>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<
INTRO:
After the release of the S12 in December 2021, of Planar Magnetic earphones, LETSHUOER had only made the S12 PRO, which would be a version of the S12 with some small changes in color and accessories. In 2023, the company returned to the Planars IEMs with the recent LETSHUOER S15.
We saw in the S12’s review that the IEM has an excellent technical performance, but its tonality – in my opinion – needed some adjustments, mainly in the treble region. The S15 then is born with the purpose of remodeling the S12 for the better… And that’s what we’re going to analyze here today.
Price: $329 USD
Color: Blue
Cable: Without Mic
Letshuoer reviews: S12, DT02, D13 (portuguese), DZ4 (english)
LETSHUOER LINKS:
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDp6eTX
SPECIFICATIONS:
Hybrid:
(1) 14.8mm Planar Magnetic Driver (3° gen)
(1) 6mm R-Sonic Passive Filtering Module
– Frequency range: 20Hz – 40KkHz
– Sensitivity: 106dB
– Impedance: 30Ω
– Cable: Silver-plated Monocrystalline Copper
– Termination Plug: Modular 2.5mm, 3.5mm, 4.4mm (L design)
– Connectors: 2pin 0.78mm
– Cable size: 1.2m (detachable)
– Shell material: 3D-printed HeyGears
– Faceplate material: Aluminum alloy
– Earphone weight: 5.6g (one side)(without eartips)
– Cable weight: 31.1g (with 4.4mm plug)
– Cable weight: 30.6g (with 3.5mm plug)
– Cable weight: 27.5g (without plug)
– Total weight (packaging, iems, etc): 445g
– Packaging size: 10.5cm [L] x 15.3cm [W] x 8cm [D]
UNBOXING:
PHYSICAL ASPECTS:
Construction: We can see that the S15 has nothing to do with the S12… The S12 has an all-metal body, while the S15 comes with an aluminum faceplate and a body made by 3D printing by HeyGears, that is, the S15 has impeccable quality, like all IEMs produced by HeyGears. The S15 has the finish and design of premium earphones, I have nothing to criticize, only compliments. Before having it in hands, I thought it would be a big IEM, because of the 14.8mm planar driver, but fortunately it was exactly the opposite of what I thought, the IEM is small, thin, and light.
The S15 comes with the implementation of the “Passive Filtering Module – (PFM)”. This is a proprietary technology of the company, which combines a passive driver + ventilation holes. The PFM uses a reverse logic to the application of the Passive Radiator. If with the Passive Radiator you need a sealed chamber for the driver to generate sound pressure in only one direction, with the Passive Filtering Module (PFM) the driver’s membrane acts in the opposite direction, making a sound pressure to the opposite side, and consequently this pressure will be dissipated by a ventilation hole in the earphone. According to the company, this makes the person have a listening without fatigue, without intra-auricular pressure, providing greater comfort when listening to music.
Eartips: The kit comes with 2 types of silicone eartips: Vocal and Balanced. There are 3 pairs in sizes S/M/L of each type. The “Vocal” eartips are wide bore, I don’t usually use this type because it really highlights the pinna gain region, in some earphones it makes the sound harsh. The “Balanced” ones are more to my preference, they make a sound as the name suggests, more balanced sound. I started using these eartips on the S15, but I felt the need for a touch of more depth for the seal to be 100%, so I decided to use the SpinFit CP100 and for me it was perfect.
I have nothing to criticize about the eartips that came with the kit, they are good eartips, and have a variety of styles, I think the person can indeed find the ideal fit & sound with one of those that came, but the eartips is something very subjective, most of the time I seek to improve comfort first, and sound in second. I think that perhaps for the price of the product, some proprietary eartips could have come, something similar to those that came in the S12 (the gray ones were very good). So, the eartips that I evaluated the S15 were the SpinFit CP100.
Cable: Here we have a great upgrade compared to the S12 (although the S12 PRO comes with a Modular cable). In my understanding, the S15 cable is excellent. Nothing better than a Modular cable with the 3 types of plugs: 2.5mm balanced, 3.5mm SE, and 4.4mm balanced. The quality of the plugs is great, I can plug and unplug them from the modular system without difficulty. The quality of the cable is also great, it doesn’t tangle easily, it doesn’t take memory (ripples), it doesn’t present microphonics. The only observation I make is that I think it isn’t such a light cable, and it is also not the thinnest I have ever tested. My experience of using the IEM with the cable was good, but for my taste, I think thinner and lighter cables are always welcome. The chin slider keeps sliding, so the efficiency of the piece is compromised.
