IEM would you get for (a) fun, V, sparkly, mobility and (b) detailed studio flat for mix/monitor? Right now Truthear x crin Red/blue is my more fun (a) but without the sparkle, and massdrop plus is closer to (b) with some added bass Edit: would prefer no EQ be at least acceptable for each, though (a) is more likely to be used on the go with an EQ and (b) more likely to be as-is
So, sparkly and V-shaped with mobility. I'd say grab either the EM6L or the Supermix 4. The SM4 is more V-shaped with less mid-bass and a slightly brighter tonality. The EM6L is warmer, with more mid-bass and fuller mids. Pick your flavor. The Truthear Nova is another option. Basically the SM4, but with out the metallic timbre in the high end, and slightly less v-shaped. For Neutral monitoring. If you want to get something sorta premium feeling, grab the Aful Magic One. It's extremely neutral and has a really nice feel and look to it. Outside of that, look at the Truthear Hexa, it's a Magic one, but a bit smaller and cheaper. Still sounds great. Shouldn't need EQ on these, they're both great out of the box.
@@AudioAmigoReviews muchas gracias amigo. Before your reviews, I was mostly looking at T10, then I found your spreadsheet and was leaning star city 5 pro and zero (1). I'll look into these also, I am not familiar with any of them besides truthear but what they did with the zero red/blue made me believe that there can be excellent IEM for relatively cheap
@@zmmmzmmmz The Star City 5 is a slightly brighter Magic One. I personally prefer the Magic One. You can check stuff out at my squig: audioamigo.squig.link
@@AudioAmigoReviews that's awesome. Will you be covering DAP? I'm thinking of the Hiby 300 so I can still use Spotify and my own music but not have the other phone distractions What made you start this channel at a full run? High quality and lots of content very quickly.
@@zmmmzmmmz The only modern DAP I have is the Hiby R4 Eva, I'll do a short video on it, but I dont feel I can fully review it. I was originally going to go much slower. But when my Tangzu Wan'Er Studio Edition Review kinda took off, my wife encouraged me to ride the wave. The rest, as they say, is history
I listen to s12 2024 and I liked it very much, but I am buying s12 pro and EQ I want to buy s08 too. Do you believe it’s a pointless purchase? I could eq s12 pro to s08 (I believe I can’t, or can I?)
The S08 was my first big upgrade from budget iems and it sounded worse than all my budget IEMs. The soundstage feels claustrophobic, lacking depth, and the bass comes across as a bloated, muddy mess. Imo it tries too hard to sound like a dd. The foam is what kills the soundstage's depth. I haven't tried the rest of Letshuoer's products, but I’d say the mids and treble could be on par with them with the foam removed, and the soundstage is actually decent now. The bass is also clean and nicely textured(Planar bass is quite nice). Some tracks can be sibilant, but the ones that aren't sound fantastic. In the end I reached a compromise by cutting the foam and using just a small piece. It also responds very well to EQ. I’m honestly puzzled as to how people can like the stock S08 and why it’s recommended so much.
Everybody’s ears and brains process sound differently. There are some sets that get a lot of love that I also just don’t vibe with. Nothing wrong with that. Your experience is just as valid as mine. I’ve seen other people talk about it improving a lot with the foam removed or modded. But I’ve also seen a ton of people say that it’s perfect just the way it is. Thanks for your comment! It will help people who come to the video for recommendations. Unless you demo a set for yourself, the only way to get an idea of how something sounds is watching reviews like mine and reading comments like yours. Thanks. :)
@@AudioAmigoReviews Yeah, pretty much. Unfortunately, testing products isn't really a thing in my country, and there aren’t any audio stores here. So, I have to buy based on reviews, and if I don’t like it I’m stuck with it, which is money wasted. Finding the next set to buy is going to be so hard now since I'm used to that detailed planar mids/high now. I might get another IEM for the 11.11 sale, and I'm considering the EW300 or do I just save up for something like the Supermix 4? Thank you for the detailed and interesting videos, and for reviewing affordable IEMs!
