Shure - S08 (4th Gen)

Letshuoer Cadenza 4. Neutral. Fairly good soundstage. Depends on the tune/song, mid bass might be limited.

I have all three IEMs, the Kefine Klean is good for $49 and if you change the stock cable it improves the bass and treble becoming warmer if using the Nicehck GTC5 cable. The Lesthouer S08 is a very good warm planar IEM I think is a really good option with the 25% discounts on Amazon US it comes out at around $66, but check the forums on Amazon it says frequently returned there are users who report problems with the right earbud, I have not had any problems, they sound very different from the Kefine Klean, the sound is somewhat dark with soft and detailed but not extended treble. The best for my personal taste is the Aful Explorer but it is the most expensive $119.99, it has a very organic warm sound, with good bass and detailed and sweet mids with a narrow but very musical presentation and the treble is somewhat attenuated with a certain level of detail. Any of these IEMs are wonderful but if you have the money go for the Aful Explorer if you like the warm signature and good musical representation.

My History of use : Sennheiser ie40 pro (7.8k rupees) : Best one I've used till date but due to proprietary cable bs it's unusable now Truthear Hola: There's perceptible difference in audio quality compared to the ie40 pro. IE40 pro was very clear and treble was really good with ample amount of bass. This one sounds muffled. Clarity is not there. But for 35 usd ( 2.8k rupees) I can't really complain. Letshouer S08: Just got it today and I've been listening to it. I have changed the eartips and everything but I just can't find much difference between this one and the Hola. This cost me 100 usd (8.4k rupees). Sound is muffled and clarity is just not there. Maybe iems with warm sound signature are not my cup of tea. It has no soundstage as well. Just meehhh. Please suggest me some good iems under 100 usd which have clear audio and good for classical music (guitars and violins should sound amazing ) which also has ample amount of bass (like my IE40 pro 😢)

Dude I don't need bass that much. Just good soundstage and good response to treble (without being too grating) is enough. For ex : I want listen to these songs without them sounding muffled, with great clarity and decent bass : 1. Pachai Nirame 2. Chan chan - buena vista social club 3. Snehithane 4. Naam - Pankaj Udhas 5. Aye dil-e-naadan 6. Quizas Quizas Quizas, Aquellos ojos verdes - Nat king Cole Any suggestions? This S08 is good for pop music I guess, but just underwhelming af for me.

I remember your first post. I commented on it because we got these the same day. I agree with review, I’m still really loving mine. It’s crazy how much of a difference tips make on these. I’m not a huge bass head, so I use tri clarion tips and with these they are very nicely balanced with good space in the treble region while maintaining a great bass presence. With some narrow bore tips however, they can be bass monsters. I also agree with you on the insertion depth. It takes them from sounding nice to being transported. Lol I was happy to see your update. This is my favorite set I’ve tried and I don’t hear about it much.

I just picked up the S08 a few weeks ago and think they are very good for the money. I heard them at CanJam London last year and actually preferred them over the S12 as they were more to my preference the S12 while definitely having more detail just a bit too bright for me.

Yep the Letshuoer S08 might be what you’re looking for. It comes with a selectable 4.4 or 3.5 terminations .

Using the Letshuoer S08 and I love it. Previously tried Simgot EW300 and Simgot supermix 4. Found the Simgot EW300 was too heavy for my ears and that the Simgot Supermix 4 was too bulky to have a nice fit.

for me it was KBEAR KS1. in 2021, i don't know much about iems. as long as they had huge bass, i'll stick. not using it anymore, i've sold it to my friend. now i'm using letshuoer s08. https://preview.redd.it/tibtk32g61se1.png?width=1079&format=png&auto=webp&s=0a5461213b9e0d9cec486d023ba09dca97e73e30

For your preferred music genres, you will prefer the S08 most, out of the list you provided Some alternatives to consider, Kefine Delci or Delci AE, Tangzu FuDu, AFUL Explorer, Artti T10 Pro, or the KiwiEars Airoso.

I bought the S08 they're pretty good all rounder, got a pretty good deal from the letshuoer website (compared to AliExpres and so on). Though a little more bass would've been nice in my opinion. And the included earbuds were complete garbage, absolutely hated all of them.

Full written review of the Letshuoer S08 can be found here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/letshuoer-s08-review/ Letshuoer S08 Review ($99) 13mm Planar Driver Hello everyone, at the link provided is my full written review of the Letshuoer S08 from the audio brand Letshuoer. They are back with another planar magnetic earphone to add to their long line of very successful planar iems for their 8th Anniversary. The S08 comes to market with an MSRP of $99 which is a tough price point for any set to try to make a mark. Thankfully for Letshuoer they have a very successful history with the driver tech and if I'm being completely forthright with you all… The S08 is no different from the others as far as quality is concerned. However, it is tuned a bit differently. More in line with the Letshuoer S15 tuning than it is the Letshuoer S12 series of planars. The S08 is built very well with an all-alloy chassis, it looks unassuming but with a certain sleekness about it. It comes well accessorized with a nice “twist-lock” modular cable etc. and most importantly the S08 sounds good. Like I said, more in line with the musical/organic approach of the S15. This is certainly a musicality first iem. Within the review I did compare the S08 to a couple sets of at least some relevance and I try my best to explain this brand new planar as best I can so to hopefully help you out a little in making a purchasing decision. Please stop by, click the link and check out my review of the Letshuoer S08. Thank you in advance and I hope you all are having a very good weekend. Comparisons: Kiwi Ears Melody / Letshuoer S12 Pro 🔥🎶 S08 Pros 🎸🔥 -Build Quality is great, all alloy -Design isn’t bad either -Very comfortable once sealed well -Accessories are better than I expected -Organic timbre, nicely musical sound -Beefy but well-defined bass region, great for a planar -Nice bass extension -Milky midrange -Nice for vocals (believe it or not) -Non-fatiguing treble -Good extension up top, has some bite 🎧🥶 S08 Cons 🥶🎵 -Bass isn’t a DD bass. Slightly lacks the authentic slam of a DD -Bass may be a hint too much for some hobbyists -Not the most detailed approach -Lacks treble emphasis and brilliance (for some) Full written review of the Letshuoer S08 can be found here: https://mobileaudiophile.com/in-ear-earphones-iem-iems-reviews/letshuoer-s08-review/

Haha... Ya one of my analogies that probably only make sense to about 5 people.. Ha. When I say milky, I mean thicker, richer note weight that isn't dry sounding. It's moist in inflections rather than thin and dry. There's some density to notes. The S08 is actually a fantastic sounding planar. Sorry if that makes no sense. Just my way of explaining what I hear.

Ya not everything is for everyone. I also enjoy the T10 and Delci. However, I would take the S08 over both of them. That's how different people are in this hobby man. It's a constant. This is why I try to speak on that point in every review. Anyways, I Def agree that T10 and Delci are phenomenal sets.

Oh yes, the S08 is not as open as the Aria. The Aria has that almost perfect Harman sound. The S08 isn't that at all. It's more rich, deep tight bass, less treble openness but very quick and tight transients. The Aria is more airy, thinner note body, more energetic. So yes those two are worlds apart in how they sound. Some things take some brain-burn in this hobby. Also, what dac/amp are you using?

Do they NEED an amp? No. Do they scale well and sound better with power? 100%. However, you don't necessarily need an amp to power this set. As far as gaming, depending on your PC it may offer plenty of power for the S08 for that purpose. I haven't tried it to verify that though.

This is 100% accurate. The tuning is very special. Smooth like butter and yes, no sibilance at all. About as clean as warm can sound under $150

I'm very sorry, I just saw this. For me I think the S08 has a very nice rumble. Especially for a planar iem. In fact, in many ways Letshuoer bucked the planar trend by coming out with planars which sound remarkably similar to dynamic drivers in timbre but the speed of a balanced armature. Their S15 is what started that. The S08 fell right in step. Truly an awesome sounding set which easily competes with more expensive sets. Very musical, rich in note weight. I feel that for metal you'll be hard pressed to find many better sets under $100. In my opinion. There's a few others which do very well though. Now, between the S08 and the Aful Explorer I'd say the Explorer is also a richer note weight. Has a bit more behind the sub-level rumble than the S08, but very very similar in almost all regards to the S08. The S08 has a touch quicker transients in the bass region. But they are very similar. Both warm, bit have awesome bass, both won't cause your ears fatigue from too much brightness.

The Apple dongle will get the S08 to halfway decent volumes, but it doesn't really drive this set unfortunately. The S08 is a planar and while planar magnetic drivers have become easier to drive and much more sensitive, they still desire power. The more the merrier too. I suggest a decent Dongle Dac with at least 100mw @32 ohms. Most dongle dacs under $60 will provide you with much more then that anymore. However, you may love the sound out of the Apple dongle. I simply found the Apple dongle doesn't really bring out the true dynamics of the S08. I can't remember if I added that into my review or not? Anyways, I would try to invest in a slightly more powerful dongle dac, if you can. You can find stellar dongle dacs for very cheap anymore.

Totally agree, the stage isn't the most vast. Granted, I really don't feel it needs to be super collosal in size. About average (ballpark) per iems at its price point I'd say. Still, the upsides of this iem are many. I can't sing it's praises enough

It compares very well actually. Not as thick note weight but better detail retrieval in my mind. The stage is probably a bit wider in the S08 but the EW300 seems to have a hair better depth. To a degree anyways but to be honest, both of these sets compete well against each other. Both are phenomenal iems. They are tuned differently though. Both shading warm with the S08 sitting a hair warmer. Both technically gifted too. I do feel the EW300 has a hair better detail retrieval, a bit more open sounding. Both have good instrument separation. However, the S08 is the more traditionally "musical" iem of the two. Possibly a bint more organic too. So they both have their strong points against each other but I really do love both the S08 and the EW300. I don't think I helped you at all.... Hahaha

Exactly right! In my opinion it is the best planar under $100. I've tried them all and the S08 is the only set which is a true planar that doesn't sound like a planar yet has all the benefits of a planar. Letshuoer simply has this planar thing down! The S08 is flat out special.

personally I would go for either the quintet or s12 pro. reason : the supermix 4 and quintet are quite similar. the quintet has the better tuning for my taste. The nozzle of the blessing is too big at 6,5mm . The s12 pro is a Planar (takes eq well and Crin has it in his measurements. Easy EQ with squiglink). wouldn't spend the 45 bucks extra for the heyday. can't comment on the P1 max or Myer CKLVX Edit: I somehow missed your text (only saw the pic). If you are treble sensible, I wouldn't go for the quintet or s12 pro. the CKLVX seems the most reasonable to me. Another Option would be the Letshuoer S08 has a a smoother treble and a pretty comfortable shell/nozzle.

S08 is *not* warm. It's a planar. It needs more power. Trust me, there's a difference in sound between it and the Hola. A *big* one.

I’ve both the EA1000’s and S08 myself, and you’re spot on. That said, (if you haven’t tried them yet) give the Azla Sednaearfit Standards a try. I found them to be more transparent than the Penon Liquors.

letshuoer S08 for 65$ using coupon + saving coins it's come with. Letshuoer S08 + other free cable M5 + DT01 dac

Welcome to the minefield of iem's, you can go for established brands or Chinese, starting as little as 10 bucks going to 1000's. The Chinese brands you can can get far more for your money if you know what to go for. All iem's come with different tuning styles (neutral, v shaped, bass heavy, etc.) which suit different styles of music. They use different styles of drivers or combinations. The tips also can change the way they sound and how much isolation they provide. Myself using Letshuoer S12pro great iem (planar drivers), would recommend these or they have just released S08 that are also getting very good reviews. Check out this YT channel first, regularly does tier lists and reviews of all iem's released. https://youtube.com/@badguygoodaudioreviews?si=mjtn5G9JTmn6ufyn

I bought Letshuoer S08 about a week ago. It’s my first IEM ever, so nothing to compare it to, but I really loved the sound and build quality. I guess it’s the best option for you budget in terms of technical specs

as my 1st IEM, Xuan nv or may because they are good all rounders & safe choice. S08 is good, but it's dark. And ew300 or artti t10 are also solid picks, but u might find them bright. Hexa is clinical, u might either love for their details or might hate them as they are unexciting.

That's the first I've heard anyone say that. They certainly aren't lacking in bass. It's not the absolute best quality bass around that price, but it's pretty good. The chances are anyone complaining about a lack of bass isn't getting a proper seal. They're still by second favourite IEM. I did find them to be very tip-sensitive though and it seems I'm not the only one who has found this. I have about 30 or 40 tips in my collection and out of them, there's only 1 that sounds right. With every other tip the sound a bit wrong in one way or another. With those tips, they are excellent.

