Letshuoer DX1 Review: A Reliable Companion

Letshuoer DX1 Review

After a long time with warm musical sets, this Letshuoer DX1 was a bit of a surprise for me with its uncolored natural tuning. My first impression was, ‘Oh no, it’s not for me.’ But as time passes, it seems I’m loving it. And the tuning is almost like the legendary Dunu Zen Pro! After 60+ hours of burn-in, the low end shows the same tight presentation, and also the top end remains shiny, but the upper mids seem a little tamed. That’s OK for me. And I’ve been enjoying it for the last 5 weeks, along with Pula Unicrom and Twistura WoodNote, to understand the real difference of single-DD tuning.

The DX1 lacks a bit of bass warmth, but with the Planue R2, the story is totally different when you turn ‘Mach3Bass’ on! The iFi Hip DAC 2 also shows almost the same result with the ‘X-Bass’ on. It pairs very well with almost all of my DAC-amps except for the Moondrop Dawn Pro, which makes the IEM sound bright. I will explain it later. The stock cable seems thin and basic, but it goes very well with the minimal design aesthetics of the DX1.

DISCLAIMER

[Letshuoer] was kind enough to send me the DX1 to review. I am not affiliated with Letshuoer, and of course, I was not asked for any copy-checking before publishing. All opinions shared in this ‘Letshuoer DX1 review’ are my subjective thoughts.

One thing more: The review is based on my personal experience and what I hear using different sources. Your experience may vary because of personal preference and physical differences like the shape and depth of the ear canal.

For your personal purchase, checkout [Letshuoer] for their fantastic products and promotions (non-affiliated link).

GEAR USED

●   DAP: Cowon Planue R2, Cayin N3 Ultra, Hiby RS2, Hiby R4, Snowsky Echo Mini, F.Audio M20.
●   DAC/AMP: xDuoo MT-604, Fosi Audio GR40, Hiby FD5, KAEI Design TAP2, ifi Hip DAC 2, xDuoo XD-05 Plus (with MUSES 8820 OP-Amp), Cayin RU6, Cayin RU7, iBasso DC04 Pro, Dunu DTC 480, Fosi Audio DS-1, Celest CD-10, Celest CD-20, Hiby FC05, Hiby FD03, Moondrop Dawn Pro.
●   Smart Device: Poco X3, Xiaomi MiPad 5.
●   Files: Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, local Hi-Res FLAC & DSD files.

AUDIO TESTING PREFERENCES

I desperately love the music from the 60s to the 90s era. Music was alive then. The genre I love most is ROCK ‘N ROLL. Though Jazz, Blues, Metal, Disco, and Pop are also my favorite genres. I have a collection of albums with high dynamic range recording. Most of the time, I test audio gear with those albums to understand the sonic capability of the specific gear. If you have a Tidal subscription, you may click here to get the playlist.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

● Driver: 11mm aluminum-magnesium alloy nanoparticle coated DD
● Frequency response: 20Hz – 40kHz
● Impedance: 30Ω
● Sensitivity: 108dB
● Cable: 256 cores of silver-plated monocrystalline copper
● Pin Type: 2pin, 0.78mm
● Cable Length: 1.2m
● Plug Type: 4.4mm

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

● DX1 IEMs
● Silver-plated copper cable (3.5mm)
● 3 pairs of 3 types (S/M/L) tips
● Metal carrying case
● User Manual

Photo courtesy: Letshuoer (Me being too lazy 😁)

UNBOXING EXPERIENCE

After the awesome unboxing experience of the Twistura WoodNote, which has the same price tag, the unboxing of the DX1 feels a bit less premium. It’s more like ‘basic’ than ‘excellent.’ The packaging is nice and organized, but the accessories are on par in my opinion. A stock cable with no interchangeable plug is a big negative point for me at this price point. Even some lower-priced IEMs come with this type of cable nowadays. And the ear tips come in normal plastic bags; no tip case is included. Though that’s not a big issue. But the carrying case is made of metal and feels very premium.