@@AudioAmigoReviews Looking forward to that video :D Out of the three budget IEMs I own, I’d rank them as the CCA Trio (basically a better Castor), KZ Castor Bass, and Chu 2. However, after daily driving the modded S08, I’m not a fan of recessed mids, which all of the budget iems have (though the Chu 2 sounds a bit more balanced to me). They’re still enjoyable, but I always notice that lack of mids now, so I don’t really use them anymore and stick to the S08. The Trio and Castor are supposed to have a lot of bass, but I still find them lacking somewhat. I guess I am more of a rumble enjoyer rather than mid bass. I actually prefer the S08 with a boost in the low freq.
All of my S12 variants have been modded by Michael Bruce. Three S12 sets to be exact. I have several other sets that have all been modded by Micheal Bruce. He had spoiled my ears.
I don't speak English, I watched the whole video and it wasn't very clear to me if the s08 is better or which one is better to use at medium/low volume, I can't turn it up more than 50% because it hurts a lot.
I have the s08 with a type c plug for the same price, about 290,000cop and the s12 OG for the same price, because I am very aware of not using a high volume, I hope you can help me! Greetings from Co
@@AudioAmigoReviews Thank you very much, I just made the purchase for approximately 60usd and it includes an extra tip like the 3.5mm and 4.4mm but in type c, I was between those two because the s12 were a little cheaper
Great review as usual but I think our preferences are opposite. I tried the S08 at CanJam and disliked it, and I don't use the word dislike lightly. It's too dark for my ears, female vocal is terrible compared to the likes of Simgot EM6L or Moondrop Starfield 2, though I don't have problem with bright IEMs while many people do. The S12 2024 was fine, Letshuoer did a great job making its bass sound like DD bass, but when I tested it there was a weird airy feeling across the frequencies, it wasn't a fit problem but maybe some tip rolling would have solved that, although imo it's not worth $200 regardless.
I can 100% see why you wouldn't like the S08 coming from the Starfield or EM6L. I ranked it last in vocals for a reason :) I haven't tried the starfield, but the EM6L is my favorite Simgot set. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh man, you are almost making me jealous that I didnt get the S08, but got the Explorer instead 🥲 Though I do love my Explorers so much Fantastic video as always, the length is perfect for a relaxed dinner session. Also love the little corrections you did, they added some extra context/information and they sure didnt go unnoticed! I appreciate the effort for even the small things 💜
I got the S08 and dont have the explorer, but let me tell you about the shell design. The Recessed part of the s08 really helps in making adjustments. I just use that part to push where it needs to go and its good.
This script was so long and went through a few rewrites. Sometimes mistakes slip through. I poke fun at myself through the corrections :) The Explorer is an Epic set, I love it. Happy you're enjoying yours. :)
Omar, with such a meticulous approach (in a good way), you will definitely need to make a roundup of the best deals from the 11.11 sale.
Yes please
@@ruslanchalbash8229 I have plans for a few more buyers guides coming up. -Ziigaat, -Sub $25, Sub $50, Sub $100, and Sub $200
Dont know why. When I found your channel, I start to enjoy and watch every video on your channel. Every video have noticeable improvement. I like you make ranking in every category comparison make it easy to understand👍
@@muhammadsyihab2636 thanks for this comment! I try to make content that anybody can understand. :)
Oh, man, the amount of work you put into this - structuring, reference material, presentation - is astounding. Top notch! Thank you!
I love the S08 cable but S12 family are more comfortable to me.
I'm going to need to pop some popcorn before I sit down to watch this one. This is a full length feature by comparison. 🤘😎👍
Absolutely Brilliant content Omar , watched full video and can not thank you enough for deep insight of all these IEMs , once again congratulations 🥂 and keep up the good work.
i really appreciate you including the nozzle sizes in your review
Great video, Omar! I can't imagine how much work you've put into it. Absolutely brilliant! Awesome work! Thanks for sharing all the knowledge. Cheers!
More IEM dog shows please! 😂 great review as always and love the round-up buyers guide
Hahaha, I'll be sure to keep the format. My wife will be happy to hear you loved the idea!
wow thanks for adding the nozzle dimensions
I have the S15 and absolutely agree with the assessment. Aside from the price it has incredible clean and detailed sound. Bass is strong but dry. No bloat. If paired with a quality source, music makes me smile with it. Very nice comparison. I was wondering about all these new releases. On another note I bought mine in a AliExpress sale. The price of all these drops a lot.