1. Aful Explorer - Doesn't really have muddled mids like the EW300. It's bassy, but quite clean sounding. The problem it has is that the eargain is very low. So to me, vocals sound recessed, but also sibilant at the same time. How this sounds to you may be dependent on your HRTF as a lot of people seem to like it. It has pretty good treble & resolution too, it's just that one problem that lets it down. 2. Hexa - Is indeed pretty clean sounding, with good treble extension as well. The negatives for me are that the bass isn't great, the treble can be a touch peaky, the soundstage is narrow and the large nozzles make it uncomfortable. 3. S08 - Does not have planar timbre; it's tuned quite differently to other planars. However it also doesn't have quite the same ultra-detailed sound that other planars like the S12 have. It's much darker. I find it very tip-sensitive and it sounds wrong on almost all tips. With the right tip it's got a very intimate sound that is quite bassy, but it's let down a bit by the bass quality, which is a bit boxy. Still my 2nd favourite IEM but only with the right tips. 4. Nova - I haven't heard, but from what I know about it, the nozzles are large and it only sounds good with foam tips. At that point it does rival the Variations for Harman tuning, which is great for female vocals, but the bass tuck can ruin bass guitars etc. 5. Fudu - Honestly just sounds muddy to me, I consider it a downgrade from the QKZ HBB although it does have better build quality. The eartips are good, but it doesn't come with a full set of Divinus Velvet, which if you get them you really should get all 5 sizes. Based on your priorities I'd either go with the Hexa or the Nova depending on what you think about the trade-offs I mentioned. Or maybe consider the Simgot EA500LM - though some find it has too much treble energy; its an unusual tuning that doesn't sound like it graphs. I'd watch the Paul Wasabii review, as I think he captured everything about it more accurately than other reviews. Another one to consider is the Thieaudio Legacy 2. It's tuned a bit like the Hexa, but with stronger sub-bass, a bit more vocal-forwardness (reminds of the HD600 vs HD650) and it rolls off the treble a bit, so it sounds smoother, but possibly less extended. I find it has better soundstage than the Hexa and is much more comfortable. I also find the Kato to be more-or-less a direct upgrade from the Chu 2 and while I haven't heard it, the Aria 2 supposedly sounds almost identical to the Kato. The Dunu Kima 2 apparently sounds very similar too. These are all slightly more v-shaped than the Hexa/Legacy 2, but still a mild v, so there's more bass and the mids sound warmed-up, but not bloated.

\#1 is the Simgot EA1000. Pretty much the opposite sound to the S08. Tips I use on the S08 are Penon Liqueur Orange, but I don't mention it unless asked, in case people think I'm recommending they use the same tip. I'm not. What works in my ear very likely won't work the same in your ear. They're a good tip though and not too expensive, so worth having a set. They tend be be warmer sounding (more bass, slightly less treble). Also good if you have larger ear canals because they lean larger than average and go up to an XL, which is massive. I find tips help with both the bass quality and level on the Hexa. I use Zhulinniao Zhu Rhyme mainly for comfort reasons, but I find they also improve the bass a bit. I can definitely recommend those tips unless you have large ear canals, but if you have large ear canals then the stock tips might be fine anyway. I usually find Feaulle H570 have the best sub-bass extension in a generally neutral tip, and Zhu Rhyme are very similar but shorter/smaller.

Probably the Moondrop Stellaris. Pretty universally panned because it's super bright. In fact I bought it and returned it at launch because it was too bright. But recently, I re-bought it on sale from Amazon UK for just over £50. The price keeps dropping, presumably because all the bad reviews mean nobody is buying them. I wanted to see if I could fix it with tip rolling, and in fact, I found with Dunu Candy tips on it, it's no longer super bright. It actually sounds a lot like the Moondrop LAN tonally, but slightly warmer, with stronger bass and much, much more resolving. The fit is a bit weird and I don't think they'd be comfortable for walking around in, but they're fine for relaxing at home. /u/Bobjonez98 recently released an [April Fools review of these](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdLqjwXG7CA). Omar, I wanted to ask if you or Mrs Amigo have tried Dunu Candy tips on these? She said (and I think you've said the same before) that they are a good specialist set for classical. But I listen to basically everything on mine now. The really clean, linear bass works well for things like synthwave and psytrance, which I listen to a lot of, among other things. It's just a different presentation/emphasis to warmer or darker IEMs. What I don't know is whether that effect is unique to how those tips interact with my own ear canal, or if they help straighten out the FR for everyone. I find that, in general, the Candy tips tend to add a downward tilt to the midrange and roll off some of the very high treble, both of which are things the Stellaris needs. They get rid of that fatiguing, metallic shimmer in the air region, and they even out the 2kHz peak so they don't sound as shouty. I still get a bit of shoutiness, but it's nowhere near as bad as you'd think from the FR graph and in some ways it just adds to the unique tuning of these. It doesn't seem to create timbral issues on vocals, it just tends to push certain notes forward more. Currently, for a relaxing evening listening session, I tend to alternate between these, the Letshuoer S08 and the Ikko OH300, as they are all good, with their own unique presentation. I think at this point, with the right tips, the Stellaris and S08 are my 2 favourite planars.

Hey, I've been wanting to know more about these! The only review I've seen is from [Bangs Audio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He3BSsOJZ_g) who really seems to love them. The thing is, I follow him, but I find his takes often disagree with my own, so I wasn't prepared to buy them blind. There are also no measurements on squig.link. Some of my favourite warm/bassy IEMs are: Ikko OH10, Ikko OH300, QKZ HBB, Letshuoer S08. I also have the Moondrop Variations, FatFreq Deuce, KZ Castor Bass. I'm wondering if you have any of these as another baseline for comparison? The EA1000 is my favourite IEM overall. I particularly like the way it does bass, although it's more what I consider neutral bass, despite being technically boosted on a graph. I find that acoustic drums sound extremely realistic on the EA1000, partly because of the way the bass is done but also the balance with the mid & treble harmonics. OTOH, I like the deeper, fuller, Ikko-style bass just for something different, or for electronic music, where the extra sub-bass emphasis works well (the EA1000 rolls it off intentionally to avoid sounding muddy). My #1 and #2 favourite IEMs are the EA1000 and the S08 precisely because they are polar opposites in pretty much every way. The EA1000 has that large, airy soundstage, whereas the S08 is dark and bassy, with a tiny soundstage. Yet the S08 also has really precise and holographic imaging, just compressed into a tight space. The comparison I like to make is if you listen to a live recording on both, with the EA1000 it's like being on stage, standing a few metres from the band. With the S08, it's like being trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the vocalist singing directly into your face. The only downside of the S08 is the bass quality is a bit lacking. It lacks the DD punch in the way planar bass usually does, and at the same time it also lacks some of the bass resolution & texture compared to something like the S12 Pro, and it can sound a bit boxy at times. I'd really like to know where the YU9 sits in relation to these. And if it's more sub-bass oriented, does it suffer from the same Harman midbass tuck as the Variations & Deuce, where bass guitars can sound recessed?

Yeah, the coffee bean isn't worth that sort of money. I think I paid about $12 for mine and consider them "OK" for the price. Certainly not one I'm rushing to recommend to everyone. If you really want one just for the looks or whatever, add it to your wishlist on Aliexpress and look out for it popping up in Super Deals. $12 was after coupons, but those sales are at least once a month anyway. The HBB however punches well above its weight for tuning. You mainly get what you pay for in terms of looks :) I've got mine on $10-a-pair Azla eartips and $60 Hakugei cable. Planning to customise the faceplate eventually. It's my 3rd favourite IEM at any price and probably the one I listen to the most overall. The S08 is maybe creeping up on play time and they have a similar-ish sort of sound, but the S08 is a lot more vocal forward and energetic. The HBB is more laid back, so it's good for background listening. The HBB also has better quality bass in some ways (though the S08 is much more resolving, as you'd expect).

I tried ranking my IEMs a while ago. It gets harder to say after the top 3, but those are: 1. Simgot EA1000 2. Letshuoer S08 3. QKZ HBB Not a lot of correlation between price and ranking. The Variations is my most expensive IEM so far, but it's ranked a lot lower down because of the bass tuck and comfort reasons. It does have the best treble, but the EA1000 is comparatively about 98% - equally resolving, just not quite as smooth. The EA1000 has much more correct-sounding bass. It's only real flaw is the slight cool tilt to the midrange, which I would change if I could, but it also doesn't bother me. Everything else about the EA1000 is basically endgame for me.

I find the S08 to be *extremely* tip sensitive. It didn't sound right to me except with one specific tip. I have about 30 or 40 tips and I tried them all. So I'm normally a bit hesitant to recommend it to people, as there's definitely an element of luck involved when it comes to finding the right tips. If I happened to only own 39 instead of 40 tips, I might have hated it. I do find the bass to be a bit of a weak point on the S08, especially compared to my other planars (Artti T10, S12 Pro, Timeless AE). Tips don't really affect the bass as much as they help fix the eargain region, affecting timbre and especially vocal presentation. They do slightly affect the bass level & extension, but that's all. The bass is a bit boxy and lacking texture, which just seems to be down to the way the driver is tuned/damped. But they have such a unique presentation, that's basically the complete opposite of the EA1000, that I don't mind it much normally. The only thing I do find is that if I'm walking outside or on public transport, I need an IEM with fairly strong & authoritative bass, and the S08 doesn't cut it for that. The HBB is too laid back, so my go-to for now is the Ikko OH10. The way I describe the S08 sound (with the right tips) is this. The EA1000 is bright-leaning and sounds very open and spacious. With a live recording, it sounds like you're on stage, a couple of metres away from the band. The S08 on the other hand sounds like you're trapped in a cupboard with the band, with the drums are echoing off the walls and the vocalist singing directly into your face. Vocal timbre sounds completely correct to me, but that was very much one of the reasons I rejected so many eartips. I suspect the reason some people might say the S08 has a lot of bass is because the tuning is quite dark. So that makes them sound both warm and bassy, since everything is relative. But it's actually less upper mids, rather than more bass. It's definitely a thick, warm, bassy sort of sound, but it doesn't have the same bass separation or the speed/texture as the S12/Timeless-style planars. The planar driver speed is still apparent in some ways, but it's more subtle. The main one I notice is the extremely accurate and holographic layering (despite the very small soundstage). That and occasionally it will resolve small details in a way that makes you go "huh".

I'm one of the people that loves it, but when I mention it, I always point out that it is super tip-sensitive. And in general, I don't recommend it to people, for that reason. There's a thread from a while back with other people discussing this, so it's not just me. I tried literally about 40 different tips on it (I have a lot of tips). And only 1 out of those 40 sounded right. It sounds amazing - and very unique - with those tips, but if I had only owned the other 39 tips, I'd have returned it for sounding incredibly wonky.

Interesting. I find the S08 super tip-sensitive and there's a thread from a while ago with others discussing having the same experience, so I assume that's a tuning issue. When I say those are tip-sensitive, I mean little changes in the FR have a disproportionately big effect. I.e., mess up or fix different elements of the timbre or technicalities, like playing whack-a-mole, rather than something like a complete loss of bass. That's usually a bad seal, so if that happens I just don't use those tips and don't count them. I have seen at least one person complain about the HBB nozzle size, even though the nozzles are very close to exactly average. So I think maybe there's something about the nozzle *angle* that causes them to not sit right in some people's ears, which in turn probably messes with how certain tips are sealing. I ended up putting Azla Xelastecs on my HBBs, purely because I find them super comfortable and they don't break seal if I'm moving around. Normally, those are one of the least neutral-sounding tips, because they boost the upper midrange quite a bit, which can push vocals forward and in some cases make the IEM shouty. But I barely notice any difference on the HBB.

Haven't heard the Xuan Nv or the May, but understand both to be pretty safe choices. Also the Kefine Delci is around that price if you want something a bit warmer/bassier. Thoughts on the ones I have: * Hexa - Boring neutral isn't for everyone and the nozzles are quite large, so many will find it uncomfortable. There are also better options if you really want a neutral tuning. * S08 - Very good but also very tip-sensitive, so might not work for you. Quite a niche, dark tunning with slightly boxy bass. Sacrifices some of the things planars are normally good at to get rid of planar timbre. Very good imaging, but the soundstage is very small & intimate. Probably not the best all-rounder or first IEM. * EW300 - Pretty safe warm-neutral tuning except for some zingy upper treble that throws everything off (fixable with tips, but you need a tip collection). Big problem is the midrange gets very muddled with busy tracks, so $20 1DD sets will outperform then a lot of the time. Avoid.

I have lots of IEMs and these are my number #3 at any price. I don't EQ them either. Not perfect, but the tuning does one thing really well and is tuned to what the driver is capable of. As an upgrade I'd suggest the Letshuoer S08, which has a similar sort of tuning, but way more technical. The S08 is quite tip sensitive, but I find with the right tips it has extremely holographic imaging. The soundstage is very intimate, but there's a sense of layering you don't get from most IEMs. The main difference in how they present sound is the HBB is quite laid back with slightly distant vocals, whereas the S08 is a bit more energetic (but still a very non-fatiguing tuning) and the vocals are right up in your face. JFTR the S08 is my #2 favourite IEM, just ahead of the HBB. I probably listen to the HBB more overall, because it's my go to if I need to focus on something. The relaxed vocals make it very non-distracting. The S08 forces you to focus on the music a bit more.

Nice review dude! Def agree o. The t10 pro beating the s08 in technical ability. Always found the bass on s08 boomy personally.

