When Elegance Transcends Sound

Ratings

Pros

• Excellent tuning, very consistent and balanced across all ranges.
• Balanced sound, warm/analytical, musical, informative, technical, wide, transparent, clear and extensive.
• Deep and wide soundstage.
• Great precision, resolution and detail.
• All sound ranges are very remarkable.
• Great design, better construction.
• Very good accessories, very good metal case inherited from the Mystic 8.
• Outstanding ergonomics.

Cons

• The Clarion silicone tips are small for my ears.
• Some may find the cable a bit thin.
• The mature and balanced tuning may not appeal to those looking for a more striking sound.

Purchase Link

https://letshuoer.net/es/products/letshuoer-dx1-11mm-single-dynamic-driver-earphones-hifi-in-ear-monitor

Link to the WEB

https://letshuoer.net/

Introduction

It seems that LetShuoer has left its eighth anniversary behind with the intention of continuing to surprise, and has now launched a new IEM model with a dynamic driver that impresses with its exterior design. The DX1 features an electroplated stainless steel housing with an elegant, smooth texture and a high-end metallic finish. Its champagne gold diamond pattern panel complements the geometric diamond topology coating of the controller. The shape of the housing is ergonomically designed, based on LetShuoer’s years of experience in custom headphones, which prevents pressure on the ear canal that can occur with prolonged use.
The dynamic driver used is developed in-house by LetShuoer and uses an 11mm unit with a diamond-shaped diaphragm. The diaphragm used has been coated with aluminium and magnesium alloy nanoparticles. This pattern precisely adjusts the frequency and amplitude of the diaphragm’s vibration, allowing for more precise control of sound wave propagation. This significantly reduces distortion caused by modal breakup, improving the expressiveness of the sound quality, resulting in a fuller tone, wider dynamic range, and more vivid musical expression. All parts of the dynamic driver unit are designed and manufactured using a high-precision CNC process, ensuring maximum component accuracy to minimise sound distortion.
The DX1 features a 5 kHz notch filter that attenuates specific frequencies. This reduces excess energy or resonance around 5 kHz to minimise distortion, improving sound detail, purity and accuracy. The result is a smoother, clearer and more balanced sound. Its warm sound also reduces listening fatigue, making it ideal for extended listening sessions.
The DX1 includes a 256-core silver-plated monocrystalline copper braided and shielded cable. The monocrystalline copper wires are intertwined using Litz construction, combined with silver shielding to improve conductivity, allowing for more detailed audio signal transmission and an overall balanced improvement in sound quality. The DX1 features a 2-pin 0.78mm connection interface and its cable can be chosen with a 3.5mm SE or 4.4mm BAL plug. It also includes three sets of silicone tips and the new round metal carrying case with a rubber lid that was used in the LetShuoer Mystic 8. But perhaps the most incredible thing is the starting price: LetShuoer offers all this for 159$. Let’s take a look at the rest of the features and sound quality in the following review.

Specifications

• Driver type: 11mm dynamic driver with diamond-shaped diaphragm coated with aluminium and magnesium alloy nanoparticles.
• Frequency response: 20Hz-40kHz.
• Sensitivity: 108dB.
• Impedance: 30Ω.
• Cable Type: 256-core braided and shielded silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable intertwined using Litz construction.
• Jack Connector: Choice of 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL right angle.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Starting Price: 159$.

Packaging

The DX1 box is silver, measuring 156x106x66mm. On the front, you can see the design of the outer surface of the capsules in extended form. The gold nut covers the ends, the interior is in silver columns, and the model name is displayed in large letters in the centre. One third of the way up is the brand name and slogan. On the back are the specifications in several languages and the details at the bottom of the box, as well as the guarantee seal. Once the outer cardboard is removed, a completely white box is revealed with the logo in silver in the lower right corner and the brand name engraved in the upper left corner. When the lid is lifted, the capsules can be seen inside a white foam mould covered with cardboard of the same colour. Below is a box with the accessories. Under this first layer is the round metal box with a black rubber lid with the logo engraved in the centre. The complete contents are as follows:

• The two DX1 capsules.
• A round metal box with a black rubber lid with the logo engraved in the centre.
• A 256-core silver monocrystalline copper braided and shielded cable intertwined using Litz construction. It has a dark grey Velcro strip with the brand name in white letters to hold it in place.
• Instruction manual.
• Warranty card.
• Three pairs of translucent white silicone tips, rounded shape, sizes SxMxL.
• Three pairs of translucent white silicone tips with black core, more conical shape, sizes SxMxL.
• Three pairs of transparent silicone tips in translucent white, coloured cores according to size, hybrid conical shape with fine edge finish, sizes SxMxL (Tri Clarion).

The presentation stands out in the same way as the design of the capsules. The cable and its design are very elegant. The round box, the same as that of the much more expensive Mystic 8 model, deserves special mention. The three sets of silicone tips are also worth mentioning, especially the hybrid model. The downside is that the largest size in this set is too small for my ears, making it unusable for testing. Perhaps they should consider creating larger sizes for a segment of the population that includes me. My ears are not large, only my ear canals are.

Construction and Design

The capsule is made of stainless steel, is fairly small in size and has a very ergonomic shape that is easy to adjust. It is a mixture of industrial design, with that golden hexagonal nut-shaped piece that forms the outer ring. The plate inside has a wavy shape and a micro-rough surface with the name inscribed at the bottom, near the edge. The shape of the capsules, at the edge, is round, except for the piece that houses the 2-pin 0.78 mm connection interface, which is rectangular in shape. There are two holes near the connection interface. The inner side breaks away from this round shape and forms a sloping cone with the nozzle, which is made from a single piece. There is another hole near the base of the nozzles. The nozzle begins with a step that leads to a cylinder with a diameter of 5.8 mm. The crown measures 6.4 mm and its hole is protected by a metal grille. The letter indicating the channel is engraved on the outer face of the piece containing the connection interface. The entire inner face of the capsule is polished and finished with a mirror effect that is a magnet for fingerprints.
The cable consists of a gold-plated 4.4 mm BAL plug with a 90° angled connector. It has a smooth, shiny metal casing that surrounds a transparent piece housing the cable solder joint with the plug. The brand name is inscribed on the edge near the plug. The cable is protected by the plug cover and consists of two strands twisted together. It is a cable with a transparent PVC cover made of 256-core silver-plated monocrystalline copper. The splitter piece is a flattened oval-shaped cylinder, also metallic, smooth and shiny. The pin has the same shape, but is made of transparent plastic and has two holes through which each single cable passes to each capsule. The gold-plated 2-pin 0.78 mm connection interface cover is transparent and angled, allowing you to see the soldering of the cable to the pins. The cable is very attractive, matching the shine of the capsules. It has a Velcro strap for careful storage.
LetShuoer knows how to make a good design, very elegant, distinctive, solid and shiny. I really like the design of this capsule.

Adjustment and Ergonomics

For a stainless steel capsule, it feels heavy. LetShuoer has had to work hard on the ergonomics of this model so that the weight does not compromise ergonomics. And they have succeeded. Although it is also true that I have had trouble finding silicone tips that take full advantage of the design and small size of this capsule. I have used the large crystal-type silicone tips that come with the 7Hz Timeless II and filled them with foam taken from conventional foam tips, but removing their internal rubber core. This gave me a great grip, thanks to the adhesive material of the crystal-type capsules, and the internal foam reinforcement provides extra pressure that promotes the physical transmission of sound waves and more pronounced isolation, fit, pressure and comfort. This results in a very durable, non-slip fit and a high level of comfort. The small size of the capsules and their ergonomics with the cable create a combination that causes almost no friction in my ears, and even the cable over the ear is not uncomfortable. This way, the weight feels negligible and does not affect comfort. The model can be worn for hours without any pressure as its fit is practically floating.
The sound achieved with these tips in combination with the foam inside is the best I have found for my preferences.