@@SoundMike Me too!!! Got all of mine on STEEP discounts during the July summer sales. :3
Except the S08/S12 2024. I bought those new as review samples.
This is the most detailed comparison video ive seen on planars. ❤
One of the best production of yours up to date.
i hope more manufacturers are able to appreciate(in anyway) the effort you are putting into this.
With that being said, after listening to such extensive elaboration, i am convinced to NOT purchase any of the Letshuoer.
it seem S12 or S12 Pro probably the units that i wanted but the price is a bummer.
Fortunately Artti T10 is available, i will definitely go for that route.
And right now, the newly launched KZ PRX caught my attention.
Keep up the great work.
it shows based on your subs alone within this short period of time.
You are rockin' it.
@@faisalfirdausiinn4708 My PRX actually just arrived! Unfortunately I won’t have time to do a video before I leave on a trip to visit family and attend CanJam Dallas.
It will definitely be high on my priority list when I get back.
@@AudioAmigoReviews Have fun on the trip. Also record anything if needed.
Loved the idea, more videos like this will be great! :)
Now I'm more confident to buy the S08 thankyou for the Great Review
Thank you for such a detailed and well structured guide.
I've been out of the dragon-chasing game for years. I've been there when the top headphones to get was just the K701, HD6(5)0 or the DT990. I've been there when Vision Ears was the top pick, when the Chi-fi legion started. Too much FOMO, I've settled on a Sony MDR-7550 due to my taste that time and called it quits. You never can fully quit really.
The audio bug suddenly came back rearing its head idk 2 years ago and I was so lost. The choice is huge now. Good for the consumers, but that comes with choice fatigue and paralysis. I tried to quell the want with a Celest Gumiho based on my sound preference. It did kind of okay on the want part. Alas, the hunger grew and grew until this month and I have been consuming videos and reviews for weeks, realizing that 11.11 sale will be coming up.
Your videos, I feel like, is the most helpful of all the videos I've been cramming my head with to start (again). And bonus, tomorrow I have a local audio show. I hope I can find Letshuoer and other short-listed IEMs amongst the exhibitors. And I sure hope the S08 is among them, because thanks to you, I've set my eyes on them.
The balance of price, sound signature and accessories just brings up the value proposition so much, I feel like I'm willing to spend even MSRP for it. So looking forward to 11.11 sale on AliX.
@@jaygray91 awesome!!! Glad I could help.
I’m scripting my 11/11 guides as we speak! So keep an eye out for those in the next few weeks.
It was very informative and meticulous. Loved the comparisons, thanks.
Incredible video, this is how any in-depth sound comparison should be made! Many kudos 🎉
For future, I think you should rank all categories by how you did in best in sound section, your unit and how you hear it, and then put asterisks depending on other people's sets and graphs only if you want to. This is your review of the iem you got first and foremost
Sounds like a good plan. Thanks for the feedback!
Im looking forward for the s08 and the s12 2024
Omar, thank you very much for your video, thanks to your video I got the S08. I wanted to buy planar IEM's for a while, and this one seemed like the correct choice. I tested it with a few songs with the black and the white tips, and in my opinion the black tips sound a bit too "dark". The white ones give me the perfect balance, so I have been using them ever since. What a sweet sound.. I don't want to get all audiophile with the adjectives like in a 90's HiFi magazine, but these sound so sweet, but airy and detailed. I think the word is effortless. I am using them with a Fiio BTR13 with the balanced output. Now I am curious about a more "classical" planar, one of those heavier on the highs and detail... Maybe an S12 if I can get one for cheap, or wait for the next generation of more affordable ones....
Thanks Omar...
Pretty thorough and honest Letshuoer buyers guide. I was listening to my S12 2024 with my FIIO KA17 in desktop mode and balanced output last night as a matter of fact comparing it to my recently acquired Hidisz MP145...
It sounds better than the MP145 to my ears...