Hey y’all, I got a review copy of the Kiwi Ears Aether in from Linsoul and I wanted to share my thoughts. The Aether has gained a lot of hype since its release, so I was really happy to get the chance to try it out. However I was a bit tempered in my excitement as I absolutely fucking hate single planar driver IEMs. Ok, hate is a strong word, but I hadn’t met a single planer driver IEM yet that competes with any of my other single dynamic or hybrid/tribrid/quadbrid driver configuration sets. The original 7hz Timeless was my first hope but I found the sound thin, V shaped, and fatiguing. The huge 14.5mm driver of the Hidizs MP 145 was another contender, but that harsh V shape destroyed my ears in a way you can’t understand. No nozzle change could tame the planar timbre, that certain “zing” that most single planar driver sets have a lot of trouble shaking. I thought I needed something with a confirmed smooth tuning, so I gave the Letshoure S08 a shot. And sure, it has a lot of low end, but I personally found a lot of boom and not as much texture. Resolution is supposed to be a strength of planar drivers but I found the sound digital and grainy. I tried the Letshoure S12 Pro and its bright tuning had me tearing them out of my ears. Still feeling like I needed to find “my” planar, I demoed a Letshoure S15. The S15 has a more neutral tuning that I thought would be to my liking, but the dreaded hiss of planar timbre and sub-par bass response followed me even to this price range. I liked the S15 at first, but my ears were ringing after 20 minutes of listening, and I found myself giving up on single planar driver IEMs. That is, until the Kiwi Ears Aether came along with its 15.3 mm planar driver, unique design, and pretty faceplate to pique my interest once more. The Kiwi Ears Aether comes with a simple but elegant and functional black cable. Alongside we have hard case and 3 sets of eartips (Bass, Balanced, and Neutral). The simple accessory package is a stable of Kiwi Ears, and I do think that’s an effort to put more attention into the development of the IEMs themselves. The IEMs themselves are fairly large and feel a bit light in the hand. I believe this is partially what leads to the Aether’s ethereal soundstage; the planar driver needs room for its sound to resonate around in the larger space on its way to your ears. This gives us a vast, open soundstage that feels dynamic and lively, not flat like most of the single planar sets I’ve heard to this point. The bass response was the standout improvement over other single planars. Not only was it well resolved, it didn’t have the same unnaturally fast attack and decay that planar sets normally have. It still has a quicker attack and decay than a typical single dynamic set, but not as abrupt and unnatural as many of the planars I’ve tried to this point. Plenty of subbass immersion and midbass kick to satisfy many bassheads. I have a need for natural, lush male vocals, and Aether is the first planar set that’s been able to give that to me. The tuning allows vocals to be forward and present without ever becoming shouty or overbearing. The only con I can give to the sound is the slightly smoothed out treble. While resolution is a strong point for the set, the 6k tuning dip may mask some of a songs microdetails. This is easily mitigated with EQ, but I personally enjoy the smooth sound and don’t feel the need. Finally I have a planar set with a stock tuning that’s well resolved, balanced, and comfortable. Overall I feel like the Aether easily punches above its weight in the world of single planar driver IEMs. It has a smooth, balanced sound that never becomes harsh or fatiguing, even at louder volumes. In fact, the 6k dip allows me to crank the volume a little more. It’s nice to see Kiwi Ears bringing us an innovative product at a relatively modest price when you consider that this is the largest planar driver on the consumer market. I think the hype is real. The size of the driver is doing a lot to kill planar timbre as we know it. For that, I am thankful. And to you as well, thanks for reading.

No question. And that’s a helluva deal on an IEM that’s normally $100 and comes with just the stock cable, although it’s of excellent quality, and no dac/amp dongle. Cheap enough I would almost buy it just to have a second pair on hand as I travel frequently between two locations, and could just leave a at set at each place so I don’t have to remember to throw it in my travel pack.

I have both. The treble is definitely more pronounced in the Explorer but it’s well managed, without getting sibilant or piercing. I’m treble sensitive and it’s the only IEM I can tolerate where I can actually enjoy the treble. Both are excellent, but the Explorer really does beat the S08.

I went back and forth between the Explorer and S08. I went with the S08 and am extremely happy with it. For me it’s music, and it covers a wide range of genres without a problem. I expect it would be good for gaming, especially with its fast response, and decent resolution. The bass is excellent and while not for bassheads, the subbass rumble is there when it’s supposed to be. It’s not classic planar tuning at all. While I use it as is, I expect it will take well to EQing if you feel the need as most planars typically are. As to driving it, the specs are quite good, and not consistent with a hard to drive planar. That said, I did order a ka11 dac/amp dongle with the thought I would need the extra power (200mW on a dongle seemed pretty good, good enough for lots of headphones too) but lived with my Apple dongle with it for two weeks before the ka11 arrived. It sounded great on the Apple dongle, just increased the volume on my phone more than normal, but not even close to maximum. I got the ka11, and I was able to turn the volume down. Does it improve the sound? I’m not sure. It may just be placebo effect, but maybe transients and details are a little better. I probably could have just stayed with the Apple, but the ka11 dongle wasn’t expensive, so I kept it and use it.

I’ve been very happy with mine. The bass is very solid with mine from day 1, so I’m surprised to hear of issues with that. With the tamed treble, they come across as fairly warm IEMs. They’re also quite comfortable for their shape. I think Letshuoer did a great job on them, and I happy to have them.

Aful Explorer for a hybrid with excellent bass. Excellent control, details, closest to your requirements than the more expensive Performer 5 or definitely the even bite conduct Performer 8. There is a Performer 5+2 about to be released, no reviews that I know of get it tuning. Both are above your price range even if you want to stretch to $200 for the Performer 5. The Explorer fits at $120. Letshuoer S08 for a planar with a tamed treble, no piecing highs it sibilance, excellent bass and subbass, with thr fast attacks on transients like you’d expect from a planar. No planar “veil” or metallic sound. Probably thr best planar built for your requirements.

Planars generally have great treble extension but not great bass. The T10 is really no different. It’s also the cheapest planar option in the Letshuoer lineup. That said, even the more expensive S12/12 pro tend to be very bright. The S12 2024 limited edition was retuned to tame the treble, really reduce or eliminate the planar “veil” associated with planars and improved bass. But it’s $200 USD vs. the T10 at around $50. The only planar they offer is the Letshuoer S08 with improved bass/subbass, dialed back treble, and the kind of rapid response associated with planars. It gives a good ear rumble when appropriate, but it is by no means bloated. It benefits from some tip rolling to see what brings out the balance you’re looking for. It pulls this trick off by using their next gen planar design with dual magnets. It runs around $90 USD. If you do give it a try, but from somewhere with good return policies. I favor Amazon with 30 day no hassle returns. I’d rather pay a little more, but if it’s not for me I can get my money back. As you’ve seen with the T10, it nay have the best reviews and recommendations in the works, but you don’t know if it’s a good match for you. Especially with these blind buys most of us are stuck with.

I haven’t heard those. The fact their tuning means bright isn’t something I’d get as I’m treble sensitive. I have no such issue with the S08. The treble is smooth but never that piercing, sibilant signature that doesn’t work for me. I can say it’s definitely a darker treble than what the S12 is known for.

Not dissimilar to the S08. Nice to see another planar with a tamed treble and what should be warmer signature over more typical planars out there. That nozzle size is really small. Not much out there of any style driver at 5.0mm. The S08 has a nozzle size of ~5.4mm but the lip is ~6mm.

I have an S08, and at least the nozzle is short, so with my usual go to Spinfit W1’s, the fit is fine. The shell also looks like it might be uncomfortable, but actually sits quite well with no pressure anywhere. Of course, the cable, while modular, has a funny plasticky feel to it, making yet another stock cable I end up swapping out. I don’t find the tuning wonky, but that may just be brain burn in, so I’m used to it. I have a real problem with sound memory, so switching between IEMs can take 15-20 minutes before I lock onto its actual sound, rather than a weird overlay of the new one over the IEM I had in prior. I’ve gotten used to it, but it means I can’t demo several IEMs in a short period of time. The memory lag creates an audio blur and never seems right to me. I try to buy from places with generous return policies like Amazon US, with its 30 day return policy. I can demo for a week or two, and even make some comparisons. I may pay a bit more, but at least if it turns out to be a bust, I get my full purchase price back, instead of taking a loss on the used market on essentially a brand new IEM.

I have AirPods Pro 2’s and the music is very, very good. Apple did well on that score. They are also more featured, and one of them is the personalized audio, spatial music, and Dolby Atmos. One thing I found was if I went straight from my IEMs that have what are considered having an ok soundstage, not the best, to being shocked at how wide and present the soundstage felt with the APP’s. Everything lined up with depth in front of me, and with well engineered Atmos, all around me. It was jolting. But it’s all psychoacoustic algorithms, not the actual music. Some would call that just a trick and fake, not a true reproduction of the music. Personally, I just enjoy it. If I’m going for pure, I use my room speakers, as not even excellent headphones can do that. So expectations from hardware have to be realistic. The Red’s get hyped. A lot. I’m not sure they represent the best of breed in their price range, but do have lots of fans. There are many other IEMs out there that have markedly different sound signatures, and the Reds may not fit your preferences at all. It doesn’t make them bad, just not a match for you. Even if you increase volume, you’re not going to change the fundamentals of its frequency response. It’s certainly not a set known for strong bass. Aphex Twin isn’t going to be a strong point. That said, I find with my APP’s (don’t have Samsungs so I can’t give you a first hand comparison) that while the music is well defined, vocals, particularly female, which is a genre of female vocalists I listen a lot to, shine. Its weakness is poor bass and subbass, at least completed to any of my IEMs. I’m not at all a basshead, but I like a warm sound with a solid foundation, and when listening to something like EDM or house, want to feel an ear rumble. The APP’s don’t provide that. I do obviously prefer warmer IEMs, and am a bit treble sensitive, so I don’t like piercing highs, sibilance, but lose some sparkle and air. There’s always a tradeoff. The IEMs I have that are favorites for my personal taste are sets like the Kefine Delci and Letshuoer S08, both warm with solid bass, good mids, nice vocals, but darker treble. While they can’t pull off the soundstage tricks of my APP’s they more than make up for it in bass and overall sound quality. I use them at home, when music is my primary activity. But if I’m doing other things, or out and about, the APPs are still my go to. No wires to carry around, easy adjustments without pulling my phone or a dac/amp out, no pulling an earbud out to have a conversation or hear my surroundings, ANC for when I want silence, all that stuff. I’ve been involved in the “audiophile” stuff for decades and still view my speakers as my best listening experience. But over time I discovered headphones could be great (still listen to my close to 20 year old HD600’s). I have discovered IEMs that give me incredible experience with sound that’s a fraction of the cost of the other stuff. But don’t sell your tws, like the Samsungs or certainly APPs, short, they’re probably the best sounding earbuds on the market (yes the new Samsung 3 pros, with the stem that resembles the AirPods are likely to be superb as well). You’re matching up an IEM against some real competition. But you can beat them with the right IEM for half the price, or less, if the sound signature matches your preference. Get the new dongle and give it a little more time. Make sure you have a good seal in your ears with your ear tips, it’s crucial with an IEM or they’ll sound like crap. The Reds have a thick nozzle, sometimes making that difficult in smaller ears, and the included ear tips may not be the best fit for you. I know I had to play around with buying different third party ear tips before discovering that for my ears the Spinfit W1’s were my best fit for most of my IEMs. If you just can’t get used to them, or don’t like them, you’re not alone. I hope you have a way of returning them if they don’t work out. But I wouldn’t give up on IEMs as a whole. I’d spend more time reading and exploring reviews of others, that may be a better fit. As already mentioned, something with more v like tuning might be better, or tuned to a Harman target which is generally popular for many people although, at least for me, not fun or exciting. I hope you figure it out and get to a point of putting a set on and feeling carried away by the music.

I’d strike the S12 from that list. It can be quite bright. The S08 is tuned with a darker treble and superior bass and subbass, more what the OP is looking for.

I’m a big fan of my APP2’s and still use them a lot for out and about and even when having a cable is just inconvenient. Two IEMs I have that I’ll reach for over them are the already mentioned Letshuoer S08, a solid planar with good bass responses and none of the peaky treble you can get with the S12. They also got rid of the planar “veil” and slightly metallic sound common in planars until now, including the S12. Overall a solid, affordable choice that also comes with a nice stock cable, so no need to look for a third party cable off the bat. The other is the Aful Explorer. It’s really a delight, a more open sound than the S08, with a bit more treble but without getting piercing highs or sibilance. It’s a hybrid design with 1 DD and 2 BAs they work some nice magic with blending together with a solid crossover and clever use of internal sound tubes to guide and deliver an even mix. The bass is solid with decent subbass and ear rumble but by no means bass heavy basshead type of response. They’re also very comfortable with a fairly small light resin shell and smallish nozzle, so comfort is ok. It’s also the only IEM I’ve ever bought where the included ear tips work well and didn’t have me immediately swapping out for a third party ear tip. YNMV when it comes to fit, there’s just too much small variations in ear anatomy to make that call across the board.

I’ll second the S08. Really amazing performance with solid bass and not overly bright. A very different tuning for a planar while still maintaining planar traits of excellent transients and attack with the quick response you’d expect from a planar. It’s Letshuoer‘s newest 4th gen planar design and really performs well. It does not sound like the S12, and it’s called S08 to commemorate their 8th anniversary, and despite the step down in price, not an IEM a step down from the S12 in performance (while tuned quite differently).

