LETSHUOER S08: A Disparating Planar Set?
Number 8 has a strong significance in East Asian cultures particularly in Chinese as it was pronounced as “Ba” in Mandarin as it is sound similar with “Fa” which means prosperous, bountiful or wealthy. That symmetrical symbol on it also represents a continuous balanced and harmonious pattern on life.
And now LETSHUOER is celebrating its 8th year anniversary in the audio industry as they became one of the most successful and innovative companies out there and by its tradition, they always release a product that is associated with their yearly anniversary.
This is LETSHUOER S08, their latest planar IEM for the entry-level segment in which LETSHUOER have extensive experience on planar magnetic driver technology. To attest their knowledge on planar driver technology, they previously released some sets with similar driver technologies like S12, S12 PRO and S15 that makes them even more credible.
Inside of the LETSHUOER S08, it uses the latest generation of planar magnetic driver which is more compact on its overall diameter as it has size of 13mm. This new type of planar magnetic driver has its diaphragm with magnetic coil circuitry underwent via with copper sputtering deposition process as it implements a very thin film along with a PTR film on its side ends for a uniformity, control precision and maintain a high purity to lessened electromechanical reactions for a stable dynamics, lessens resonance frequency as it minimises distortion, improving transient speed response and well-extended range of its sound quality.
Then the driver was encased in a CNC-milled metal alloy shell structure with a stated design aesthetic that represents the number 8 on its faceplate with an oblong contour on its form factor. The overall size of S08 is quite compact as it has one of the smallest shell profiles among the planar IEMs in the market.
Its compact size is also relatively comfortable to wear as it snugly rests well into my lugholes with any discomfort like irritation and soreness. I really have a good sealing from its stock ear tips as it is able to block some unwanted external noises from the outside surroundings that gives an impressive passive noise isolation.
Regarding its stock cable, LETSHUOER includes a good quality one as it is relatively soft, flexible and resistant from entanglement with no microphonics issue that I've encountered so far. This cable is a 4-core silver-plated copper wiring with a detachable termination plug feature as you can interchange it from 3.5mm single-ended to 4.4mm balanced output.
For an entry-level set, The LETSHUOER S08 is quite fully packed with quantity and quality of inclusions. And all the contents inside are carefully presented and organised well.
Here are the following contents inside of its packaging box:
- Pair of LETSHUOER S08 IEM transducers
- Stock cable with modular features.
- 4.4mm termination plug
- Circular storage case
- Circular ear tips rack
- Three (3) pairs of balanced bore white coloured ear tips in different standard sizes.
- Three (3) pairs of balanced bore dark grey coloured ear tips in different standard sizes.
- Paperwork like instruction manual, warranty card and Q.C. stub.
As for power scaling and amplification, while its newer generation of planar magnetic driver appears to take less power output compared to the previous generation of planar magnetic IEMs as it is fairly a bit more sensitive but planar is still planar, and planar still need a substantial amount of power output just to drive it properly. If it was driven with a sufficient amount of power output, it would have a full-range sound with good amount of dynamics on it.
Upon my initial impression on how this set sounds like, it still has a balanced-neutral sound profile with a noticeable added bass-boost on its tuning. Some might perceive it as warmish-neutral given its added some warmth on its tonality that is closer to the perceived neutral sound on analogue-ish hifi sound back from a few decades ago.
(Graph was provided by [USER=516219]@baskingshark[/USER] , credits to him on his effort)
LOWS/BASS:
In this set, both bass sections are well-presented in a balanced manner on this one as it has a good sub bass presence while having a properly textured mid bass part as it delivers a punchy, reverberating and authoritative bass response while maintaining some semblance of segregation and controlled gradual bass approach across to the other frequency regions.
