Shuoer S12 Better Planar than P1 Plus and Timeless? Community Request-Honest Audiophile impressions
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Is the Shuoer S12 a better planar IEM option than the Tin Hifi P1 Plus and 7hz Timeless?
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Comparison:
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Tingvall Trio “Beat” - piano tonality
Sinne Eeg “We’ve Just Begun” - multiple layer soundstage
Molly Johnson “What a Little Moonlight Can Do” - female vocal tone
Leslie Odom Jr. “Under Pressure” - male vocal tone
Eric Clapton “Change the World” - soundstage, layering and placement
Yo Yo Ma “Ecstasy of Gold” - acoustic instrument timbre
Adam Baldych “Spem in Alium” - acoustic instrument timbre
Pain of Salvation “Stress” - bass and percussion balance
Michael Buble “When I Fall in Love” - orchestral dynamics
Patricia Barber “Code Cool” - sibilance check
Christian Scott “New New Orleans” - shouty upper mids
Tool “Chocolate Chip Trip” - imaging
Hans Zimmer “Why So Serious” - sub bass extension
Marcus Miller “No Limit” - bass control
Dave Holland Quartet “Conference Of The Birds”- bass check
Ilhan Eshkeri “47 Ronin”- orchestra and bass dynamics
Hans Zimmer: “2049” - sub bass extension
Cher: “Believe” - sibilance
Stanley Clarke - “Passenger 57 main title” - percussion, bass, separation and placement
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra - “The Pine of the Appian Way” - soundstage, imaging, separation, dynamic range
Houston Person - “You are my Sunshine” - tone and timbre
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Yep S12 is fantastic. Timeless as you say is more relaxed, dark background and velvet voices, but the S12 is so present, every string, drumskin reverb, and bass note, is as it should be...and so airy and spacious. Best planar I've heard too.
Awesomeness 😎 Thanks for the impressions 👍
I Concur, this Iem is fantastic! It has replaced over a dozen of my IEM's for top spot. I just cant stop listening to it. It sounds like i have a quality planar over the ears set on. Excellent review! Thanks!
Glad you enjoy it! S12 is one of those rare, special IEM that come along ever so often.
Dave, thanks for the review - much appreciated my friend.
My pleasure, you're welcome ❤️
Great review and awesome 3 to compare. Good to settle on the mid term!
(Hope you review Olina soon. Just got mine and I'm impressed! Have a good one Dave.)
Gracias amigo estoy muy emocionado en adquirirlos, prometen mucho estos iems 😊
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
Man... I think I've never seen him so happy!
That picked my interest now!
Great review, thank you and keep up the good work
you helped me with my purchase decision and it was worth it!
Awesomeness 😎 Glad you enjoy them
Hi Dave... Yet another great video Sir..
Had these for a month, they are clean, well separated, fast, well controlled. They have very low distortion, the drivers do not sweat in busy tracks. And they take EQ very well. Very good value for money.
Awesomeness. Thanks for the impressions.
Had these for one day (had to wait awhile as AliExpress customs clearance required some follow-up; all OK). Your comments sum it up for me. I was worried that the KZ AZ09 Pro BT5.2 earhooks would not have enough power to bring these to life...but that proved unnecessary worry. These planars are fine with this BT gear. They also really shine with my Nakamichi SR-2E (c.1986) amp. As mentioned, they love EQ too.
At "only"' $141...I almost feel guilty. Almost...and not for long...they are that good. I am going back and forth between these and a set of modded Olina's (i.e. +1 set of filters). I am at my end game now with IEM's. Heaven can wait.
Awesome 😎 Glad you enjoy. Thanks for the impressions.
@@jb678901 I got Olina with Tanya filter and additional olina filter on front vent and loving it. Whats your thought getting S12 even if i have olina is worth it?
Your ratings are SPOT on; I got the Timeless after the Etymotic ER2's (both), and really didn't feel like it was an upgrade. I looked at your ratings, and sure enough, you rated the ER2 roughly the same as the Timeless. The S12 sounds like it will remedy the lack I felt with the Timeless. Thanks for all you do!
I am glad you found the review and ranking list helpful. I look forward to hearing your impressions of the S12. My pleasure, you're welcome.
Great review. Have the Timeless and I’ve very happy with it. Bought it before I found out about the S12. Hope you get your hands on the Olina. I’ve found the new planars and the Olina to be the best value in iems so far.
I hope to get an Olina in for review at some point.
You have a great one Rob Timeless is just amazing Timeless is just that TIMELESS :)
Nice review! "Abraços" from Brazil Dave !
I love the original cable. Never tangles, looks cool and works fine.
Just bought mine. First iem. I'm intending to use it directly on my phone. Still I am really excited!
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
I just got these and these friggin rock. Especially the bass
Awesome 👍😎 Glad you enjoy the S12.
Great reviews as always
Thanks
Appreciate your videos Dave :)
Glad you enjoy them. Thank you for the comment.
Thanks for the review. FYI, S12 has a sensitivity of 102db per mW at 1kHz.
My pleasure, you're welcome ❤️ Thanks for the information, greatly appreciated 👍
You guys are killin it with the s12 for sure. Your next planar will have a lot to live up to but I see you guys actually watch multiple reviews of your product. I’ve seen you on a few s12 videos now I think. Mine come in this week
Next on my to buy list.
Cool 😎 Look forward to hearing your impressions.
This is one of the few reviews of the soundstage of this IEM matching the recording of the venue.
Thanks for the tip on sound sources I heard desktop amps work best.
My pleasure, you're welcome ❤️
I got to try these recently and completely agree on the sound. The tuning and detail retrieval on these are incredible for the price. The only issues I had was comfort and the isolation to me was actually really bad (almost like an open back headphone). I didn’t try changing the cable, but I did tip roll…I guess your mileage may vary
Dual flange tips was the only thing that helped isolation for me. Without dual flange the isolation was not good at all. Cable helped with comfort.
