LETSHUOER D13: Dynamic Entry
We in the audio enthusiasm sphere sometimes need some fun, relaxing and enjoyable listening sessions rather than some usual, serious audiophiliac critical listening to determine the best possible sound reproduction and appreciating both a high technical performance and a high fidelity experience from an earphone or headphone. To be honest, critical listening is an intensive mental process as we try to figure out everything about high fidelity and sound quality.
And I'm no stranger on large dynamic drivers on IEMs as I owned some of them and already quite familiar on how these drivers performs depends on its implementation.
This is my actually 3rd product review from LETSHUOER. I have tested some of their products and all of them are hybrid drivers set-up. And this is my first time to experience a sound quality from their IEM with single driver set-up.
This is LETSHUOER D13, it has a single 13mm dynamic driver with high-grade neodymium magnet and a DLC diaphragm to deliver a clean response, faster transient speed and less distortion on its sound quality. The drivers are enclosed in a solid CNC-milled aluminium alloy shell chassis with matte finish. Its circular shaped, smooth contour shell chassis reminds me of some DUNU sets and also noted that it has a compartmentalised acoustic chamber to give the best possible isolation and also to eliminate unwanted acoustic resonance. The cavity base part of D13 has three vent holes and another larger vent hole at the faceplate area that functions to let escape some excess air pressure coming from its high performance dynamic driver that might cause some listening fatigue. The nozzles of D13 are of interchangeable design where you can unscrew it and replace it with another nozzle with a different tuning filter. The D13 has utilised a proven 2-pin connector as its interlocking mechanism for stable performance and seamless connectivity.
The well-thought design of its shell chassis really gives me an excellent fitting as it rests well in my lug holes with any discomfort. It properly sealed my lug holes as it isolates well from the external noises from outside.
The product packaging of LETSHUOER D13 is very impressive for its price. The contents were packed in a rectangular box and the inclusions are substantial in quantity with good quality accessories on it.
Here are the following accessories included inside:
■ a pair of LETSHUOER D13 IEMs
■ a 4-core monocrystalline copper cable with 3.5mm termination plug.
■ 3 pairs of black-coloured ear tips of different standard sizes ( small size has a wide bore, medium and large sizes have narrow bore)
■ 3 pairs of white-coloured, balanced-bore ear tips of different standard sizes.
■ a black-coloured oval shape faux-leather IEM case.
■ an extra pair of interchangeable nozzles with gold-coloured filters.
■ Product catalogue booklet
■ Some paperworks like warranty card, contact card, Q.C card and instruction manual.
Regarding its power amplification requirement, D13 is a very easy to drive set that it scales well on most sources. Even a smartphone or tablet with decent power output will amplify this one to have a good amplitude rating and it sounds very dynamic with a good full range.
To determine its sound profile, since it has two pairs of interchangeable nozzles with different implementations of dampeners on its filters, LETSHUOER D13 has two types of distinctive V-shaped sound signatures. The silver one has more prominent emphasis on low frequency while gold has more emphasis on upper-mids to the presence part of the treble region. All presentations of its midranges frequency are recessed on both nozzle filters.
LOWS/BASS:
The bass response of D13 is quite boosted as it has punchiness, impact and tactility will definitely please the ears of the adherent bassheads out there especially the silver tuning filter mode.
It has good reverberations and rumble sound as I played some sub bass-focus instruments like low tone bass guitar, octabass, synthesisers and drum machines. Mid bass is well-textured that more authoritative sound on bass guitars, bass kick drums and bass-baritones. Bass guitars have this weight and menacing sound on them while bass kicks have a thunderous and pounding sound. Then on bass-baritone vocals, it gives that dark and guttural sound qualities on these vocalists with the likes of Peter Steele, Barry White and Andrew Eldritch. It is observable that there are some instances of bass bleed on the silver tuning filter but on the gold tuning filter, it is rather tamed and controlled.
MIDRANGE:
Midrange on this one has a recessed presentation but it has this substantial warmth to add texture and note weight on vocals and instruments.
Male vocals have this heft, power and depth that will benefit most of its vocal types. Baritones seem to have richness of their vocal quality while countertenors have a fullness and fiery sound as I listen to Andreas Scholl and King Diamond (Yes indeed, he was somehow a countertenor as I listened to some Mercyful Fate albums lately). And tenors have brassy sound on them but on the gold tuning filter it added some spiciness and ringing especially on Luciano Pavarotti, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant. Meanwhile on female vocals, the silver tuning filter benefits more on contralto as it gives a darker tone to have that chesty and husky sound on Annie Lennox and Tracy Chapman. The clarity and details on mezzo-sopranos and sopranos will improve further on gold tuning filter as it gives bit gleam and sense of openness as mezzo-sopranos like Sharon den Adel of Within Temptation and Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries have their recognisable vocal characteristic to have that smooth and velvety while on sopranos like Alison Krauss and Tarja Turunen have that silky and gleam to that angelic and hypnotic sound.