The T10 is still my favorite with my Shanling UA4 though...
☮️
@@Qboro66 The MP145 is a good IEM, and I think it does some things better than the S12 Pro, but me personally, if I had to choose between the two, I think I would choose the S12 Pro around 80% of the time.
Thank you omar, this video is exactly what i was looking for. Basically i want to try a planar / hybrid with planars in it and after reading and watching many many reviews I'm faced with the choice Kiwi Ears Canta at 80$ or spend a bit more over my budget and get the Letshuoer S12 pro. Still haven't decided yet and won't be purchasing any IEM before the Hexa 2 drops but this video is extremely helpful. Thank you.
@@ivanchakar I haven’t tried the Canta, but I believe that the DD is doing most of the work in that unit. I’m also waiting excitedly for Hexa 2!
@@AudioAmigoReviewsmost reviewers feel like the DD is handling the bass and lower mids. So maybe i won't get to experience that tight and snappy planar bass. Would you say that the S12 pro is good for female vocals? My favourite IEM is the Wan'er and im trying to get an upgrade with a similar tuning but with more details and just a little more bass and treble.
@@ivanchakar I personally think the S12 is a bit better for female vocals than the S12 Pro, and it'll be a closer match for your Wan'er just with more harmonic energy and brighter cymbals. If you want to play it safe, go S12 Pro
@@AudioAmigoReviews Thanks. I think I'll stick to the pro since I listen to alot of genres and it seems to be more versatile it's just that most of what I've been listening to lately has had a focus on female vocals. Also fancy modular cable.
@@ivanchakar I agree. The pro is the better all-rounder. :)
Fantastic review and comparison!
thanks for time stamps !
@@AbadyAngel your time is valuable!
I have the OG S12, S08, plus the Timeless and OG P1 Max. I would pick the S08 as my favorite of those. Funny that your take on the case matches mine, I actually switched the cases between the S08 and S12, because I like the zipper case more.
@@JohnClarkW My wife has the strongest opinions on cases. I need to sit her down in front of a bunch of case designs and get her to weigh in
Hello, great channel and reviews!
I hope you can review in the future the Lafitear LV1.
I just purchased it and paid only $29 Canadian, I'm using it with the Rhyme Cable too.
In my opinion, it is an accurate, clean technical resolving set with almost equal Castor Bass, but more accurate, clean bass.
On Paul W's Saga video, I wrote my listening impressions comparing it to my other budget sets: Castor Bass, Coffee Bean and CA2.
Cheers 😊
@@BRANDONLEE4444 I’ll look into those! Thanks for the tip!
I had the chance to purchase the red and blue Z12 but slept too long 😆 Fantastic comparisons, Omar!
@@jamesberryman9893 I grabbed mine when Zeos said it was getting sunsetted. I love it when left and right shells are different like this.
@AudioAmigoReviews That's exactly why I wanted it lol! I had previously bought the all gold pair because I love gold 😆
Absolutely excellent guide! Im curious if you've ever tried the og Zetian Wu. It's discontinued now but it was really the leader in the movement for the warmer more relaxed style of planars. Thank you for another great one! 👍
@@_-Z- I’ve been looking for one, but they seem a bit rare. I have the heyday and am excited for the empress’ return later this year
Oh thank gawd, finally, covering the Planar Haus of IEMs and done a buyer's guide on xD
Love, love, love the content and grind 👏👏👏
S12 2024(#540) is my personal baby stored in its hockey pock, inside a vacuum-sealed container, inside a n oak cabinet, in a low-humidity room lol. Mine luckily was with the supposed warmer, tamed treble tuning; only one that I could crank the volume up without shouting me to another dimension unlike EW200, PR1 Pro, or MagicOne without some EQ wizardry.
But seems like Letshuoer is pretty much sunsetting S12 series and probably classic old planar-ness as a whole. S08 might be the start of a dawn of a new more palatable planar signature moving forward........well until before MEMS eventually takes over the IEM space entirely in the future.
