The $99 S08 is Letshuoer’s latest planar magnetic, single-driver in-ear monitor, celebrating the company’s 8th anniversary. It features a newly developed 13mm “fourth-generation” planar magnetic driver.
Letshuoer has achieved great success with the S12 PRO which has become a reference IEM in its price range. Currently, Letshuoer offers three planar magnetic single driver models: the S08, S12 PRO, and S15. The S12 PRO and S15 feature a slightly larger 14.8mm driver.
MAIN TAKEAWAY
- Fantastic bass
- Neutral to dark-sounding
- Smooth and polite yet detailed highs
- Not the widest soundstage
- Easy to drive
- Excellently build quality
- Very receptive to tip rolling
BUILD, TECH AND COMFORT
The Letshuoer S08 uses a custom fourth-generation 13mm planar driver, featuring nanoscopic magnetron sputtering technology to create the important tracing pattern on the diaphragm that the audio signal passes through. This process makes the copper of the circuit tracing deeply penetrate the diaphragm, enhancing stability and longevity and vibration control. There’s also an elastic PTR film around the diaphragm’s circuit tracing for improved extensibility and stability.
The S08 housing is CNC-machined aluminium and is very compact and light. I find it very comfortable. It’s available in black and silver finishes. The face plate’s design is made to resemble the number 8.
The cable is nice, made from 4 cores of 30-strand 0.05 mm silver-plated copper.
LETSHUOER S08 SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: Fourth generation 13mm planar magnetic driver
- Sensitivity: 105dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 40kHz
- Impedance: 26Ω
- Chassis Material: CNC anodized aluminum
- Cable: 4 x 30 strands x 0.05mm silver-plated copper
Reviewed at $99. We thank Letshuoer for sending us the review sample.
Check current price here:
- Linsoul: Letshuoer S08
- Amazon: Letshuoer S08
EAR TIPS
The Letshuoer S08 comes with 2 types of silicon ear tips called neutral and vocal. They’re both medium bore tips, but the vocal is a tiny bit wider and also stiffer. The vocal tips have less bass and slightly crisper highs than the neutral tips.
I also tried out my usual two favourite tips. The medium bore Spinfit CP145 tips and the wide bore Azla SednaEarFit Crysta tips. The CP145 is similar to the two supplied tips, the Crystal has a larger bore than the supplied vocal tips.
The sound is notably different between the two. It’s more focused and refined but polite with the CP145 tips, while the Crystals offer a fuller, meatier sound with more bass quantity and brighter treble, though they can sound somewhat busier. I like both, but I prefer the CP145. The CP145 tips also sound the closest to the supplied tips, but I prefer the fit and sound of the CP145 tips and will stick with those throughout the review unless stated otherwise.
STANDALONE LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
Associated equipment: Topping A90 amplifier with the RME ADI-2 DAC FS as source. The RME sounds excellent by itself, but it’s more practical for me to use the Topping. I used the Spinfit CP145 ear tips on the Letshuoer S08, which I, as mentioned, found to sound the best for me.
Jambi by Tool
The S08 delivers bass that’s both tight and detailed, providing a powerful presence without being overwhelming. Vocals are clearly defined with no sibilance issues, while the electric guitars are rich in texture. The treble is smooth and well-controlled.
The Golden Age by Beck
The guitar is crisp but not overly sharp. The S08 has great, linear-sounding bass with excellent definition but not overwhelming quantity. Beck’s vocals are nicely rendered, perhaps on the polite side but not recessed. There’s plenty of detail, and the soundstage and imaging are very good.
Lazarus by David Bowie
The S08’s bass is tight, precise, and present without being overpowering. Bowie’s vocals are detailed with plenty of nuance and texture, though they aren’t particularly rich, leaning more towards a neutral presentation. The treble is clear and well-defined without being harsh.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
The S08 delivers a beautiful and tender performance. The mids are in focus, but in a neutral way. The bass is nicely present and well-controlled, and the treble is smooth. Instrument separation is good.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
The bass is very textured, almost a bit dry. The vocals are detailed and well-rendered. The treble is clear yet smooth. The S08 also offers excellent separation of instruments.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The S08 has great bass with a nice, not overwhelming presence. It’s very clean. The trumpet is quite crisp, but the general presentation is very smooth and detailed.