The sub bass presence is evidently clearly felt as its low rumbling and reverberation were generated by some low octave instruments like bass guitars, double bass, drum machines and synthesisers. The mid bass is well-textured with some good depth and volume suitable for the natural tonal colours of some bass clef instruments and male vocals such as bass and bass-baritones. Bass guitars and double bass have a weighty and dark sound with resonance on them while bass kick drums have full and sonorous sound. Bass trumpets have a full and darker timbre as I enjoy its solo passages on Wagner's repertoires. Bass and bass-baritone vocals are well-presented on this set as it gives a gravelly, woolly and fullness on their distinctive voices with good depth and volume on them.
MIDRANGE:
This is probably one of the strongest aspects of this set on how this particular frequency part was presented. While it appears that it was almost linear in presentation, it is also quite well-textured, full and with an appropriate warmth while maintaining some tidiness in its presentation. As if that almost all types of vocals and instruments sound very natural and accurate.
The male vocals on this one have its proper note weight to give a full, lush and smoothness on baritones whether its a light baritone, lyric, Kavalier baritone, Verdi, dramatic or noble baritone while tenors have brassy, strong and graceful sound on their voices. Countertenors have a tender, sweet and light tone on their vocals as they share similar sound characteristics with female mezzo-sopranos. On female vocals, the contraltos are the most highlighted among the female vocal-types as it has a proper depth and texture to give a rich, lush and smokey sound quality. As for sopranos, while it has less bright and less energetic sound on coloratura and some lyric-types but on some soubrettes, spinto and dramatic ones, they have some warm, rich and emotive voices on them.
On instruments, brass instruments like trumpets, trombones and horns, they have a a full, rounded and sonorous sound respectively while on woodwinds, while it doesn't have that airy or bright sound on some instruments, the concert flutes have mellow and some richness at the same time, clarinets have lustrous sound, saxophones have warm and a bit earthy sound, and piccolos have some graceful and delicate sound on them. Meanwhile on string instruments, cellos have a weighty and round sound while violins have a sweet and calming sound on them, and guitars either in acoustic or electric configuration have these meaty and buttery sound over crisp and bright sound. As for percussions, snare drums have that hard hitting and sharpness on their sound, tom-toms have warm and resonant sound, field drums have full and booming sound in them and kettledrums have a heavy and rumbling sound on every stroke. Pianos have an even and mellow tone on them as it has resonating, sweet and rich notes on its notation keys.
HIGHS/TREBLE:
While most planar sets used to have a brighter tuning , this one is quite different among its peers. It has a more balanced, smoother and even treble response but not to the point that it sounds too dark in my liking. For sure that treble heads will have a second thought on its treble quality due to insufficient brightness, that crisp and lingering bite and less intense sparkle. Upper-mids and presence treble part has an ample elevation just to give enough detail and definition on some vocals and instruments and I didn't hear overboosting that might produce a shrill, sibilance and strident sound.
On the brilliance treble, as I mention that it has less intense sparkling but it doesn't sound too dull and dry and it has a rather moderate airy extension. Regarding treble-clef instruments, cymbals have a lustrous and soughing sound while hi-hats have its correct timbre as it has a short buzzing sound. Celestas have a sweet and mellow sound and glockenspiels sound lustrous.
SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:
As a planar set, this one is probably among the less technical planar sets that I've tested so far in my opinion but this one isn't that really bad as it was able to perform at above average in most aspects. Sound field size is rather on average to above-average on width, decent height reach and excellent depth perception within my aural sphere.
Its stereo imaging presentation projects a concave-like soundscape in well-layered element sections of frequencies and dynamic tones of instruments and vocals that I was able to pinpoint out its specific placement with a good separation on each of them.
Coherency performance of this set is quite impressive given that it's a planar magnetic driver. It has a fast transient speed response and better vibration with less distortions. As for resolution capability, while it's a planar set, it will be pretty resolving but S08 takes it on another path as it has more solid macro-dynamics while its micro-detail retrieval doesn't have that sharp definition but it still able to extract details and nuances from an audio track like some vocal ends, instrumentation tail and roomy effects.