11.11 incoming and a sizable discount on S08 is what I'm looking out for, but damn it, I hope it comes much sooner cuz a $55 EA500LM deal is staring me in the face at the moment and I'm not sure if I can hold out any longer 😅🙃
Now if we could maybe get a brand focus and buyer's guide on the Art, Science, & Stainless Steel psychos in Simgot mainly with their EW, EA(and even EN) series plus the EM6L & SM4 hybrid brothers but that just screams a 1600 buck owie LOL
Welp, might as well just settle on Aful P5+2 and all the world's(mostly just audiophile things) problems disappears hahahaha
I have a Simgot guide planned, as well as some other, more price specific ones coming out before 11/11.
I can't wait for the P7 to launch, I'm so excited for it.
The S08 was down to $68 for Amazon Prime day for Prime members. I suspect it might drop to $70ish or lower for 11/11
Now AFUL, that's a brand. Absolutely killing it in the scene; banger after banger.......well almost.
MagicOne , yeah, just became a daily........a non-music content kind of daily and not for spirited listens nor background music duties
Some say.......the equation 5+2 actually equates to something different. In AFUL's world, 5+2=More Sound Greatness & More Naming Confusion xD
@@jeinarsantos6125 should have just called it the P7. But Aful has to innovate even when it comes to names hahaha.
Could be worse...........thank goodness their line up didn't end up as Performer 1, 3+1, 4+1, 7+1, and 4+2+1 😅
That be just them having fun with ppl's confusion........that averted possibility makes Myer-Audio Sliivo SL-41 Mk2 sound a little bit more reasonable each time lol
Really informative video! I listened to the whole thing. I’m new to the IEM world I just bought the S12 Pro and they’re great! But now I’m looking at the new Aful Performer 5+2 would it be worth the “upgrade” ? Thank you 🙏
I'm actually in the middle of writing my Aful P7 review.
The sound on both of these is actually quite similar. The P7 is a bit more chill with a bit less bass, bit less treble, and slightly fuller mids. The S12 Pro comes off more V-shaped by comparison. More treble energy, more bass.
I do think the P7 is an upgrade in general technicalities. It's a very coherent hybrid. But I don't know if it's enough of an upgrade to justify the cost if you've already got the S12 Pro. I'd save up more for something higher up the ladder.
Now if you want to compare hybrid vs. Planar tonality and techs for yourself, I'd say go for it. The P7 is an awesome set.
Yeah! its indeed what i though... I got the S12 OG for 50$. and i like it a lot with deep insertion. Im wating for the MP145! hope i´ve made a good buy.
It's a darker, less intense sound. I like the MP145, it's a good set.
Thank you for the video Omar (and others like the one on T10). What I appreciate most is your honest comments on both sides of the coin 👍Looking forward to more great videos. Any plan to include some short sound demo comparisons along the way?
Subscribe and liked ❤
@@RaeErn-g1r Thanks for the sub!
I would very much like to include sound demos, but there are a few complications:
1: I’m still learning how to record them so that they sound decent.
2: I would really like to use copyrighted songs, because it gets my message across easier.
2 isn’t that big a deal, I can use RUclips audio library and maybe start a patreon for more demos.
1 I’ve been working behind the scenes to solve slowly. Getting there. Hopefully soon.
I have the S08 and the S12 and I prefer the S08, I find them more comfortable on my ears and the sound to be more relaxed. Also the cable adds up because it's modular but I feel I like more the S12 cable, I think it has a slight edge on quality and feel.
On tips I didn't use stock since for me what fits me the most are the T-Tips from TRN, gorgeous tips if you ask.
@@cguralol I like the T-tips! I’ve used the ones I got with my conch a few times.
look like i will still be using my 2 year old S12 Pro :D although i do find it bright sometime.
@@nohai5960 it’s a great set. If I didn’t daily the S15 I would probably daily the S12 Pro (my wife stole my S08)
Any comparison with the Tangzu planars? 👀
@@PaulAup62 I only have the Heyday, not the OG (and there’s a new 3rd version coming soon!)
The heyday is a more balanced version of the S12. Less bass, a bit more upper mids, and more chilled out treble.
In terms of driver performance: it’s all the same driver, so they’ll essentially be equal.
