INTRO:
Letshuoer started with a big arrey of IEMs, they gained our trust with their mid range and high end EST based IEMs. I reviewed the EJ07M and I have to admit, it is one of the best IEMs under $800. But, that’s not what brought them into the mainstream market, it was the Tape. A lower mid range IEM with tuning knobs that caught the imagination of the consumers. Then they had a small drop in interest but was rejuvenated by their range of Planar IEMs. S12 and S12 pro were criticality acclaimed while the S15 got high praise from most of us and I consider it as one of the best planar IEM under $500. Their newer planar IEM, S08 has been a very good addition too with a mid forward signature that offers excellent value. They have launched a few other IEMs inbetween and they did well too.
What they haven’t launched in a while was a single DD IEM, the essence of this whole audio industry. In comes the DX1 with shiny shell, industrial design, 11 MM magnesium alloy drivers on each side, with a price tag of $169. There are a couple of changes too, physically, this doesn’t come with a modular cable. Sonically this is a mid/vocal forward IEM and can be considered as the soul successor of the S08. Let’s expand!!
Get one from their official website:
For our Indian buyers:
UNBOXING AND ACCESSORIES:
DX1 comes with a shiny silver box and has a typical Letshuoer unboxing experience. We have the IEMs stuffed in foam and tips are placed in a paper box under it. It ships with 3 set of tips, clear wide bores, narrow black stem and an extra set of Tri Clarion tips. Under that, we have the hard case and the cable is placed inside it. Some documentation ends the list of things out of the box. Here is my unboxing and initial impression video:
CABLE AND BUILD:
Now this is interesting. DX1 doesn’t come with a modular cable but it has a cable similar to the EJ07M, I don’t know that’s a good of bad thing but this IEM definitely sounds the part. Mid forward with plenty of emphasis on vocals.
This, internally braided, dual core, low profile , lightweight cable isn’t very well behaved. It has a bit of memory but definitely isn’t bouncy and has less microphonics too. We get transparent connectors at the 2pin end that looks good while the 4.4mm jack has a metal jacket ye it it’s heavy. Cable guides are fairly relaxed yet offer good fit. We get a cable slider too, which is loose but gets the job done.
This IEM is built like a tank. Thanks to the all metal build the earpieces are a bit on the heavier side but are super sturdy and durable. I am sure how the chrome plating age but it definitely makes it eye catching. It has an industrial design with an angled bullet like shape with decent depth. The back plate is shaped like a bolt with ribs within it which looks okay. It has a few vents, a pair near the 2pin socket and another near the nozzle. It has good ergonomics and stability inside the ear
PAIRING WITH SOURCES:
Oh, this is not a very picky IEM, you can pair this beauty with nearly anything and this will sound good. Fairly effortless and calm, I paired it will a lot of sources like Shanling UA6, Hidizs S9 Pro+ and Zen Can 3 and this IEM just doesn’t change it’s stance much, but definitely adapts to the agility and tonality of the source. So.. Stick with the one you have, this IEM needs your attention, more than a source.
SOUND QUALITY:
A magnesium alloy driver is always fascinating and I have had very good encounters with them though from other brands, this type of driver barely disappoints. But, this time around the situation is different. DX1 is not a jack of all trades or an all round IEM. What it is offering is forward mids, which in it’s own is slightly nieche but does it get it’s act straight and perform as good as the S08? The short answer is, if you aren’t critical about highs, yes, this is an excellent IEM, and.. If you are someone who enjoys tall, warm, thick yet precise sounding vocals and instrumental clarity in the mid range, this is simply an outstanding IEM. No problems with tonality or timber either. It does have a warmish overtone across the spectrum but it doesn’t sound weighted down or slow at any point, infact it can be slightly more rapid than one might expect it to be.
I am using Hidizs S9 Pro+ and Shanling UA6 for this review.
BASS:
Initially I wasn’t convinced but swap the narrow bore tip with wide bores and this IEM definitely is not a slouch by a good marjin but it’s not a bassy IEM as it focuses more on sub-bass and rumbles, it’s atmospheric feel is on a different level but doesn’t get heavy or muddy. While the mid bass is slightly less emphasized with tighter and cleaner notes, lacks a bit of weight yet has enough body to keep me seated. Area impact is big as it creates a bigger rumble body while the mid-bass body is placed in it as the note moves out and up ward. It moves decent amount of air thanks to the rumbles. First thing that impressed me is it’s agility, it has very good control over the notes when needed. Accurate and precise while maintaining very good dynamics and contrast between back and foreground instruments. Kick drums and other upper bass notes don’t have any undesirable softness.
