Hey everyone — looking for a sanity check before I pull the trigger.
I’m trying to make my first serious jump into IEMs, but I want to do it cleanly without buying and flipping a bunch of gear.
My situation / goals:
• Budget: \~$180 for the IEM
• Music: fusion, jazz-funk, jam-oriented stuff, live recordings
(T-SQUARE, Casiopea, Masayoshi Takanaka, Grateful Dead, etc.)
• I care more about:
• groove & timing
• transient speed
• separation in dense passages
than huge soundstage or bass slam.
• Listening: mostly stationary / focused listening, not commuting
• Source plan: likely pairing with a Qudelix 5K (wired), but could start with a basic USB-C dongle
• Ears: somewhat sensitive to harsh treble, but I’m okay with EQ and tip rolling
What I’m considering
The LETSHUOER S12 Pro keeps coming up as:
• fast planar driver
• good technical performance for the price
• something that “teaches you what you like” rather than locking you into a warm/safe tuning
I’ve also looked at:
• S12 (original)
• S12 Ultra
• 7Hz Timeless
• Tangzu Zetian Wu
• Truthear Hexa
• Moondrop Aria / similar dynamics
From what I can tell:
• S12 Pro = more energetic / raw
• S12 Ultra = smoother / darker / more damped
• Others seem either slower or more relaxed than what I’m after
What I’m trying to avoid:
• Buying something “too safe” and then wondering what I’m missing
• Buying something overly spicy with no way to tame it
• Falling into cable / accessory rabbit holes early
• Cycling through 5 IEMs just to learn basic preferences
My questions:
1. Is the S12 Pro a reasonable first IEM if I’m willing to EQ lightly and use a good source?
2. Would the S12 Ultra actually make more sense given treble sensitivity, or is that more of a refinement for people who already know their preferences?
3. Are there any direct competitors at \\\~$130–$180 that you think are clearly better for groove-focused music?
4. If you were starting over with this budget today, would you still recommend a planar like the S12 Pro as a learning/reference point?
Not looking for “endgame,” just trying to make a high-ROI first step and actually enjoy the music instead of the gear.
Appreciate any thoughts — especially from people who’ve owned multiple planars or used the S12 Pro long-term.
I think you’re right in principle about FR being the primary target and hybrids/DDs being easier to tune to a smooth curve. No disagreement there.
Where I think the conclusion breaks down a bit is assuming FR ≈ listening experience, especially for groove-centric music. Transient behavior, decay speed, and micro-dynamics still matter perceptually, even when FR is well controlled. Two IEMs can measure similarly and feel very different rhythmically.
Also, planar IEMs being “hard to EQ” is mostly a pre-DSP argument. With proper parametric EQ (not graphic EQ), narrow upper-mid/treble peaks are very controllable, especially when the driver itself has low distortion. You’re not trying to reshape the entire response, just tame specific regions.
I agree hybrids like Daybreak/Hexa are safer plug-and-play picks, but safety isn’t the same as engagement. For someone prioritizing timing, snap, and live energy, and who is explicitly using DSP, a planar like the S12 Pro isn’t inherently the wrong recommendation, just a higher-interaction one.
I’m not really trying to convince you to like the S12 Pro, so I think we’re talking past each other a bit.
I agree with you that FR is the dominant factor for tonal preference, that’s not controversial. Where we disagree is that FR fully collapses the listening experience once targets are hit. For some listeners, transient behavior and decay characteristics still affect perceived groove and timing, even when tonality is similar. You may consider those differences minuscule; others don’t.
As for EQ being a “pain in the ass,” fair enough if you don’t want to interact with your gear. I’m explicitly choosing a DSP-based setup because I do want that flexibility. That’s a preference difference, not cope.
I’m not claiming the S12 Pro is universally better, or that hybrids/DDs are “trash,” just that different designs optimize for different priorities. If your goal is lowest-friction, smooth plug-and-play, Hexa/Daybreak make more sense. If your goal is engagement and timing and you’re willing to tune, a planar isn’t automatically invalid.
Anyway, appreciate the perspective. I think we’ve probably reached the point of diminishing returns in this thread.
IMO, you just bought it, so you just aren't used to the sound signature yet. From my personal experience, when I bought my first 'expensive' IEM, I hated how it sounded. However, as time passed, I got used to it, and now I'm loving it.
First time I spent so much money on an IEM and not liking how it sounds, I felt I got scammed out of my money.
I got four sets, the Truthear Zero Blue, then Tangzu Zetian Wu, then Softears Volume, then Aful Performer 5. I hate how they all sounds in the beginning, but now I love them all now that I got used to it. (My personal fav is Aful P5 btw)
While burn-in might not be a thing, 'ear burn-in' is a thing. Give yourself 3-5 days to listen to it. If you still don't like how it sounds, then it most likely doesn't fit your personal taste. But who knows, there's a chance you might like how it sounds after getting used to it.
Yes, a DAC will be quite an improvement to your audio experience. While most smartphones' built-in DAC is good enough for many IEMs, most PCs built-in DAC is lacking, as it is there just to exist in case you need it. Just buy any cheapo dongles and you're good to go.
IEM, and smaller form is better. Thats why I wear my Tin C0 more often than my og Zetian wu (single driver IEM ftw). For sound quality, I cant deny my headphone is far superior, but I always appreciate smaller, lighter, and simpler setup
Tanzhim bunny, Tang Zhu waner, moon drop chu 2,if you love bass truth gear gate,dont think about anything else if you are starting over. avoid castors they are heavy on ears not comfortable on long hrs.I would say moon drop, tanzhim or tanzghu way to go.Dont forget to buy a DAC go for audiocular d07 or audiocular spark don't skip DAC.
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