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Ratings

Pros

• Outstanding bass, even surpassing the performance of good dynamic drivers.
• Lower midrange with plenty of flesh, physicality, body and exuberance.
• Great laterality, surrounding and immersive soundstage.
• Excellent cable, screw-in modular with the two necessary plugs: SE 3.5mm and BAL 4.4mm.
• Small size, very ergonomic shape, superior fit.
• As usual, very good accessory set.
• Very high price/performance ratio.

Cons

• Dark profile, treble is not very well represented, more air is missing.
• They are not the most detailed planars.

Purchase Link

https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-s08-fourth-generation-in-ear-monitor-earphone-for-audiophiles-musicians-studio

Link to the WEB

https://letshuoer.net/

Introduction

It’s the brand’s eighth anniversary and Letshuoer wants to celebrate by bringing new models to the market. The first of these is the Letshuoer S08, an IEMS that features a custom 13mm fourth-generation dual-coil planar magnetic driver. Several unique processes are used to manufacture the driver: sputtering of nanoscopic magnetrons to place the voice coil on the diaphragm. The S08 incorporates an elastic PTR surround film on the edge of the diaphragm. This significantly improves bass depth and provides a much tighter bass presentation and increases the width and depth of the soundstage. The faceplate integrates the «8» design to celebrate LETSHUOER’s 8th anniversary. The S08 is equipped with 3.5mm and 4.4mm modular connectors. Its housing is made of metal and has been precision CNC milled. The twist-lock design ensures durability and reliability of the plugs. The cables are manufactured with 4 cores of 30 strands of 0.05mm silver-plated copper. The S08s are available in two versions: black and silver. The price of this promising new product is $99. Let’s see what the new Letshuoer S08s are capable of.

Specifications

• Driver Type: 13mm fourth generation magnetic planar.
• Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz.
• Sensitivity: 105dB.
• Impedance: 26Ω.
• Capsule material: Anodised aluminium.
• Jack Connector: Detachable modular with 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL connectors.
• Capsule Connection Type: 2Pin 0.78mm.
• Cable: 4 strands of 30 wires of 0.05mm silver plated copper.

Packaging

The Letshuoer S08 comes in a black box dominated by a large 8 on the main face, formed by concentric silver dashed lines. In the centre of the upper hole of the 8 you can see the brand’s logo and slogan. In the lower hole is the name of the model. The dimensions of the case are 156x106x51mm. On the back side are the specifications in several languages, the brand’s contact details and the representatives in Europe. You can also see all the logos of the certifications it complies with. After removing the outer cardboard you can see a completely black box with the logo and slogan inscribed in the centre of the box. Underneath the lid are several cards, while the IEMS are inside a dense layer of black foam. In it, underneath, there is also the classic black, circular screw-on box, typical of Letshuoer. Inside are the tips and the cable. The complete contents are as follows:

• The two capsules Letshuoer S08.
• Warranty card.
• Product certificate card.
• Instruction manual.
• Black circular box with screw cap.
• Blister with 5 pairs of tips. The other two come in capsules.
• Three pairs of white silicone tips with black core, sizes SxMxL (Balanced eartips).
• Three pairs of black silicone tips, sizes SxMxL (Vocal eartips).
• Four-strand modular cable with two 3.5mm SE and 4.4mm BAL terminations.

It’s the brand’s classic packaging, which includes a large modular cable with two terminations, two sets of tips and the distinctive black, rubbery-looking circular box with a screw-on lid. Very nice.