The only dual flanges I have are SpinFit CP240, which didn't make much of a difference for me.
Hey man, how is the fit after switching to dual flange tips? Any better or still a disappointing experience?
@@TF2ReplayMaker it didn’t make a difference for me. It’s far from a disappointing experience, just causes some discomfort after about 30 minutes and not great isolation. Regardless the sound is excellent for the price.
@@samyg123 hmmm comfort and isolation and pretty integral to me... Might just give these a skip then. Thanks man cheers
Good morning ☕️☕️🥓
Just got the email stating that my S12 are held up due to the Covid lockdown in Shenzhen …so I’ll be waiting ..and it looks like it’ll be worth the wait.
These may round out my IEM’s stable and possibly be my end game .
I’ll be running mine on the IFI Go Blue in balanced mode….and my 789 for desktop ( again in balanced via a XLR to 4.4 connector)
Thank you for the review.
Cheers 🍻
Bummer about the delay, hopefully not too long. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Interesting times indeed
Well, the S12’s came in …they are freaking awesome….with caveats.
They do need break in ..10 hrs ..after a day the bass became less boomy .
The cable is ok ( it works) .
As with any IEM’s..the fit is key ..they fit my ears fine with their white tips ( I’ll change over to CP100 later)
The bass is present and fun ..without bass bleed.
Mids are smooth and natural .
Treble..crisp but not too sparkly.
Soundstage is average , not overly wide.
Imaging..is average ( depending on the recording)..otherwise it’s ok.
If your recording is poor ..it’ll let you know .
Power requirements it’s good in 3.5 off your phone ..but running in balanced with a little more juice to play with opens up the sound.
Btw, running off the IFI Go Blue.
Now , it’s fighting the OH10’s for supremacy in my IEM’s stable🤣
Quite frankly it may be the best IEM out there for the money….but it may not be for everyone .
Those are my impressions 😊
A definite buy!
☕️🥓👍
This s12 with good fit and sealing don't need EQ. As I really like the tonality of s12, I lost the curiosity of try IEM more expensive because I'm pretty sure (for me and my goals) that above the price of s12 I will feel diminishing return.
Awesomeness 😎 Glad you enjoy the S12. Fantastic IEM and great value.
@MonsterM Yes i've tried the Variation too recently.. The tuning is better, but techs is equal S12... is like S12 with EQ in the Sub... Variations for me is not 3x better, like the price is. Just my experience in my library just to be clear.
@MonsterM That is why there is so many Different IEM's out there. Variations is a excellent IEM for sure. In the end is just preferences in tonality and techs..
You do get a reasonable audible difference with more expensive gear
It's absolutely and easily hearable
BUT the increase in detail retrieval does not proportionally translate into an equal increase in music enjoyment
@@enzotibirica8458 you are just right!
Hey Dave, nice to see you. I actually love the quality of the cable, but, you are right about the stiffness. I take these little Swiss Army Knife scissors and do away with the shrink wrap immediately. It’s kind of fun, actually. Unless you cut the damn cable itself. Don’t try this with Tanchjim cables, friends. They are so flimsy I literally cut one in half.
So the S12 cable doesn't go around my ears properly. I have tried bending them but still not good enough. Will taking the shrink wrap off make it better and more comfortable?
did u manage to get all of the wire wrap off at the side of the connector? that seems to be the hardest part
@@foolscrow7361 yeah that's what i realized too. The metal bit crimps the plastic wrap so I'll have to cut too close to the wire. Since i don't have a spare wire I'm using it as it is.
@@Thoughtflux haha thanks for the reply. ear hooks shouldn’t be that rigid, spoils the whole cable for me
this video made me buy this
Awesomeness. I am glad you found the video helpful. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
I've had these for a year and a half now. They're fantastic. I didn't expect much when I ordered them, but I often times prefer listening to the s12 than my LCD4. Which is crazy since there's a 40x price difference
Thanks for the impressions. Glad you enjoy the S12.
I admit that i was impressed by many iems, but these are reaching an other level... sound and fit best for me with xelastec (enhanced bass tightness and texture), then spinfit cp100 (ordered 1025). They need some burn in time for "smoother" sound. They are so detailed while being so engaging, became my daily.
Awesome 😎
Hi !
Good day
Which IEM are you taking about? If you do not mind. Thanks in advance and best regards 🙏😇
Shuoer S12
Thank you sir.
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Great review. The S12 PRO solves the cable issue and it is also better sound than S12…for my taste. Try it.
Oh cool. I hope to get an opportunity to hear the S12 Pro at some point.
...and there are ever LetShuoer Z12Gold Edition! On my opinion it's "top of the line"!
It over exceeds my expectations for such a budget pair of earphones. It's a very well done V-shaped, neutral-warm tuned IEM.
Could you compare with other do you have?
Nice detailed review ☺️, im tempted to get the S12, i already have the ikko oh10, but this are calling me haha, what's ur opinion, im gonna notice the change? I like oh10 but i want to try planar, what can be the diferences vs the oh10's, thanks and keep the good work 💪
Here is a link to my OH10 review:
czcams.com/video/RSGJ21dmzJw/video.html
That upgraded cable is the same one that came with my Monarch Mk2’s
Oh cool, very nice cable.
Hi Dave. Great review. I have an Ifi xdsd gryphon do you think it can adequately bring out the sound on the S12? I had them on my list and wasn't sure between them and the Timeless but you pushed me over the edge.
The Grypon with the 4.4mm balanced output should be a good pairing for the S12.
Hi Dave, thanks for the review. Just out of curiosity which one do you like better Kato or S12. I am coming from a Moondrop Aria and looking to upgrade from here.
