Introduction
When I think of good planar IEM, surely a few models that comes and mostly it will be from the likes of Letshuoer as they have quite a good footing in the planar segment with concrete classics such as the S12 series and the venerable flagship S15 that is surely one of the best sounding planar IEM so far in my book. They have surely have their tuning mastered after producing hits after hits of IEMs such as the Cadenza series, the D13 dynamic and the S series of planars over the past years and to celebrate their 8th anniversary in this portable audio segment, they have decided to release the new entry planar IEM, the S08 that is equipped their 4th generation planar driver that is easy to drive and easy on the wallet as well. They are priced just below 100 USD (RM449) and given their track record, this might be a new contender in this price range.
A huge thanks to Betty from Letshuoer audio for this opportunity in reviewing the S08 and I am over the moon for this IEM as planar IEMs have been the building blocks of their success. How will the Letshuoer S08 perform in this ever growing, saturated segment? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the Letshuoer S08;
- Drivers : 4th Generation 13mm Planar Magnetic Driver
- Impedance: 26 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 105dB
- Frequency Response Range: 20 – 40 khz
- Body : CNC Anodized Aluminum Alloy
- Connectors: Angled 0.78mm Standard Flush 2 Pin With Modular Termination (3.5mm SE & 4.4mm balanced)
- Cable: 4 Cores of 30 x 0.05mm strands of Silver Plated Copper, 1.25 metres
Retail Price & Where to Get
The Letshuoer S08 can be purchased direct from Letshuoer or any other resellers worldwide
Shopee : https://invl.io/clldyyr
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging here is a simple packaging when compared to the S15 and Cadenza 4 with a small, neatly packaged product with a professional, straight to the point packaging and it has the ‘8’ emblem on the front that showcased their 8th anniversary. Through its simplicity, they are packed with high quality accessories such as the IEM itself, a black round plastic hard case, a superb modular cable with 2 plugs (4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single ended), 6 pairs of eartips in various sizes (3 x wide bore vocals tips, 3 smaller bore balanced tips) and some paperworks. Given their price point, the included accessories are great for their practicalities.
Design
The design here is slightly veering away from their usual 3D printed resin and reminiscing of the built of the S12 series with their anodized aluminium that is casted from CNC. They have an ergonomic fit with an elongated body that is light and comfortable but for people who have a smaller ear concha, the long body might cause some discomfort after a while. Built here is impeccable with clean lines and a ‘S’ curvy line that has the ‘S08’ theme on the faceplate going with their 8th anniversary theme. They are available in black and silver and I have received the silver variation.
The S08 is equipped with an all new 4th generation 13mm planar magnetic driver with dual voice coils that Letshuoer has been actively hands on with the production with their innovations. They have some radical implementations like magnetic sputtering that infuses copper particles onto the diaphragm that they claim to increase the rigidity for a prolonged lifespan while enhancing their sound resolution. They have also incorporated a surround at the edge of the diaphragm with PTR elastic film (particle transfer rollers) that gives the diaphragm some extra extensibility and stability. Amazing innovations from their team here indeed and even more amazing in this price point.
The nozzle is a 5mm diameter that has a good length with a ridge at the edge. It has a metal mesh to prevent dust and moisture entering the IEM. There are 2 vents on the IEM where the back vent is situated below the 2 pin connector and another pressure relief vent is below the nozzle. No driver flex is present which is great.
There are a total of 6 pairs of eartips that consist of 3 balanced eartips in pearl white which have a normal bore hole and 3 vocal pairs of silicone in a larger bore hole all placed neatly in a circular holder that is made from hard paper
They come with a black matte PVC case in black and they are a twist type of case in a circular body with soft rubber innards similar to the Cadenza 4 which is a staple case now in Letshuoer products.
The S08 has a standard flush type of 0.78mm connection that is slightly tight which is great. With Letshuoer products, it is their custom to provide a high quality cable and the S08 is no exception as they are equipped with a rather new design of cable from them. It is a 4 core cable that has 30 strands of silver plated copper that has a diameter of 0.05mm each strand encased in a soft TPU skin in dark brown. The standard 0.78mm 2 pin has an angled connector with plastic body while the modular input has a new straight design with a screw to lock head that is low profile and very well designed. It has 2 connectors provided, a 3.5mm single ended and a 4.4mm balanced connector. The cable is soft, smooth and pliable with a decent thickness making the cable practical for everyday usage. As for the cable sound, they have a balanced tone sound with great clarity and details even when used on my other gears.