BUILD & DESIGN

In one word, it’s ‘awesome.’ The shells are CNC-machined from stainless steel with a mirror polish finish. They are comparatively heavy in hand but not noticeable when you wear them. The faceplate exactly looks like the head of a bolt with cut edges, while the center is brushed silver, surrounded by a champagne-colored ring. The shape is a compact teardrop and looks cool. There are three air vents: two near the two-pin connector, and another one is closer to the nozzle. This is to prevent extra pressure buildup while in use. Somewhat, the shape will remind you of the Artti T10 & T10 Pro design aesthetics, except for the cut edge on the DX1.

FIT & COMFORT

Fitting is top-notch, and it’s really comfortable even in longer listening sessions. Though a bit heavy, the small, rounded shape helps the DX1 to sit flush in the ears. I’ve worn them for 4-5 hours straight without any discomfort. They are even comfortable for side-sleeping since they don’t stick out (I wouldn’t recommend sleeping with your IEMs, though). The weight won’t bother you that much. There’s a downside to being compact-sized IEMs when it comes to proper fit. A tip roll-off will help you in this regard. I will cover it in a different part of this review.

SOUND IMPRESSIONS

As I mentioned earlier, it’s uncolored and natural with a good flow. It’s detailed yet not analytical. The music is glued together very well and not congested. As a natural tuned IEM, the DX1 shows less warmth in the lower end. It has a fuller presentation in the midrange section, and the treble is airy, extended with a bit of energy, but there’s no fatiguing spark.

Here is the frequency graph :

Let’s dive deep…

SUB-BASS

Sub-bass in D1 is really present, though it stays a bit backward. There is good controlled decay, while the texture is of high quality and audible. That kind of presentation adds depth without overwhelming other frequencies. The quantity is less than you expect from a dynamic driver, but I must say the sub-bass in this IEM is of good quality. A warm-head audiophile like me misses the true rumble and body in the sub-region. And also, it lacks the proper weight that you will find in some warm-balanced IEMs. DX1’s neutral-balanced kind of tuning will make you want more, and for bass heads, it’s a big ‘no no’ thing.

MID-BASS

The mid-bass in DX1 stays clean, controlled, and slightly relaxed. It stays rounded and doesn’t spread to any other frequencies. The thump you will hear with kick drums is so satisfying. And the texture of the bass guitar? Ah, it comes through with good body and texture. The bass notes have a good timber, and the decay feels natural. Like the sub-bass, the mid-bass also shows the lacking of a bit of weight and impact compared to warmer IEMs. There’s enough body in mid-bass, and it’s not dry or super thin, but the characteristic will make you want more. It’s OK for rock and pop, but for metal, you might wish for a bit more slam and authority.

VOCALS

This is where the DX1 shoes it’s ability. The presentation is forward, clear, and remarkably natural. The vocals have a richness that makes them the center of attention, and they are not shouty or harsh.

MALE

The male vocals have a fantastic weight and body to them; it’s something that’s definitely noticeable and highly satisfying. Deeper male vocals come through with just the right weight; they never feel light. They’re actually thicker than that of some balanced tuned IEMs. There’s a bit of extra warmth to the male vocals that’s almost too thick at times, but it’s never muddled. Compared to more natural IEMs, the male vocal in the DX1 is less analytical.

FEMALE

The slight shift in the upper-midrange makes the female vocals on the DX1 shiny and have fantastic clarity. They remain open, airy, and sweet throughout without crossing the line into being sibilant or fatiguing. They have proper energy, but not the kind that overshadows the mix. Female vocals feel intimate and genuine with a good richness. But if you love a bit brighter, ear-biting kind of female vocals, they may sound somewhat smooth. Though personally, this kind of presentation is a blessing to my ears.

INSTRUMENT SEPARATION

The Dx1 does a good job in instrument separation. Due to the fantastic midrange presentation, the separation between different instruments and vocals stands out clearly, and it’s easy to pick out individual instruments without much effort. In a different scenario, when the music gets relatively busier, like in full orchestral climaxes or layered prog-metal, the separation starts to feel congested. It’s not like a messy presentation, but it’s not the cleanest either. Though pinpoint accuracy isn’t that strong, imaging is good enough with a manageable layering. It’s totally a mixed emotion here!