MIDS:
This is where this IEM shines. It’s 50% stage and imaging is occupied by the mid range. It’s a mid forward IEM afterall. There is something interesting happening here though. DX1 offers warm and full sounding notes with very good vocal texture yet the notes aren’t wider at their bases and maintain the base thickness up till the finishing region with a bit of precision. Both male and female vocals are very good with height and finishing definition. Male vocals have a bit more definition and resolution than female vocals, they have the right amount of throat emphasis and thickness to them. Female vocals are taller with right amount of sharpness. This is a very good IEM for vocals and the notes are very natural and organic. It has superb vocals layering. Instruments have good resolution and definition too but they aren’t as airy or layered as the vocals. They have good energy but isn’t bity, even in the upper treble region. Overall tonality is slightly crispy while timber is marginally on the dry side.
All in all, DX1 has a different yet interesting take on a mid forward signature.
HIGHS:
As I mentioned earlier, the mid range takes a big share of the stage while the rest of the spectrum are slightly less emphasized yet, We get agile and aptly sparkly highs, it’s just that the energy is a bit on the lower side while maintaining very good transparency and clarity. No issues with finishing energy either. Extension is very good but DX1 loses a little bit of energy in the upper treble region, it’s not dark but not very airy or clean. Layering and separation is good up till the mid treble region. It still lacks a bit of air but we get good instrument separation. I hope we will see a hybrid set-up with this DD while BA drivers are used for highs. That will be interesting.
STAGE AND IMAGING:
DX1 has a considerably big stage. It’s taller than it’s wider though. We get good Z-axis depth too but the depth isn’t exactly great with the highs. Most of the notes originate within the ear and end up out of the head while some treble notes originate out of the head. We get clean and clear cue placements with vivid imaging. Sonics too are very good, transient instruments have the right amount of subtlety to them. I definitely would have liked a bit wider stage and a bit more depth to treble notes but for a mid forward IEM, this is not a thing to worry about.
COMPARISON:
VS Tanchjim Fission:
Fission definitely got hyped up for it’s tuning capabilities but was a bit lacking when it comes to basics. Both these IEMs aren’t bassy but Fission sounded flatter and less airy , more dry and lean, lacking body and more importantly sub-bass. DX1 has much better sub-bass depth and a lot more rumbles, it has better body and better technical abilities in the lower end. Mid range is where these two IEMs are totally different. DX1 is warmer and fuller with a more textured vocal range. It’s tonality and timber are more organic. Fission is more about details and clarity, it’s slightly lean and crisp sounding and can be fatiguing too. Highs is where it’s kind of similar, DX1 isn’t very energetic but has better extension and resolution while DX1 is slightly relaxed with less energy but equally resolving. Both do not have a lot of air between instruments but DX1 is better in this regard.
Overall, DX1 is a more even, balanced and mature sounding IEM.
VS EarAcoustic SPA Hi End :
SPA Hi End is a different kind of IEM with a W shaped signature but houses a similarly large 11.4mm dynamic driver. This has similarly tight bass notes with equally impressive dynamics and contrast but DX1 has better sub-bass rumbles and depth. Mid bass is where the Hi End is fuller an meatier. Mids and highs are where these two IEMs are totally different but the DX1 offers slightly better micro details while Hi End has better macro dynamics. Hi End is a bit more accurate with tonality and timber with equally impressive texture but the DX1 has warmer and fuller notes with better weight and throat emphasis. Highs are where the Hi End shows its supremacy with better extension and sparkle. It has a bigger treble stage and offers improved air between instruments. It has better layering and separation too. Spa Hi end has a bigger stage with slightly better width while DX1 has a taller stage.
It’s more like a tie, if you want a vocal or mid focused IEM, DX1 is the better option.
CONCLUSION:
Okay, let me put this straight forward, if you are bored of the new Meta jargons and v or W shaped IEMs and want an IEM that offers much better mid range notes, just get the DX1. It’s an excellent IEM for vocals. Unlike the S08, this is not overly smooth and offers very good details and clarity. It doesnt ignore the bass and high either but I will definitely like to a see a hybrid IEM based on the DX1. One or two BA drivers for the highs will be wonderful.
This is it!! Enjoy!!