Construction and Design

The surprising thing about Letshouer is the size of the capsules of its planar IEMS. This time it has reduced the size of the driver and, incidentally, also the size of the capsule. This time, the shape of the capsules is an oval with long flat faces. It is more like a rectangle with rounded short sides. My model is made of black aluminium, but it is also available in grey. The outer face has a sinuous S which is nothing more than the 8 of its anniversary. The capsule on the left is engraved with the brand name and on the right with the initials. The entire surface has a matt micro-texture. The thickness is midrange and rather flat, with the exception of a right-angled flap, where the 2Pin 0.78mm connection is embedded. Nearby is a hole, while on the other side of the corner is the model name and the lettering marking the channel, all in white ink. The inner side has a rather slanted shape towards the mouthpieces. The thickness of the capsules on this side is greater. The nozzles are part of the same face and are fully integrated. They have two diameters, the lower one is 5.4mm, while the crown is 6mm. Both are protected by a dense metal grille. There is another hole at the foot of the nozzles.
The cable is composed of four shiny, silver-plated copper strands wound together. The plug is modular, screw-on and based on a two-part cylindrical design, where the connector part is black, with the marking and a white position triangle. Each connector has a translucent plastic protector. It has a classic velcro with the brand name to collect the cable. The splitter is a small, simple black cylinder. The pin is a very small piece of black plastic, whose holes are very tight. Thus, the fitting process is very good and durable. The cables have over-ear guides. The sleeve of the 2Pin 0.78mm connectors is a half-angled piece of black plastic. The plate containing the two gold-plated connectors is the colour of the channel, red for the right one, blue for the left one. On each of them is the channel letter embossed.
Little to comment, great design of the capsules, very elegant and sober, with a small size and a very ergonomic shape. The cable, again very good, modular, very practical and flexible. Very good.

Adjustment and Ergonomics

Letshuoer knows how to make good capsule designs, but these S08s are special. With the 8-shape design on the outer face, the perfect oval shape is small, and together with the flange containing the connection, they form a distinctive whole. The inner face has a steep slope towards the nozzles, which facilitates insertion, which can vary from shallow to slightly deeper. The oval shape fits perfectly in my pinna, there is no rotation and the flap from where the connection starts has an inclination which, together with that of the cable, makes it pass over the ears in a somewhat fair way. This, perhaps, is the most critical point, perhaps for some people it could be annoying, as the set is somewhat short and does not go over the ear with sufficient ease. For the rest, the ergonomics are very good, with this small size, a low weight, although it is metallic. It is worth noting that the base of the mouthpiece and its inclination are also responsible for a great fit and good isolation.

Sound

Profile

The profile of the Letshuoer S08 is balanced in the upper midrange and upper treble. In addition, it is slightly boosted in the bass. Its entire frequency response moves within 9 dB between 20Hz and 10kHz, which gives a clear indication that it is a balanced profile, with no areas where there is a high energy level. It is a smooth, somewhat dark profile, nuanced in the high end, musical and pleasant.

Bass

The bass of the Letshuoer S08s is dense, full-bodied, physical and dark. They generate a full bandwidth and base their power between the sub-bass and mid-bass limits, which is a sign of an extended bass. Moving immediately to the very low-frequency pure tone test, one does not miss the behaviour of a good dynamic driver, after seeing the results of the S08s. The low end performance has only one subtle minus point: perhaps it has a bit of colour rather than a sensory aspect. But the tone is very pure, with hardly any wave character, just a dark, powerful and sensory sound. It’s certainly even purer than many dynamic drivers in this price range, which shows that planars are still making progress, even if this is a smaller, cheaper planar. Timbre and the sense of punch, energy, volume and colour are excellent. Playability is enviable and the behaviour is precise and very pleasant. The base hits are elastic, slightly rubbery, rounded, perhaps not the driest, but they feel tight. That elastic feel gives it a greater sense of occupied space, a certain level of presence in the environment and a slightly longer fade. But the level of darkness, the slightly more pronounced texture and that sense of power makes for a highly appealing and enjoyable aftertaste for bass-lovers like me.
To be sure, the energy level of the entire bass ensemble may be too much for some, as their presence is noticeable in the overall sound, almost more so than any other band.
In the heavy, dirty, complex and unfiltered bass reproduction test, the S08s show no doubt, there is no hint of suffering. Bass is always under control, without distortion even at high volumes. It follows complex bass lines smoothly and is able to combine bass drums with them without losing control. This is how it is very adept at layering, layering bass lines and hitting powerful bases at the same time. All while demonstrating precision, level resolution, detail, a great deal of power, volume and that level of rubbery darkness that gives it a more visible and appealing texture.