Maple Noise by Greene Serene
The S08 is dynamic and spacious with this extremely dynamic track. The bass is very controlled and well-defined. The soundstage is large, and there’s plenty of detail, but it’s very smooth with no harshness or unpleasant edges. Excellent delivery overall.
It Could Be Sweet by Portishead
The S08 offers very tight yet full-bodied bass, delicate and present vocals with lots of nuance and a clear and smooth treble. Nice soundstage.
Rocket Man by Bob James Trio
The S08 delivers impressive bass quality, complemented by an open and spacious soundstage. It offers nuanced mids and delicate highs, all while maintaining a snappy and precise delivery.
Aquela Muhler by Vinicius Cantuaria
The S08 excels with its wonderfully controlled yet rich bass that remains well-balanced. Vocals are clear and present, though not the warmest. There’s plenty of detail and a spacious soundstage.
Mahler’s Symphony No.2 III by Paavo Järvi
The S08 sounds fantastic with the symphonic orchestra. It’s delightfully nuanced and renders subtle texture in the strings effortlessly. The soundstage is large, and the dynamic contrast is good.
Young Vivaldi Violin Concerto RV 820 III by Ensemble Modo Antiquo
The S08 renders this piece with excellent nuance and delicious timbre. It’s smooth and refined, delicate and airy.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Again, the S08 impresses. It has a great sense of space and instrument separation. There’s a gentle touch to the strings, yet there’s lots of texture and subtle detail.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sounds Signature
With the supplied vocal tips and my medium bore tips that I’ve used the most (CP145), I find the S08 to have a very neutral signature. The bass is present but not overdone, the midrange is well defined and articulate, and the highs are delicate and never harsh.
With the wide bore AZLA SednaEarFit Crystal tips, the bass is significantly heavier, and also fatter sounding. The treble is also crisper, making the sound signature with these tips more V-shaped (elevated bass and treble). The supplied neutral tips also give more bass, but they don’t sound as crisp as the Crystals.
My comments below are based on the CP145 tips.
Treble
The treble is very good. It’s smooth and refined, delicate and subtle. It’s better at microdynamics than microdynamics and very unfatiguing.
Midrange
The midrange is clear and present. It’s smooth and a bit polite, but not recessed. There’s good definition and texture, but also here, the microdynamics are better than the macrodynamics.
Bass
The bass is fantastic. It’s very well defined and has just the right amount of presence. It feels well balanced and doesn’t bleed into the mids in any way.
Soundstage and Imaging
The S08 has a nice soundstage with good imaging and layering.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
The S08 has very good detail retrieval across the frequency range. It presents detail in a refined, manner. Dynamics are good, but not spectacular. The most dynamic contrast is in the bass region. Generally, I find it to be very natural and neutral, not overly warm, and not clinical or dry.
COMPARISONS
FiiO FD15 vs. LETSHUOER S08
The FiiO FD15 is also a single-driver IEM, but it uses a dynamic driver instead of a planar magnetic. It’s got a compact metal housing like the S08, but it’s significantly heavier.
First, let me emphasize that both of these in-ear monitors are susceptible to tip rolling, and their sonic qualities will vary with different tips. I compared them using the Spinfit CP145 tips, which sound very good on both.I also used the standard black ring nozzles on the FD15, which are the most neutral and least bassy. The S08 requires significantly higher volume settings than the FD15. I compared them using the Topping A90 amp.
With the above-mentioned ear tips, the sound signatures of the FiiO FD15 and the Letshuoer S08 are relatively similar. They’re both quite neutral, with a well-balanced bass.
Starting with the treble, I find both to be smooth and definitely not too crisp or harsh. They’re both very detailed and have great timbre, but I find the FD15 to be more articulate and slightly crisper in the highs.
Regarding the midrange, the FD15 has a thicker, warmer, and richer presence, while the S08 is more neutral and not as lively, even though it’s got lots of detail. Timbre is good on both, but I have a weak spot for the incredible richness of the FD15’s midrange.
The bass differs not much in quantity, but in quality. The FD15 is rich and full but lacks a bit in terms of tightness and definition compared to the S08.
I find both IEMs to have a good sound stage with nice imaging. It depends a bit from track to track which of them I prefer, but generally the FD15 feels more intimate, the S08 slightly larger. The S08 has more detail in the bass; the FD15 might come off as slightly more detailed in the mids and highs.