Gears Used for Comparisons
Fiio Q7
Questyle M15
Hiby FC6
FiiO BTR7
Intime Sho DD
Letshuoer S15
Letshuoer DZ4
TangZu Xuan NV
RHA MA750i
Hiby Lasya
Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro
Moondrop A8
Dunu EST112
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone of the Letshuoer S08 is a warm, thick and lush sound that has a balanced sound with a mildly boosted bass or an L shaped sound producing a fun sound with decent overall technicalities. The S08 possesses a wide planar sound but without any major issues with the timbre, instead, they are an organic sounding IEM that has the quick transients of a planar and a wide dynamic sound that is easy to listen to with their inoffensive sound signature.
Soundstage
The S08 possesses a decent wide expansive soundstage along with an average height that has an accurate sound placement but they are up against stiff competitions here. Air on the other hand is great with an airy sound especially in the lower region that gives a sense of spatial awareness especially in EDM and jazz music. The S08 has a good immersive sound that envelopes oneself into the music and they are great for gaming and movies as well in this criteria. They possess a good medium sized headroom with their airiness and don’t feel boxy in any way.
Separation and Timbre
Separation is great and superb for their price range and given it’s a well implemented single driver doing all the job, they have excellent coherency and music flows in harmony without any gaps present. Crosstalk here is non-existent and sound from left to right is very well defined that gives a superb stereo imaging with great layering. Timbre here is breathy, rich and mellow at times that gives a rather relaxing sound signature but still possessing a fun, fast paced sound that sounds accurate without any major plasticky timbre that usually present on certain planars but on certain tracks, the high range does briefly have some minor metallic decay but it doesn’t affect majorly on their overall natural state.
Drivability
The S08 is rated at 26 ohms at 105 dB sensitivity which means they are not too sensitive to pick up noise but they do need some power to be driven to their maximum potential. In terms of loudness, a simple wire dongle will do the trick but they do seem to lack dynamics and weight in their overall sound and with a good, matching, powerful source, they seem to sound excellent. They tend to match sources with a brighter signature to push up the high frequencies to have a little more bite and energy. The S08 isn’t a revealing set and they don’t really show the flaws in music which is more suited to a casual listening but they do scale up well with higher bitrate music and a well mastered track marginally.
The Bass (Low)
The bass that the S08 produces is a boosted bass that has a good authority when called upon and they are a dynamic-esque bass quality with a healthy dose of bass lift producing a fun, energetic bass response without overpowering issues. It possesses a rather thumpy bass that has a great body with a good textured bass that manages busy, bass oriented tracks without any issues which makes them suitable for genres such as EDM, jazz and classicals. Details here are superb with the bass line sounding clean and clear with a good clarity. Resolution here is average but quite resolving for their price range and transparency is decent as they do possess a natural and accurate type of low end without any haze or bleed present. Bass extension is quite good with a slow low end roll off and they do possess a good amount of air in their presentation. Sub-bass here is good in their amount, blending well with the mid bass. The sub-bass does have a good, strong rumble and they extend pretty deep.
The Mids
Midrange is a warm type neutral that is thick with a slight forward mids that has good intimacy in their sound while having clear and detailed midrange. The midrange here does have a good tonal balance of not being overly warm nor too cold and they are a lush midrange that is quite enjoyable. Details here are superb as both macro and micro details are presented very clean and clear along with their superb separation, the details here are top notch with minute details being easily picked up. They do display some mild coloration on certain tracks and source but they are still a rather transparent sound that has a natural, organic sound presentation. Resolution here is good with a vivid sound that resolves music with a clean manner. This type of midrange actually does suit vocal based tracks as they are deep, intimate and lush with a good spatial accuracy along but they do seem so to be lacking of top end brilliance which might make female vocals a little less energetic. While all is good here in the midrange, users who yearn for clinical accuracy for monitoring will find this region a little lacking due to their thickish, slightly coloured sound.