For everyday carry listen I choose the Kato. The S12 for critical listening. But both are pleasurable for me.
i only have 3 iems , Fiio FH3, Ibasso it00, and the s12. The Fiio sounds good but the highs have a peak that is disgusting in some music moments. The tonality of the instruments and voices tends to be a little way off approaching to trebly.
The ibasso is a good all round performer and the most comforfable but lacks a bit in resolution and sometimes too much mid bass
The S12 definitely is an upgrade and all i can say is the sound that produce is very pleasing, excelent iem in all aspects. Way better than the other 2. Thanks Dave.
Thanks for the impression. My pleasure, you're welcome.
Sounds great! Mine should be here in a week or so, but I also got the Olina today and I'm really enjoying it. I will primarily be listening through lower powered DAP's so I'm wondering if maybe the S12 is a little more than I need since I won't be powering it to its fullest potential. You're not the first person I've seen mention that the S12 shines with more power.
Look forward to hearing your impressions
Jonah how ya like the s12 vs the olina??? I listen to mostly rock from 50s 60s 70s and would love to know what ya think between the 2!!!
@@wadec6799 So, I've spent a few hours comparing the Olina and the S12 now and I don't think I've found a single instance in which I prefer the Olina.
As has been pointed out, most especially by dharmasteve, these things do drums so much justice it's hard to even explain. Every hit is distinct and the cymbals have a shine and crispness that I haven't experienced since my Audio Technica ATH-AD900s back when I had a vinyl collection and tube amps. But then, they do the low end as much if not more justice then my Sennheiser HD-25 1 Mk. IIs. Like, the kick drum really kicks and the bass evokes a resonance that I can feel in my body. It's glorious.
I was just doing a bunch of A to B comparisons, playing sections of a song over and over and then switching to the other IEM and comparing. I listened to Deftones, Porcupine Tree, Big Thief, **** Buttons, Nine Inch Nails, Bon Iver, Tool and a fair bit more and in every instance the S12 won out. The last two comparisons were where I finally decided to call it quits and accept the fact that I'm probably not going to find a song in which I prefer the Olina: the beginning of "UFOF" by Big Thief and the beginning of "Flume" by Bon Iver.I had heard the Olina were good with acoustic stuff so I figured I'd it was time to put them in their wheel house. In the first instance I paid particular attention to the drums as played in the first 15 seconds. On the Olina they kind of melded together and were a little lost in the rest of the song. On the S12 they were distinct and clear, but in no way overpowering anything around them. For "Flume" the acoustic guitar was just so much more clear and resonant on the S12 it really wasn't even fair to continue. To me it felt like a knock out blow so that's where I stopped the comparison.
There was one song, "Piggy" by Nine Inch Nails, where I felt the snare hits had more oomph on the Olina but then the S12 revealed so much depth to each hit -- you could hear the damn chains rattle like your head was next to the drummer! -- that I instantly forgot that it didn't have quite as much punch. This was one of the only instances in which I felt I could give a slight edge to the Olina. There were moments during comparisons where I thought I heard a detail I hadn't noticed on the S12 while listening to the Olina, but switching back over instantly proved that I was wrong: I just hadn't been paying attention to that particular sound because the S12 was blowing my mind with other things. That's kind of the story over all though: the S12 is just fun as hell to listen. There were moments where I caught myself continuing to listen to a song because I was just so into it, something I realized wasn't happening with the Olina.
To get less technical, what I noticed every time upon the immediate switch was that the Olina felt darker and colder to me while the S12 was brighter and warmer. I don't know if I'm using those terms correctly, but those were the sensations that came to mind. The S12 had an appreciably bigger sound stage and gave the impression of being in a room with analog instruments, something I just didn't feel with the Olina.
I feel really weird bad mouthing the Olina because they are a really nice set of IEMs. I love their case and their look and for $100 they sound really, really good. I had a week with the Olinas before the S12s arrived and I was digging them so much I considered not opening the S12s. I thought I was totally satisfied. I'm glad my curiosity won out, though. I got the S12 for one $130, and to be honest for only $30 more it's not really a fair comparison. Now, it looks like Letshuoer is upping the MSRP on the S12 to $170 and that's where you might be able to start to make a value judgment concerning price to performance but honestly, even then, if you can afford the extra $70 it's not really a contest.
Let me say this to finish off: I am just a laymen and I would hardly call myself an audiophile. I'm at best audiophile adjacent, lol. I'm listening to FLAC files and 320 kbps mp3s through a lower end DAP, the FiiO X1 (to be replaced by the Sony NW-A55 tomorrow). Take my opinion with a grain of salt, and of course everyone's ears are different. But I just spent a few hours of my life shoving foam ear tips (the same Comply tips were used on both the Olina and the S12) into my ears over and over again like I was trying to achieve some kind of audio climax through half inch penetration, and I figured I might as well share my viewpoint if it helps someone out. I'm a guy who can't afford the latest and greatest and I had to choose between the S12 and the Olina for the IEM that will be with me for at least the next few years. The S12 won out handily, and I'm even more excited than I thought I would be because it's exactly the type of audio device that makes you want to re-listen to your entire collection, I don't think there is any higher praise than that.