TREBLE

It is smooth and extended. But to my ears, they are a hair bit away from being sibilant. I’m a treble-sensitive person, but I think this kind of treble presentation is not a big deal for most of the people. It sounds lively and fine due to the gentle lift in the upper treble region. Cymbals and hi-hats come through clearly: no sibilance, no sharp peaks. There is a slight trade-off for that smooth presentation, and that is the micro-detail retrieval! It is just ‘OK’ here. For that, you may lose the ultimate resolution if you are a high-resolution hunter.

SOUNDSTAGE

The stage in the DX1 is somewhat fine, if not the best in this budget range. You can call it ‘intimate’ but not ‘claustrophobic’ anyway. I think the main focus is the width, and it extends a bit past your ears. The entire presentation will give you a decent sense of the space, left to right, which is enjoyable. The front-to-back layering, which we used to call ‘depth,’ is good here, especially in well-recorded tracks. But the height is just average, nothing special. With vocals planted firmly in the middle, the overall presentation feels centered and focused, while the imaging is accurate in simple mixes.

TECHNICALITIES

Dynamics: The DX1 has good macrodynamics, with a strong ability to handle volume changes and intensity variations. In the midrange, vocals breathe and swell in a natural way, while kick drums hit with authority when the music demands it. Microdynamics- the small, subtle dynamic variations- are there but not particularly outstanding. You won’t hear that extra level of detail, but the dynamic range is still good for the price.

Speed: The transient response is fast and agile for a dynamic driver. The aluminum-magnesium diaphragm gets the job done quickly, with a clean and precise attack that doesn’t smear. It’s not the fastest DD on the market- there’s a slight softening on very fast passages- but it’s more than capable of handling most types of music. Double-bass in metal is well-defined, although not quite as detailed as the best of the best.

Analytics (Detail Retrieval): Detail retrieval is good but not outstanding. The DX1 has no problem unearthing midrange detail- vocal expression, guitar texture, the singer’s breath- but it does so in a musical, holistic manner that doesn’t call attention to each individual detail. In the treble, detail gives way to smoothness. You won’t hear every little detail, but you’ll hear enough to keep you interested. It’s a compromise that prefers listenability to analysis.

SOURCES

It’s an easy-to-drive kind of IEM, though a bit powerful source with a good DAC can bring out the best from it. I mean, a basic DAC dongle can do that, but something like the Fosi Audio DS1 or Dunu DTC 480 can provide good quality sound from the DX1. If you love yourself a good warm bass region, then something like the iFi Hip DAC 2, or Fosi Audio GR40 can be your trusted partner. And if you have the legendary Cowon Planue R2, just turn the ‘Mach3Bass’ on and feel the magic. The Cayin RU6 and RU7 also paired very well with the DX1 and can provide fantastic tonality.

Bright sources like the Moondrop Dawn Pro or the TimeEar BTE-9 can make the upper frequencies a bit spicy. If you are a treble-sensitive listener, you may avoid pairing bright sources with this IEM.

CABLE & TIP ROLLING

Though the stock cable goes very well with the minimal design aesthetics of the DX1, it really feels cheap (personal nit-pick). You may try the Dunu Lyra mini cable, as it is budget-friendly and has a warm type of character. You don’t need to be a ‘cable believer’; you may use it if you wish. Among the included ear tips, you will find Clarion, which are nice tips and can make the stage a bit wider (not much, though). The shape of this IEM makes proper fit & seal a bit tricky. Divinus Velvet wide-bore tips can help you in this regard.

FINAL THOUGHTS

For a single DD setup, this is a serious mark from Letshuoer. It has a good natural tune and timber with very good vocal presentation. This can be a good piece for the listeners who value realism over excitement. In this price range, it has the best midrange with an outstanding overall coherence. But still, there are some trade-offs, of course! It lacks ultimate extension in both the high & low ends, and also it struggles with dense tracks. The resolution is also on par with a ‘just good’ type of stage. If you can consider all these characteristics with ease, then why not give it a try?

WHATEVER YOU’RE THINKIN’ OF BUYING—DAC, DAP, IEM, HEADPHONE, AMP, WHATEVER—JUST MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A DEMO RUN FIRST. TRY IT OUT, LISTEN TO IT WITH YOUR OWN TRACKS. SERIOUSLY, ONE QUICK AUDITION CAN SAVE YOU A BUNCH OF MONEY AND REGRET LATER ON.

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