SIVGA Nightingale VS Letshuoer S12 Ultra

Youtube Video Summary

SIVGA Nightingale goes all-in on a spacious, treble-centric presentation: sub-bass is rolled off and vocal gain is flat, pushing lows and mids into the background so the spotlight hits sparkle, air, and stage. Cymbal crashes, flute and sax overtones, and string texture come through with sharper imaging and fast attack/decay, creating one of the widest, most open stages heard in this bracket. Technical performance in resolution, layering, and separation competes up to the $500–$600 range, though vocals and deep-bass texture lag behind the treble fireworks. The timbre feels surprisingly natural for a planar—grounded rather than floaty—yet the mids could use more weight and slam.

This tuning is niche but addictive when the recipe fits: slower, moodier tracks (Indie, piano ballads, soul/Jazz), orchestral and instrumental pieces, or deep-voiced singers benefit from turning the volume up, where details bloom without shredding ears. By contrast, modern hip-hop/EDM, loud rock/metal, and vocal-centric pop expose the rolled-off sub-bass and laid-back vocal presence, and the treble can get hot at high SPL. As an all-rounder around $300, sets like Hype 2/Top or Performer 8 remain safer, while EA1000/T2 feel more engaging and natural for vocals; however, none of those outdo Nightingale’s treble detail, stage, air, and imaging. For treble-heads and adventurous listeners tired of Harman/diffuse-field sameness, this is a distinctive planar with “special sauce” at louder listens—just know exactly what it’s tuned to do.

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.

Youtube Video Summary

SIVGA Nightingale takes the planar recipe and makes it weird in the best way. Priced around $279, it hits with a warm, woody tonality and a soft, velvet-like “veil” that doesn’t dull notes so much as wrap them—turning familiar tracks into individually spotlighted instruments. The presentation is huge, euphonic, and intensely emotive; synths shimmer, vinyl crackle pops, and orchestral swells bloom until the music starts to feel heavy on the chest. It isn’t the sharpest scalpel—not the highest detail, biggest stage, or deepest slam—but it does something to the production that makes songs feel like their most heart-tugging versions.

Build and kit are very Sivga: real wood backs, teardrop “egg” shells that fit comfortably, a shielded 2-pin connection, a rugged fabric case, and a balanced 4.4 mm cable that mirrors the brand’s headphone styling. The chrome trim and finish may read a bit blingy, but the ergonomics are on point. It’s also harder to drive than the usual budget planars and scales with power; plug it into a solid amp and that lush, enveloping character really comes alive. If the goal is emotion over microscope, Nightingale delivers a singular, addictive listen—remarkable for those chasing goosebumps rather than graphs.

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

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.