@@jonah3985 I've been following audio reviews for quite some time now mostly speakers and then tws and over ears. I just recently got into iem a bit and man I've commented and had a ton of replies on products from guys like us just enjoying these products and reviewers and I'd have to say in about 5 yrs your reply was absolutely badass... Best reply I've gotten. Ya had me as soon as ya mentioned deftones nine inch nails and tool and proceeded to tell me they are better in every way from the olina. I do know all ears are different but just your bands ya mention here I frickin love those bands . Still remember roadtrippin with some buddin about around 1998 or 99 blasting deftones cd my own summer in my 85 Honda accord with alpine deck Boston acoustic tweeters in front along with Boston acoustic in back and a 15 inch kicker and having my mind blown by how killer they were. Seen Pantera at ozzfest in Vegas in 96 or 97 when I was 15... to this day they are my favorite heavy bands of a time but got into heavy bands due to my 2 older brothers but hearing the deftones for first time not long after it and it was like nothing I'd ever heard before . Nin too were killer and to this day I think tool is one of the best bands of all time... I put their drummer in top 5 of all time and currently best drummer on the planet. But I also now gravitate towards old school stuff and especially live sets. Blast me some rory gallagher walk on hot Coals 1974 Irish tour and others or rolling stones live at marquee club 1971 love that whole set but anything from the 50s 60s 70s I dig!!!! Sorry for long comment but bein honest here I went from every tws made over last 3 yrs .. or pretty much every pair from 40 bucks up to 299 my favorite outta those bein my current go to the soundcore liberty 3 pro but about 2 months ago a guy I follow who does reviews reviewed the zex pro crn and I thought well for 36 bucks let's see what iem are all about. They impressed me enough that I started searching for next pair . The olina had just released and I waited till they were on Amazon and grabbed em. I instantly fell in love. This is all just paired to my note 20 ultra and a 17 dollar dongle the cx pro and the spinfit cp100+ tips in xl but the sound was unreal to me. Owned Sony xm4 bose quietcomfort sennheiser momentum 2 and tons of others but the olina even destroyed my liberty 3 pro for sound like they dont even compare no matter how i tune em in their app. But just this last week my left earpiece on olina developed a crackling sound or scratchy sound. Could get rid of it but had to turn up volume to at least 60 percent to make it less noticeable and 80 or more for it to completely dissappear but under 60 percent and I could not even listen to em cuz it drove me crazy. Tried to get linsoul to just replace em with new set but because I was still in the return window they said to just return thru amazon. I get some products when mass produced can have a defect here and there and know there's ton of others who have them and they work flawlessly. So I've been debating ordering them again or Goin a lil higher up in price as these too will be my only pair for quite some time. Had been lookin at the Kato the yume midnight and the timeless prior to olinas and now was lookin at those again but every review and every comment raves about these s12's!! Watched multiple reviews stating they like them more than timeless and especially if you don't already own the timeless that people should save the 60 bucks or round there and go with the s12. Man as I'm writing this I feel your comment and the countless video and reading comments from people with s12 that this will be the pair I grab!!!!! Man I fn appreciate your response big time!!!! Thank you for that and pretty damn cool ya took the time to be so thorough and share your thoughts!!!!!!!! Thank you!!! Now I just have to decide what dac/Amp to get for under 200 bucks lol!!! That is a serious search too but wish you many hrs of jamming on the s12's and again thank you!!!!
@@wadec6799 No problem, my man! Always glad to help a fellow music lover out. I actually cross posted this from head-fi because I had so many people asking me about the comparison between the S12 and the Olina that I figured I should have the comparison saved somewhere so I could easily copy and paste it. I commented in a few CZcams videos about both IEM's and instantly I got a flood of comments asking me which ones I preferred. As I said it's not really a contest, the S12s win out handily. This goes double if your preferred genre is rock because the S12s are just pure magic when it comes to bass and drums. They do everything else well too, but the backbone of the song, the low end and the percussion, really thumps and grooves with these bad boys. I agree with you on Danny Carey being one of the Top Five best drummers alive. I saw them in 2019 for the first part of the Fear Inoculum tour and I feel truly blessed to have seen him perform.
It really is amazing what these ChiFi IEMs bring to the table in terms of price to performance. I doubt anyone would be disappointed after listening to most of what's out there. But I really think the S12 is something truly special and once they become a bit more prevalent I think the buzz for them is going to explode. They're just an extraordinarily fun listen, and for someone like you who leans toward rock music, I don't even think it's going to be a question: the S12 are what you want. I've heard some people prefer the Olina for classical, but I wouldn't know because that's not really my preferred genre.
It sounds like music has been an integral part of your existence and has helped cement some truly special bonds. I hope the S12s end up sounding as magical for you as they do for me. Hit me back when you get them to let me know your thoughts! Enjoy!
I was just asking about which would be a warmer set, the timeless or s12 but after I posted you answered lol.
To be honest I really prefer a warmer set thats fun compared to an analytical set. Ill stick to my timeless and enjoy. Thanks
Hey man do u have any suggestion for eartips that increase imaging and didn’t change the sound signature? I use the stock eartips from this s12 and i found that for gaming the imaging isnt great and i change the the stock eartips from salnotes zero and i found increase in imaging but still not pinpoint
CTM Dual flange tips
cleartunemonitors.com/products/flexi-tips
Hi! Enjoy your videos and many thanks for the work you put in. Would like to ask a quick opinion/reco. I daily drive a 7hz Zero and Tangzu Wan'er. Also use a Hifiman HE400SE and M40x (in case that helps the discussion). Music is mainly forms of rock (indie, alt, shoegaze, pop punk, jrock), instrumental (math rock, prog rock/metal, jazz fusion), indie/jazzy/bluesy/chill pop, and occasionally some hiphop (specifically Kendrick/Kanye/early Drake). So a majority is music with instruments (as opposed to more electronic things).
Looking for an upgrade on the technicalities front - imaging, separation, resolution, clarity. Really enjoy the tuning of the 7hz Zero and Wan'er.
I can currently get a Hexa for $90, which would've been my insta-pick (Zero Red didn't seem like it would've been a big enough upgrade - can get it for $60 by the way) buuuuut, i can get an S12 for $100. Is the S12 too good of a deal to pass up? I feel like i will prefer the Hexa tuning more, but i believe the S12 is a considerable step up in technicals. And i would also be open to try out the different tuning of the S12, in addition to the better technical performance. What you think? 😅 Thanks!!!
Hexa is a little step and the S12 is a large step. The S12 takes a quality amplifier to drive so if you have that, I'd get the S12.
@@TheHonestAudiophile wow, thank you for the super quick reply! I currently use a Topping DX1. Drives my HE400SE pretty well, so I assume this should be enough for an S12?
