Today, Meldrick reviews the LETSHUOER S08, a single custom 13mm planar magnetic driver universal in-ear monitor currently priced at $99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank LETSHUOER for their support.
Click here to read more about LETSHUOER products previously tested on Headfonics.
Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read here.
LETSHUOER is no stranger to the planar magnetic IEM space, with their previous S12 reaching an almost legendary status as one of the first IEMs that ushered in the era of planar magnetic IEMs two years ago.
Now, LETSHUOER is attempting to recapture the same magic with their new S08 IEM which is currently priced at $99.
Sporting a 4th generation planar driver and a modular cable, this particular model lies in the middle of their IEM lineup.
To learn more about the S08’s performance and how it compares against similar-priced planar IEMs such as the Hidizs MP145 and Shozy’s P20, you can read my full review below.
Features
The S08 uses LETSHUOER’s 4th generation planar magnetic driver. According to LETSHUOER, this is the first iteration of their planar drivers with a “dual voice coil” positioned on the front and back of the diaphragm.
LETSHUOER’s 4th generation planar driver also integrates a PTR film around the edge of the diaphragm, which LETSHUOER claims improves stability, leading to better low-frequency performance.
The S08 is rated at 26Ω with an SPL of 105 dB/mW @1kHz so it should drive easily enough but can also scale with quality power.
Lastly, the S08 comes with a modular cable out of the box. With interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, this opens up the IEM’s compatibility to a wide range of sources, from simple smartphones to higher-end desktop DAC/AMP units.
Design
The LETSHUOER S08’s shell is constructed out of CNC machined aluminum and is composed of a separate body and faceplate.
LETSHUOER did a good job with the tolerances of the shell, the seam between the two halves was so thin that I initially thought the entire body was constructed out of a single piece of aluminum.
The material used is cool to the touch and has an anodized matte finish, coming in Silver or Black color schemes, with my review unit being grey. The texture and machining of the shell are quite similar to the body of the FiiO K11 DAC/AMP.
The machined aluminum used in the S08 has proven to be resistant to everyday dings and scratches. Compared to other metal IEMs the shell rarely showed any fingerprints. I appreciated this since most other metal IEMs show signs of use after a few hours of listening.
According to LETSHUOER, the faceplate incorporates the design characteristics of “S” and “8” symbols in the S08’s name. This gives it a captivating appearance, with symmetrical swirls that seamlessly melt into the raised and indented portion of the shell.
I prefer LETSHUOER’s philosophy of using shapes instead of two-dimensional colors and patterns to give their IEMs a visual flare. Design is inherently objective, but I find that this creates a more subdued aesthetic that only stands out upon closer inspection.
Comfort and Isolation
The LETSHUOER S08’s comfort is decent, and quite good compared to other IEMs with a metal shell.
While not lighter than the Shozy P20, the S08’s more ergonomic shape fit better in the ear and made me forget that I was wearing them in the first place.
I did not observe any sharp edges pushing against my ear, nor did I feel the weight shifting away from my ear throughout the testing period.
For a vented IEM, the S08 has decent isolation performance. With no music playing through them, I could still hear some medium-level conversations, but lower-frequency sounds from air conditioners were easily blocked out.
With music playing, it does a better job of blocking out conversations and road noise. Its isolation performance is on par with its peers in the price range.
Stock Cable
The LETSHUOER S08 follows the trend of offering a modular cable out of the box. The inclusion of such a cable is slowly becoming more common and is losing its novelty, but nevertheless, it is a welcome surprise at this price point.
The cable is made from a 4-core silver plated copper weave, with a brown colored tube wrapped around each wire. I did not observe any microphonics throughout my mixed desk and on-the-go testing.
The modular tips terminate at a straight angle and are held in place on a threaded jack, with the ring around the modular plug screwing onto it. After seeing this system for the first time on the Dunu Titan S2, it quickly became my preferred modular system.
The cable is not as nice as the braided paracord-style cable of the DUNU Titan S2, but the inclusion of a robust modular system is very good for this price range.