I have several, but my favorite for just listening is an Aful Explorer. I have a Performer 5+2 that has better technicalities and soundstage, and is brighter than the Explorer, and while it is better for critical listening, the Explorer is just more relaxed for me. The Explorer is just a warm, lush, and relaxed sound. They’re very different IEMs and I like having both to choose from. The Performer is a different beast than the Explorer, not just some step up from it. The Performer is an excellent IEM. I don’t want to leave an impression that it’s not. It’s just a different class of IEM that shouldn’t be compared. I still really like my Letshuoer S08, a planar built and tuned to be warm with a tamed treble. It does not have a typical planar tuning of bright with a planar “veil”, or timbre, or metallic sound some people don’t like. They did a great job getting rid of it. It still has all the other characteristics of a planar with rapid response fast attack and transients, by with a good bass and subbass, albeit with a rapid recovery.

Usually I’d agree with you. I like my $8 Apple dongle. But this is a 2DD isobaric setup with a “bass boost” impedance adapter which I believe is 15ohm. I’ll assume the Deuce itself is 32ohm. So you’re looking at 47ohm impedance. Even with a sensitivity of 105dB Vrms, to get 110dB loudness to allow for headroom, you need 67mW of power. That’s beyond a $10 dongle. As I pointed out, a KA11 dongle can deliver enough power (220mW@32ohm rating, cut it down for the higher impedance it should still suffice), but I bet these are more like easy to drive headphones than sensitive IEMs. And if you’re going for loud basshead, a 30mW dongle won’t do it. You can try, and it depends how loud you like to listen, but the Deuce is more demanding than the average planar driver, certainly with the bass booster they give you, which people overestimate, as I can drive an S08 at comfortable listening levels with a 31mW Apple dongle. But people will insist you need more power, even though if you calculate the requirements based on the specs given, there no need for some 300mW output to listen to an average planar. As I originally posted, I can’t find the actual specs on the Deuce. But I do believe if you throw that impedance adapter in to give you a further boost in the bass, which a basshead will no doubt want to do as it’s the whole point of the IEM, you likely are exceeding what a generic supermarket dongle can provide.

In this price range, in my personal taste, none of them... I like a cold sound, with little bass... but of these I would get the 08 for the collection and put Spring tips on it.

Letshouer S08, but Artti T10 is very close and only $50-60 if you don't mind the look

you basically described Letshouer S08 which would also be my all around pick under $200 msrp anyway and it's only $100, there are stuff that do some stuff better but all around I think step up from it would only be $230 Apevoix Grit

delci ae is better for gaming than em6l but worse for music edit:/ all around for $99 letshouer s08, it's better for music than these and just as good forgaming as em6l still not as good as delci ae tho

for 80 only Delci AE is better for gaming, it's also better for music, for 80 on sale you could also grab Letshouer S08 on sale which is just as good as Vivace for gaming but A LOT better for music, even than Delci AE, so if you value music more get s08, if you value gaming more get Delci AE if you value your wallet the most get Vivace xD

Letshouer S08 is imo the best all around

Letshouer S08 is as good as EM6L for gaming, better for music, it's my favourite all around IEM under $200 msrp that said Kefine Delci AE is best for gaming under $100 but I don't enjoy it for music I think even their Klean is better for music but it's also slightly worse for gaming, it's amazing value tho you can get them for under $40 on sale

S08 is best all around, if they were all same price it would be my #1 pick obviously but Xuan Nv would be #2, that said Artti T10 is best buy if we take prices into consideration and 7Hz Sonus also beats all of these

👋 Freak here, works well for me (S08 and ifi go Blu). Rock on.

Seconded - although it can vary wildly between iem in tuning terms, if your eartips aren't right, eq is barely a help. Although I get the most bass on my S08's with Spinfit W1's, it's still good on my Dunu S&S and the fit is perfect. If they don't fit right or are too light / mount the iems too far from my inner ear (perhaps S08 specific) I get no bass... Not tried the 100 pro - what headphones / speakers are you comparing to?

One - slight - caveat for S08's and metal. They're quite resolving / detailed, so if the recording / mastering is crap, they're a touch ruthless. If it's decent though, they're ace. Especially good on percussion.

Artti T10 or Kefine Delci is way better than these S08, it's a disappointment IEM.It just looked expensive and nice that's all.There's no soundstage at all and it sounded like a cheap earbuds.

As someone who listens to EDM and Rock and those types of music the Hexa sounded too clinical to me. Its fantastic for other types of music and general use (eg videos) but I always grab my S08 to listen to my fav tracks when im out and about. Besides that the hard edge of the Hexa was pressing against my ear and irritating it. But thats a non-sound related issue I have lol

As a fellow S08 owner I can confirm these are amazing planars for the price, and you won't get better bass quality and detail until getting into the mid $300+ price range

Would love to see some of your thoughts on Letshuoer's stuff in future lists! The S08 released this year and personally I am in love with this thing. Don't know if you'd like the less bright tuning of it compared to some other planar IEMs though.

anything that has a smoother v shaped FR is already kinda bass bleeding a little, like if u dont like the ew300s, the aful explorer is dark leaning and the fact that ot has an emphasis on the bass and mid bass means its gonna overpower the mids more than the ew300s. s08 to me felt a little too dark and warm as well, i think the Delci might be more in ur range since its better balanced? but at the same time if u want proper separated mids, finding it in a v shaped iem is hard or non existent, ID rec more towards something like the new JM1DF target, the slight tuck but not really a tuck shape, helps separate the bass from the mids, or any more U shaped graph

If they are treble sensitive I would suggest the S08 for a planar, that thing is nice and dark. I can't see anyone having an issue with it's treble.

Yes the details are really good, especially when you turn up the volume! I think it might be tied with the Aful Explorer but I only own the S08 so can't compare them myself.

They were alright good seperation from all the sounds so you can hear all the gunfire/explosions etc without them blending together and can pick things out where things are coming from left to right but they don't have a lot of depth i.e. things close to you and far from you don't sound as stretched out as you would like in games like BF and Warthunder but they would be great in Valorant for example. I use the Xuan Nv (I play more single player games) and it is much better at that depth but not as good at the other stuff...think the S08 has everything happening in center of your head but the Xuan Nv can have sounds happen from the center to the outside of your skull...if that makes sense. If you've heard of the Zero Red it is a better but more expensive version of that. Honestly you should check out Fresh Reviews, he tests in multiple games, usually Valorant, Apex Legends (probably the most helpful test for your games), Rainbow Six. [This is his overall list, it has links to the reviews as well. ](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sHR4QwC1-YprWbjDEHtrz9qCQskY_uuOsAo-Amjznts/edit?gid=0#gid=0)Pay attention to the prices before watching the reviews though, lol.

The Xuan Nv, it comes with great accessories, and just works for anything, music, gaming (both multi-player and singleplayer), youtube, movies/shows, all of it. It does help if you can get a dongle but honestly I can power it off of an xbox controller just fine. The S08 is the only other one I own and it is good, but....it is cramped for soundstage (it sounds closer to the center of your head, the Xuan Nv the sounds can reach to the edges of your skull, if that makes sense) and it is picky for ear tips while the Xuan Nv comes with Sancai tips which are so good people buy them separately. Oh and it does look really cool!

Would you have the same conclusion about music ? I have the S08 , I love them but wouldn't mind trying something else , only use them for music (metal , electronic and classical)

Thanks for your answer. I find myself only using my S08 over my Hifiman Edition XS for example, the Letshuoer is very comfortable and not tiring. I'd like to find some iem that make me at least as happy as the S08.

I agree with the Bass breakdown. The Bass spreads out more than I’m used to with the default tips included. With some tip rolling they get tighter which is more to my liking. Honestly compared to the Letshuoer S08 it felt lacking in energy, but after some brain burn in it ain’t too bad. Still doing some tip rolling though to get it where I want it

Have both the S08 and the Explorer and go for the S08. Has more exciting Bass which I preference, though with ear tips you can change the Explorer's Bass as well; by default the Explorer bass wasn't tight enough for me, was off putting compared to all my other sets. Many seem to enjoy it, but just not my thing

I also play Hunt Showdown and have tried the S08 < SM4 < Tea Pro. I would put them in that order in my experience, given the amount of bass in the explosions of games OP mentions I think I would agree moving up to the SM4 range is probably advisable. S08s left a lot of background rumble in intense firefights which hurt some of the directional clarity. S08s are great for my music taste at the price point though. Also love how durable they are when bringing them to work so can recommend as well for edm/rock/metal.

I also have the Letshuoer S08s and they get a lot of praise but they are just not in the same tier of sets. Tea Pro does everything better in my opinion, possibly a side grade for a genre like metal but even then I like the separation the Tea Pros offer. To answer the initial question I think the bass would give it away pretty quickly. Tea Pro sounds/feels impactful.

Nothing technical to add, just that I enjoy these posts. Again this is something that a laymen like me can "feely"craft but understanding the mechanics around it is interesting. This feels 100% accurate in my experience as a casual observer, some other common IEMs for gaming that are recommended would be Simgot SuperMix 4 and Mangird Tea Pro (I owned both of these at one point). When playing Hunt: Showdown to my ears it was objectively easy to tell that the SuperMix 4 had less overall bass AND it was also a lot slower to recover to spikes in volume (say a barrel or explosive detonating nearby). Once I had purchased the Tea Pros, the tightness of the bass was extremely noticeable and this seemed to help clean up some of the mids and low treble to make it easier to discern the separation in chaotic environments. Another interesting thought as you had mentioned the Arrti T10, I used the Letshuoer S08s which was a full planar set for a few weeks as well when I had just gotten into the hobby. The difference in the spactial "feeling" not the actual precision itself is another concept that I would love to understand. To me it feels like there is a difference between the precision and how distance plays out on the stage created. For example, I believe with all the sets I have mentioned I could get a good sense of direction based on a sound cue; however, all three sets have a very different resolution of 3D space. I attempted to test as best I could the difference between the MEST Mk2 and Tea Pros to see if I would like one or the other more over the last few days. The Tea Pro's space resolution feels less detailed but more accurate to relative distance, the MEST provides absolutely unparalleled detail but because of the recessed pinna mids messes with the distance some. Both could absolutely be used but one does a better job at creating space "around you" rather than "in front" of you. Is there any way to objectively analyze the perception of that 3D space that is being created?

So I just got the MEST MK2s last week, and they have become my favorite musical set almost instantly. It’s just so pleasing and unique it’s hard to describe. I have also messed with Letshuoer S08s, Simgot SM4, Ziigaat Odyssey, Kiwi Ears Canta (least favorite so far), Letshuoer DX4. Tea Pros are where it’s at for value/performance for me. Odyssey might be better value overall but its lack of stage/space makes me appreciate the MEST/Tea Pro more.

Thanks for your review. I tested both the S08 and the S12 at a local audio store and I think you can't go wrong with either. However, since I use IEMs mostly while studying/working, the less analytical S08 won it for me. The S12 had a slightly fatiguing sound in the higher frequencies, though the detail retrieval is really impressive compared to any other IEMs I tested within this price range.

Artti T10 has plenty sub-bass, I think you enjoy bigger mid-bass (see graph where the castor bass peaks), and that's perfectly fine. Remember people have different ears and music libraries, for me T10 has enough bass for pop and rock genres I listen to My advice is to try S08, it has relaxed upper-mids, so should be bassier in presentation. Stay away from Harman tuning which would definitely lack mid-bass for you

IMO, in this order, Cadenza 4 has an impeccable tuning and excellent technical chops, also the cheapest if I'm not mistaken. 1. Letshuoer Cadenza 4 2. Softears Studio 4 3. Elysian Pilgrim

It's a bit hard to recommend without knowing your tuning preference, but based on what you listed I think the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 would be the most sensible choice for you. As for isolation it really depends on fit and eartips, once you buy your IEM and can't get good isolation with stock eartips then you should look into aftermarket eartips, but something like Spinfit W1 is generally good for that.

Probably the S08. The default tuning is versatile and pleasant. And if you don’t like it, it’s easy to eq.

I have them and I really like them both for music and gaming. I mostly play single player games to be honest, but I have used them on Hunt: Showdown and they are really good and accurate. But if you are trying to get something for competitive gaming you should go higher into more detailed IEMs. If you play just for fun and music I can recommend them.

I like the S08 a lot, but there are some things going in to a purchase to be aware of. 1: As a planar, they have a particular sound signature, aside from the tuning, that I would describe as 'responsive attack'. The driver just has this timbre and responsiveness that is immediate. It contributes to both the 'fatiguing treble' and 'weak bass' that some people complain about when discussing planars. Notes that would decay, bloom, or bleed into other regions just don't do that as much. They pop and disappear and leave space for the next note, in my opinion. I personally love the responsiveness - it's great for music with quick bass lines, or if you like a 'bump', rather than a 'boooooooom'. Now, you can tune some of these things in or out of planars and other drivers (DD's specifically, for that loose and thumpy bass), but it's just how planars start as a default. Speaking of the tuning.... 2: The tuning on the S08 tries to avoid some of the 'planar negatives' while leaning into the note attack. Specifically, the treble harshness is tuned down a little (when compared to something like the 7hz Timeless, or Tangzu Zetian Wu, or the Shuoer S12), but that mostly lends to an easier listening experience by reducing fatigue, imo. The treble is still crisp and lively because of the driver, but slightly reduced in overall db (like 2db when compare to the S12). This does leave some people to just say 'just get a DD' when comparing graphs, but that take completely discounts the timbre of a planar. 3: ...and despite the reduced treble, you can still open it up a little if you're willing to spend a couple bucks on top of the iems for tips. The S08 take REALLY well to short-barrel, wide-bore ear tips that raise and open up the treble a little, specifically tips like the Moondrop Spring Tips or Tri Clarion. It's not much, maybe a couple db max, but that's the difference between the S08 and the S12 in tuning across most of the treble range. The thought of 'well if you have to buy tips on top of the S08 to make it sound more balanced, just get the S12' is fair and valid, but there are some peaks on the S12 that the S08 doesn't have; if you don't like those peaks specifically, the S08 and a set of Spring Tips is a better option. I decided to put my S08 in as a wrote this up - they really are a stellar set of iems, specifically for the price. I personally love that responsiveness of a planar, without some of the harsher peaks that others might have. The S12 is also a good option - it's treble really isn't that much more intense overall than the S08, but it does have some real peaky spots that stick out that I personally see as a negative. The S08 aren't really all that 'dark' in the treble, just much more 'flat' when compared to a Harman curve.

