Wired IEMs
CrinEar Daybreak
84Outstanding
$170
Full review dataCrinEar Daybreak vs Letshuoer S12: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the CrinEar Daybreak comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: CrinEar Daybreak - Outstanding overall at around $170.
Wired IEMs
Letshuoer S12
73Great
$150
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
CrinEar Daybreak leads on 3 of 4 measures.
- CrinEar Daybreak
- Letshuoer S12
HearWiki score
84
73
Sound
8.8
7.8
Value
9.2
7.3
Price (USD)
$170
$150
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
The CrinEar Daybreak is 3 years newer, but it is 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. For 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Daybreak20253 yr newer
- S122022
Specifications
DaybreakS12
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $150
- HearWiki score
- 84
- 73
- Released
- 2025
- 2022
- Availability
- Sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 1DD + 2BA tribrid
- 14.8 mm planar magnetic
- Driver type
- tribrid
- planar
- Driver configuration
- 1DD + 2BA
- -
- Driver size
- -
- 14.8 mm
- Drivers per side
- 3
- -
- Impedance
- 20 Ω
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 105 dB/mW
- 102 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- -
- Weight
- -
- 12 g
What reviewers said
CrinEar Daybreak
The CrinEar Daybreak is a wired tribrid IEM that delivers a well-balanced, reference-style sound with a focus on accurate reproduction and natural mids. It performs admirably across various genres, though its stock cable and occasionally shouty upper mids may not suit everyone.
- Pro:Balanced, neutral-leaning tuning
- Pro:Natural and lifelike midrange
- Pro:Strong bass texture with sub-bass emphasis
- Con:Stock cable feels cheap
- Con:Can sound shouty on certain tracks
- Con:Not the most exciting or dynamic presentation
Letshuoer S12
The Letshuoer S12 is a wired planar magnetic IEM that delivers standout resolution and detail for its price, with punchy bass and an energetic, bright-leaning tuning. Its technical performance, comfortable fit, and solid build make it a strong value, though it benefits from amplification and may sound bright to treble-sensitive listeners.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and resolving power
- Pro:Articulate bass with strong definition
- Pro:Energetic and engaging presentation
- Con:Bright tuning may fatigue some listeners
- Con:Vocals can sound lean or thin
- Con:Average soundstage size
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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