Sound

Profile

The LetShuoer DX1s have a fairly balanced, smooth profile in w, as evidenced by the fact that their FR moves less than 10dB between 20Hz and 10kHz. And it would be less if it weren’t for the pleasant emphasis on the sub-bass. It is a gentle rise at the lower end of the FR that descends smoothly towards the midrange to become a broad plateau truncated by a gentle rise towards 2kHz, then alternating slight drops with subtle peaks until that point in the air zone where the FR fades. Without a doubt, this is a beautiful curve that promises full, homogeneous, balanced and controlled musicality across the entire audible range.

Bass

It’s clear that the DX1s are not Bass-Head IEMS, but they do have the right driver and tuning for Bass-Lovers like me. The bass starts emphasised on the lower note and subtly slides towards the midrange. In the very low frequency pure tone test, the quality of the driver and tuning is noticeable. The 20Hz tone starts very deep, sensory, physical and without a hint of waviness or vibration. It is completely free and devoid of any artefacts that could negatively affect the execution of the LFOs. And this is true for all bass notes. The bass development is of very high physical and sonic quality. The result is a very natural, dark and deep bass, slightly rough to mark a necessary texture. But the aluminium and magnesium alloy diaphragm is also very fast, executing the bass drums quickly and without decay. The bass is dry, tight, very well controlled, while showing a good dose of power, punch and forcefulness. Without a doubt, the dark and deep colour of the bass, with that mid-bass limited at its sweet spot, provides shape, volume and a very rich experience throughout the low end. In the dirty, complex and unfiltered bass test, the DX1 demonstrates that mastery in its tuning is a degree that is accompanied by the technical ability of the driver used. Any bass, no matter how complex, is kept under control and executed excellently with the DX1. Everything is just right: the roughness, the texture, the colour, the physical component, the speed, the decay, the generation of layers, the stratification. Without a doubt, I love the bass of the DX1 and praise its tuning, cleanliness, refinement, resolution, depth, texture, colour, punch, weight, control, speed… Practically everything…? I talk a lot about canonical bass lately. So much so that it can lose its meaning. But the bass of the DX1 is the paradigm that is also well tuned, specifically to my taste.

Mids

The transition from bass to midrange is smooth, and the central range begins with a broad plateau. The cleanliness of the bass carries just a hint of warmth, and there is no bleeding thanks to an almost flat mid-bass. The depth of the bass contrasts with the body and physicality of the first part of the central range. Both the instrumentation and the vocals are very present in the mix, creating a very full, broad and complete sound. The balance between female and male vocals is very well achieved, which brings a level of homogeneity superior to the DX1’s mids. Without a doubt, this triple achievement of deep bass with relative forcefulness that allows both male and female vocals to remain at the forefront of the mix and both in balance (perhaps the physical part predominates) is something that is not at all common in this price range. And to achieve all this with the necessary power, speed, dynamics, precision and control, as well as tonal balance, a natural, neutral, somewhat warm and highly musical timbre, is when one must comment that this is an excellent model in the midrange section. I do not consider these to be midrange-focused IEMS. But their overall balance allows the midrange to shine, coming across as very complete, complex, smooth, pleasant, musical, highly enjoyable and very realistic. There are no typical gaps in the first half of the midrange, no trace of muddiness due to an exaggerated tuning between the bass and midrange, no forced search for clarity and transparency due to exaggerated upper midrange. There are no tricks or gimmicks of this kind. The mids enjoy neutral transparency, meticulous cleanliness, controlled but perceptible clarity, embraced by an almost analytical warmth. So it is clear that LetShuoer has achieved a sound with the DX1 that is tuned with great maturity, knowing how to get the most out of the technical capabilities of its driver and those technical details it keeps inside.
Returning to female voices, that more pronounced base remains, a more physical body combined with softness in the higher nuances. These are not bright female voices, but rather warmer, subtly rounded, slightly thick, yet completely sweet, broad and full. They are undoubtedly below neutral in terms of brightness and finesse, but above in terms of passionate, rich and mellow musicality. A caress for my ears. This can be nuanced or tilted one way or the other by choosing more analytical or more analogue sources, as the technical ability of the driver allows you to extract the most from these characteristics of the sources, which implies a degree of improved versatility compared to less capable IEMS in this price range.
Finally, the instrumentation across the entire range is on par with both voices and never comes across as mere accompaniment, but rather as the third and major component of the midrange that ties the music together and gives the excellent central range its breadth, volume, body and life.