I’m excited to see what Tangzu Cooks for the return of the Empress. I’m hoping a price reduction.
Hey, Omar! I have the S12 and the S08, and I'm thinking about getting the Tangzu Zetian Wu Heyday on 11.11. Have you ever listened to them? Are they an upgrade to the S12? Thanks!
@@dufinocchiaro298 I do have them! They’re a great set.
Funnily enough, the tonality is between the S08 and the S12. Not as warm as the S08, but not as bright as the S12. It does lean closer to the S12 overall though.
It’s one of the smoothest, most neutral Planars out there. In terms of technicalities it’s essentially identical to the S12 (same driver). If that’s what you’re looking for, go for it. I like it a lot. And the cable is really nice.
Just got my S08 in today on sale from amazon for $63… coulda used points and got an extra $27 off but i wanted to save it for other things. Pretty happy with it and the bass is good and the rest of the fr is not peaky so far unlike the timeless is for me. It’s like a bassier P1 Max from my thoughts so far
I haven't heard the P1 Max, but I've heard good things about it. Need to get one. It's one of the gaps in my planar collection.
i already own moondrop kato so was looking to buy new set, how would you compare s12 pro to aful explorer ? i like sound signature of both. Is planer s12 pro better upgrade to aful in terms of tech/resolution or is explorer is a better buy ? In my region BOTH COST THE SAME.
@@mrigankadeyMD the Explorer is less V-shaped and more warm.
The mids are fuller and the treble is much more chilled out compared to the S12 Pro. In terms of tech/resolution I’d say the S12 is maybe slightly ahead, but mostly because the tuning helps the techs come across better: it has better treble extension and more energy overall in the treble.
If all you want is tech, grab the S12 Pro.
If you want the chilled out sound grab the Explorer
The s8 is perfect for loud volumes. For every 5 dB volume. Upper mids and treble goes up by 2 dB.
@@paulosilva8200 I agree, it scales SO well with volume.
@AudioAmigoReviews I have around 80 sets of iem and I have to open all of them to retune them.i listen at 90 dB volume. Well. Between 85 to 90. And they all kill me with treble. That's why I can't have low tuk mid bass. St high volumes the instruments sound thin. And because I was a musician, I know the instruments natural tone.
@@paulosilva8200 Makes perfect sense to me. I'm a piano/keyboard dude and have many musical friends. My listening tests are usually done at 77dB measured, but I also do high volume testing because well... sometimes you just gotta jam.
The S08 is PERFECT for that. :) S15 too, but it's too expensive
Hey i saw you have graphed the kato on your squig site.
I can get it for less the 90$,Im also looking at the ew300,mainly for jpop and female focused libraries,what should i go for?is the kato better then the ew300?
If you're library is J-pop and K-Pop Focused, I think you'd prefer the Kato over the EW300. The Gold Nozzle of the EW300 is too Warm, and the silver nozzle cuts down on the mids a bit too much for me.
I@@AudioAmigoReviews I'm interested too do you think the difference is easily noticable?
@@Neg-h8k With the Gold nozzles, 100% the Kato is better for Vocals. With the Silver nozzles it's closer, but the more filled in mids on the Kato will be better for vocals overall.
If I already have an Aful Explorer should I get the Letshuoer s08 or Nicehck F1 Pro ?
it's price around the same in my country (I'd like to try Artti T10 but can't stand how it looks)
The Aful Explorer will be very similar in overall sound to the S08, while the NiceHCK F1 Pro will be brighter and more energetic in the treble.
If you want something different go F1 Pro
@@AudioAmigoReviews I also have simgot supermix 4 if I want to try different sounds like mid focus with good bass and detail do you have anything recommend? (I like tinhifi t2 balance sound but I can't seem to find any similar upgrade)
@@kerkOOO Tin T2? But with a bit more bass? Mid-focused?
Go for the Aful Magic One! It’s $70 on sale right now and is a great little neutral set.
Just don’t expect a ton of sub-bass rumble.
It’s surprisingly punchy for a single BA.
@@AudioAmigoReviews Thanks, I'll definitely check that out.