@KmtS9 My pleasure, you're welcome. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
I'm in the market to try out planars. I've been a headphone guy and have ss amp and tube amp in the collection. My question is, should i go sundara, xs or ananda nano via the headphone route. Or should i go to iem route? Which one has better soundstaging and imagine for maximum enjoyment listening. All of my listening are done at home on a desktop. So portability is not a requirement. Looking forward in your thoughts and thank you for your time. Excellent vid by the way. Keep up the good job! 👍
I've not heard the Xs or Ananda Nano. The Sundara has a smaller stage. The og Ananda has a huge stage. IEM are a different presentation overall. I'd start with the Ananda.
In my country they go for 115USD. Gonna get them and EQ the 8k peak down a bit , then it should be perfect!
Awesome 👍 Look forward to hearing your impressions.
Just ordered thanks to this review. Guess it's time to retire the Arias.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
Hi Dave, just wanted to ask if a Radsone ES100 or Fiio K3S (2021 new edition) would be sufficient enough to power these IEMs since you mentioned they are pretty power hungry. I don't own any desktop stacks or very powerful amps, was curious if what I have is enough
I am not familiar with those devices, sorry. I'd recommend running the S12 balanced with any portable device.
Both FiiO BTR5 an KZ AZ09 Pro's have plenty of power for my S12's, if that is of any help.
I have a Fiio KA3 dongle DAC/AMP, with zero intent of getting another amp. Does that mean it's not worth getting the S12 in that case (re having a more powerful amp to drive it)? Would it be a significant improvement over the Moondrop Aria Snow based on my setup?
Sorry I haven't heard the Fiio KA3 or the Moondrop Aria Snow. Of all dongles I have used and heard, the NX7 is a better amplifier option.
Could you drive it fine on your OHD dongle ? around how much pourcentage would you be missing out on , would you say it runs at around 75 % ? what is your estimate ?
Thanks for the review , keep up the great work .
Yes the OHD works well with the S12 and my OnePlus 9 Pro, better than some dongles. I listen at very low levels, 35-40% volume is my average when streaming Tidal and Amazon. It isn't as good as my desktop setup but it is very enjoyable. I find it to be way too loud at around 60%.
hi,just bought a set of the shuoer s12's on the strength of your review,and they've been reduced to £135 on amazon uk. i only listen to music via an ipod touch,not sure which generation it is,but it still has the 30 pin plug on the bottom. can i ask i you what would be a good way of getting the best sound out of my new headphones via the ipod? i'm normally cycling whilst i listen to music. many thanks in advance.
Sorry I have no idea as I have no experience with an ipod or apple device.
I'd recommend a portable amplifier like the Topping NX7 or something similar as the S12 takes well to power and sounds at it's best.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
will ibasso dx160 be enough to make s12 shine with balanced 4.4?
Sorry haven't heard or used the iBasso DS160. My experience with DAP in general is that the S12 is adequate but not optimal. I prefer planar IEM on desktop.
Very good 🇧🇷
Hey Dave, great review! But i do have an additional question. I'm looking to get some new IEM's for casual listening and i've pretty much narrowed it down to either these or the Moondrop Katos. Which would you recommend for someone who mainly listens to Hip-Hop, Pop, EDM but also likes to listen to other kinds of music from time to time? Probably gonna use a rather cheap dongle too
Moondrop Kato
@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you for the quick response and have a nice day!
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Thanks for the such nice review! Just wondering, how would you compare it against Moondrop Kato?
Kato leans a little to the laid back side in comparison to the S12. The S12 has a slight advantage with detail retrieval and resolution, soundstage width, depth and layering is slight improvement as well. Kato has slightly more natural tone and timbre.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks Dave! I did not expect such prompt reply. Now, I know which one to go for.
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Now I like my music loud. Like... LOUD. I mainly listen to metal. Would you recommend these or are they one of the normalised ones that got nerfed in the loudness department in order to preserve audio quality?
I use Helm Audio Bolt DAC.
Here is a write up I did on listening loud; please read and please listen at lower volumes.
www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/how-loud-is-too-loud-does-it-sound-better-an-honest-audiophile-listening-level-challenge
S12 when driven with a quality source sound good with metal music. I haven't heard the Helm Audio Bolt.
Hey Dave, you weren't lying when you said these S12's really shine on desktop amps. And especially tubes! Did you try them on tubes? I know that they shouldn't: tubes are for hi-impedance overears, but man, these really shine on tubes. Try Chris Stapleton's Either Way or I was wrong and see what I mean. Question: could it be that planar IEMs like tubes?
Yes the S12 does sound good on tubes. I like Chris Stapleton. Glad you enjoy the S12.
Do these new Planar IEMs compete with the iSine20 or any other $600+ IEM.
Does the Shouer S12 compete with Shouer EJ07M Lava?
Sorry haven't heard the iSine20 or the EJ07M Lava.
Hi, great review. How do these compare with the Kato ?, Among the two which one do you prefer ?
Kato leans a little to the laid back side in comparison to the S12. The S12 has a slight advantage with detail retrieval and resolution, soundstage width, depth and layering is slight improvement as well.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thank you.
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Got the S12 2 weeks ago after watching your review. I totally love it. I'm shocked that it can sound as good as headphones. I tried using it with the Fiio Ka3 (sounded too clinical) but settled with the Links2Bal. I think the S12 & the xduo link2bal pairs really well. Any thoughts?
Awesome 👍 Thanks for the impressions. Glad you enjoy the S12. Sorry I haven't heard the xDuoo Link 2 balanced.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you for your review! Helped me nail it down. The xduo link2bal is worthy of a review. The damn thing can drive my T60rp from my phone!
Edit: ok not a T60rp. 270mw can't do that. But it surely does drive my hd650 with ease. Sounds musical and lively.