I’m going to vote for the S08 as well - that tuning on a planar is so good. Pick up some Clarion Tri or Moondrop Spring Tips later to really set them off; the short barrel, wide nozzle tips just nudge the treble up enough to really open them up, in my opinion. Doesn’t have to be now, as they’re great without them and the ‘balanced’ set they are packed with are fine.

#Disclaimer: *As always, with each review I try to improve and better demonstrate my experience as a regular but avid and passionate user! *If you are looking for a super technical and in-depth analysis, please feel free to look for another review. There are many guys here who have much more knowledge than me and have been doing this for much longer. *This time, the unit to be reviewed was kindly delivered by Artti through Arisa in exchange for my honest opinion/review. *I will try to be as brief as possible, "straight to the point!" And as unbiased as possible. ---------------- #Gear Used: · Celest - CD-20 · EPZ - TP35 · Notebook (Windows), (MusicBee), (Tidal and Apple Music) · Penon Liqueur O and B, Dunu S&S, Sancai Wide, Whizzer ET100AB (good match), Bamboo Tips, TRN T, SoundCocoon, ddHIFI ST35 and AudioSense S400 (good match) · 4.4 bal. Cable, and High Gain as always ---------------- #Specs: Drivers Config: 14.2mm(Magnetic Planar Driver) Sensitivity: 96db Impedance: 16.5Ω Frequency Response Range: 20Hz-40kHz ---------------- #Unboxing Experience: An unboxing experience that I consider very good, very similar, if not identical, to the T10 OG. The box has the same size and shape as the non-Pro version, both outside and inside we have the same items included, Shells, cable that now differs by being modular bringing plugs in 3.5mm and 4.4mm bal. There are six pairs of good quality eartips, normal and wide bore type, totally "usable". A good quality case, good size to fit the essentials, a small dongle maybe an extra pair of eartips and the iem with the cable. Instruction manual, warranty card to be registered and a quality inspection certificate. ---------------- #Overall Build: Construction is where this set was taken to another level, and perhaps this is where the word "Pro" added to the T10 fits best. The entire shell has been redesigned (material, not so much the shape) and now features an all-metal construction, and despite being a little heavier, it is, in my opinion, a little smaller. I may be one of the few who like the look of the T10 OG, but I can't deny that in this Pro version the T10 inspires much more confidence. The cable has also received upgrades, it continues with 0.78pin but now has better hardware and modular termination, being 3.5mm and 4.4mm bal. with a fitting and screwing system for greater security. The wire material remains exactly the same, they are four strands of 216 core of high-purity cooper plated silver. This same cable was used for the analysis, I see no reason to change it other than aesthetics. As for the eartips, although I find the quality of Artti eartips above average, unfortunately the tips that come with most sets, regardless of the brand, don't fit me well and regardless of that, I always try to find the perfect tip for my taste, the tip that I think sound and seal best with the iem and my tiny ears. ---------------- #Sound Impressions: I'll just keep it short, the Artti T10 Pro is a safer version of the already established T10. This will be quickly explained below, with a comparison being made with the T10 OG. ---------------- #Bass: The bass of the T10 Pro is somewhat fuller than the bass of the "OG" but at the same time it has lost a bit of speed and definition, especially the mid-bass that was super punchy, fast and with an excellent attack in the first version. It may be less exciting for some people, but I see it being good for others. It is really a safer revision but less exciting and satisfying. ---------------- #Mids/ Vocals: This is being very difficult to do, the mids are thin, hard and lifeless? Just like the vocals, which suffered a lot, they are not natural enough and once again there is no wow factor here, I don't describe them as laidback vols but they are not forward either, theoretically they are in the right place, but it doesn't seem that way when I listen and compare them with the OG or even the Letshouer S08, this one does have great mids and super natural vocals to carry those full rumbling bass, a little on the boomy side but they do a better job than the T10 Pro. ---------------- #Treble: The highs will please those who are more sensitive to this area, but at a cost. The highs have just the minimum air and sparkling to achieve the macro and micro detailing necessary to have something average. It doesn't stand out, it could have a little more brightness and extension and still be safe and satisfactory. ---------------- #Technical Performance and Soundstage: Everything here is average and if the average was marked with the Artti T10 "OG" then everything here would be below average. It's not as defined and detailed, this could be an excuse to have something more musical, no, that wasn't the case here, it's not fast nor does it have a good attack which is one of the good characteristics of a good planar driver IEM. The image is very similar to the T10 but the layers are worse, the Soundstage is average, it's not something that impresses but at the same time I wouldn't define it as a box, totally inside our heads. ---------------- #Overall Verdict: Returning to the title I decided to give this review, the word "Pro" does not always mean better. The T10 ''OG" is more capable than the Artti T10 Pro, it is a more exciting and natural version in every way, fast, agile, spicy in the right measure and at the same time musical. A safer and more properly made version of the Artti T10 already existed and is called the Letshouer S08. I think Artti can do much better than this, and I bet they will soon. But I would have preferred even for almost double the price to have just a shell revision, with the modular cable and exactly the same fit as the original T10. I hated doing this review because I really tried hard to like this set, I had high hopes for it, having used the T10 and S08 for so long I think it was the fact that my expectations were so high. *Again, thanks to Artti and Arisa for kindly sending me these units.

Great review Bro! Thanks 🤟🏻❤️ The comparison you made with the S08 was very accurate, similar to my impressions!

Technically T10's is in another league, I don't hear the mp145 but the T10 and S08. To me the Luna despite being very capable and for an unbeatable price (disclaimer: I'm a big fan of SGOR) can't keep up with these two, but in this hobby, everything is very subjective, right?

Arrti T10 is by far the best value, nothing beats it at its price. I bought a whole bunch of planars to see if I was missing out (planning to return the ones I don't keep) Kz PRX- pretty good, t10 is better Letshuoer S08- Great, trades blows with T10 but 2x the cost Kiwi Ears Aether- the best, but absolutely not 3x better. Hifiman Edition XS (Yeah I wanted to see what a planar headphone was like) Absolutely amazing for live music/ real instruments. Not so great for hip hop etc.

I've tried planars and basshead sets so far! Kiwi Ears Aether, Letshuoer S08, Kiwi Ears Airoso, KZ Decet, CCA Hydro, and today the QoA Adonis arrived... I even wondered if 'd get a bigger benefit with headphones so I bought an Edition XS. They are all really good, but the difference between my $50 Artti T10 and the $150 Aether was much more "I guess it sounds a bit better if I concentrate." Same for ear tips- they've been wasted purchases.

Definitely S08 The IE300, a lot of peeps say it's a downgrade over IE200 plus the IE series seems to have a lot of driver breaking down issue in this sub.

For until 200$, honestly there are many great choices like soundrhyme SR5, simgot supermix4, kiwi ears quintet (for more 10$ish), tangzu heyday (if you still can buy this), tangzu xuan nv, letshuoer s08. Personally, for budget more than 30$, I think there are many better choice than kz Personally I suggest 1. SR 5 or kiwi ears quintet if you want a balance and fun overall. Quintet is a bit better, but the treble timbre is somewhat a little bit metallic and tad too bright for me 2. Supermix 4 is similar to quintet, the driver configuration also similar. Like a budget choice of quintet 3. Heyday, this is one of my daily drivers besides mangird tea 2. The accessories from the box is decent and you got modular jack. 4. Tangzu xuan NV is pretty good but the tone is a little bit too laid back for me. Typical warm and safe tuning. Well basically my mangird tea2 is the definition of safe tuning, but mangird tea2 technical aspects are awesome if you can find suitable cable for it 5. Letshuoer s08, the new planar iem from letshuoer. The tuning is kinda similar to xuan NV but a little bit more engaging and for me and the detail is quite awesome as well.

I have one. Probably my second favorite planar. Great for rock and EDM.

Shozy P20. However, it's not as comfortable because of the odd shell design, and mine has some driver flex. The S08 will probably be comfortable for nearly everyone who tries it, and is built like a tank. I tend to suggest it for anyone coming from a DD setup that wants to try a planar, even though I prefer the sound of the Shozy P20 by 10-15%.

Hexa is great. Very clean sound. S08 doesn't have sharp treble. Might not be a crisp sounding as you prefer, but it's a very good option. Personal favorite in your list is the Explorer. Something about it... Kinda addicting.

Letshuoer S08 or Shozy P20 would be my pick for what you're suggesting. The EW300 is great, but not everyone likes the combo of microplanar+piezoelectric for mids and treble.

Absolutely love my S08’s with Penon Orange Liqueur tips.

Get the Letshouer S08 based on ur music preferences this would be the best, also wait for a decent sale they go on sale often I got my pair for $66

I love mine. I thought they'd be more warm/muffled, but rather, I'd describe the sound as clean and balanced, with good treble extension (better than the wyvern abyss). It's less shouty, too, which I enjoy cause sounds like gunshots are not fatiguing. Maybe not the best in terms of having a lot of treble to be able to pinpoint things more precisely, but they are small and comfortable with a very soothing and responsive sound, so I think they are great for long gaming sessions, without worrying about that 0.1% gamer chair advantage you MAY have in one round every 3 days. Overall, I'd definitely recommend them unless you're specifically focused on fps esports at the highest level. For everything else, they are good and comfortable and sound very well, especially if you don't like shouty, nasally, tincan type of sounds and they fatigue your ears.

Not instantly but Letshuoer S08. My first non cheap iem and right side died. No help from Letshuoer or the store that sold me it. Never buying Letshuoer again, their cs wasted my time pretended like they were gonna help me while trying to sell me another iem and when pressed I got ghosted, fuck them forever. KZ EDX Lite with Spinfit tips and some EQ is pretty fun, and Abyss for everyday use is nice. EDX a bit too bright, Abyss a bit too 'short' on the high frequencies and slightly radio/boxy sounding on the voices. Looking for something balanced next with some good treble extension still, maybe Aful P5+2 or Hidzis Ms3 or EW300.

S08 is warm. No high planar treble in S08. That would be s12 or s12 pro.

I have Letshuoer s08. It’s a warm sounding Iem . If that’s your liking in sound you can go for it. I would recommend it happily. They are easy to listen to and no fatiguing so can wear them for longer periods. Another option to consider would be Aful Explorer. Again same warm sounding Iem. Between S08 and Explorer I chose S08, but they are both very similar in sound.

Letshuoer S08 for me currently. Can’t stop listening to them, especially because they are so easy to listen to and non fatiguing in long sessions. Love watching movies with S08’s

Well for planar Letshuoer S08 is my first Planar IEM. I had Blon Bl 03 previously which was single driver DD. For headphones, DT 770 pro, DT 770 pro x, FiiO JT1 Above ones are that I own. Few I tried is like aful explorer, Letshuoer s12 , Arti t10

Letshuoer S08 , they are easy to listen to and can be used for longer sessions. It’s warm in tuning and non fatiguing. Details are there if and when required or song or movie calls for it.

Same here. Chose S08 over explorer. Although I found both to be very similar in sound. It’s just the s08 was more comfortable to wear for longer sessions

Blon Bl 03, used it a lot. Still working. Though very recently I got Letshuoer S08. So not using Bl 03 currently.

I have S08 , and they are pretty amazing. Warm tuning, easy to listen to. S12 I tried but was bit harsh to my ears given the treble. S15 is supposed to be good, though haven’t heard them yet. Their price have also dropped recently so you can check them out.

Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 , those two are good options to consider. Not a very informative person on audio technicalities but, S08 is clear enough to enjoy movies and music. Explorer is pretty similar in sound to S08. IMO you can go with either one.

I got mine today. Have been using it with the apple USB C dongle. coming from Moondrop Aria, honestly I am not impressed. I feel like the Aria sounds more alive and enjoyable. I am going to give it some hours to "burn-in" and then see but so far, I feel like there is a lot of hype and everyone uses these vague words to explain/review an IEM but I at least havent felt like this has been an upgrade. idk if I am missing anything here.

