Today, Kurt reviews the LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition, a limited-run in-ear monitor with an upgraded 14.8mm single planar driver priced at $199.
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 in more detail here.
The LETSHUOER S12 Pro was one of the most well-received planar IEMs during its initial run.
At the time, I felt it had one of the most distinct bass responses from a planar IEM at this price point. However, it did have its tuning issues, one of which was the mids timbre from its planar driver.
Now, with a new S12 2024 version priced at $199, how does it compare to the original S12 Pro and the other planar IEMs on the market?
Features
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition has an upgraded 14.8mm custom planar magnetic driver.
It’s similar to the one used on the S12 Pro, however, LETSHUOER claims that superior materials have been used to enhance the soundstage and create a higher level of resolution over the Pro version.
The 2024 edition is rated at 16Ω and 102 dB so there is no change here on paper from the original S12.
Design
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition has one of the most lustrous and shiny designs I have seen on an IEM at this price point.
The colors on it are split between gold and black. The faceplate is gold-plated while the shell is solid black, not opaque or transparent like many IEMs.
The design is very similar to the original S12 but instead of having different color options, it’s now combined into one.
However, the materials used on the S12 2024 Edition are much more premium this time with a titanium alloy combined with high-precision CNC milling.
The name, product number, and left-right labels are printed on the edge of the faceplate. Since there are only 2,024 units of the S12 2024 Edition, each unit will have a unique product number.
Comfort & Isolation
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition is an incredibly comfortable IEM to wear. It feels like my ears and the IEM are a puzzle piece set with how well they fit together.
The S12 2024 Edition is a relatively compact IEM, lacking sharp corners and edges that should work well with most ear sizes and shapes.
Wearing this daily for 6 hours or more while doing desk work didn’t give me any discomfort. There isn’t much temperature retention as well so it doesn’t absorb heat or cold that well.
Isolation is satisfactory. I could get more isolation if the shells were bigger, but that would be trading away some of the great comfort in the process.
I wouldn’t use it for outside use though. That shiny gold design is quite the eye-catching design that I would avoid wearing outside.
Tips
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition has 3 different sets of tips. It’s quite a diverse set to fit most needs.
The first set of ear tips is the common ones we normally see. It is a generic black silicone ear tip type that I find doesn’t give the sound a noticeable lift in performance.
I found the second set of ear tips better for my preferences and they are the ones I would recommend using. It has that right balance of firmness and texture while being wide bore that helps the treble shine more.
The third set is memory foam which was my least favorite due to the dampening of the treble and bass in the presentation.
Stock Cable
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition continues its line of excellent modular cables. From the base S12, the S12 Pro, and now the S12 2024 Edition, LETSHUOER has hit a home run with the cables.
It has a lightweight 2-core cable with 392 strands of silver-plated copper cable inside each.
The overall cable is wrapped in plastic and its texture is more on the rough side. Its color is mixed between dark silver and black and from a distance it has a seamless aesthetic.
Since it’s modular, we have 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm plugs available. All three of these are gold-plated and easily changeable.
The divider and 0.78mm connectors are gold-plated as well. Meanwhile, the chin slider is circular, plastic, and transparent but is easily moveable.
Packaging & Accessories
LETSHUOER commemorates this refresh of the S12 properly. It’s been 2 years since the beloved S12 and S12 Pro released so this 2024 Edition is more a collector’s edition right now.
With only 2,024 units available, LETSHUOER didn’t cut corners with the accessories. Starting with the box, its outside design color is a mixture of gold-silver depending on the light.
A big 8th is printed on the front of the box along with the LETSHUOER name, S12 2024 Edition, and 8th Anniversary printed on it. On the back, the technical details, like the sensitivity, driver, and chassis material, and more info, about the IEM are shown there.
Opening it, we get a black card with the LETSHUOER on it. Inside it, we get a variety of ear tips, guides, warranty cards, and commemoration cards.
Then a big shiny golden model is revealed underneath it. It’s a palm-sized medal with the same design as the front box.
Underneath that is where the IEM, carrying case, and a black box. The black box with the LETSHUOER name contains a lanyard that can be used to either carry the medal or something else.
The carrying case is unique though. It has a powdered and smooth finish which is a nice touch.
Inside it, the cable and different plugs are found. The inner space isn’t that spacious so only the IEMs along with a tiny dongle can fit there.
Sound Impressions
Bass
The previous S12 was described as having a planar with dynamic driver bass, so it’s no surprise the S12 2024 still retains that trait. This is an impressive bass performance but also one that is deceiving for the driver it uses.
The S12 2024 is heavier on its sub-bass than the mid-bass so bass bleed is reduced and power is enhanced with greater separation from the mids
Also, the bass texture is instantly noticeable. I hear and feel the sub-bass detail, which I commonly don’t pick up from planar IEMs, a surprising but welcome upgrade.
Mids
This is the area I had an issue with on the S12 Pro. The strong planar timbre made it unenjoyable for me. Fortunately, the S12 2024 driver upgrade seems to have fixed this, at least subjectively.
Male and female vocals are natural and pleasing in tone while still being a proper center point of the music. They are also not so pushed as to become overly shouty or bright. The vocals are cleaner with an accurate tonal representation.
I would say the timbre is now neutral to natural rather than the previous S12 and it is also more resolving to my ear as a result of this change.
Treble
People had issues with the treble of the previous S12 Pro. They say it sounded too energetic, too fatiguing, and somewhat intolerable for some.
Like with the mids, the treble of the S12 2024 is now tamer, less peaky, and less energetic. Prolonged listening sessions with it doesn’t feel as fatiguing anymore.