The Highs
High range has a flat tone with a velvety smooth, mellow, laid-back high range with a slow roll off at the end producing a decent extended range along with an airy presentation. The amount of details here is average but still able to sound clean and clear with a good clarity. Sparkle here is where I find the S08 lacking as at times it might sound a little too subdued or too polite and they do lack a crisp decay that may make some tracks lacklustre. With a matching bright source, they do remedy this but just to a certain extent, but for those treble sensitive users, this high range suits you well as they are certainly inoffensive and free of sibilance and harshness suitable for a long listening session as they are fatigue free. Treble here is a laid-back, mellow style of sound that sounds smooth but it still has a decent amount of energy so the overall high range here doesn’t sound hollow or too rolled off. Air here is actually good with a good extension at the end giving a livelier sound.
Comparisons
VS Letshuoer S15
The Letshuoer S15 is my top pick IEM from the same producer and they are one of the best planar based IEM in the market right now with an energetic and highly technical and the S08 do share the DNA of the S15 with a similar high quality bass response and thick mid range. The S15 does cost 3 times but they have a much higher quality packaging and have better overall refinement in their overall sound.
High range
Highs on the S15 have the edge in their volume and bite with a livelier presence along with a crisper, sparkly high range while the S08 high range has a smoother, more laid-back style. Details and clarity is better on the S15 and has better extension with an airier presentation.
Midrange
Both of these sets have a thick, warm but the S15 sounds more forward midrange with a slightly better clarity but details retrieval here is almost similar. Resolution wise is better on the S15 along with better transparency. Vocals on the S15 sound good on male and female for their extra brilliance while the S08 is more suited for male vocals for their slight lack of top end brilliance. The S15 midrange does possess a more spacious sound along with better air.
Bass
Bass on S15 has a slightly bigger presence with a tighter impact. Sub-bass on both dives deep but the amount of rumble on the S15 is bigger marginally. Details and clarity on the S15 is slightly better. Both bass profiles of these IEMs are actually similar with a fun, impactful bass with a slight edge on the S15 for their more refined bass.
Soundstage
The soundstage on the S15 does sound bigger but both sound very airy.
In my opinion, the S08 is a trickled down tuning from the S15 and with a less aggressive, less offensive sound versus the other sibling S12 Pro making the S08 a sidegrade for the S12 Pro in a slightly lower price.
VS TangZu Xuan NV
The Xuan NV from TangZu is their latest collaboration with HBB and they are equipped with 2 dynamic drivers in a gorgeous all red shell that is similarly priced with the S08. Though both have different driver setup, they are in the same price bracket and released at almost the same time. Packaging here goes to the S08 with the inclusion of a high quality modular cable and a hard case but fit on the Xuan NV is better for their high quality resin that mimics a CIEM fit. Separation and cohesiveness is better on the S08 and the transients here are also quicker.
High region
The highs of the Xuan NV has a mild edge of being slightly more sparkly and livelier but the S08 sounded smoother with a more relaxed presentation. Details and clarity on the S08 sounded better but in a small margin. Extension and air is better on the Cuan NV with a slower roll off high range.
Midrange
Midrange on the S08 has a thicker, warmer and more forward presentation but Xuan NV mids does sound wider and has a better tonal balance. Both have some mild coloration in their mids but the Xuan NV does sound more accurate while the S08 sounds more lusher with more intimacy. Resolution on the S08 is better while transparency on the Xuan NV sounded more natural. Both have good vocal performance with a slight edge on the Xuan NV in their brilliance but the S08 does sound lusher with a more organic sound.
Bass
The amount of bass on the S08 has a bigger presence due to their boosted mid bass lift and they have a more textured bass with a more dynamic and organic bass that extends deeper. The bass of the Xuan NV has a leaner bass but the amount of details and clarity is rather similar. Sub-bass amount is also similar and both sets here have a deep sub bass extension.
Soundstage
Soundstage height is similar but depth is better on the S08 with a similar big headroom size and both have a good air presence.
Synergy
Questyle M15
The Questyle M15 portable DAC/amplifier with Questyle’s signature direct current amplification is still without a doubt my go-to dongle that has a neutral to bright sounding with a rather balanced signature suiting a wide range of gears. The M15 does possess a great extension on both ends displaying none of the usual Sabre chip glare and with a crystal clear sound that actually suits the S08 very well.
