Kiwi Ears Melody 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.

Letshuoer S12 Ultra leads on 3 of 4 measures.

Kiwi Ears Melody
Letshuoer S12 Ultra

HearWiki score

Sound

6.9

8.6

Value

7.1

8.9

Price (USD)

$89

$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

The Letshuoer S12 Ultra is 2 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.

Melody2023
S12 Ultra20252 yr newer

Specifications

MelodyS12 Ultra

Type: Wired IEMs; Wired IEMs
Price (USD): $89; $170
HearWiki score: 63; 83
Released: 2023; 2025
Availability: Discontinued; Sold new
Driver: 1 planar; 1 planar magnetic
Driver type: planar; planar
Driver configuration: 1 planar; 1 planar magnetic
Driver size: 12 mm; 14.8 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Impedance: 18 Ω; 16 Ω
Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW; -
Active noise cancelling: No; -

Specification comparison of Kiwi Ears Melody vs Letshuoer S12 Ultra
Spec	Kiwi Ears Melody	Letshuoer S12 Ultra
Type	Wired IEMs	Wired IEMs
Price (USD)	$89	$170
HearWiki score	63 / 100 Good	83 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2023	2025
Audio
Driver	1 planar	1 planar magnetic
Driver type	planar	planar
Driver configuration	1 planar	1 planar magnetic
Driver size	12 mm	14.8 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Impedance	18 Ω	16 Ω
Sensitivity	102 dB/mW	-
Features
Active noise cancelling	No	-

What reviewers said

Kiwi Ears Melody

The Kiwi Ears Melody is a wired, single-planar IEM that delivers a lively and engaging sound with strong bass presence. It offers a lightweight, comfortable fit and good value for its price, though its technical performance and accessories are fairly modest. Its energetic tuning makes it a fun pick for listeners who favor a bass-forward, dynamic presentation.

Pro:Powerful, well-extended bass
Pro:Lightweight and comfortable shell
Pro:Energetic, fun tuning

Con:Treble can be overly bright for some
Con:Average micro-detail retrieval
Con:Basic accessories and packaging

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.

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New comparison Kiwi Ears Melody Letshuoer S12 Ultra