The Letshuoer S15 is an in-ear monitor that deserves acknowledgment for the unique sound qualities it possesses. The playback is rather fast and transparent and ranges from being neutral to warm in timbre. Let’s proceed to the details. But first, I’d like to thank Letshuoer for the trust, given that the unit is a sample. This will be my take. Chris’ will follow.
Letshuoer stands out in the high-fidelity audio market, primarily serving audiophiles. The company specializes in developing in-ear monitors (IEMs) that are celebrated for their superior sound quality and comfortable design. They strive to provide a harmonious blend of top-quality materials, ergonomic design, and affordability in their products. Setting themselves apart from many competitors.
Letshuoer has a dedicated focus on IEMs, steering clear of other audio products like True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones or headphones. This dedicated approach enables them to enhance and perfect their IEM line, ensuring that every model upholds the rigorous standards of sound enthusiasts and audiophiles. Their unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding audio experiences is reflected in each product, securing Letshuoer’s esteemed position in the realm of Hi-Fi audio equipment.
Box, Letshuoer S15, Cable
The box is somewhat small and rectangular. The new design language is apparent. And after I draw the covering up, the easy-to-open inner box awaits. The shells are stationed at the top, and access to everything is quite convenient. The whole inventory of accessories is easy to reach. They are either in the sealed envelope (this is the first time I saw such) or in the purplish blue storage case (the screwed shape was first seen at DZ4). It is like opening up or closing down a can of cream. I am sorry for all the broken nails with Galileo’s)
S15 is purplish in color, and the material of the DZ4 shell is used again. No problem. Cable insertion is no problem either. The pin insertion holes are out in the open, and the designers came up with an ergonomic shell shape to ease the insertion. Taking the S15 off your ears is pretty easy too, yet it does not drop down or lose its seal during long listening sessions.
The cable was almost the same at S12, S12 Pro, Galileo, and DZ4. There is no need to discover America again 🙂 And I am seeing the same metallic looking cable with some darker textures again. The cable isn’t heavy or overly microphonic.
Letshuoer S15 Sound
The Letshuoer S15’s soundstage is wide, and it presents both large-scale dynamics and the smallest details of each instrument in a clear and complex way. Playback is characterized by remarkable clarity and ease, effortlessly delivering the nuances of each track. The texture rendered in the vocals is particularly noteworthy, lending them a robust and solid feel. This quality becomes especially evident when listening to powerful guitar and drum sections; there’s a palpable sense of immersion. However, the sound does not become congested, and instruments retain their individuality. Bass lines and background elements are selectively emphasized, ensuring a comprehensive auditory experience.
When listening to the music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the iems capacity to portray tiny details becomes immediately apparent. It authentically reproduces the distinctive tonality and vitality of the band’s music. The song’s overall melody evokes the chill, carefree atmosphere that the band achieves in “Californication.” During parts of the song like the guitar solo, the instrument is brought to the forefront by the S15, making it sound nearly as if it is being played live in front of me, complete with all of its resonant presence and personality. This immersive experience demonstrates the iems prowess in generating a sound that is rich and full-bodied, which brings every aspect of the song to life.
TL:DR
Pros:
Successful Planar Magnetic Implementation: The S15 employs 14.8mm planar magnetic driver, helpful for the precise and quality sound reproduction.
Excellent Bass Quality: The S15 has very good bass quality, offering depth and punch without overwhelming the overall sound profile.
Versatility Across Genres: This IEM is versatile and performs well across a wide range of musical genres, making it suitable for diverse listening preferences.
Uber 3D Imaging: Every instrument can come alive, especially in high-quality recordings.
Impressive Performance: S15 highlights its impressive performance, especially notable on first listen.
Comfort and Ergonomic Design: Improvements in comfort are easy to notice, suggesting that the S15 is designed with user ergonomics in mind.
Cons:
Price: I know everything has a price, but it should be cheaper by 10 percent.
Balanced: Truly not for the bassheads or any kind of -heads.
Design: The shell design is disappointing after DZ4.
Venting: There would have been more venting.
Bass
The bass in the Letshuoer S15 shows a dynamic range that extends from thumpy to punchy, providing a solid foundation in genres like dubstep, where its robustness is particularly notable. It delivers a substantial rumble, enhancing the depth and presence of the bass frequencies. This performance is achieved through its planar drivers, which are designed for a refined bass response rather than producing extreme vibrations. This results in a bass experience that is impactful yet controlled, avoiding overpowering the overall sound balance. And that balance is making the bass experience (especially organic bass) hard to stop. Thanks to Jethro Tull.