Treble

The treble notes are exquisite, a marvel of tuning, a combination of sweet sparkle, soft brilliance, subdued radiance, and quiet crackling. The high notes are fine enough to sound bright and sparkling, but they are also pleasant, natural, sweet and soft. They are like infinite micro pins that cluster together to form an extended, restrained, controlled high range, but at the same time energetic, vivid, subtly sprinkled, broad and explicit. But all under a pleasant, realistic, natural and highly musical energy level. The treble response is wide, the notes are fine, but they are not piercing or incisive. Yet they crackle, sparkle and feel delicate. This is undoubtedly very complex to achieve. And look at the price. In addition, the extension towards the air zone is very well done. Another range to frame.

Soundstage, Separation

The soundstage is wide, broad and deep, with good height and a slight vaporous, expansive and three-dimensional feel. It is not an enormous soundstage, but rather a natural size, relatively large, yet with a certain attachment to the listener, without leaving the head, but without any congestion or feeling too intimate. The degree of musicality mixed with technical skill is balanced. The technical capacity of the driver is limited to a certain degree by the smoothness, naturalness and warmth of the tuning. I would like to call this mixture analytical warmth, as I have already mentioned in the previous paragraphs.
The DX1s are clearly defined and decisive, but their detail is not marked, rather it is pleasant, sweet and musical. Sometimes it is somewhat minimised by that sweetness and is more skilful when the musical complexity is not very high, because it generates enough space and distance between notes to show the micro detail. Its level of cleanliness, clarity and transparency is also noteworthy, but without the forced brightness component being high in this respect. Clarity is not achieved through excited and splattered upper mids, but through suitably energised, extended, airy and controlled treble.
In terms of imaging, it is precise, but without being completely obvious. Even at this point, there is a balance of clear positioning and softness in the forms.