I am not an audiophile, but was using hte OG Aria for a few years. then tried to see what else might be available, and read much praise about the S08 and bought it during hte holidays. I am not sure I like them any more than the Arias. yes, in some songs there is more details of instruments, but I feel like bass is slight harsh, and lacks the clean thump, if that the right word to describe it. idk, someone advised I use a dac with it, and I did order one off of Amazon, but then returned it as there wasnt a noticeable difference in sound quality. not sure if it is helpful, but just wanted to share my own experience with it. maybe there are some songs I enjoy listening to but its not for every song, and my playlist is a mix of every genre so I cant change iems in the middle of listening to music.

Thanks, I was curious, I know it is anatomycally particular. I found the transparent tips very comfortable and I’m very happy with my S08. Not as sound staged as my other IEMS (Fiio FD15) but my anatomy feels the S08 as part of myself.

Found them better than expected for gaming. I play tactical shooters often and they were pretty accurate in *Ready or Not* in particular. But tbh I'd rather listen to music on them. Especially EDM or hiphop.

Watch Fresh Reviews from YT for gaming earphones, but this is his list: Wallhack IEM Tier List (Budget): (B) Simgot Supermix 4 (B to B-) Simgot EM6L (B to B-) Truthear x Crin Zero (OG or Red WITH adapter) (B- to C+) 7hz Sonus (B- to C+) Dunu Kima (B- to C+) Simgot EW200 (B- to C+) Truthear Hexa Personally, I would recommend Letshuoer S08, I think they're very close to the Supermix 4. Fresh Reviews also recommended the S08 and puts it right above the Crin Zero Blue on one of his videos, but he hasn't updated this list yet.

For gaming, Letshuoer S08 no debate, better technicalities. Now for music, it would depend on your preference, they are both dark, maybe S08 is a tad bit brighter compared to explorer but still dark compared to any planar IEM. In terms of bass, S08 hits harder(mid bass), but the Explorer has a better sub bass rumble. I currently own the S08 and loving them a lot, only tried the Explorer from a fellow hobbyist and I know it's a worthy purchase. Check out Audio Amigo's review on Aful Explorer or Letshuoer S08 on Youtube, he compares both and gives a good insight.

I'll give you a list of absolute bangers for that price that I've tried of course: Dunu Titan S2 - best package of eartips, cable, and case, decent sound quality Simgot EA500LM - Details, clarity, sharpness, and musical, guitars sound so good Nicehck F1 Pro - Planar techs and qualities on par with $100+ planar IEMs, same tuning with S12 Pro, nice treble quality, planar bass(not my type) Letshuoer S08 - a little more expensive but these are my favorite under $100, planar techs with deep punchy bass that does not sound like any other planar on this list and surprisingly good vocals, however has dark upper mids and treble, still a good all rounder Kiwi Ears Melody - V-shape, bass has good quantity but hits like a heavy pillow, mids are recessed and muddy but energetic highs, might be niche but I enjoyed them Kefine Delci - Bassy, good enough amount so don't expect a basshead type of beat, dark and bright treble, great tuning and and above average resolution but narrow soundstage. Some more to consider: Tangzu Xuan NV - sounds like Zero Reds, low/average resolution, layering is not great, but tuning is great, I'd rather have this than the Zero Red just for being more ergonomic, sancai tips, and pretty Truthear Hexa - Techs are above average for the price, tuning is flat can be sibilant and shouty, not as resolving as the EA500LM 7hz Sonus - cable is ass, pouch is meh, eartips are trash, drivers are really good, the overall techs are better than Truthear Zeros and Xuan NV. Bang for the buck all rounder IEM, great for gaming Read more reviews if you find one interesting, only you can tell what tuning is within your preference and what technicalities you can't live without.

Idk the prices in your area but with a $200 budget, I could fit the Letshuoer S08($82) and maybe S12 Pro ($114)/Truthear Nova($120+)/Supermix4 & MP145($130+). I'm in love with the S08 right now and if I have budget of 200usd I'd try my best to fit them in the budget, planar techs without the timbre and a hearty bass.

Agree, with that dark tuning and planar characteristics, I've been enjoying my metal/rock playlist so much more without the fatigue.

ill say letshouer S08 with good amplification, or maybe the Kefine Delci but thats a noticeable focus on bass in both of them, what was the switch config you used the Rhapsody with?

ill personally would go for the S08 since it would be closer to what the Rhapsody config would was, but with fuller mids that would help with the overall presentation, now, afaik, delci is one of the most comfortable iems on its price range it sure would work well too with acustic music, but it can also be a bit overly energetic on some areas of the sound where Rhapsody wanst. The Que is fine, but it would be closer to what the Rhapsody is in terms of being more an energetic bassy V-shape, while the S08 and the Delci are more in line with a warm bassy sound. So, if you want just like a direct (kinda) upgrade, the Que could be better, if you want also a change in tuning, Delci or S08, but one think that i must mention is that some Reviewers said that the Que could potentially sound a bit muddy vs those other 2.

i do hope you enjoy it, just take in mind that a planar would need some good amplfication, so around 65mW of power output or more would be ideal (not sure whats the output on that DAP tho, so im mentioning just in case).

given what you like would go for S08 or EW300, the others would have more noticeable treble and Klanar could be good, but you risk the "planar timbre" that some people dont like (S08 deals with it way better btw).

for a planar variant there is the S08 which is bassy already, i dont think EQ is needed.

i know that very well, my point is, why mention somewhat expensive and, on top of that, bright planars for a bassy planar? S08 is already there, for an T10 or Dudu you are already better picking something like the KZ PR2-PR3 xd, i mean, performance is not going to be x3 better being a single planar already, besides, OP just says he wants a bass heavy iem but he might not know how much for him is already heavy bass, given that he doesnt seem to know that much of iems overall, S08 would be the option - for planars that is -, and then, if he feels he wants more, then he can try EQ if thats the case, but for that matter, OP would be better off with something like the Legato. i admit thant my answer was very lackluster and out of context, but S08 is not just warm, it is on the bassy side of things because it also haves a reduced amount of upper mids, and treble isnt also that extended.

So, If you havent checked it yet: This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) However, i must mention that "a lot of bass" usually doesnt play all that well with rock music genres (with hip-hop is fine tho). So, if you just want something Funny and energetic, with Nice bass, the Kefine Delci or maybe the Kiwiears Canta could work, for some more bassy stuff, Explorer or the TRN White Tiger could work for you (specially the White tiger since it comes with 3 tuning nozzles to adjust the sound). If you really want LOTS of bass, the 7Hz Legato is the choice, and if you want something clearly bassy but not too bassy, the Letshouer S08 (along with a DAC for power) could be a solid option, allthought this one is a bit more on the relaxed side of sound because of its warm, bassy presentation.

i am sorry, idk why reddit didnt notified me. the closer to properly basshead that i know is the Letshouer S08, followed by the Delci of Kefine, both arent that large on the nozzle, but they arent like small (if for reference we take iems like the Z300 which has a like 4.5mm or so nozzle), but they are under 6mm* afaik (not taking into account the lid tho), which is functional for most people, and also i have seen very little people complaint about the fit on them. That said, one eartip that could help a lot is the CP155 from spinfit, i have small ear canals and those mede fitting the Truthear Zero Blue possible (almost 7mm nozzle btw).

As a person that owns a planar and DD iems. it really depends on what Is your friend looking for, i personally dont find planars timbre bas or metallic but for some people it can be distracting, that said, BA deivers are said to be prone to that aswell so a hybrid with BAs could be counter-productive. Now, the 2 main problems i find with planars is first, they need quite good amplfication, some more, some less, but you will need a dongle dac always basically. On the other hand, DDs usually suffer a bit less even if they are underpowered. the other problem with planars is that for some the bass might not had enough punch. planar bass is good, but not that good vs a good DD Bass. For cheap, Sgor Luna is a pretty good starting planar pick tho, you can even bundle it up with a dongle dac, so its a good option, but it doesnt seem to compete with better planars for its lower price, it does perform well for its price tho. If your friend like the zero2, it could be a decent new step, but for more performing planars, you dont want F1 Pro or T10 since the focus is more on the sub-bass Rumble over mid-bass kick, the least you could do is the Klanar, and specially the Letshouer S08 if he wants a bassy sound. As for non-planars, ill rather recomend the normal delci as long as he is not planing on gaming too much, since doesnt work all that well, and the AE tunings arent exactly the best use of the driver and is more expensive. EW300 is a pretty decent pick, but some people find them heavy on the ears, so do take in mind. As for other options, similar to Zero2, there arent exactly much closer to, but you could also check the Tangzu Fudu. But honestly, if your friend can go for planars, i think it would be a better pick in this budget, and if you know he likes bass, specially the S08 from planars. If not, Delci would be the safer options between delci and EW300. If your friend plans on doing gaming the Delci AE could be more versatile, but i think you would be sacrificing a good bassy tuning vs 2 just decent tuning. Talk it with your friend and narrow down options. If you are interested in more options for $50 or below, i have a whole pick list of you are interested.

i also agree with you, adding to that tho, S08 is a good bassy set but being a planar is on a similar situation of the NV about getting better results with a more powerful source than a basic 3.5mm Jack. So, also a good choice if OP wants a bassy sound, because while the others are nice, they arent as bassy as the S08.

having the QKZxHBB (besides other models like Kefine Klean, and having tested Cadenza, Salnotes Zero blue and so on), there arent that many similar warm options around $50, and around $100 there are options but with some things to consider, first, the closets i think would be 7hz Legato, but not sure how different is going to feel since is also a bass heavy iem but it has more amount of and a stronger presence of bass vs the QKZ one, so thats a bass heavy option if you want one. If you want something just more warm and relaxed, the Aful Explorer is the way, but might be too expensive if is not on a sale, so, Tangzu Fudu, if you can find it, comes quite close, but is a VERY relaxed set, so you might need some time to get used to it even if using the QKZ. And if you have a dongle DAC to power them the Letshouer S08 could also be an excellent choice for warm and bassy. If you havent checked it yet, This is a Sub $100-ish iem list i made: [\- Click Here -](https://www.reddit.com/r/iems/s/OXgg8IsbYi) Youn can get a bit more insgiht on each one of the mentioned iems if you wish.

ill highly recomend to check the Kefine Delci and the Letshouer S08 as one of the best bassy sets under $100 right now, and btw, the Quarted is another bassy set, but the thing with it is that its too polarizing for some reason, you either hate it or love it, if you like bass, is likely you would enjoy it, but i cant say for sure.

I was in the same boat and just bought a few pairs sight unseen - here’s my take on the ones I own (my references are the OG AirPod Pros, Pro 2, Sony XM4s, Grado 125i): These last few weeks I’ve used the KZ Castor Bass, Letshuoer S08, Simgot SuperMix 4 KZ Castor: Not the same level as OG AirPod Pros, treble is a bit muffled. Wouldn’t really use them over AirPods, but hey they were dirt cheap Letshuoer S08: Got them for a steal ($95AUD / $60USD). Great technicalities, instrument separation is amazing. Very interesting sound, can be a bit fatiguing on the treble. Bass is tight but punchy enough. I would put them equivalent to AirPod Pro 2. SuperMix 4: Fuller bass compared to the S08 but it doesn’t hit as acutely (if that makes sense), treble is smoother and easier to listen to. Would say they are still an AirPod Pro 2 equivalent or slightly better Of the 3, the S08s are the ones I keep going back to cause they are always interesting to listen to. Like others have said, the S12 or S12 pros might be worth a try as the S08s are so good already and its meant to be an improvement on top of that - but be careful of the treble Edit: For reference I normally listen to a lot of electronic, dance, pop