@@Thoughtflux hai, could you tell the difference between ka3 and link2 bal? i have been looking for 4.4 dac.
@@albertmaarpi2354 both have 4.4 balance out. Link2bal is more expensive but i really think it's worth the money. I returned my KA3 which is super clean but too clinical for me. Link2bal is very musical. It's also powerful enough to power a HD650 without any distortion whatsoever!
@@Thoughtflux thank you for your thoughts! i actually want link2bal but consider the price is almost double from others make me think twice.
Do you think S12 will play well with fiio ka3 (portable) and ifi idsd micro bl (desktop)?
Haven't heard the KA3 but I do think it would pair well with the iDSD BL
Hi Dave! Love the reviews! Keep up the good work!
Quick question:
I've been using the Moondrop Aria for three straight months now. I still love the Aria and it still surprises me every now and then with how good it sounds in many types of music. Coming from the Aria, will the Shuoer S12 be a significant upgrade? Thanks!
lol I'm currently daily driving the aria and just ordered a s12.
Would sure hope they are a big upgrade XD
@@Coffee_Addiction_Good I look forward to your sound impression on the S12!
@John Santiago yes I would say, especially in the technical abilities.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks Dave! I'll give it a go!
@@johnsantiago7671 I don't have hifi ears but out of the box I could tell there's obvious improvements from the Aria.
Do you think it will pair well with a ZX-507 through the 4.4 output?
I've not heard the ZX507 but the S12 sounded very good off the 4.4mm balanced on my WM1A
Two questions I bought the moondrop kato and enjoy them.
First question, will these iem be as good as the kato or am I being redundant in purchasing them?
Second question, I have a IFi zen dac/amp version 2 is that enough power to play nice with these iem?
Thanks
Kato leans a little to the laid back side in comparison to the S12. The S12 has a slight advantage with detail retrieval and resolution, soundstage width, depth and layering is slight improvement as well.
iFi Zen DAC V2 would work great with the S12 and Kato.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks 😊
My pleasure, you're welcome ❤️
@@TheHonestAudiophile so s12 is better.
Sir? Would the S12 work OK with a LG V60 with its own DAC ? Thanks for another great video Sir .
Sorry I have no experience with the LG V60. In my opinion the S12 sounds best with an amplifier with good power. Most dongles weren't able to drive the S12 that well.
I have lg g8 and it powers it fine
6:14 Nice rhyming :D
Thanks 👍
hey dave, what if you dont have those fancy dac, amp which one would you recommend between s12 and timelss? as a daily driver, i play games and listen to music allot and btw timless is 185$
on aliexpress right now.
I would still recommend the S12.
@@TheHonestAudiophile just recieved my s12 today, i was so excited.. they sound kinda plasticy or like a can.. idk.. but it has so much details and its amezing when it comes to details and the bass slams so so well, and u were also right about the stock cable but i dont know if its the stock eartips or cable or as the lack of amp dac..
but they sound unnatural to me like a can or robotic hard to describe. im planning to buy an amp dac for it but cant afford those amp dac that you mentioned..
should i go for schiit foula 4 dac/amp combo or buy apple 3.5 usb c dongle and amp schiit magni and use this setup instead?
@@techsguide9465 You might want to invest in a more powerful amp source. To me it sounds like your S12 isn't getting the current it needs.
@@techsguide9465I ordered xduoo link 2 bal with Shuoer s12 after watching a lot of reviews and speaking with reviewers.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
Already own a planar headset Hifiman XS. Will I be disappointed with buying an IEM using the same technology such as this?
I own many planar headphones and I am not disappointed with the Shuoer S12, Tin Hifi P1 Max or 7hz Timeless planar IEM.
which dongle is the best sound for s12, under 60 us?
I really like your reviews ;-)
Periodic Audio Rhodium
Thanks Dave for your great review! CTM is out of stock on their double flange tips. Do you have another suggestion?
Soft Ears UC tips are solid as well
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks! You're the best!
My pleasure, you're welcome
Managed to find the CTM tips in stock. They're so much more comfortable than even the foam tips, and they also isolate really well too. With these tips, it's the perfect package. Thanks again Dave!
@@jon7677 Awesome! Glad you found the CTM tips and find them comfortable. You are welcome, my pleasure.
A lot of people say that timeless are more resolving than the s12, is it true?
Comparison between S12 and TImeless in the video: czcams.com/video/HUzWqGPstZg/video.html
The S12 has better detail retrieval and resolution, the Timeless is more rounded and smooth sounding whereas the S12 has more natural, accurate edges and texture.
you did not have any sibillance issue ? do you prefer s12 over olina ?
Sorry haven't heard the Olina. No sibilance issues or else it would have been mentioned in the review.
Great Review Dave. How does the S12 compare to Dunu Titan S? Is Titan S or S12 better bang for buck?
S12 has better detail retrieval and resolution and has the soul that the Titan S lacks. S12 is the better pick if you have a good a DAC and amplifier for it.
@@TheHonestAudiophile 140 mw on output, push?
@@diegorodrigues9273 That should work okay. I find the more power the better for the S12.
Hey man hope you doing well , do you recommend dac Moondrop dawn? I am planning on buying the new ifi UNO
I like the Moondrop Dawn, it works well with the S12 and other planar IEM.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks for the suggestions, going with it then
@@michealclarke22 my pleasure, you're welcome. Look forward to hearing your impressions.
If i want to pair it with ifi zen air dac should i use low gain or high gain?
Sorry, I have no experience with Zen Air DAC. When it comes to gain, it's a matter of listening and determining what sounds best.
In soundstage, bass, resolution and separation? Will do you choose?
S12 or Kato
Thanks.
Kato leans a little bit more laid back in comparison to the S12. The S12 has a slight advantage in detail retrieval, resolution, soundstage width, depth and layering. Bass is similar but the S12 has a touch more impact. The S12 is harder to drive.
