INTUAURA Balance VS Letshuoer S12 Ultra

Youtube Video Summary

LETSHUOER S12 Ultra wraps up the S12 line with a 14.8 mm planar driver and a familiar metal shell in gunmetal or mocha. The housing is vented, comfy for long sessions, and solidly built with a flat 2-pin interface that grips tips well. The stock package is practical: a soft case, a fair tip spread, a braided cable with swappable 4.4 mm termination, and even a plug-and-play USB-C DAC that performs capably for on-the-go use.

Sonically, this set aims for a mild V-shape with tasteful tweaks that elevate it over prior S12 iterations. There’s a touch more sub-bass than the S12 Pro and a smoother 10 kHz zone, reducing fatigue while keeping upper-treble reach for air. The presentation favors balance over sparkle: detailed without the brittle edge many planars flirt with, and notably non-fatiguing over longer listens. Technical chops are strong for the class—clean, clear, and “planar-fast”—though instrument separation can lag behind pricier hybrids, and the topmost “crispy” sheen is slightly restrained.

On graphs and in practice, S12 Ultra reads as a refined take on modern planars—more bass weight, tidier 4–6 kHz, and better treble behavior than its siblings. Listeners hypersensitive up top may still prefer something like the S15 for a softer treble contour, while those chasing maximal separation may lean to sets like AFUL Performer 7 (with a spicier treble). With the usual planar caveat about unit variance and fit, this edition comes through as the standout of the S12 series: a clean, engaging, and genuinely high-value recommendation under $500.

Youtube Video Summary

Balance dials in a neutral-leaning bass shelf that lets sub-bass and mid-bass act as one, keeping weight without boom. Upper mids sit a touch back with a tasteful 5 kHz dip, avoiding glare while preserving a natural, balanced presentation. The result is end-to-end coherence with clean control and a vented feel that steers clear of thickness or shout.

What lifts it above similarly voiced sets is the level of resolve and edge definition: transients are speedy, vocals articulate, and the treble outlines notes with a near-hybrid crispness without resorting to peaky boosts. It scales from low to high volume without turning warm or losing composure, projecting a roomy stage with convincing depth; imaging is a touch softer than ultra-clean U-shapes, but the overall balance, detail retrieval, and versatility make it an easy daily driver for a wide range of music.

Youtube Video Summary

Final revision of the series brings a very coherent, slightly warmer presentation with treble pulled into safer territory and mids that feel a bit weightier. Ultra sits between the smoother S08 and the rawer S12 Pro, and it comes across a touch bassier than the graphs suggest. As a single-driver planar, it retains solid resolve and a natural, easy tonality that will suit most listeners, especially at the 169 price point.

Despite graphs looking similar to S12 2024, Ultra sounds smaller and flatter, with less transparency and dynamics. Soundstage is mainly left-right; height and depth are curtailed, so placement is not always in the right place on more spacious tracks. The smoother top end avoids harshness and makes long sessions comfortable, but the trade-off is reduced sparkle and air versus the 2024 tuning.

Versus budget planar standouts like KZ PRX, Ultra is a clear, smoother upgrade; versus S12 2024, it is the safer all-round pick but not as open or exciting. Dense mixes can nudge the bass toward a slight bloom and compress the center image. For most, this is the one S12 to buy; stage and transparency chasers may still prefer the 2024 version.

Youtube Video Summary

Intuaura Balance arrives in the roughly 160 dollar bracket with a compact resin shell, a large inner vent and a simple but inoffensive faceplate design that carries the Luna label. Comfort is very good thanks to the shallow, smaller shell size, and isolation is helped by the secure fit. The included tips, semi hard case, pouch and silver plated copper cable feel solid at the price, even if the cable has a slightly plasticky feel and lacks the modular terminations that are appearing more often in this range.

Tuning follows a fairly neutral approach that leans toward the upper mids, yet still keeps an overall balanced presentation. Bass offers enough energy and punch to offset that extra upper mid focus, with good tactility and impact on kick drums, though the mid bass and low mids can sound a little congested and the transition out of bass could be cleaner. The midrange carries warmth, richness and note weight from that low mid energy, rising into forward upper mids that keep vocals and instruments in clear focus without turning shouty, while treble remains natural, safely tuned and extended enough to add air, shimmer and some welcome micro detail.

In terms of technical performance, detail retrieval sits around average for the price, soundstage is moderate in width with more intimate depth, and instrument imaging is satisfying, making it easy to place sounds with decent focus. Compared with other recent sets like Koto, Yaka, Fision, Defiant, CK2V, Explore, A500 and especially Alba, Balance comes across as a well tuned neutral option but is outshined by rivals that offer more bass presence, resolving power and upper treble sparkle. As a result, Balance feels like a solid, natural sounding choice for listeners who prioritise a neutral leaning tonality, yet it does not make a strong case against the many competitive alternatives in this crowded price bracket.

Youtube Video Summary

The Letshuoer S12 Ultra comes through as the smoothest tuning in the S12 family— a sub-bass boosted all-rounder with quick transients and satisfying rumble that makes pop, hip-hop, and EDM notably fun. Technical performance sits around earlier S12 variants, but treble detail is dialed back a touch versus the OG/Pro in exchange for a more natural timbre and less “planar-bright” edge. It’s the bassiest S12 to date, hitting with better texture, impact, and extension, while keeping imaging crisp enough to stay engaging rather than clinical.

Tuning tweaks tame the upper range: a cut past 1.5 kHz and an 8–15 kHz dip ease shout and sibilance, with air returning via a lift around 15 kHz. Vocals sit a bit pulled back and the treble is the least energetic of the series, which helps long-session comfort—though brighter, heavily produced tracks or songs with little low-end can still sound peaky if pushed. Best results come at ~65–70 dB; tip-roll toward clear or bass-supporting tips to smooth the top and reinforce the lows, while avoiding brightening tips that exaggerate energy.

Versus peers, S12 Ultra feels like a bassier, less shouty take on Supermix 4/Nova and a slightly more V-shaped, punchier alternative to Defiant. It’s not a value monster for sheer detail compared with cheaper planars (T10, F1 Pro, etc.), but the payoff is a presentation that’s more musical, smoother, and easier to live with. For listeners wanting added slam without losing the S12’s speed and airy sense of space, this version offers the most enjoyable balance in the lineup.