Connectors & Earhooks: Positive point for the S15. The combination here was perfect. 0.78mm 2-pin connectors and smooth earhooks (without ripples, that is, maximum comfort). The S15 has all forms of indication for the person to correctly connect the cable: it comes with the letters L & R (left and right) both on the body of the earphones and on the connectors, in addition to also having colors for identification, red = right side, transparent = left side.
Fit and comfort: Another very positive point of the S15. Of all the IEMs I tested from LETSHUOER, the S15 is really the best of them (for me). This is a very subjective point. I never had a problem with fit & comfort with the brand’s IEMs, they all served me excellently. The S12 is good, the D13 is good, and the DZ4 also has a very good fit & comfort, but the difference is that the S15 is smaller and thinner, and it also fits at a more horizontal angle. I consider the S15 a very light IEM, great for long listening sessions. The earphone fit very well in my ears, and it was also very discreet, without protruding parts. I found the insertion to be average, and the isolation to be very good.
Accessories: Of included accessories – in addition to those mentioned above, the S15 comes with a hard case with screw closure. Excellent transport case, really something compatible with the product and the value of the product. The only observation I make is that it takes a certain time to unscrew the lid, I think it could be a snap-on, which would make it easier. It’s the same case that the company put on the Letshuoer DZ4, only the color changes.
SOUND ASPECTS:
The sound of the LETSHUOER S15, in my opinion, is close to a mild V-Shape. Indeed, this is not an IEM that is so simple to define with just one word, so the closest I could get was this “mild V-Shape”. In summary: Bass and mids with emphasis, and very linear treble.
The S15, in my opinion, is an excellent all-rounder, as it is also a very technical IEM, it gives a very large sense of resolution in the presentation, everything is very clear and clean to the ears. In my opinion, it isn’t a warm IEM, but it is also not a bright IEM. I think it has a very interesting balance, even though the treble are a little lower than the other frequencies.
The tonality of the S15 – for me – really surpasses the tonality of the S12 and corrects the excess of treble that the S12 has. I think that as the biggest criticism of the S12 was precisely in the part of the treble, so this time the company decided not to take risks and decreased the region. Of the planars that I have heard, the S15 is the best of them, although the Tin HiFi P1 has a different approach (neutral-bright) that also has its application.
Obviously, the price of the S15 is twice the S12, and then many will want to know: is it worth the price? So, compared to the S12, I say it’s worth it, both in sound and in physical aspects, in addition to the excellent accessory kit that the IEM has, that’s why I imagine that the company increased the value.
Bass:
Quantitative: I understood the S15’s bass as moderate. The “moderate” for me are earphones that have emphasis in the bass region but don’t sound at a basshead level, that is, with excess bass. So, it’s already information that the S15 is not a basshead, but it has enough to please a person like me, who likes bass. For me, the S15 has a little more emphasis in the mid-bass region than in the sub-bass. The subs are present in good quantity, but certainly the sound that appears more is the mid-bass. I didn’t feel roll-off, the extension is good.
Qualitative: The S15’s bass is very fast, very clean, well controlled, has a lot of definition, is very versatile and adapts to many situations. The texture and physicality are characteristics that appear, but in a more discreet way here. The impact is firm and delineated, percussion instruments are very precise, the beat on the bass drum is well defined, and without sounding excessive/expansive. They aren’t boomy bass, they aren’t muddy, they aren’t bloated and they also don’t bleed into the mids. It’s interesting how the bass of the planar magnetics is very fast, the sound propagates and then disappears at a higher speed than the dynamic drivers. Acoustic guitar sound is well balanced. Notes from the first octave of a piano have a lot of definition and vigor. Electric bass is very fast and with a very transparent sound.
I would say that – for me – this type of bass of the S15 is not the best situation with electronic music (EDM), for example, I prefer with more sub-bass than mid-bass, but the performance is excellent, I just didn’t combine the genre because of the upper-mids, because I prefer lower upper-mids to listen to EDM (subjective). For the Extreme Metal genre this issue was also very similar to what I said above. I listened to some things of the genre and I thought it was with a lot of resolution, but for my taste, I prefer a slightly warmer touch. On the other hand, Hard Rock was very good, and Heavy Metal was top.
Mids:
Quantitative and qualitative: The mids of the S15 are forward, more precisely the region of the pinna gain and upper-mids. Here we have the characteristic of more present, more frontal mids, so, the IEM delivers a lot of information here in this region. In quantitative terms, the mids of the S15 reminded me in a way of the Truthear Nova mids, but in qualitative aspects, that’s where the S15 shows its potential. They are very detailed mids, have a lot of clarity, a lot of definition, and a lot of transparency. Undoubtedly, they are very technical mids and don’t need to abuse the quantity to stand out. Trumpets, Saxophones, transverse flutes, have an absurd resolution, very palpable, very good energy. Violins have excellent definition. Guitars have a very lively and correct timbre.