PEER COMPARISONS:
NICEHCK F1 PRO
- Like the S08, its shell chassis is made of metal alloy but it has a tear drop shaped design.
- It also has a good quality cable but it doesn't have a modular feature but rather a 4.4mm balanced on its termination plug.
- It has a more V-shaped sound profile therefore it is more coloured.
- While it also has punchy and rumbly bass response, it appears that it focuses more on sub bass presence.
- Midrange is definitely recessed and leaner on this one but it is more bright and energetic.
- Its treble response is brighter and airier but it has some occurrences of sibilance and a tad shrill sound.
- It has a wider lateral span on its perceived sound/speaker but its layering aspect is rather a middling one.
- The micro-dynamics of this one is more resolving than S08 as it has a sharper note definition.
KEFINE KLANAR
- It has a shell chassis made of anodising metal alloy and it has similar compactness of its size.
- It also uses the latest generation of planar magnetic driver which also has similar sizes with the S08's own driver.
- It also has a good quality stock cable for its price but it doesn't have modular features.
- The KLANAR has a v-shaped sound signature but its tonality is somewhat a bit similar to S08 as it has a warmish-balanced tonality on it.
- It has a deep, tactile and punchy bass response.
- Midrange is a quiet recess but it has a warmth to give a lush, well-textured and rich sounds on vocals and instruments.
- It has smooth and inoffensive treble response just like the S08.
- It has very similar technical performance with S08 from stereo imaging, layering, separation, coherency and resolution capabilities but the KLANAR has a tad wider span on its sound/speaker stage.
As LETSHUOER is celebrating its 8th anniversary in the audio industry, they are used to releasing some commemorative sets which is a bit different from their usual product presentation and the S08 is one of its line-up. With an excellent build quality, a modular cable feature, fully-accessorised with contents and uncommon tuning which is unusual for planar ser. With an overall tuning which has a well-textured, rich and smooth profile while maintaining a balanced presentation.
While its technical capabilities will not fully impress us as there are some sets that offer a bit better on this aspect but with its asking price, it makes this set's appeal even more compelling towards budget-conscious audio enthusiasts.
The LETSHUOER S08 is now available at LETSHUOER's official store on their own website. Check out the unaffiliated link below.
LINK:
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SPECIFICATION:
MODEL: LETSHUOER S08
IMPEDANCE: 25Ω
SENSITIVITY: 105dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 40KHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78mm 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.75MM)
PLUG TYPE: (MODULAR) 3.5mm, 4.4mm
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) PLANAR MAGNETIC DRIVER
PROS:
● Affordable and reasonable pricing.
● Its overall build quality is quite sturdy and solid.
● The compactness of its shell form factor offers a good comfortable wear
● The design on its faceplate really fits on its anniversary theme.
● Pretty well-accessorised as it offers a lot of quality and quantifying amount of inclusions.
● Modular stock cable.
● A warmish-neutral tonality that reminisces the analogue-ish “neutral” sound of the previous decades.
● Punchy, authoritative and tactual bass response for a planar set.
● Lush, rich and full sounding midrange presentation.
● Excellent to almost all types of vocals; baritones, tenors, countertenors, contraltos and mezzo-sopranos which sounds very organic and almost have correct tonal colour in them.
● Almost all instruments have these natural sounds on them.
● Smooth and inoffensive tuning treble response.
● Not a hint of harshness nor sibilance.
● Acceptable layering presentation for a planar on its asking price.
CONS:
● For sure that this type of tuning will not be appealing to treble heads due to its safe and less gleaming treble presentation.
● Well planar magnetics….still needs a better device with medium or high gain mode for amplification to have that optimal sound quality.
● Average sound/speaker stage width.
● Less resolving on micro-detail definition for a planar set.
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*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *
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 MS. BETTY of LETSHUOER for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate his generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.
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