Hello everyone. I have with me the Letshuoer S08 and Letshuoer S12 Pro. Both are fairly new in my collection. I had a decent listening time with both the IEMs. Letshuoer S08 features a 4th-generation planar dual-coil custom 13mm planar magnetic driver. The faceplate integrates the design of '8' to mark the 8th anniversary of Letshuoer. The IEM has modular 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs with a twist-lock design and is available in black and silver versions. I have tested with Cayin RU7 (LO) + Topping NX7 and Divinus Velvet tips on both. **Build & Fit** Both are metallic build and Letshuoer didn't opt for HeyGears build this time with S08. Although S08 appears not a regular-shaped IEM, the fit is excellent and I liked it even better than the fit of S12 Pro. The ear hooks design isn’t aggressive either and offers comfort for long listening. The stock cable is very decent. **Driveability** S08 is much louder and more audible at a given volume level than the S12 Pro and scales well with an AMP like any other planar. It was driven very well with Cayin RU7 too. The S12 Pro is better than the S12 in driveability but still behind the S08. **Sub-bass** Sub-bass has a slightly better depth on the S08 than the S12 Pro. Quantity, rumble, and air are better with S08 as well. Also, there is better separation of sub-bass on S08 enabling it to be better perceived. The texture appears to be the same. Overall, S08 is more impactful here. **Mid-bass** Slightly better tone and quantity with S08 but I am not hearing a big difference here. However, the warm neutral tonality of the S08 creates a better perception of the mid-bass, whereas the S12 Pro has a bright tone that can intervene with the Bass in some tracks. As a result, the bassy tracks sound warmer, balanced, and more pleasurable on the S08. It can sound slightly boomy on S08 at times as well. Bleed is noticeable on S08 but it is for the good. In general, the bass is tight. Otherwise, the impact and slam are more or less the same on both. **Instrumentals** Mid-centric instrumentals have a clear and accurate timbre on the S08 with better note weight, the S12 Pro appears more clean sounding especially noticeable on bass-heavy genres and busier tracks. Slightly recessed, energetic V on the S12 Pro whereas the S08 is more balanced sounding, and has a warmth that slightly bleeds into the lower mids contributing to a lush note weight. S08 has a better volume scaling too. S12 Pro sounds a tad crispier, leaner, and analytical - slightly better resolving and sounds clean in complex tracks. S08 has a slightly better tone, better note weight, timbre, and roundedness, and is more musical sounding - Both have the Planar tone unlike the S15, however, S08 sounds very musical. S08 sounds crispier in general and the warmth is more noticeable in comparison only. Upper registers of violins and woodwinds are equally energetic on both, not harsh sounding, and appear natural on both. Percussions such as snare drums and cymbals are better defined and splashy on the S12 Pro. Guitars have a slightly better note weight, rounded and lush on the S08 whereas S12 Pro has a crispy and analytical definition. Overall, it is more of a tie here. They complement each other depending on the track and preference. **Vocals** First, there is a very slight amount of sibilance present on both, in tracks that I could notice but it appears natural to me, is not ear piercing and so, ignorable. Male vocals sound a little forward and lusher with adequate warmth on the S08. S12 Pro sounds analytical with nuances due to the slightly better resolution from the crispy definition in general. Female vocals have slightly more weight, clarity, and emotion on the S08. Both sound energetic and are not overly done. Overall, S08 has a better vocal performance here with rich emotion. S12 Pro is slightly behind in terms of vocals for me mainly since S08 extracts better emotion out of the vocals with more clarity and weight. S12 Pro is not bad by any means here and sounds a tad leaner and analytical in comparison. **Treble** The treble sounds more detailed and open on the S12 Pro. There is more clarity and air with percussions on the S12 Pro. For example, in 'At the Speed of Force' by Junkie XL, a lot is going on the track and is better detailed on S12 Pro, especially towards the last half of the track. S08 does not sound bad but S12 Pro does better justice to such tracks with more clarity, air, and definition. Treble sounds smooth and soft on the S08 with decent bite, extension, and energy that is preferable for treble-sensitive listeners. In comparison, the S12 Pro has much better detail, extension, and energy while sounding smooth. **Techs** The resolution is slightly better on the S12 Pro, especially in the busier tracks. S08 has better macro dynamics than micro detail retrieval. In comparison, the S12 Pro does a slightly better job at micro detail retrieval. Stage width is adequately wide on both and I didn't notice much difference here. Height is slightly better on the S12 Pro whereas depth is better on the S08. Imaging is slightly better on the S12 Pro. Tracing and positioning can get a little fuzzy at times with S08, is decent but not very precise. Layering in general is better with the S08. **Comparison Conclusion** S08 has a very musical approach to its playback whereas S12 Pro is more analytical when I compare them side-by-side. S08 has its strengths with the overall bass quantity and quality, balanced sound with rich note weight, timbre, emotive vocals, and treble that will please treble-sensitive listeners. S12 Pro has better detail retrieval, a crispy analytical nature to the sound, and an impressive treble performance. Coming to the technicalities both the IEMs aren't very strong considering the competition in and around the price point. Ex: The Hidizs MP145 that I possess is better among the three on the technical front. Musically, I prefer the S08 among the three. S12 Pro is right in the middle in either case. Knowing that the S08 is releasing with a price tag below 100 USD, I highly recommend this IEM to the folks who prefer planar IEM with a very musical approach and decent technicalities at an affordable price. Technicalities are not the strongest trait here but decent nevertheless. That's all for now. Thanks for reading through and cheers!!! https://preview.redd.it/meif59k9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45208fe49dadf430cbb697d073c87161b3486d85 https://preview.redd.it/8wai0vm9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc781bee69ea93faa67fa46a47d3f5af02285b65 https://preview.redd.it/18qhhum9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f2943c690b8cbc23cc9d657ab24aacc999b3d872 https://preview.redd.it/k4ncu1k9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c6894ecc628086a9a2d9d5e89d4bd3a2e3749bcd https://preview.redd.it/xmybj3k9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44457beb7a076c96f8aba12f75b59e17b1fd5bf8 https://preview.redd.it/cyqlovm9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4453d159bc937cfd70b5ef48c4daf55c68f191d7 https://preview.redd.it/9udf55k9ug8d1.jpg?width=8160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d4162c4d696151c39eb87900c18e504af4ca1db

Hi..beautiful track mate. I could not listen at the moment as the S12 Pro is not with me. I'll tell in some time. But I can say S08 is more thumpy compared to MP145. Infact, I am completing my final review on S08 and is going to be published tomorrow or the day after on head-fi. I'll share my comparison here as well.

The s08 has a dark trebles extension it isn't a all rounder  The bass ,subass low end is great but the trebles aren't ,it plus point is it dosnet have the planar timber but it isn't all rounder only for bass heads

Planars are great for metal. The new s08 is perfect for metal at louder volume. S12 pro is great too, and has more of a wow effect to it especially if you never heard a planar. It can get a bit fatiguing after a while though, and the fit isn’t the best (dunu s and s tips solve that, or any longer tip like spinfit w1 or epro ep00 horn).

Nah, they aren’t bad. The s12 is though. Z12 gold and s12 pro are pretty good, maybe at loud volume it would be too much. S08 solves that, graphing very much like the short bus mod on the s12.

If you want a good high volume metal set in the future the letshuoer s08 and aful explorer are great options around the $100 price. Or eq the s12 pros to the s08.

You’d be better off with the letshuoer s08 if you want a planar that scales well with volume.

Well said apart from i disagree on what you said about tips not affecting its bass response, they absolutely do for me, i wouldn’t of ever picked up my SO8s again if they sounded how they did out the box with stock tips, it wasn’t untill i put some dinivus velvets on that they opened up more and created a palpable amount of slam, usually if a IEM lacks low end i lose interest very quickly. The sound stage of the SO8 is far from perfect but it does well on tracks that aren’t too busy, i find lowering 250-400hz a few db helps air it out and emphasis the Hyper low frequencies also helping the vocals shine through i find symballs and high hats to sound natural one of the reasons i like listening to rock with them, their fast transient attack is enough, it keeps up with energetic rock music, especially for the price, you get what you pay for, that being said i have tried iems that cost more and sound way worse. It’s partly the reason i still bother with buying sets that are at the lower end of the scale. I had to change the cable though was not a fan at all which was a shame as you can of course use 2.5,3.5 and 4.4. Oh well.

I'll +1 his rec of S08 If you've experienced planars before, this is just a different beast. It's very fun and relaxed. Good and plenty of bass for me and im comparing them to my Mext It does well on vocals. Honestly it doesn't even sound like planar because of how it comes across but its a very very fun listen

I like them very much but I have two concerns here: firstly these are not that good for gaming specifically, secondly the S12 (2024 tuning) from Letshuoer is only marginally more expensive in most place right now and provides both much better detail for gaming and arguably a less warm sound which many users will find more agreeable for music listening as well (though there's certainly also plenty of folks like me who love warm signatures), so that would be my recommendation to still stay close to the original idea of the S08 but improve on it in the regards you were specifically looking for, unlike pivoting to a completely different type of IEM. If you're looking purely for a good gaming performer in that exact price range the Truthear Hexa would be the only model I'd otherwise recommend looking into.

You just can’t make them sound sibilant, it is extremely smooth out of the box. Waiting for it to burn-in.

Agree, they’re extremely smooth. The bass is extremely satisfying with quick decay and just enough slam. The imaging is pretty good as well, only the size of the image is not very large.

I second this. Also, AutoEq is a very useful tool to try different IEMs at zero cost. I've EQ'd my Wan'ers to more than 10 different IEM tunings before I decided to get the Letshuoer S08. I would say AutoEq is pretty accurate since I tried tuning my S08 to the Waners and the only difference I can hear is the siblance.

S08 are one of Letshouer's best planars; very DD-like in its timbre and tonality. I own much of their lineup and this remains in my rotation to this day, alongside sets that are far pricier (including other planars). That said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend these for gaming. Upper mids and treble are the two major areas of the frequency range that are critical for gaming cues; the S08 has a warmer, more relaxed presentation, with more forward sub/mid bass. Lower frequencies narrow the soundstage and will typically make IEMs sound more intimate and "in the head," and emphasized sub/mid bass can cause some masking higher up in the frequency range. The S12 2024 is a better option and not much more expensive. I also still regularly recommend the EM6L (and while I own the S12 2024, the EM6L is what I run 90% of the time while gaming).

Depends on personal preference, of course, but for metal and classical the S12 2024 would probably work better for you. The incisiveness, speed, additional detail and clarity in the treble, there are several areas where the S12 2024 are going to outperform the S08. That said, I see those two IEMs as compliments to one another. I run the S08 for hip hop, EDM, some classic and hard rock -- especially albums I would typically listen to on over ear DDs, through an OTL or tube amp, where the added warmth enhances the track; and I'd use the S12 2024 for metal, progressive, modern rock, classical, etc.

The two best planar IEMs on the market currently are the S08 and S12 2024. The S08 is about as close to a Glamdring mod as a set has gotten without paying the collab tax, and the S12 2024 solves many of the issues of the S12, without completely diminishing the planar qualities that made the S12 lineup so compelling. If you can find it in stock, it is well worth the addition $50 to find an S12 2024, but the S08 is one of the best values on the current market at $100, and is quite honestly getting much more of my time. It’s sitting in a rotation with many sets 10x its price, and it’s getting most of my attention. The Artti T10 is another IEM with very good value for money, but hard to recommend when the S08 is just slightly more expensive but offers a better overall listening experience and accessories package.

Yes. They’re one of my go-to sets under $200, tied with the S08 (out of probably 12-13 sets I’ve had on my bench in the last year or more; may change when the 2024 S12 arrives). As close to the 99/109/Liric as I’ve seen in an IEM, and a much better outing than the Advar. Warm, but without being too dark in the treble region. Typical Meze house sound; not counting the Empyrean and Elites, which were departures from their other sets. I can understand why some hobbyists haven’t taken a liking to them as they’re deviating from typical Harman, JM-1, and other popular tunings. It was refreshing to test a set that didn’t assume I was a Luddite that thinks sub bass is the only frequency that should exist below 300hz. All that aside, the hobby is entirely subjective. I have the Dusk in S tier and the Hype in A; I prefer the Noir to the OG pilgrim. I sold my Monarch MK3 (I rarely sell sets), and I run my Scarlett Mini more than the GM. Definitely to each their own.

Other suggestions based on your frequency preference. Prices listed are for new, so should be cheaper used: Aful Explorer (really great for the $100ish price) Letshouer S08 ($89) I would recommend spending a tiny bit more and get: Zigaat Odyssey ($199) FatFreq Deuce ($239 - amazing balanced bass set) Since you love bass I think you'd be happiest with the Aful Explorer or FatFreq Deuce. These sets also have darker treble for treble sensitive listeners (like me). I'd say the Explorers have the warmest treble, but is very smooth. The Deuce has great balance between bass and treble, doesn't feel like the bass muddies the vocals. I have all the above sets and they are all great choices.

S08. Not only that it should be exactly what you want, but a planar EQs very well (just in case). And the R4 has system-wide PEQ. 🔥

Hey man I know it has been a while but I was wondering if you could give me a comparison between this and the QOA Aviation? I saw your review about it and you had big praises for that one too. For reference I already got Letshuoer S08 which I enjoy but felt like the bass decay is too fast. Thanks!

I do agree on not buying IEMs that I find "ugly". Tried the Letshuoer S08 before and the hidizs mp145 but man they were ugly. Also the mp145 was so huge. While it does fit me, I think I look goofy wearing those chonkers. Also the reason I have a lot of aful iems. They're pretty lol especially the magicone. I also prefer resin IEMs more than metal iems.

Upvoted. Another happy S08 user here.

Letshuoer S08. The best bass I've come across for around $100. It's very weighty and textured but doesn't bleed into the mids so you're still getting decent imaging (sometimes better compared to DD with similar tuning). Treble is decent, there isn't a lot of sparkle/shimmer but ok as you turn up the volume. It's never shouty if you prefer that.

Letshuoer S08, a lot of people love it but it was not for me at all.

EW300 is the best all arounder under $100 imo but a planar like the Letshuoer S08 might be better for metal specifically.

Planar IEMs are nowhere near the level of over-the-ear planars, in my experience. If you want great sound - stick to hybrids and tribrids. If you are just curious about planars - the MP145 is probably the best of the bunch, but are quite large. Letshuoer s08 are amongst my favorites, but they are warm-tuned and intimate. The Kiwi Aether were a muddy disappointment to me. If you just want something "different" to get into - I highly recommend jumping into the all-BA iems rabbit hole.

Most welcome! I'm still in shock that anyone cares what I have to write about iems 😆. Not sure if you've seen anything about the just released Letshuoer S08, but it's superb. The only planar I've actually loved. Sounds more like a DD although it still retains the planar speed and capabilities. At $99 I think I'll make a big splash in the budget tier.

You're definitely talking me into the s08. Sounds like a detailed warm iem with good punch is exactly what I'm looking for. Is the imaging and separation any different between the two?

I know you said it's loud enough with just the apple dongle but does it get better with a inline dac? The S08 cable looks awesome as well with the modular cable.