Midrange
The midrange of the Letshuoer S15 is exceptional, often described as ‘lovely.’ It excels at delivering speed and precision in 3D imaging, which brings a lifelike quality to the playback. This is especially evident in live recordings, where the nuances of the performance are captured with remarkable clarity. The midrange contributes to the overall realism of the sound, ensuring that vocals and instruments are rendered with natural warmth and detail. Russian Circles takes its best and tells me what lovely means with S15 3.5mm on my ears..
Treble
The treble of the Letshuoer S15 stands out for its naturalness and balance. The texture and quantity of the treble frequencies are meticulously executed, with an emphasis on clarity and extension. This allows for the higher frequencies to resonate freely, adding a sparkling quality to the sound without being harsh or overbearing. The treble complements the bass and midrange, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious sound signature that enhances the listening experience. Anyhow, the treble test track You’ve Got to Have Freedom failed to give a disturbing sax performance. I guess it varies with the difference in SE and BAL playback. However, the bass guitar line is not so hard to track below the main line there. Jazzy treble strikes are high in resolution. However, if I were a jazz drummer, I could tell which chopstick the drummer preferred with the help of S15. This is crazy, I know.
Comparisons__
vs Letshuoer S12: In comparison to the S12, it’s almost surprising that the S12 could barely compete with the reviewed S15, especially considering the price. The playback quality excels in terms of power, spatial soundstage, clarity, and layering. In “The Final Victory,” the treble resolution is particularly evident with the cymbals in the S15, while the S12 lags slightly behind. The vocals have a significant presence, unlike the S12, and the violins display a remarkable vibrancy. Nonetheless, the S12 remains a partially close competitor.
vs Kefine Klanar: Regarding the Klanar, both use the same size of planar drivers (14.8mm). The bass in the S15 is notable, surpassing the Klanar in resolution. The S15 offers a wider soundstage and superior 3D imaging. The violins in the Klanar seem less detailed and lack texture, whereas in the S15, they are more dynamic and expressive.
vs Hidizs MP145: When compared to the Hidizs MP145, both are connected with a 4.4mm plug, using the same track and a DX320 as the source. The MP145 uses an MS5 balanced cable, while the S15 uses the standard cable. The MP145 presents a darker timbre appropriate for “The Final Victory,” but the S15 adds more dimensional sound elements and energy. The background and playback of the MP145 appear somewhat subdued, in contrast to the S15’s livelier presentation. The trebles and drums in the MP145 are softer and less defined, and the violins lack the resolution and fullness present in the S15. The texturing of the vocals in the MP145 is less dimensional, further highlighting the S15’s superior performance in these aspects.
vs Simgot EA1000: The replay sounds more or less like S15, but down to the timbres, which are almost identical. Both of the opposing sides maintain a high level of transparency. But the S15 comes out on top in this comparison thanks to its superior details, sharpness, slam, power, and 3D imaging of both the choir and the instruments, as well as its general vividness of violins and other instruments. But I have to confess that the distinction was not as stark as between day and night.
vs Softears Twilight: The titanic struggle, if you will. I am aware that this is not a fair comparison, yet I believe that it is quite informative for the sake of S15. They are both BAL plugged to guarantee that they are receiving the utmost benefit possible from the source and the track, which is the same as before.
S15 is approaching the track as it should. The song is telling the story of Nostradamus and the year is 1452. The black plague is reigning across the whole Europe. Dark, and like a ceremony of bassy violins, blowns, drums and trebles. Then other vocals arrive at the scene. Violins too. The texturing is good so far. The soundstage is large for a closed back iem. Twilight is fuller with a meaty but lower res. low end. This is the first point it surprasses S15. However, the march at the intro and the man making the intro are disappointingly less audible and alive. Clarity and layering are worse than S15. I hear the instruments stick together at all phases of the track. And the bass is prone to be bumpy. And finally, the violin projection is nowhere like S15 when both were same BAL plugged. Maybe SE plugging would be a savior of Twilight (I repeated the last A-B with 4.4mm plugs again, and my conclusions sharpened. Violins sharper, vocals and instruments bodied etc.)
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Letshuoer S15 Review Conclusions
The Letshuoer S15 is a standout in-ear monitor that should be praised for its dynamic audio performance, superb technical details and ergonomic craftsmanship. The S15 provides a fast, transparent playback experience with a sound that gracefully transitions from neutral to warm, capable of displaying a large soundstage and intricate musical details. Its clarity is nothing short of impressive, and the vocals have a robust texture and an immersive sound quality that are particularly noticeable in the intense instrumental phases. The advanced 14.8mm planar driver and PFiltering module of the S15 is responsible for its bass’ impactful and meticulously controlled range from a deep thump to a crisp punch. In sum, the Letshuoer S15 distinguishes itself with a well-rounded sound profile, positioning it as a formidable competitor in its class.
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