Wired IEMs
Letshuoer S12 Ultra
83Outstanding
$170
Full review dataLetshuoer S12 Ultra vs TRI Starsea: 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
TRI Starsea
62Average
$130
Full review dataScore 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.
- Letshuoer S12 Ultra
- TRI Starsea
HearWiki score
83
62
Sound
8.6
7.3
Value
8.9
5.8
Price (USD)
$170
$130
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 5 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 5 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- S12 Ultra20255 yr newer
- Starsea2020
Specifications
S12 UltraStarsea
- Type
- Wired IEMs
- Wired IEMs
- Price (USD)
- $170
- $130
- HearWiki score
- 83
- 62
- Released
- 2025
- 2020
- Availability
- Sold new
- Discontinued
- Driver
- 1 planar magnetic
- -
- Driver type
- planar
- -
- Driver configuration
- 1 planar magnetic
- -
- Driver size
- 14.8 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- -
- Impedance
- 16 Ω
- -
What reviewers said
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
TRI Starsea
The TRI Starsea is a wired hybrid IEM featuring a single 8mm dynamic driver paired with two balanced-armature drivers for detailed, hi-fi sound. It includes switchable tuning options, allowing listeners to adjust the signature to their preference. This model focuses on pure audio performance without active noise cancellation, making it a solid choice for critical listening on the go or at home.
- Pro:Hybrid driver setup offers rich, detailed sound
- Pro:Switchable tuning provides versatility for different genres
- Pro:Wired connection ensures stable, lossless audio transmission
- Con:No active noise cancellation for noisy environments
- Con:Requires a separate amplifier or high-quality source for best performance
- Con:Bulky housing may not suit all ear shapes
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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