As I mentioned in the paragraph of the bass, in some situations, I will prefer upper-mids a little more relaxed (for EDM and Extreme Metal, for example). But this is a totally subjective issue, even because I would live only with the S15 and would be very happy, now, as I have access to several IEMs, I can afford to choose other approaches, the hobby is exactly that, isn’t it?
Voices: The voices here in the S15 I thought that the battle was won by the voices of female/high timbres. Much because the bass isn’t so textured, and also because the IEM has this pinna gain more forward. But it wasn’t an expressive victory, because male/low voices were also good, only those of very low timbres lack more warmth and texture (in my opinion). A good highlight is also for voices of whispering style, the S15 brings a lot of sensation of air and detailing with this type of voice, they seem to be singing closer to the ear.
Treble:
Quantitative: The treble of the S15 are at the moderate level, they have enough presence to neither lack nor exceed. They are treble in a middle zone, that is, treble that accompany the recordings. In my opinion, the S15 has less treble than the S12, and then I think that the S15 doesn’t generate fatigue due to excess treble. Certainly, this also has a price, people who like a slight extra sparkle in the presentation, or the so-called trebleheads, may think that the IEM could have more treble. This is something very personal. I didn’t feel roll-off, the extension of the treble is good. In my understanding, the upper-mids are what appear more than the treble here in the S15. If a person feels fatigue from upper-mids, then it’s better to pay attention to this.
Qualitative: The treble of the S15 are linear, comfortable, controlled, without coloration, without peaks, very coherent with the real. They are very fast treble, they have great detailing and great definition. The airy isn’t so abundant here, they are quality treble but they aren’t so “open”. The sparkle is a little more discreet, but still, it doesn’t sound neither dull nor thin/crystalline, it is coherent with reality. They aren’t strident treble, they aren’t sharp, they aren’t harsh, and they don’t present sibilance. Mandolin plays with great resolution. Fingerpicking on steel-string guitar has definition and coherence. Ride cymbals sound precise and without pinching. High notes of a piano present themselves in a very realistic way and with a lot of definition.
Soundstage: I found the soundstage of the S15 to be good/medium. Here it really is something medium, the vast majority of the planars I listened to had a soundstage not so expansive, I think the only one that showed to have more depth was the Tin HiFi P1 MAX (if I’m not mistaken). Don’t get me wrong, the soundstage of the S15 is good, it just isn’t an IEM with a lot of spaciousness, it’s as if the presentation on the S15 is closer to you. So we have 3 situations where the soundstage can be: glued, close, or distant. The “glued” we will only find in older earbuds. As for the “distant” ones, we can mention the Campfire Andromeda, Audiosense AQ4, or even the Kiwi Ears Quintet. These mentioned certainly can show more sensation of space in the presentation. And the S15 has a stage a little more “close”.
Imaging: The instrumental separation of the S15 is excellent, a very positive point of the IEM. Everything is very clean and transparent, so you can perceive the instruments playing very easily. The definition and detailing help in the precision of the sounds. It’s interesting how an IEM with “one” driver can make a separation between the vocals and the rest of the band with great accuracy, when you listen to a song, the sensation is that the singer is positioned in the center and in the front, while the instruments are playing in the back. This for me was always an exclusive characteristic of hybrid or Full-BA IEMs, now, the S15 came to break the rule. Obviously in the specifications the S15 is as a hybrid earphone, but I think that the planar driver is responsible for 99.9% of the sound produced by the earphone (in my opinion, and I may be mistaken).
Driver Flex test: Normally, planar magnetic earphones don’t present driver flex sound, at least with me it never happened. The S15 doesn’t have this characteristic.
Amplification: I used the FiiO M11S DAP to do this review. The output used was the 4.4mm balanced, and the DAP in High Gain mode. Volume at 70% of the 120 available. Look, to tell you that the S15 is an IEM that will play on simpler sources, however, I tested the IEM both on the 3.5mm output and on the 4.4mm output, and I found that the IEM had a benefit on the balanced output. I decrease the volume by 10-15% when on the balanced output, and even so, the impression it gives is that in this output the IEM can make the sound have a little more spaciousness. So, the S15 played well on the 3.5mm output, but I thought the performance was a little better using the 4.4mm balanced output.
Music is subjective, so below is the list of some musical genres that I personally think that was better with this IEM. Remember that were only few genres and few artists tested. If I describe that one genre was better and the other don’t, it doesn’t mean that you can’t listen to your favorite music genre with this IEM and love it. So, here goes:
Better:
Hip Hop
Reggae
Classical
Jazz
POP
Rock
Blues
MPB*
Bossa Nova*
Samba*
*Brazilian musical genres.
Not so much:
Metal
EDM
PLAYLIST:
GRAPHS BY AFTERSOUND:
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