IEMs are a bit of a rabbit hole, you've got an insane number of good options for cheap prices, so I'd say prepare to jump around a little. I'm a huge fan of Letshuoer S08's, they're planars with shockingly good bass. Cable is fragile but easy to replace and most people go with different eartips, I love my Penon Liqueur O's. Prices jump around a lot too but I got mine for $70.

The Penons are just the eartips, I just found they sealed better and gave me a little more bass because of it. The S08's are fairly flat and clear, likely a lot closer to DT770's than say my TMA-2's. Bass doesn't hit as hard as most headphones but better than most IEMs I can find. There's an extra option too, you can wear custom molded earplugs under headphones. A good set isn't cheap, mine were maybe $300 including the audiologist visit, but you can stick to throwing headphones on and off and it's certainly safer.

My recommendation: don’t buy off hype, don’t go off ChatGPT and instead watch a lot of reviews on budget iems and go from there. I bought a planar Letshuoer S08 via the hype here: HATED IT (Ish) I bought an Arrti T10 here via hype here: hated it. I bought KZ Casyor Bass: hated it Bought a KZ ZNA on a whim… been the best IEM for me lately. Perfect sub-bass, clear details and no treble fatigue… The moral is, don’t buy via graphs or hype. Do your own research via YouTube reviews, or IEM’s you like the look of. Most for the crinacle stuff honestly is shit in my opinion. Uncomfortable nozzles… etc.

Okay so I’m back here again haha… So… After the last recommendations I went and bought some Arrti T10’s and honestly… I don’t understand the hype… The bass sucked. Plain and simple. There wasn’t any real punch. Like yes, they’re very detailed and accurate and clear but like… where’s the bass? 🤷🏼‍♂️ I also bought some Castor Bass, just because I saw them recommended slot as a budget IEM, and honestly with the 3 & 4 up, these actually sound really really GOOD for metal. I’ve also some Letshuoer S08 on the way, and I’m worried that I’m going to hate them based on the Arrti… Therefore I guess I’m looking for the best of both worlds but at a good price. I already own the TRN White Tiger and honestly those are a step in the right direction. (Micro Planar and 2 DD) The Aful Explorer 5+2 are my wish list IEM atm. But I’m a broke uni student haha So has anyone got any recommendations that I may enjoy? The double DD Castor was pretty bang on, and I’m wondering whether the CCA Hydro could be what I want? I’ve also owned the KZ ZS 10 Pro X and I enjoyed those, just wanted a smidge more bass. I listen to a lot of sub-bass type genres like Wave Trap, DnB and Metal. So yeah give me your recommendations, especially lesser known IEM’s Ps: Simgot’s are also intriguing me… Thanks and happy listening dudes and dudesses

Thank you, that’s really good advice. I will actually add to this post: that I re-tried the Arrti t10 with balanced 4.4mm, a desktop DAC and some different tips and once I cranked it, I understand what the hypes about. Did the same with the S08 that arrived yesterday and my god, I think I get it. Think I’m a fan of the darker and more fun tuning.

If you need more bass switch 1&2 up. I found the castor to be okay for bass but nothing groundbreaking. Have heard the CCA Hydro slaps in that regard. Also the Letshuoer S08 slaps.

It’s actually a really good IEM. Out of all the IEM’s I own so far: Letshuoer S08 Artti T10 kZ ZS 10 Pro X KZ Castor Bass KZ EDX Pro I’ve kept the ZNA as my dailies. They just work perfectly for every genre I listen to. Metal, Liquid DnB, Wave, EDM, Progressive Metal, Hip-Hop,

You need a bit more power to drive these and they’ll really sing. I thought the same with my S08 but they slap with my DAP and giving it a bit more juice. Best IEM’s by far.

Dunu titan s2 or Dunu kima 2 is what I think suits your preferences. Titan s2 has good bass with textural qualities. Mids on kima 2 are more pronounced but smoother than s2. S2 has better dynamics overall and is more of a fun sound. Both have very good timbre but kima feels more natural. Hexa is more of a neutral mid range iem, it lets you observe the sound but not necessarily feel the bass defintion. I didnt really like s08, planar bass is more of a wave feeling motion and the tuning was too neutral. Nova lacks in the bass punch feel but everything is kind of smooth on it while having good vocals. Fudu is decent but the air roll off kind of is a dealbreaker for me. On a random side note you should look into kz zvx pro, it has very clean bass shelf without it feeling lacking. I know its in the budget but the tuning on it feels so technical for its price. It doesn't lack anything the staging, imaging, and layering all sound great. It blends musicality with good technicaity and I can say it rivals alot of $80 or under pairs.

I actually really like the S08. A planar that isn’t overly bright makes it pretty unique in the sub $100 bracket these days.

Letshuoer S08 maybe it graphs fairly close and it eqs well. Plus you get a little more detail it being a planar. Edit : Aful Explorer another good warm bassy set.

Letshuoer S08 w/good tips

I enjoy mine. I had the Artti T10 prior. It sounded pretty good, but didn't fit well. The S08 seems to be a much better fit for my ears. I also like that the S08 can be cranked up a bit without getting shrill, like the Aful Explorer.

If you're able to stretch up to $90, the Letshuoer S08 is a warmer planar with decent bass. I have them and they have become by daily drivers powered with the apple dongle.

I have both. They have similar sound profile but if we talk about bass presentation the explorer is a 1 or 2 levels above the s08. Detail retrival and soundstage, s08 is a level above the explorer. Though I love the aful explorer, it's also a fact that it needs a shit ton of power, it's a high volume pair after all. The s08 is pretty efficient for a planar, I can have it extra loud with an apple dongle.

The aful explorer can pick out a lot of details, don't get me wrong. It's just easier to hear the details on the s08.

S08, definetely.

Yes! It's not picky with dacs, but it sounds better on higher output dacs. It sounds the best on my onix alpha xl1 with the fast filter.

Just get the aful 5+2. Skip both these iems. But if you really must, get the s08 planar instead. Easier to drive, different sounding enough from the klean, and you'll get a more audible upgrade in terms of techs at least.

Yeah, Westone was a giant Once. As for good iems under 100$. I personally own and LOVE the new Sivga Que, the buikd quality, cable and looks are amazing, it’s all made of metal and wood. Cost me 69$, but I think it’s going for 75$ now. The tuning is very nice, it’s a single dynamic driver, beryllium coated tho! Highly recommended. There is also Tanchjim 4U, also a very nice single DD metal build set for 69$ Letshuer S08 a planarmagnetic with more bass and chilled down trebble. Simgot EW300/ew300 DSP a tribrid for 69$

Okay I'm no pro but have had my fair share of high quality music. My dad has a library in his house used for storing his 10k plus vinyls if that gives you any idea. In my experience I found the letshoer s08's to be fantastic for the price. Most people say they have a fair bit of base but I disagree. I found them to be a great jack of all trades. I can enjoy jazz, EDM, blue grass, heavy metal, Jpop and so many other genres with them. I'd say they're best for punk rock but everything sounds great on them. They are slightly harder to drive due to being planers but that's easy to fix with a USB DAC. And all of that comes at the price of just $80.

Maybe look into the Letshuoer S08. It’s a planar, so very fast and detailed, but it’s also exceptionally warm for a planar set.

The Truthear Nova have really big nozzles, if you want a good all around pick the Supermix 4 is probably the best in the < $200 range. For me the treble was a bit fatiguing, so if you're sensitive to that you might want to skip it and get something like the Aful Explorer. FWIW I really like the Letshuoer S08, they punch completely above their price point and right now they are on sale for 25% for ($75). I think at that price they are an absolute steal.

Another vote for Aful Explorer. I bought both S08 and Explorer on the spring sale (both under $70 after coins and such). To my ears, the Explorer's bass is more punchy than S08's while mids and highs are clear. The S08 is close but the fast decay planar bass was not as good as DD bass. Also, I love the cable and case on the Explorer. The fit in my ear is much better too. https://preview.redd.it/39ea7dbyg5we1.jpeg?width=2365&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0dc2ea07a10335fc26c849cb043b7be2e3a5330d I'm good with my IEMs for now, but was considering the 5+2 too. For those who have it, what is the difference vs Explorer? What justifies almost 2x price?

Sgor Luna at below $30 is a great option. Truthear Zero at around $45 (2 DD) is a great starting point. It has plenty of bass quality and quantity (one driver acts as subwoofer, the other handles mids and highs). T10 (single large planar driver) is awesome too, but it isn't great to look at. Planar bass packs a tight punch. It's different than bass from dynamic drivers though. At around $65-$70 (on sale): S08 and Aful Explorer. I've been using the 7hz zero on the road while maining Truthear Zero at home. I have Dioko for when I want brightness and that planar sound. Recently I went shopping for something new and ended up with: 1) KZ Castor Bass (good bass, fun, connector for KZ Az09 pro bt adapter). 2) Waner 2 (to try the new release and for Sancai tips) 3) Letshuoer S08 (expecting this dark planar to be my new main IEM. Also has a bunch of accessories I wanted). 4) Aful Explorer (similar to S08 in sound signature but with different, multi-driver tech). Plus I like its shell design. Have fun with your pick.

I have castor bass, wan'er 2, truthear zero, nicehck f1 pro, S08, and Aful Explorer. Of all of them, I love the Explorer the most and it's my current fave. The bass is awesome, mids and highs are clear. Fits very well. Cables and case are super high quality and just awesome to use. Go up a little bit and wait for sale. I got mine for ~$72 with coins in the recent spring sale.

It sounds good but I wouldn't say it is small

I'd say they're average so it really depends on the ear shape. Unfortunately that's hard to test without wearing them, and it's not as simple as size or weight. I don't have issues with them using the tangzu sancai tips

s12 pro or any of its clones, nicehck f1 pro, kefine klanar, artti t10 is quite similar. These will give you the general planar experience, highly detailed, very bright. There are other more warm bassy planars that go abit against the grain, kiwi ears melody, s08, mp145 + mp143 Depends what flavor you want. I'd probably skip the dioko. I've seen people preferring s12 over their sundara and another thread I was in where the s12 was better than he400se

It’ll depend a lot on the things you like in your music. The DaVinci and DosCinco are more forward with female vocals than the Performer 7 or the S08. S08 is a bit more forward than the P7. P7 is the most neutral of the bunch. Best bass is going to depend on what you’re specifically looking for. Sub bass rumble is probably best on the DosCinco, while the S08 has my favorite mid-bass punch. The DaVinci is nice, but can be a bit soft. The P7 sounds amazingly tight and accurate, but is lacking in intensity compared to the other three, which are much bassier. Cymbals your thing? The Performer 7 is airy and detailed and wonderful. The DaVinci is a close 2nd, but isn’t as smooth as the P7. I would say, if you want dynamic sound that makes those genres sound as exciting as possible, try and get the DosCinco on sale. It’s probably the best fit for Hip/Hop-Rap and Metal overall. The Performer 7 might be too neutral for your tastes, but it’s in my opinion, probably the most detailed and resolving of the bunch. The S08 is great as well, and might be the best value overall, but if you have the budget for the DosCinco and the DaVinci, then I would go for one of those. I personally prefer the DosCinco over the DaVinci, especially on sale. But if you’re sensitive to pressure issues or driver flex, I encountered driver flex on the DosCinco, but not on the DaVinci.

For me S08 is fantastic, I have the PRX to compare and this one I can listen for hours without getting fatigue. It's just amazing

It's fuller compared to the PRX but I feel the PRX is a bit more detailed overall, and yes, the S08 is way easier to drive than the PRX. I usually listen at around 60/150 on my old S10+ I use as a dap rn but the PRX is more on the 110-120/150 side to have at least some nice volume. The PRX has an edge in detail compared to the S08 but sometimes it can be fatiguing. I think there's something up in the 10khz+ frequencies that's making the PRX fatiguing

I have the s08 and the s12 pro. I like the s12 pro, they sound very similar to the 7hz Timeless, and the Timeless are one of my favorite headphones of all the ones I own. I haven’t heard the MP145, but they are supposed to be incredible if they fit. The normal T10 is an amazing value. I’m not sure how good the T10 Pro are, but if you want value, the T10 is the way.

I literally asked here if the s12 pro still a good choice for metalcore and rock, almost everyone agree , i hate how subjetive this hobby is lmao 😭, but i guess trying my first planar isnt that bad(t10) lol, i do think i prefer the the less laid back and more closed tunning of the s08 over the explorer tho.

Yeah, s08 & z12 were my go-to's but s08 were the same price & z12 are twice as expensive for whatever reason. 200€ before sales on ali, none available locally. And i heard s12 (especially pro's, which just have a foam filter over s12) can be tuned to s08, so i decided to go the cheapest route.

Well, 7Hz Legato, as much as I like the brand, they are sometimes a hit and miss. Legato is decent. The bass is all muddy. Subass is decent too. Good for the price. S08 is excellent choice tho

The problem I have with the S08 Is the way that it fits. It has a very short nozzle that terminates into a rather large bulb before meeting the body of the IEM. In my instance this meant that I could not insert it very deep into my ear and this limited the range of ear tips I could use and impacted the sound. The Explorer for me is a S tier when it comes to fit and ergonomics and it also scales much better with volume. The S08 gets crowded and congested when you try and turn it up loud, probably due to the lack of air.