Yeah, I really want to be able to justify a s15 purchase, the s08 has quickly become a comfortable allrounder for me and the idea of a iem that has a similar but more refined sound appeals... but it is a hard sell even on discount.
100% Agree. Like I said, I don't think I ever would have bought one for myself (Thanks again wife). But as a reviewer, I'm happy I have one so that I can tell y'all that it just isn't worth it unless you want that specific experience.
For $300 total max, what two IEM would you get for (a) fun, V, sparkly, mobility and (b) detailed studio flat for mix/monitor? Right now Truthear x crin Red/blue is my more fun (a) but without the sparkle, and massdrop plus is closer to (b) with some added bass
Edit: would prefer no EQ be at least acceptable for each, though (a) is more likely to be used on the go with an EQ and (b) more likely to be as-is
So, sparkly and V-shaped with mobility. I'd say grab either the EM6L or the Supermix 4. The SM4 is more V-shaped with less mid-bass and a slightly brighter tonality. The EM6L is warmer, with more mid-bass and fuller mids. Pick your flavor. The Truthear Nova is another option. Basically the SM4, but with out the metallic timbre in the high end, and slightly less v-shaped.
For Neutral monitoring. If you want to get something sorta premium feeling, grab the Aful Magic One. It's extremely neutral and has a really nice feel and look to it. Outside of that, look at the Truthear Hexa, it's a Magic one, but a bit smaller and cheaper. Still sounds great.
Shouldn't need EQ on these, they're both great out of the box.
@@AudioAmigoReviews muchas gracias amigo. Before your reviews, I was mostly looking at T10, then I found your spreadsheet and was leaning star city 5 pro and zero (1). I'll look into these also, I am not familiar with any of them besides truthear but what they did with the zero red/blue made me believe that there can be excellent IEM for relatively cheap
@@zmmmzmmmz The Star City 5 is a slightly brighter Magic One. I personally prefer the Magic One.
You can check stuff out at my squig:
audioamigo.squig.link
@@AudioAmigoReviews that's awesome. Will you be covering DAP? I'm thinking of the Hiby 300 so I can still use Spotify and my own music but not have the other phone distractions
What made you start this channel at a full run? High quality and lots of content very quickly.
@@zmmmzmmmz The only modern DAP I have is the Hiby R4 Eva, I'll do a short video on it, but I dont feel I can fully review it.
I was originally going to go much slower. But when my Tangzu Wan'Er Studio Edition Review kinda took off, my wife encouraged me to ride the wave.
The rest, as they say, is history
I listen to s12 2024 and I liked it very much, but I am buying s12 pro and EQ
I want to buy s08 too. Do you believe it’s a pointless purchase? I could eq s12 pro to s08 (I believe I can’t, or can I?)
@@Frikilicious you should easily be able to EQ the S12 Pro to match the S08. It’s a reduction in treble rather than an increase, so it won’t struggle.
@@AudioAmigoReviews thanks for answering!
The S08 was my first big upgrade from budget iems and it sounded worse than all my budget IEMs. The soundstage feels claustrophobic, lacking depth, and the bass comes across as a bloated, muddy mess. Imo it tries too hard to sound like a dd. The foam is what kills the soundstage's depth. I haven't tried the rest of Letshuoer's products, but I’d say the mids and treble could be on par with them with the foam removed, and the soundstage is actually decent now. The bass is also clean and nicely textured(Planar bass is quite nice). Some tracks can be sibilant, but the ones that aren't sound fantastic. In the end I reached a compromise by cutting the foam and using just a small piece. It also responds very well to EQ. I’m honestly puzzled as to how people can like the stock S08 and why it’s recommended so much.
Everybody’s ears and brains process sound differently. There are some sets that get a lot of love that I also just don’t vibe with.
Nothing wrong with that. Your experience is just as valid as mine. I’ve seen other people talk about it improving a lot with the foam removed or modded. But I’ve also seen a ton of people say that it’s perfect just the way it is.
