Aful Explorer vs Letshuoer S12 Ultra: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Letshuoer S12 Ultra comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 83. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Letshuoer S12 Ultra - Outstanding overall at around $169.

Wired IEMs

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Neither pulls ahead overall - they trade wins across the measures.

Aful Explorer
Letshuoer S12 Ultra

HearWiki score

Sound

8.2

8.6

Value

9.0

8.9

Price (USD)

$120

$170

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Same generation

Letshuoer S12 Ultra (2025) against Aful Explorer (2024). These are the same generation of hardware - nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price.

Explorer2024
S12 Ultra20251 yr newer

Specifications

ExplorerS12 Ultra

Type: Wired IEMs; Wired IEMs
Price (USD): $120; $170
HearWiki score: 79; 83
Released: 2024; 2025
Availability: Still sold new; Sold new
Driver: 1DD + 2BA hybrid; 1 planar magnetic
Driver type: hybrid; planar
Driver configuration: 1DD + 2BA; 1 planar magnetic
Driver size: -; 14.8 mm
Drivers per side: 3; 1
Impedance: -; 16 Ω

Specification comparison of Aful Explorer vs Letshuoer S12 Ultra
Spec	Aful Explorer	Letshuoer S12 Ultra
Type	Wired IEMs	Wired IEMs
Price (USD)	$120	$170
HearWiki score	79 / 100 Great	83 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2024	2025
Audio
Driver	1DD + 2BA hybrid	1 planar magnetic
Driver type	hybrid	planar
Driver configuration	1DD + 2BA	1 planar magnetic
Driver size	-	14.8 mm
Drivers per side	3	1
Impedance	-	16 Ω

What reviewers said

Aful Explorer

The Aful Explorer is a compact hybrid IEM that prioritizes a warm, musical listening experience over raw technical performance. It pairs a solid low-end punch with smooth, easy-going treble, making it a comfortable and engaging choice for everyday listening at its price point. While its tuning and fit earn high marks, it falls short of class-leading detail retrieval.

Pro:Warm, musical tuning with satisfying bass
Pro:Comfortable, compact shell and good build quality
Pro:Smooth, non-fatiguing treble

Con:Detail retrieval is average for the class
Con:Timbre can sound slightly breathy or unusual
Con:Not a benchmark for technical performance

Letshuoer S12 Ultra

The Letshuoer S12 Ultra is a wired in-ear monitor that delivers Hi-Fi sound through a single 14.8mm planar magnetic driver housed in a lightweight aluminum-alloy shell. Aimed at music enthusiasts, it offers the signature planar-driver clarity and detail of the S12 series in a refreshed design, without any active noise cancellation or wireless features. Priced around $169, it's a straightforward, high-performance option for wired listening.

Pro:Detailed and fast planar magnetic sound
Pro:Lightweight and durable aluminum-alloy build
Pro:Accurate bass response with low distortion

Con:Requires a wired connection, no wireless freedom
Con:No active noise cancellation for noisy environments
Con:Open-back style may leak sound in quiet settings

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparison Aful Explorer Letshuoer S12 Ultra