Bass sounded clearer and tighter with details and clarity added to make them sound more transparent. The bass has better imaging capabilities that makes the overall bass sounds cleaner and more defined. Sub-bass depth and amount remained mostly the same but they do possess a cleaner and evident rumble.
Midrange possesses better clarity producing a more clean sound while retaining the warmth and intimacy. Vocals sound better on higher pitch and more has better tonal balance making the vocals perform in a livelier way. Space has also increased with some added air. Top end brilliance seems to be better but marginally.
High range has a slight increase in their treble intensity and has better sparkle with a crisper decay but they are still a little too polite for my liking. Details and clarity is better as they do add some brightness here making the high range slightly more pronounced.
Soundstage has seen improved width and height with the same size headroom.
FiiO Q7
The Q7, a monster of a transportable DAC amplifier in 2024 and they are the flagship in the Q series in FiiO. They are equipped with a single Sabre ES9038pro dac chip along with dual THX 788+ boasting a 3000 mw power with the DC power supply. They have a bright to warm sound that has tons of power to drive any IEMs and most of the headphones around. The synergy here actually brings out the fullest potential of the S08 as it provides a much better bite in their sound especially in the high range.
Bass is tighter, faster with a clearer sound while still in control. They have a cleaner, clearer sub-bass extension with a slightly deeper rumble. Details and clarity has a slight increase and they sound airier with an overall cleaner bass response. The Q7 also provided a better air in their extension giving a more enjoyable bass.
Midrange has a slightly brighter tone with more transparency making the midrange sound more natural. They sounded cleaner and clearer with a more vivid sound. The midrange also does sound more spacious but they are still a thick, warm and intimate type of mids. There is some added brilliance in the higher range of the mids that give a slightly livelier vocals.
Highs has a better sparkle and has a better extension along with some crispness but it is still a little lacking for my taste. Details and clarity stayed the same but they sound slightly livelier. Treble here has some added intensity giving a slightly more balanced overall sound. Extension is better with some air added into the mix.
Soundstage height and width is better with a wider, airier sound overall.
Who Is It For?
The S08 is recommended for users who want a snappy, high quality bass with a warm, thick sound that is inoffensive. For those who want a dive into the planar IEM pool, the S08 is a great starter planar IEM for it has a velvety smooth, inoffensive sound that has a planar driver’s richness and it is tuned very well that it doesn’t gives an unnatural, metallic timbre all in a reachable price. It is also suitable for light bassheads out there for their meaty bass response but isn’t for treble lovers as treble here is polite to say the least. They are a great male vocal set but I do find the lack of brilliance makes female vocals a little unlively. For this tuning, the S08 performs superbly with EDM, jazz and classicals for their thick, bassy sound and metal genre for their inoffensive smoothness. It is also very suitable for gaming and movies for their immersiveness and soundstage accuracy but not so much for monitoring purposes.
Final words
The team of Letshuoer has certainly amazes me with their releases without a doubt ever since with the S12 series all the way to the D13, S15 and to the Cadenza 4 as they are all a well tuned product that has a consistent house sound that is smooth yet highly technical and the S08 certainly fits into that category. It is a great introductory into the planar realm for new users and even though the S08 isn’t the cheapest, but they are certainly the best sounding planar in regards of their price range with their smooth sound that has the rich, fast sound typical of a planar but free of any unnatural, metallic tinge that plagues some planars. The treble and high range might not satisfy those who seek a lively, energetic sound and the midrange do possess some minor coloration, but their amazing overall details and the fast, dynamic bass is certainly something that users will be fond of. Happy 8th anniversary to the team of Letshuoer and here’s to another 8 years. Kudos.
I would rate this product 4 and half over 5 stars
- Robust, lightweight built
- Fully accessorised for the price
- Amazing modular cable
- Warm, organic timbre
- Decent overall clarity
- Superb musicality
- Above average detail retrieval
- Solid, high quality bass
- Decent sub-bass depth
- Thick, lush midrange
- Good overall resolution
- Smooth, inoffensive high range
- Relaxed treble
- Good soundstage width
- Amazing priced planar
- Low treble intensity
- High range brilliance and sparkle energy lacking
- Mid bass lift might be too strong (subjective)
- Not for treble heads
- Need good source and some power to perform
- Not a clinical performer
- Fit might be an issue for small ears
- Midrange slight coloration