Thanks for your comment! It will help people who come to the video for recommendations. Unless you demo a set for yourself, the only way to get an idea of how something sounds is watching reviews like mine and reading comments like yours. Thanks. :)
@@AudioAmigoReviews Yeah, pretty much. Unfortunately, testing products isn't really a thing in my country, and there aren’t any audio stores here. So, I have to buy based on reviews, and if I don’t like it I’m stuck with it, which is money wasted. Finding the next set to buy is going to be so hard now since I'm used to that detailed planar mids/high now.
I might get another IEM for the 11.11 sale, and I'm considering the EW300 or do I just save up for something like the Supermix 4?
Thank you for the detailed and interesting videos, and for reviewing affordable IEMs!
@@CODPRICEGHOST What entry level IEMs did you have that you liked most? I have some 11/11 buyers guides coming up. :)
@@AudioAmigoReviews Looking forward to that video :D
Out of the three budget IEMs I own, I’d rank them as the CCA Trio (basically a better Castor), KZ Castor Bass, and Chu 2. However, after daily driving the modded S08, I’m not a fan of recessed mids, which all of the budget iems have (though the Chu 2 sounds a bit more balanced to me). They’re still enjoyable, but I always notice that lack of mids now, so I don’t really use them anymore and stick to the S08. The Trio and Castor are supposed to have a lot of bass, but I still find them lacking somewhat. I guess I am more of a rumble enjoyer rather than mid bass. I actually prefer the S08 with a boost in the low freq.
I kind of wish Aoshida would have been there, but Aoshida E20 is like an adopted cousin from an in-law.
I need to get me one of those. They look really great. But isn't that a DD Set?
Yeah its a DD, or DDD.... Dual Dynamic Driver. Hence why it's adopted =)) it ain't planar.
@@CristopherCutas Hahaha! love it. I'll need to compare it with the DZ4 and the Artti R1 when I finally get one in
i finally got one, i like how it sounds, but the housing feels cheap.
All of my S12 variants have been modded by Michael Bruce. Three S12 sets to be exact. I have several other sets that have all been modded by Micheal Bruce. He had spoiled my ears.
I don't speak English, I watched the whole video and it wasn't very clear to me if the s08 is better or which one is better to use at medium/low volume, I can't turn it up more than 50% because it hurts a lot.
I have the s08 with a type c plug for the same price, about 290,000cop and the s12 OG for the same price, because I am very aware of not using a high volume, I hope you can help me! Greetings from Co
@@JuanSebastianRodriguezCorrea if you have pain in ears. I would avoid the S12. The S08 is much safer for sensitive ears.
@@AudioAmigoReviews Thank you very much, I just made the purchase for approximately 60usd and it includes an extra tip like the 3.5mm and 4.4mm but in type c, I was between those two because the s12 were a little cheaper
Thank you very much for your response and I will let you know when they arrive.
jesus christ... 44 min.
God's work
Great review as usual but I think our preferences are opposite. I tried the S08 at CanJam and disliked it, and I don't use the word dislike lightly. It's too dark for my ears, female vocal is terrible compared to the likes of Simgot EM6L or Moondrop Starfield 2, though I don't have problem with bright IEMs while many people do. The S12 2024 was fine, Letshuoer did a great job making its bass sound like DD bass, but when I tested it there was a weird airy feeling across the frequencies, it wasn't a fit problem but maybe some tip rolling would have solved that, although imo it's not worth $200 regardless.
I can 100% see why you wouldn't like the S08 coming from the Starfield or EM6L. I ranked it last in vocals for a reason :)
I haven't tried the starfield, but the EM6L is my favorite Simgot set. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Oh man, you are almost making me jealous that I didnt get the S08, but got the Explorer instead 🥲 Though I do love my Explorers so much
Fantastic video as always, the length is perfect for a relaxed dinner session. Also love the little corrections you did, they added some extra context/information and they sure didnt go unnoticed! I appreciate the effort for even the small things 💜
I got the S08 and dont have the explorer, but let me tell you about the shell design. The Recessed part of the s08 really helps in making adjustments. I just use that part to push where it needs to go and its good.
This script was so long and went through a few rewrites. Sometimes mistakes slip through. I poke fun at myself through the corrections :)
The Explorer is an Epic set, I love it. Happy you're enjoying yours. :)