Mids

As I have been explaining in my last reviews there is a clear alternation in the latest IEMS I am testing. There is the excited upper midrange and upper treble profile, which seeks clarity and transparency. And then there is that more relaxed, musical profile, with clearly boosted bass. The S08s are in that second place. The advantage that this gives to the first half of the mids is largely advantageous to my personal tastes. The first mids have the warmth of the bass, also their volume. But their timbre is never muddy despite their level of presence or darkness. There is a slightly black exuberance, which has enough body and physicality to make the music of this range bigger and more present, but without being predominant, knowing how to keep its distance and stay in its space. In this way, the male voices feel vibrant, powerful, full, dense, fleshy and full, but with a certain slightly dark and subtly nuanced tone. Here, they are more of a protagonist, with plenty of groundedness, pulp and mass. The rest of the instrumentation in this part is equally full, with a timbre that is not bright, staying on the natural dark side.
Warmer compositions will be boosted and appear even more dense and punchy, bringing to mind the wall-of-sound feel of the brand’s own S12s.
The upper midrange rises quickly and then enters a decreasing plateau towards the treble. This manages to enliven the range towards the light, reaching a remarkable level of transparency and clarity so necessary for a profile like this. Although, admittedly, the female voices lack a certain sparkle to make them more vivid and splashy, they remain not quite as close and less excited than usual. They are more grounded and feel thicker. In this respect, sibilances are close to zero and all brightness is under control. Those who enjoy thinner, leaner and brighter upper midranges will have to look elsewhere. The S08s are full of smoothness and are quite relaxed in their higher notes. On the other hand, the midrange becomes larger, taking up a great deal of volume, demonstrating vast power as well as a remarkable overall presence.

Treble

The treble of the Letshuoer S08s is distinctly smooth, controlled and nuanced. They feel relatively thick, without too much energy or shimmer. Nobody is looking for crisp treble. This is certainly a fairly relaxed range, just look at the frequency response in this area. Even the amount of air also feels limited. The treble representation is quite homogeneous, but in a rather soft, even mild and muffled version. This affects the rest of the sound, enhancing the feeling of darkness that persists during many phases. On the other hand, it is easy to get used to this kind of relaxed and pleasant sound, but one can also miss more treble or more energy in this area, to complete the timbre of the music in a more natural and reliable way.

Soundstage, Separation

The Letshuoer S08s have quite a large soundstage for their small size. It must be said that the marriage of such a dense presence, with the level of clarity, transparency and separation offered by this relatively dark planar driver, is astonishing. The soundstage is wide, deep, with very good laterality and remarkable headroom. It feels spacious and expansive, though not volatile or gaseous. It spreads out, but is not fully immersive, but a more frontal feel prevails, somewhat beyond the semi-sphere, very good for its price.
I insist that for its soft and relaxed profile, it feels a very good level of transparency and separation, something that contrasts with that wall-of-sound sensation. Also noteworthy is the level of resolution, accuracy and detail. However, a little more sparkle and brightness is needed to bring out more of the micro nuances. I also miss some more air in the background and a better differentiation of layers, the detail can be somewhat diluted in them, without feeling fully represented.