Packaging & Accessories
The S08 comes in a simple black box, with the unit’s name embossed in metallic grey text at the top. Inside the box, you get the IEMs, the included modular cable, the hardshell carrying case, and 6 pairs of ear tips.
The tips are comprised of vocal and balanced ear tips in 3 sizes, with the vocal ear tips attached to the shells by default.
The included circular carrying case is constructed out of a hard plastic, with a separate lid that screws onto the case body itself.
I found the case’s screw-on closing methods were substantially less convenient than the usual zipper-type cases that come with most IEMs. This, in addition to the case’s bulkier size, was the reason why I did not use it during my testing.
Sound Impressions
Bass
The S08 has a U-shaped tuning that delivers solid sub-bass and mid-bass performance with good impact and texture, especially for a planar magnetic IEM in this price range.
Kick drums and other instruments in the sub-bass region deliver hits with a chest-thumping sensation that remains tight and well textured.
Electric bass riffs in Pop-Rock tracks have a thick, weighty tonality that envelopes the whole track without bleeding too much into the mid-bass and mids region.
Percussive instruments in the mid-bass region have a natural-sounding tonality that hits deep with tight impact. This becomes prominent in well-recorded acoustic tracks wherein the S08 can expertly convey differences between strikes of the same Tom drum.
Coming from a mix of more neutral and more V-shaped IEMs, I enjoyed how the balance between being able to deliver bass that creates a good sense of excitement, without sacrificing too much tonal balance.
This combination of solid yet non-overbearing bass prevents the sound from muddying up the more intricate tones in the mids.
Mids
With the S08’s U-shaped tuning, its midrange presentation is more recessed compared to the bass and treble regions.
Vocals are articulate and clear but lack emotional energy found in more neutral IEMs such as the Moondrop Blessing 3. Female vocals come through with decent detail but are slightly recessed and don’t deliver the same level of impact as other IEMs with more neutral tuning.
Instruments like electric guitars and acoustic strings have good note weight. However, the S08 struggles with separating instruments in more complex arrangements.
In tracks with layered background vocals or multiple midrange instruments, notes can blend, losing some definition and clarity.
Despite this, instruments like acoustic guitars and vocals still come through with good fidelity and emphasis. The wide soundstage creates a sense of distance between the listener and the instruments, giving the impression of a spacious presentation.
I enjoyed listening to modern female pop music on the S08, despite its recessed vocal presentation. The vocal energy was enough for me to enjoy the vocal portions, while the emphasized bass and treble region contributed to an exciting soundscape that I preferred.
Treble
High-frequency instruments, such as cymbals and synths, are presented clearly and energetically which never comes off harsh.
Cymbals have just the right amount of energy and sparkle that give music a sense of air, while also having enough resolution to make strikes from different cymbals easily differentiable.
In more balladic, higher-pitched electric string instruments exhibit good energy and texture without sounding overly sharp.
Higher frequency synths in modern Pop music are presented in a forward manner that steals attention away from vocals in the mid-range, however they do so with good resolution while remaining non-fatiguing.
The emphasis on treble, combined with the strong bass, gives the S08 a fun, engaging sound that works particularly well for genres like Pop and Rock, where an energetic and punchy sound is key to an enjoyable listening experience.
Imaging
The S08’s imaging performance was sub-par, especially within the midrange. In more complex pop tracks, the S08 presented layers of string instruments and vocal tracks in a more compressed manner compared to its peers within the price range.
Since the instruments sounded like they were overlapping with one another, it was difficult to position them within a space. These instruments sounded like they were coming from a singular speaker that was positioned right in front of the listener.
Bass and treble instruments had better imaging performance. In rock tracks, I was able to place the different drums and cymbals behind me during fill-in portions. Even when the midrange starts to feel congested, the instruments in the bass and treble regions are easily placed and identifiable.
The S08’s soundstage is quite wide, but it doesn’t encompass a full 360 degrees. While the instruments in the midrange do have a compressed, overlapping tone, the wide soundstage makes the source of these midrange instruments sound far from the listener.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
