Letshuoer S12 Pro
Planar magnetic IEM with modular cable and solid build; third-party measurements exist, but cheaper IEMs with equal or better measured performance undercut it on value.
Overview
The Letshuoer S12 Pro iterates on the original S12 with a custom 14.8 mm planar magnetic driver in a 5-axis CNC-milled aluminum shell and a modular cable with swappable 2.5 / 3.5 / 4.4 mm plugs. It targets listeners who want a robust wired IEM with “planar” timbre and convenient terminations in the sub-200 USD bracket. [1]
Scientific Validity
\[\Large \text{0.5}\]Independent measurements are available. Headphonesty provides an IEC-711 frequency response (FR) of the S12 Pro showing a balanced V-shape with a known ~8 kHz coupler artifact called out; overall behavior is consistent with community databases. [3][4] Reference Audio Analyzer (RAA) reports measured sensitivity at 123.56 dB/V (≈ 109.35 dB/mW) and documents impedance behavior, confirming easy drivability even if nominal impedance differs from spec. [5] Public THD data specific to S12 Pro are limited from the sources consulted, so we start from the 0.5 baseline for “measured but not demonstrably transparent,” and hold at 0.5 given credible FR/sensitivity coverage without comprehensive distortion verification. [3][5]
Technology Level
\[\Large \text{0.6}\]A large-format planar driver in a compact IEM, precise 5-axis CNC housing, and a stock modular plug system are competent, modern choices. They’re well-executed rather than novel; there is no new acoustic topology or DSP advance here. [1]
Cost-Performance
\[\Large \text{0.4}\]Comparator (cheapest equal-or-better available): TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED at USD 64.99 (widely available retail). Measured performance is at least comparable: Rtings reports outstanding harmonic distortion performance with FR alignment close to target, and it is a conventional wired IEM like the S12 Pro. [6][7] Using the S12 Pro’s representative market price USD 169 as the denominator, the Cost-Performance score is 0.4.
(Equivalence basis – short): Both are wired, passive IEMs; ZERO: RED’s third-party FR adherence and very low harmonic distortion meet or exceed S12 Pro’s publicly documented metrics for transparency-relevant behavior. [3][4][5][7]
Reliability & Support
\[\Large \text{0.5}\]Letshuoer states 12-month warranty for earphone units and 3-month for cables—typical for the category. The all-metal shell and simple passive design bode well, but brand-wide long-term failure data remain limited. Average overall. [2]
Rationality of Design Philosophy
\[\Large \text{0.4}\]The design choices (planar driver, solid metal shell, modular terminations) address real usability needs and don’t rely on pseudo-scientific claims. However, given that equal-or-better measured performance is obtainable markedly cheaper, allocating budget to cable and machining over documented acoustic gains slightly weakens the value-oriented rationale.
Advice
Buy S12 Pro if you specifically value its planar timbre, metal build, and included modular terminations. If your goal is measurement-driven fidelity per dollar, consider TRUTHEAR ZERO: RED (or similar) first; you give up the aluminum shell and modular stock cable but retain excellent measured performance for much less. [6][7]
References
- LETSHUOER S12 Pro – official product page: https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-s12-pro-magnetic-planar-earphones-hi-fi-planar-in-ear-monitors-for-audiopiles-and-music-lovers
- LETSHUOER Warranty Policy: https://letshuoer.net/pages/warranty-policy
- Headphonesty – Review: LETSHUOER S12 Pro (includes IEC-711 FR graph): https://www.headphonesty.com/2022/10/review-letshuoer-s12-pro/
- Squiglink (HBB) – S12 Pro FR comparison: https://hbb.squig.link/?share=Bad_Guy_Target%2CShuoer_s12_pro%2CShuoer_S12
- Reference Audio Analyzer – S12 Pro (user/pro report hub with measured sensitivity/impedance): https://reference-audio-analyzer.pro/en/user-report.php?id=5393
- ShenzhenAudio – TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED retail page (USD 64.99): https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-red-dual-dynamic-drivers-in-ear-headphone
- Rtings – TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED Review (measured FR, distortion): https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/truthear/x-crinacle-zero-red
(2025.9.1)