With letshuoer As they celebrate their eighth anniversary in 2024, they launched a special edition of in-ear monitors that are perfect to accompany that celebration. He IEM S12 Limited Edition 2024 They are a revamped version of the already popular S12 and S12 Pro, and have a planar magnetic driver to deliver incredible sound. It sells for $199 and today we look at all the details, from aesthetics to sound quality.
What comes in the box
- IEM S12
- Monocrystalline copper cable
- Interchangeable terminations
- Matte Hard Carrying Case
- x9 ear pads
- Commemorative Keychain
Aesthetics and Functionality
LETSHUOER created these IEMs to celebrate, and that's exactly the vibe it shows. They take the shape and design of the original S12 and make them with a titanium alloy casing and copper and black accents. The finish makes the body elegant and the low weight behind it shows the high quality. It's close to the lowest price compared to their other IEMs, but you wouldn't expect that based on the feel. It was comfortable to place in the ear and was not in danger of falling out at any time while listening.
Getting them up and running was very simple. With three different termination connector options, the S12 allows you to fit almost any audio setup. I used the FiiO KA11 portable DAC/amplifier to give it an extra boost and connected the headphones to my computer. Listening began almost immediately and I set about taking notes on the sound signature.
Technical specifications
- Sensitivity: 102dB
- Frequency response: 20Hz-40kHz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Shell material: lightweight titanium alloy shell
- Cable: 1.2 m 392-wire silver-plated monocrystalline copper
- Drivers: 14.8mm flat magnetic drive
Hearing check
sound stage
The soundstage of these IEMs is very wide and exceptionally detailed. I have no problem placing instruments in the field and its precise imaging makes the listening experience very immersive. While they don't have any active noise cancellation technology, I don't think it's something I'm missing out on. The natural seal of the IEMs was enough to isolate me from the outside world and give me a focused listening experience. The sound signature leaned towards the positive side, as expected for a planar magnetic IEM. The frequencies remained dynamic, delivering powerful bass and brilliant highs.
Low frequencies
The S12 has some really strong lows. With planar magnetic drivers, the bass tends to sound a little synthetic or fake, and I found those qualities in this pair of IEMs. Despite that, the bass was still punchy and deep and drove the songs with ease. The detail and clarity was there, and that made this range even more enjoyable. The range doesn't get muddy or too crowded with heavy bass – it stays balanced with the rest of the frequencies. Listening to metal and hard rock showed great bass qualities and the rumble of bass, kick drums and vocal growls.
Midrange frequencies
This mid-range is very detailed and arrives as the most prominent part of the firm. The voices in particular are given prominence and the rest of the instruments are built around them. I like the level of detail you can hear on these and as someone who appreciates a lot of harmonies, these deliver in that regard. These frequencies show a lot of texture and color, especially on tracks with many different post-production effects. I watched some movie scenes and was impressed with the details I was able to capture on the monitors while watching some of my favorite clips.
High frequencies
The high end is airy and bright, full of color and brightens any mix. It was a good balance for some of the bass though, because that range leaned towards the brighter side. The flat magnetic sound comes through loud and clear, and can be a little overpowering on tracks that have a lot in the upper range. I found that even some voices were a bit shrill. However, I didn't mind that clarity when combined with deep bass. Some pop hits, indie tracks, and even classical pieces really accentuated the brightness and clarity that planar magnetic drivers provide.
Summary
To conclude, LETSHUOER has fulfilled the celebration of its company. With a brilliant sound signature and aesthetics to match, the limited edition S12s are a great piece of hardware. If you're not a fan of overly bright sound or are sensitive to treble, you might want to consider listening to these before purchasing. For people who appreciate higher tones and don't like a lot of bass, these are definitely for you. For $199, this is a great quality in-ear monitor at a great price that is sure to be a valuable addition to anyone's collection.
You can reserve the Limited edition T12 today.
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