@@TheHonestAudiophile So, in your words (if they cost the same) the s12 is superior, right?
I wouldn't say the S12 is superior to the Kato, just a slightly different presentation.
Here is a link to my Kato review: czcams.com/video/wxBCHO996Ck/video.html
Hey Dave! How does it compare to the Kato? Been wanting to get something that is detailed with good note weight and great vocals.
Kato leans a little to the laid back side in comparison to the S12. The S12 has a slight advantage with detail retrieval and resolution, soundstage width, depth and layering is slight improvement as well. Kato has slightly more natural tone and timbre.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you very much for this! You are always one of my strong references when I blind buy!
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Glad you find the channel content helpful.
I feel that the tonal balance of the timeless is better than on the s12. I also notice the detail is better than on the s12 but needs a good amp to make that.
I feel that the timeless is a little better.
Thanks for your impressions. Timeless is a good performer that I recommend.
I have heard a lot of people say the imaging is mid with these but I disagree, I've heard better but these are very good.
S12 is very good for a planar with imaging. Yes there's better available but I haven't heard a planar IEM that is.
@@TheHonestAudiophile are there any high end priced planars out there?
@@kylemcdonnell86 Campfire made one but I've not heard it. I think there might be a few others as well. Maybe one day I'll get to hear them.
Of course you've got the Audeze isine products.
@@TheHonestAudiophile yeah, next CanJam I'll probably focus on iems more, I've only heard a few high end ones
@@kylemcdonnell86 sounds like a good plan
The S12 with white tips sounds completely different from the black tips. Much wider soundstage with weaker bass
Being that my 7hz Timeless has developed a severe channel imbalance problem(it is not a cable issue) I am definitely going to replace them with the S12 set.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
@@TheHonestAudiophile I got my set of Shuoer s12s the other day and after listening for well over 20+ hrs they have been a pleasant surprise it has been. to me it beats the 7hz Timeless hands down. I can't say I have ever owned the P1 from tinhifi to give an honest comment on it. What I can say from my experience is the 7hz Timeless is a little bit overzealous in the subbass where the S12 sounds much more open natural but at the same time shows no signs of sibilance at all in the upper mids and lower trebles, it's still can be a very relaxing and engaging listen when you are not looking for details but just a nice laid-back experience to kick back for the evening. In my honest estimation it seems to be able to do it all. Thank you for the solid recommendation Dave. You are the best and you rock.
Awesomeness 😎 Glad you enjoy the S12. Thanks for the kind words, greatly appreciated ❤️
@@TheHonestAudiophile you are so very welcome. All of your recs that I have tried have been keepers.
Awesomeness. Glad to hear that.
I have been on the fence between these, the Timeless and the Kato. Found a good deal on the S12 so pulled the trigger. Waiting for them to arrive and will pair them with my Qudelix5K. I will get a 2.5mm cable to run them off balanced-out, as you said they like more power. Really looking forward to get them in.
Look forward to hearing your impressions.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Listening to it now. It's really good. Very dynamic, excellent bass, and it loves the desktop amp indeed. I think this is the biggest "initial-wow" of all my headsets and IEMs so far. Stock cable is too heavy and curved, after market balanced cable is better, though little or no difference in sound. I like the provided medium transparant tips, they're good for me. Shuoer replaced the grey ones you show by black ones in my set.
@@Bushviking awesomeness 😎 Thanks for the impressions. Glad you enjoy it.
@@Bushviking which cable did you get for them?
I am getting s12 at about 70% the price I would have to pay for s12 pro. Is it that much of an improvement to justify the price hike??
Sorry I haven't heard the S12 Pro.
Do you think the S12 pro has any sound difference over the S12?
Sorry haven't heard the S12 Pro.
What do you think of the combination of the s12 with the fc4?
FC4 is the best dongle I use for planar. I like the pairing for a dongle. I do think best performance is had with a desktop amp.
Hi brother my English not very good to listen.can tell which one got best bass and slam bass?thx
I prefer the S12 bass over P1 Plus and Timeless.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thanks for your opinion brother
My pleasure, you're welcome
So at same price Shuoer S12 Will have better rank un your list than Timeless?
Check the link in the description for verification.
Thoughts Vs Kato on technicals ?
S12 has a slight advantage with detail retrieval and resolution.
👍👍
Will s12 be a good pair to astell & kern sr15? Possibly what are the alternatives?
Sorry I have not heard SR15 in a very long time. As far as pairing I am not sure if the SR15 has enough power for a planar IEM like the S12.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you for your response. What is worth paying attention to in a similar budget?
Moondrop Kato
SEEK Real Airship
ThieAudio Elixir
Tin Hifi P1 Max
JQ 4U Pro
So the s12 needs decent power to shine. 300mw + DAPS should sound decent. I have a DX240 withAMP8 MKII and the S12 shines with this pairing - Medium gain, with a massive, tall, and deep soundstage.
Awesome 😎 Thanks for the impressions. Glad you enjoy the S12
In your opinion would you say that the average IEM will sound better than a "very good" True Wireless?
Yes, that is how my experiences have gone so far.
I have the Sony XM4 and moondrop kato. The xm4 are very good but no comparison to kato.
Hi ! I have this Letshuour S12 in mind to get. My question to you, what else is a a lower price range
Tin Hifi P1 Max
Is the sound quality about the same sir?
Thanking you in advance
Thank you for your quick response. What dongle you recommend. Thanks you sir 🙏😇
For planar IEM the only dongle that I recommend is the Hiby FC4 with the 4.4mm balanced output.
Good day Sir !
Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate you. Have a wonderful day into the evening 🙏😇👍🏼
Guys I want to upgrade from my hbb mele , looking seriously at the S12 Pro and the ikko OH10, i need something for long listens , i listen to music for many hours a day whilst working , so anything that's fatiguing won't work, also shouty and Too bright won't work for me either . Bass rumble is a must listen to a lot of electronic .What do you guys recommend?