Instruments sound varies on the tuning filters as silver tuning filters give a more midrange and buttery sound on acoustic guitars and lustrous and more rounded sound on violins. while on gold tuning filters, it has a noticeable difference, it gives a crisper and bright sound on acoustic guitars while a more lively and more vibrant sound on violins. Brass like trumpets, horns and trombones have a slight difference on timbre characteristics that on silver filters, it gives a more dark, rounded and warmer sound while on gold filters, they sound more metallic, bright and more intense. On percussives, it gives more booming and rumbling sound on toms and timpanis on their attack on the silver tuning filters while snare drums fare better on gold tuning filters as it sounds sharper and precise. Pianos tones will also have some deviation on each tuning filter, a warmer and luscious on silver tuning filters while there's a sense of vivid and vibrant sound on gold tuning filters. Flutes and saxophones will benefit more on gold-coloured tuning filter as it gives them a sense of light and brilliance on them.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
There are two takes on how LETSHUOER D13 handles the treble registers. The silver filter tunings are smoother, linear and less offensive to the point that they skew down some amount of details and clarity which give me a congestion. On gold tuning filters, it does give some slight elevation on upper mids to the presence part of the treble region, it is clean, crisp and bright with tad sharper on details. At least, both tuning nozzles don't have an unwanted sibilance and gritty sound on its treble response.
Cymbals also have different sound characteristics on two nozzles with different tuning filters. The silver tuning filters give a bit of a dull and soughing sound while the gold ones have a shimmer and sizzle sound. Hi-hats sound the same on both nozzles as it retains its distinct short buzzing, chick sound. Both nozzles have only a meagre amount of treble air despite the gold tuning filters' slight improvement on clarity, more crisp and detail.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
Overall, it has an average to above average sound/speaker stage width, a decent height reach and excellent depth to give a more natural spatial headroom within my aural perception.
Imaging aspect on D13 is rather appealing for casual listening on how it was simple presented in a typical 2-channel stereo panning presentation where I was able to locate the placement of vocals and instruments on both sides of the channel. Separation is decent on how it gives an ample spacing of all instruments and vocals but the layering is somehow subpar on how it disorganised the frequency tonal layers of each instrument and vocals within the sonic canvas that will be an issue to more complex tracks like jazz and orchestra.
Coherency is excellent on how the huge dynamics drivers of the D13 performs well with handling transient speed and gradual decaying. It has a solid macro-dynamics at it show a solid note weight but a blunted and dull definition on micro-detail retrieval on silver tuning filters. The gold tuning filters improves a bit to give an edgier definition but its resolving capabilities are still lacking in my opinion
It has tonality that is quite natural but it is leaning towards more warmth to give a fun, cosy and engaging sound on silver filter while it has more balanced tonality on the gold tuning filters due to some added shimmer on the treble part.
PEER COMPARISONS:
SIMGOT EA500
● SIMGOT EA500 is way more cheaper but compared to D13, it has less quantity on inclusions. Like D13, it has a single dynamic driver albeit smaller in dimension sizes but has a DLC diaphragm and both of them are encapsulated in solid aluminium alloy shell chassis but EA500 mirror-finished surface will be more prone to scratches and a fingerprint magnet. It also has interchangeable tuning nozzles.
● EA500 has two types of interchangeable nozzles with tuning filters but both of them are leaning towards a U-shaped sound profile. The red one is more of typical Harmanish tuning while the black one is a modification of a Harman target curve with slight emphasis on the upper mids part to the brilliance part of the treble region. Compared to D13, the bass is rather tighter on EA500 but it has less recess on the midrange frequency. It has similar treble response but the black ring nozzle of EA500 is more prone to sibilance and it also has a bit more amount of treble air. EA500 red ring texture is tad leaner compared to D13 in all tuning configuration
● The technical capabilities between EA500 and D13, they have almost similar sound/speaker stage dimensions. Imaging, separation and layering capability are a bit better on EA500 as it has more concave presentation, better separation on instruments and more distinctive on its tonal layering. D13 fares better on macro-dynamics as it shows a more solid note weight and is even more rigid compare to EA500. Resolution are even similar on both devices.
To sum up my review on LETSHUOER D13. It really shows the versatility of LETSHUOER's tuning capability that even their entry-level models have a solid build quality and its tuning is somehow satisfying for people with different listening preferences. The D13 also has an uncommon feature which is a detachable nozzle with tuning filters that allow us to swap it with another included nozzle with a different tuning filter inside based on your sound profile preference. With its reasonable pricing, The LETSHUOER D13 will be an easy recommendation in my book if you want a tactile, warm and versatile tuning set despite that there are some sets from other brands that might eclipse this one but still I will still recommend this one without batting an eyelid.
You can still purchase the LETSHUOER D13 on their official site, please check the link below.
◆◆LETSHUOER D13 PRODUCT PAGE◆◆
And also checkout my other full reviews and first impressions on LETSHUOER products:
SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: LETSHUOER D13
IMPEDANCE: 16Ω
SENSITIVITY: 105dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 20KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.25M
PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTORS
PLUG TYPE: 3.5MM, 2.5MM pLUG
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER
PROS:
△ It has metal alloy shell chassis for rigidity and better structural integrity.
△ Its circular shape gives a better fitting to all ear types and sizes
△ Quantity amount of inclusions inside the box.
△ Good quality stock cable for its price.
△ Its humongous, DLC-diaphragm dynamic driver is very capable and deliver an excellent performance.
△ Detachable nozzles.
△ Fun and engaging tuning.
△Tactile and authoritative bass response.
△ Warm and well-textured quality midrange good for all male vocals types, some female vocals, rhythmic and percussive instruments.
△ Two types of treble response to choose, a smoother one or a brighter one.
CONS:
▽ Definitely not a neutral sounding one.
▽ Silver nozzle filter gives a mediocre treble response like subdued details, clarity and too smooth.
▽ Inadequate treble air on both nozzles with tuning nozzle filters.
▽ Layering is one of its weakness.
▽ Subpar resolving on retrieving fine details.
Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)
Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
P.S.
I am not affiliated to LETSHUOER nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.
Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to LETSHUOER for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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