Generally, the FD15 is more dynamic, but the S08 is quite good too and better in the bass. I find both to have a good timbre and tonality, preferring the midrange of the FD15 and the bass of the S08, with the treble being quite equal.
SIMGOT EA500LM vs. LETSHUOER S08
Simgot’s $89 dynamic single driver IEM is a beautifully crafted fingerprint magnet with great sound performance. It’s less demanding to drive for the amplifier than the S08. I compared them using the Topping A90 amp and the SpinFit CP145 tips on both pairs.
Although they both are relatively neutral in absolute terms, the EA500LM offers a different listening experience than the Letshuoer S08.
The EA500LM is characterized by its sparkly and articulate sound, making details easy to discern. It provides a good, full bass but can have a rather bright midrange and treble. In contrast, the S08 matches the EA500LM in bass quantity while offering slightly better definition. Its sound profile is generally darker and more subtle in the mids and highs, resulting in a thicker and fuller overall sound.
SENNHEISER IE200 vs. LETSHUOER S08
Sennheiser IE200 is a very small in-ear monitor with a 7 mm single dynamic driver. Its plastic housing is even lighter and more compact than the S08’s.
In terms of sound signature, the S08 offers a richer and deeper bass with an emphasis on subbass, as well as fuller and thicker mids and darker highs. In contrast, the IE200 provides crisper mids and brighter highs. None of them are extreme in terms of frequency response and provide relatively neutral listening experiences.
The crisper and brighter treble gives the IE200 a more dynamic sound without necessarily adding more detail. In the midrange, the IE200 sounds thinner and brighter, while the S08 provides a darker tone and more substantial body. When it comes to bass, the S08 is clearly superior.
The IE200 is more open and spacious sounding. The imaging capabilities are comparable to the S08. The IE200 may seem more detailed, but the S08 also has a lot of detail, but presents it in a subtler and more polite manner.
The S08 excels in bass dynamics, while the IE200 offers more dynamic midrange and treble. However, the S08 can be comfortably played at higher volumes without distortion or fatigue, which makes it really come to life.
LETSHUOER S12 PRO vs. S08
The S12 PRO is famous for its great bass and general performance. Even though the S08 comes close, there’s still some distance left in most areas.
Starting with the bass, the quantity is quite equal, but the S12 Pro has better detail. The midrange is equally detailed but slightly brighter and crisper with the S12 PRO. The S12 PRO‘s treble, however, is significantly crisper and brighter. This is for some the “weak spot” of the S12 PRO, it can become a bit too hot in the upper registries. The S08 is definitely not having that problem. It is generally darker and more laidback-sounding, with a thicker and fuller tonality.
Even though it the S08 is a great IEM, it cannot quite match the detail level of the S12 PRO. Further, the sound stage is markedly smaller on the S08. The S12 PRO with the treble of the S08 would be quite ideal.
AMPLIFICATION
So far, the listening tests have been conducted with my portable desktop setup for convenience. However, most users will likely use the S08 with portable amps and sources.
I start out with Quboz on my POCO F5 phone’s headphone output. It sounds very good. I could easily be happy with this sound for a weekend trip. It stays in the +/-50% volume range.
The Jade / FiiO JA11 sounds a little better, the xDuoo Link2 Bal even more. The THX Onyx is ok, but nothing special given its high price. The Dragonfly Cobalt sounds very good, clear with great definition, sounding very close to my desktop rig. However, my favourite portable DAC/Amp for the Letshuoer S08 is the $89 Letshuoer DT03. It’s almost on the level of the Cobalt in terms of detail but has a warmer tonality that I find a appealing.
CONCLUSION
The S08 offers a balanced, detailed sound characterized by warm, tight bass, lush, clear midrange, and smooth, refined treble.
The S08 is well-built, lightweight, and compact. It performs excellently with both portable and desktop setups, particularly well with Letshuoer’s DT03 portable DAC/Amp. Additionally, its sound profile can be significantly altered through tip rolling.
While it doesn’t make Letshuoer’s S12 PRO obsolete, the S08 offers a different tuning with sweeter treble at a more affordable price.
There is no shortage of competition around the $100 mark for IEMs, but if you’re looking for a neutral to dark-leaning IEM, the S08 certainly deserves a spot on your list. It might be exactly what you’re after.
You can purchase here:
- Linsoul: Letshuoer S08
- Amazon: Letshuoer S08
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