The top-notch detail retrieval is still there with a more resolving and satisfying transient performance.
Sibilance has also become a non-issue. I couldn’t get any hint of sibilance from it even when trying out very sibilant music.
Staging & Dynamics
The staging and imaging of the S12 2024 have been improved by the new driver. It’s a change that’s easily observable and experienced.
The staging of the S12 2024 is quite wide. It’s not the widest, but it’s wider than average though there is no apparent height or depth.
Its imaging is the better of the two. The positioning or placement of the vocals and instruments are where they should be, such as centered vocals and instruments playing around my head.
Its dynamics are just average. There are times when the vocals, bass, or treble overpowers everything and lose a bit of control, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a quick fix for this even after trying it out on different sources.
Synergy
Efficiency
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition’s impedance rating of 16Ω and an SPL of 102 dB/mW make it easy to run on a portable device. The only personal issue I had with it is that it’s susceptible to static and hissing.
Using the IEMs directly with a DAP or any device with a 3.5mm jack there is no static noise. The loudness is sufficient as well and could still go louder.
The problem is using it while plugged into my computer or laptop with its charger plugged in. This seems to be an issue with having no grounding in the outlets.
I needed to use a ground loop isolator to stop the static. Using it didn’t impede the sound performance at all.
Pairings
The LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition isn’t picky with sources. Using any device with a 3.5mm jack gives me enough loudness at around 60% to 70%. Playing at a lower volume level will generate a weaker bass performance.
Using the Colorfly CDA-M2 or M1P gives me a similar performance at around 40% loudness. It also increases the clarity of its mids without affecting the tonality.
Using a more portable dongle like the FiiO JA11 or KA11 didn’t present any loudness problems but it makes it sound brighter than usual.
Select Comparisons
LETSHUOER S12 Pro
Technical
The LETSHUOER S12 Pro uses a custom 14.8mm planar driver. This driver was praised for producing a bass performance similar to a dynamic driver.
The S12 Pro has an SPL of 102 dB and 16Ω of impedance making it easy to run on any device regardless if it’s a phone, DAP, or dongle.
It also comes with a modular cable with 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm plugs so all PO connection port sizes are covered without issue.
The LETSHUOER S12 Pro keeps the same design as the regular S12. It still has that rounded, no edges, and no cornered design.
It only has one color choice, sky blue. Its chassis is made of CNC aluminum making it feel very durable. There is one vent on its shell to alleviate any ear pressure. It also retains the signature protruding 0.78mm connectors of the S12.
Performance
These two are identical in most ways except for the driver and tuning adjustments. The difference they have is where it matters though.
From the bass, I could only feel and hear the improvement from the S12 2024. That cleaner, snappier, and sub-bass-focused tuning is a great positive change.
The S12 Pro has more bloat in comparison. Its sub-bass isn’t as satisfying as the S12 2024 when switching between them.
The mids and treble is where the changes are more obvious. The accuracy of the timbre, vocal cleanliness, and imaging are better with the S12 2024.
Firstly, the S12 2024 removes the strong planar timbre, increases vocal clarity, and improves vocal detail retrieval. Going back to the S12 Pro becomes difficult after hearing the improvements.
Secondly, the staging and imaging get a sizeable boost in width and accuracy. Thirdly, the sparkle and energy get toned down a lot, preventing it from sounding as fatiguing.
Overall, the S12 2024 is a proper refresh that addresses all the issues the S12 Pro had.
TRN Azure Dragon
Technical
The TRN Azure Dragon also has a 14.6mm planar driver. It’s a second-generation planar driver from TRN equipped with a 7 + 7 N52 Neodymium magnet structure.
The diaphragm is only 2 micrometers, which gives it exceptional response speeds and increased clarity.
The TRN Azure Dragon has a unique and unseen design for an IEM inspired by a Chinese Giant Dragon called ‘Canglong’. The faceplate design resembles the head of the dragon with a blue shell mimicking the dragon’s scale color.
The TRN Azure Dragon also features a modular cable. It has 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm plugs available.
Performance
Both IEMs have dynamic driver-like bass, but the LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition does it better. Specifically, the sub-bass is way stronger and more satisfying.
That additional sub-bass made way for a deeper-sounding experience, something that the Azure Dragon’s light sub-bass tuning couldn’t compete with.
The mids are more or less the same. Neither has a strong planar timbre, but if I have to call for one over the other, the Azure Dragon has a slightly stronger coloration.
Their take on vocals is different though. The S12 2024 keeps a warmer tonality while the Azure Dragon has a brighter tuning.
The treble is evenly matched with detail retrieval is on par. However, the Azure Dragon has more energy and sparkle that trebleheads will appreciate.
The staging and imaging are where the Azure Dragon punches above the S12 2024. Its staging is a bit wider with a proper sense of depth and height that the S12 2024 doesn’t match.
The difference in accuracy compared to the S12 2024’s imaging isn’t that obvious without direct testing but overall, just slightly more accurate to my ear.
My Verdict
By fixing the planar timbre and fatiguing treble while upgrading the bass performance, LETSHUOER has figured out the correct S12 planar formula.
Along with an excellent modular cable, a jewelry-like IEM design, and even a golden medal, the LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition is a competitive planar IEM package at this price point.
The only issue is that this is limited to 2,024 units so they are unlikely to be around for that long.
LETSHUOER S12 2024 Edition Technical Specifications
- Driver Type: One (1x) 14.8mm planar driver
- Plug: Modular (2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm) 0.78mm termination
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 40kHz
- Impedance: 16@1kHz
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/Vrms