Comparisons

Kiwi Ears Quartet 11

Having discovered the price of the Letshuoer S08s at $99, it’s clear that the competition has a tough time against them. I consider the Kiwi Ears Quartet 11 to be a good contender with a similar price ($109) and the versatility of offering 4 different tunings thanks to their two switches. Made of medical grade resin, with a classic semi-custom shape and superior thickness, the Quartet is slightly larger, but it’s that thickness that’s really superior, offering a bulkier capsule. Both ergonomics are good, but the smaller size and shape of the S08s are ahead. In terms of packaging and accessories, the Quartet comes with a good set of three complete sets of tips, a good zippered case, but a cable that pales in comparison to the quality of the S08’s modular cable. Another point in Letshuoer’s favour.
As expected, the S08s are more difficult to move than the Quartet and a balanced power supply is appreciated. In terms of profile, the switches on the Quartet generate overall differences between the two models. But there is a combination, with both switches in the ON position (11) that has a profile quite similar to the S08s. I am going to use this position as a basis for comparison with the S08. But first, I should comment that the Quartet has a 2DD 10mm + 2BA configuration and we all know that the S08s are 13mm planars.
Despite the similar frequency responses in most of them, both models have a different sound. I find the sound of the S08s a bit more muffled and dry. The Quartets have a bit more light and sparkle. The Letshuoer’s bass is a bit more elastic, rubbery, but also darker and more powerful, with a more punchy kick. On the other hand, the Quartet’s bass is a little tighter, controlled, but also simpler, at position 11. In the very low frequency pure tone test, the S08’s show their power and better execution: they sound more in line with what I think is the reality of a sub-bass. They are darker, less coloured and more powerful.
Both IEMS have a first half of the midrange that is within that physical density that I like. But the Quartets are clearer, crisper and more transparent, something that gives them a slightly more natural timbre and not as muffled as the S08s do. The S08s are denser, offering that wall-of-sound feel. Although the male voices don’t feel as close and explicit as on the Quartets. The upper midranges of the Quartets are cleaner, something that differentiates them from the more diffuse feel of the S08s. In this sense, you feel that more classic sound of the BA drivers, which is sharper, splashier and thinner, giving a sense of more transparency and light, but is also leaner. I still like the timbre of the Quartet’s upper mids better.
In the treble it is a duel of muted high notes in both cases. Little energy in both cases and, perhaps, there is a little better performance in the Quartet’s treble, sounding thinner and a little more luminous.
Neither is too good at recreating micro details and each of them does it in their own way. In the end, they can manage to decipher the same amount, but exposed in a different way. And that is something that is a different effort of approach for each of them. I think the Quartet have a little more evidence in this respect.
Where there is no doubt is in the scene. The S08s have a soundstage that is wider and more immersive. Where the Quartets are more frontal, the S08s surprise with a much more powerful lateral feel. The sound of the S08s is bigger and more surrounding, while the Quartets have a sound that is more front-focused and less immersive.

Conclusion

Planars and their controversial treble, the return to the dark side could be the motif of the Letshuoer S08. However, this model is the first one to celebrate the brand’s eighth anniversary. 8, a different number to celebrate, usually multiples of 5, but Letshuoer has decided to celebrate the eighth anniversary with a series of new models. And the S08s have opened fire with a new fourth-generation custom 13mm dual-coil planar driver. A smaller driver for a reduced 8-shaped capsule that is extremely comfortable. The improvements are felt in the bass, dark, deep and with great performance. The second improvement is in the immersive and surrounding soundstage, with surprising laterality. The third power is not so striking because it is already something that is inherited from the rest of the house planars and it is that feeling of a wall of sound that settles from the bass to the midrange. But on this occasion, that wall of sound feeling extends into the upper midrange, as darkness wins out over light, making the highs a lesser represented fringe. In the end, this upper-end smoothness is also the downside of often fantastic planars for under $100, though there are other times when I’d prefer them to be more expressive. And we amateurs never know what we want. But the new Letshuoer S08s are there to bring out that dark side.

Sources Used During the Analysis

• EPZ TP50.
• Tempotec V3.
• Burson Audio Playmate 2.
• Aune X8 XVIII Magic DAC + EarMen ST-Amp.
• Aune M1p.