Today, Meldrick reviews the LETSHUOER S08, a single universal in-ear monitor with custom 13mm planar magnetic driver that is currently priced at $99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me to give my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no links or affiliate status. I appreciate LETSHUOER for your support.
Click here to read more about LETSHUOER Products previously tested at Headfonics.
Please note that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read here.
LETSHUOER S08 Review
Summary
The LETSHUOER S08 is a set of well-built and tuned planar magnetic IEMs for under $100. Despite not being as resolving as other planar IEMs, its smooth U-shaped sound signature creates an exciting listening experience that doesn't sacrifice midrange performance.
Advantages
Good percussive presentation.
Robust build quality.
Comfortable fit.
Cons
Poor instrument separation
LETSHUOER is no stranger to the planar magnetic IEM space, with its previous T12 achieving almost legendary status as one of the first IEMs that ushered in the era of planar magnetic IEMs two years ago.
Now, LETSHUOER is trying to recapture that same magic with its new S08 IEM, which is currently priced at $99.
Featuring a fourth-generation planar driver and modular cable, this particular model sits in the middle of their IEM lineup.
To learn more about the S08's performance and how it compares to similarly priced flat IEMs such as the Hidiz MP145 and P20 by ShozyYou can read my full review below.
Characteristics
The S08 uses LETSHUOER's fourth-generation planar magnetic driver. According to LETSHUOER, this is the first version of their planar drivers with a “dual voice coil” placed at the front and rear of the diaphragm.
LETSHUOER's fourth-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 26 Ω with an SPL of 105 dB/mW at 1 kHz, so it should run fairly easily but can also scale with quality power.
Lastly, the S08 comes with a modular cable ready to use. With interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, this opens up the IEM's compatibility with a wide range of sources, from simple smartphones to high-end desktop DAC/AMP units.
Design
The housing of the LETSHUOER S08 is constructed of CNC machined aluminum and consists 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 from a single piece of aluminum.
The material used is cool to the touch and has a matte anodized finish, available in silver or black color combinations, while my review unit is grey. The texture and machining of the case 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 bumps and scratches. Compared to other metal IEMs, the case rarely showed fingerprints. I appreciated this as most other metal IEMs show signs of wear after a few hours of listening.
According to LETSHUOER, the faceplate incorporates the design features of the “S” and “8” symbols in the S08 name. This gives it a captivating appearance, with symmetrical swirls that blend perfectly into the raised, serrated part of the shell.
I prefer LETSHUOER's philosophy of using shapes instead of colors and two-dimensional patterns to give their IEMs a visual touch. The design is inherently objective, but I think this creates a more subdued aesthetic that only stands out upon closer inspection.
Comfort and isolation
The comfort of the LETSHUOER S08 is decent and quite good compared to other metal case IEMs.
While they're no lighter than the Shozy P20, the more ergonomic shape of the S08 fits better in the ear and made me forget I was wearing them in the first place.
I didn't notice any sharp edges pushing against my ear, nor did I feel the weight move away from my ear during the testing period.
For a vented IEM, the S08 has decent isolation performance. Without music playing through them, I could still hear some mid-level conversations, but low-frequency sounds from the air conditioners were easily blocked out.
When playing music, it blocks conversations and road noise better. Its insulation performance is on par with its peers in the price range.
common wire
The LETSHUOER S08 follows the trend of offering a ready-to-use modular cable. The inclusion of such a cable is becoming increasingly common and losing its novelty, but it is still a pleasant surprise at this price.
The cable is made of a 4-core silver-plated copper weave, with brown tubing wrapped around each wire. I didn't notice any microphones during my combined desktop and on-the-fly testing.
The modular tips end at a right angle and are held in place over a threaded jack, with the ring around the modular socket threading into it. After first seeing this system on the Dunu Titan S2, it quickly became my preferred modular system.
The cable is not as nice as the paracord style braided cable on the DUNU Titan S2but the inclusion of a robust modular system is very good for this price range.
Packaging and accessories
The S08 comes in a simple black box, with the unit name engraved in metallic gray text on the top. Inside the box are the IEMs, the included modular cable, the hard case, and 6 pairs of ear tips.
The tips are made up of vocal and balanced ear tips in 3 sizes, with the vocal ear tips attached to the earcups by default.
The included circular carrying case is constructed of hard plastic, with a separate lid that screws to the body of the case.
I found the case's screw closure methods to be substantially less convenient than the usual zippered cases that come with most IEMs. This, in addition to the bulkier size of the case, was the reason I didn't use it during my testing.
Sound impressions
Low
The S08 has a U-shaped tuning that offers 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 feel that remains taut and well-textured.
Electric bass riffs on pop-rock tracks have a thick, heavy tonality that envelops the entire track without bleeding too much into the low-mid and midrange region.
Percussion instruments in the mid-bass region have a natural sounding tonality that hits deeply with a strong impact. This becomes prominent on well-recorded acoustic tracks where the S08 can expertly convey differences between hits of the same Tom drum.
Coming from a mix of more neutral and more V-shaped IEMs, I enjoyed 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 but not overbearing bass prevents the sound from muddying the more complex midrange tones.
media
With the S08's U-shaped tuning, its midrange presentation is more set back compared to the bass and treble regions.
Vocals are articulate and clear, but lack the emotional energy found in more neutral IEMs, like the Moondrop Blessing 3. Female vocals have decent detail, but are slightly recessed and don't offer 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 has difficulty separating instruments in more complex arrangements.
On tracks with layered background vocals or multiple midrange instruments, notes can blend together, losing some definition and clarity.
Despite this, instruments such as acoustic guitars and vocals still sound with good fidelity and emphasis. The wide soundstage creates a feeling 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 watered down vocal presentation. The vocal energy was enough for me to enjoy the vocal parts, while the emphasized bass and treble region contributed to an exciting soundscape that I preferred.
Triple
High-frequency instruments such as cymbals and synthesizers are presented clearly and energetically, never harsh.
The cymbals have just the right amount of energy and brightness to give the music an airy feel, while also having enough resolution to make hits from different cymbals easily distinguishable.
On more balladic, higher-pitched electric string instruments they exhibit good energy and texture without sounding too high-pitched.
The higher frequency synths in modern pop music are presented in a direct manner that draws attention away from the vocals in the midrange, yet they do so with good resolution without being fatiguing.
The emphasis on treble, combined with powerful bass, gives the S08 a fun and engaging sound that works particularly well for genres such as pop and rock, where an energetic, punchy sound is key to an enjoyable listening experience.
Images
The S08's imaging performance was below average, especially within the mid-range. On 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 as if they overlapped each other, it was difficult to place them within one space. These instruments sounded as if they were coming from a singular speaker that was placed right in front of the listener.
Bass and treble instruments had better imaging performance. On the rock tracks, I was able to place the different drums and cymbals behind me during the fill parts. Even when the midrange starts to feel congested, instruments in the bass and treble regions are easily located and identified.
The S08's soundstage is quite wide, but it doesn't cover a full 360 degrees. While midrange instruments have a compressed, layered tone, the wide soundstage makes the source of these midrange instruments sound far from the listener.
Click on page 2 below to see my recommended combinations and selected comparisons.
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