I don't think the S12 (I haven't heard S12 Pro) or the OH10 would meet your criteria. I would look at the Fiio FHE Eclipse.
Thank you so much for your reply !
So I saw your review on the fhe and I don't think it's what I'm looking for . I have a hifiman he400 at home , so i definitely want imaging tonality and definition. What I meant about the sub bass rumble is that I need a bit of it , not looking for bass cannons at all , only that slight punch without which a lot of my music would sound flat . I think the biggest concern for me is sibilance and brightness in the upper mids and treble that would prevent me from using any part for longer periods
The reason I'm pointing you away from the S12 and OH10 is because they have upper mids that can be fatiguing and shouty.
Ok noted thank you !
My pleasure, you're welcome
Sub bass, do they go low when needed?
Yes but it is more about the quality than the quantity.
Which dongle amp would you use for these and why ? Cheers
Hiby FC4 and iFi Audio GoBar
@@TheHonestAudiophile cheers
@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks. Is Hiby FC5 an option too to drive planar iems? Cheers
Sorry I haven't heard or used the FC5.
You say they shine with a desktop setup. They like to be pushed. How would they sound hooked up to a
TempoTec Sonata HD Ⅱ ES9270 Type C to 3.5MM dongle hoked up to a Samsung S20FE phone. I don't have anything else. I got a pair of Galaxy Bud Pro TWS earlier and liked those. They had 11mm drivers. S12 are bigger still.
I haven't heard the Template Sonata HD II ES9270 sorry. In my experience the S12 doesn't excel on dongles.
Agree it shines full potential on mt604 amp...but Ovidius B1 pushes them like 90%...other dongles only increaaes volume but no dynamics like desktop amp.
Do you know if the Khadas Tea DAC will be able to drive the S12 sufficiently enough to maximize their performance?
Sorry I don't know about the Khadas Tea DAC, haven't heard or used it.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you for the reply.
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Are these a lot hotter in the upper mids than the timeless? As that is a problem area for me, contemplating getting them as a sidegrade to the timeless, why not have two planars in the collection lol.
To me the S12 is more elevated in the upper mids than the Timeless but I don't find it to be fatiguing or bright.
@@TheHonestAudiophile thanks Dave, I'm currently using the oddysey hd on the timeless and tbh it sounds amazing on them, was just wondering if something like the hidizs s9 pro or zen dac v2 would be a significant upgrade in sound quality or not worth it? Also I don't know if you tried or not, but the stock tips was not really giving me a decent seal due to the timeless being shallow fit, just tried some foam tips and they have made such a difference, so much better.
Haven't heard the Zen DAC V2 yet but hope to soon.
I used stock smoke grey, red stem tips with the Timeless. Not sure if everyone got those tips. I also enjoy CTM flexi tips with the Timeless. I agree the Odyssey HD sounds good with Timeless.
I used the awesome Timeless with the blue and yellow stock ear tips and a Hidizs DH80S in 4.4 mm and is Deliciously Amazinggg 😍🎵🎵 Timeless is real deal . Since is there not perfect earphones Timeless something really special :)
Awesomeness 😎 Glad you enjoy the Timeless.
Moondrop Aria, Kato or S12, which is better overall with comfort, good sound, durable and long lasting, Which one should I get?
For those requirements I would go with the Moondrop Kato.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Ok thank you.
@@iamnomankazi My pleasure, you're welcome ❤️
@@TheHonestAudiophile Sorry to ask you again, but between Moondrop Aria and Shuoer S12, overall which is better?
@@iamnomankazi S12 all the way BUT it requires more powerful amplifier.
Hi Dave!
I really like the details you point out in the reviews.
One question: if I use the S12 with memory foam tips, will the sound change so much that it becomes bad? I ask this because I know that memory foam modifies the sound a little, but I can only use IEMs with them. And however, I like a warmer sound, like some Sennheiser headphones.
Thank you very much. Congratulations and a hug from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Depends on the foam tip but it shouldn't alter enough to be negative experience.
Glad you enjoy the channel content. Thanks for watching and commenting.
The cables is great, what are you talking about?
Just my honest opinion about the cable, thanks for your honest opinion. Have a great day.
Can i plug the s 12 on a laptop or phone? :] i do not have dacks and i want to get timeless or s12 any sugestions?
Both the S12 and Timeless are planar and take some power to drive them. Depends on your headphone output of the laptop or phone. I recommend using a dongle at the least, something like the Hiby FC4.
@@TheHonestAudiophile ty so much ! I have one more question im into warm sound that is alive , the bass to be pouchy and the overall sound not to be shouty .What i am looking for is an iem that can give me details in bass trebble and high notes with a pleasent overall sound signature that is not shouty .can the 7hz timeless do this? Or S12? And wich one would be the better buy?
@warpotato8762 The Timeless is warmer and more pleasurable to listen to. The S12 is more elevated in the mids and treble and has an aggressive presentation.
@@TheHonestAudiophile ty so much for the info .I have one last question that might sound stupid but im new to this .. IEM's are a step up over the in ear truely wireles earbuds ?
@warpotato8762 in my opinion they are
Whats your advice for me, S12 vs Dunu titan s? I love metal music and techno. I'm not basshead. I find more soundstage and İmaging, good seperation and little bit subbass.
İ watched your Dunu TS video. I really need your advice. I'm very indecisive
S12 but you need decent power for them as they're planar.
Why? ı look at empedance/Ohm, this is 16 Ohm. I have only smartphone and laptop. you think, these are not enough? I have Mi 10T @@TheHonestAudiophile
Ohms aren't the only thing to consider. Sensitivity also causes them to be a bit harder to drive then usual IEM. I find that a dongle like the Hiby FC4 is good with the S12.
so thanks for Advice@@TheHonestAudiophile