Comparisons

Yanyin Aladdin

At the end of 2021, I tried the first Yanyin, the Aladdin model. They are hybrid IEMS with a 9.2mm dynamic bio-diaphragm driver plus 3 BA drivers. Their capsules are made of medical-grade resin. The outer shape resembles the African continent and has a very rounded, ergonomic and pleasant semi-custom design. The outer surface has a fluid pattern of black with grey streaks. There is a slight mixture of fine glitter of each colour on the surface. They come with a silver-plated copper cable with a 3.5mm jack, 6 pairs of black silicone tips in sizes SxMxL and a blue leather bag. All this for a price of approximately 245$.
The LetShuoer DX1 is much cheaper, with a starting price of 159$, a full metal construction and a single dynamic driver with an aluminium and magnesium alloy diaphragm.
There is more than a three-year difference between the two models, more than 80$ difference in price, and three BA drivers advantage for the Aladdin. But portable audio improves greatly in a short time.
The profile between the two is similar, except that the Aladdin has slightly more bass boost and a slight variation in the upper mids and highs, as well as a little more extension in the high range. In any case, the shape of the frequency response is very similar. At the time, I praised this profile and frequency response shape, and I continue to do so now with the DX1. I definitely like this elevated sub-bass, the smooth transition to the mids, the wide central range, and the full but smooth energy of the treble.
The DX1 is subtly easier to drive than the DX1.
In the lower range, there is a slight emphasis on the Aladdin, which offers a little more texture, punch and roughness. In the very low frequency pure tone test, it becomes clear that the Aladdin’s dedicated dynamic driver was already very good at the time. From the very first note, it feels very deep, with a remarkable sensory charge, very low wave character and a very natural and realistic sound. Without a doubt, this is a remarkably high performance in this test. The DX1s perform very similarly in terms of sound, depth and physical components. However, there is a higher degree of refinement in the DX1s, offering even less oscillation and wave character. In the test with normal songs, it is noticeable that the bass of the DX1 is more precise, concise, fast, dry and decisive than that of the Aladdin. The Yanyin are rougher and more elastic, with a slightly rubbery feel and a slightly longer decay. There is a noticeable difference between the two basses, with the DX1s standing out for their powerful punch, which provides even more energy but with greater control, generating very tight bass drums that fade very quickly. The technical component of the DX1 basses is clearly superior. Even so, the Aladdin’s control in the dirty, complex and unfiltered bass test is very good. However, it is noticeable that the higher energy level makes them a little rougher, a little dirtier and more rugged in the worst conditions. This is by no means bad performance, it’s just not as technical, precise, concise, decisive and controlled as the DX1. One could say that the Aladdin’s bass is more fun.
In the midrange, despite the equality in the FR and the greater presence of bass in the Aladdin, I think the DX1 has more body and presence in the first half of the central range. Male voices have a higher physical component. And all this without a hint of muddiness in the mix. In fact, the feeling of clarity, transparency and brightness is more pronounced in the DX1s. The Aladdins are a little leaner in this first half and the presence of male voices is not as close and full, likewise the voices are somewhat brighter, with a less warm timbre. The instrumentation is not as full, dense and rich as in the DX1, nor does it feel as organic or explicit as the LetShuoer achieves. The same is true of female voices, which sound very strong, present and physical from deep down. Even the details and nuances are more pronounced in the DX1, creating a difference in resolution in its favour. The informative capacity of the Aladdin is not as exhaustive as it is in the DX1. It is also more precise, concise and accurate when it comes to rendering notes, emphasising its high-resolution analytical capacity.
The treble on the Aladdin is more present, with more energy and extension. However, it is not as smooth, musical, sweet, and controlled as on the DX1. The presentation of the high notes on the Aladdin feels sharper, more penetrating, and incisive, with a somewhat rougher and less delicate character that makes it a little less pleasant. In fact, the treble on the DX1 seems more decisive, refined and delicate. The treble on the Aladdin feels more muddled, more disordered, more strident. The DX1 has more informative and expressive capacity, sounding more resolved and expressive, better defined.
In terms of soundstage, technical ability, precision, resolution, detail, positioning of elements and image, the DX1s are an improved version of the Aladdins. They are also more transparent, luminous, clear, clean and spacious, with a more pronounced separation between notes and a darker, cleaner background. They also offer a more holographic, surrounding, gaseous and volatile soundstage.
The years do not pass in vain.

Conclusion

What LetShuoer has done with the DX1 is excellent. They have come up with a design that I really like, distinctive, elegant and refined, with a superior, premium build quality. Then they have added an outstanding dynamic driver, with a handful of technologies that work. Finally, they have fine-tuned it with wisdom, mastery, maturity, balance and very good taste. In addition, it has been packaged with quality accessories and an eye-catching, attractive presentation. At first glance, all this should be very expensive. However, the price is only 159$. Seriously? I have not tried anything as well-balanced in terms of sound quality, construction, tuning and ergonomics as the LetShuoer DX1. Furthermore, the three sound ranges are excellent, with a warm, analytical sound with great technicality and enormous musicality. This is a highly recommended, flawless model. Another five stars for me. No more, no less.

Sources Used During the Analysis

• iFi GO bar Kensei.
• EPZ TP50.
• Burson Audio Playmate 2 + OpAmps Burson V6 Classic Single + OpAmps Burson V6 Vivid Dual.
• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + OpAmp Sparkos Labs SS3602 + ifi ZEN CAN 3.
• Tempotec MARCH V.
• Tempotec V3 Blaze.