Decent set of accessories with an interesting screw-style case
Comes with one of my favorite stock cables (similar to Galileo)
Pretty shade of beige with an interesting design and colorway (subjective)
Clean, generally neutral sound
Detailed, well-defined bass
Fantastic vocal clarity and detail for the price
Relaxed but still decently detailed treble presentation
Solid separation and layering
Great value considering the driver configuration
CONS:
Driver configuration doesn’t really match what it sounds like
Larger nozzle might cause fit issues
Material might corrode over time
Might be too lean sounding
Bass lacks texture and weight
Lower mids are featherlike and borderline thin
Upper mids have tendency of shout
Treble might come across dark to people who prefer more extension
Narrow staging
WHO THIS UNIT IS FOR:
Driver aficionados
Mid-heads
People who want a clean but detailed low end
People who want a fatigue free treble
People who want a complete package on a budget
People who want a more than decent separation and layering capabilites
WHO THIS UNIT ISN’T FOR:
Shoutlets
People who don’t like lean sound signatures
People who want a textured, tactile or weighty bass
People who want sparkly treble
People who want wide stage
People who have small ears (due to the large nozzle)
FAVORITE GENRES TO LISTEN TO:
Classical
Jazz
Vocal-centric (like adult contemporary)
SHORT SUMMARY OF REVIEW:
“The Letshuoer DZ4 provides a lean, vocal-centric presentation with really good vocal nuance along with a solid unboxing experience and great accessories for the price. However, the 3 dynamic drivers and passive radiators seem to not do much to give body and weight into the music, as well as the somewhat poor fitting make it a little cumbersome to wear. Regardless, the DZ4 is a competent set for vocal lovers and neutral-heads on a budget.” RECCOMENDED WITH CAVEATS
We’ve recently gotten a plethora of IEMs with weird or unusual configurations in the market with varying levels of effectivity. Granted, it is quite difficult to pull off a completely unorthodox driver configuration without going really deep into the R&D. But what if a brand who’s been in a market for quite a while and have proved themselves capable of working with multiple driver types takes a gander? Well, then you get something interesting.
DISCLAIMER:
This unit was tested as a tour unit provided by Ms. Lvy Gao of Lethuoer and managed by Mr. Eiji Romero of KVLT on Euphonia. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. However, I was not paid to say anything and all my thoughts and opinions on this review are mine and mine alone. Audio is a very subjective hobby and as much as I try to objectively explain my thoughts and opinions, your mileage will vary. My preferences will also affect how I perceive the gear that I review. Sources and other accessories will also modify your experience. Lastly, my reviews should always be used only as a guide and not as the definitive bible. Trust your ears to know what’s good.
SOURCES USED:
Zishan U1 (AKM variant)
Hiby R2 Gen II
Audioquest DF Red
Not-by-VE Avani
Non-HiFi Phone (Huawei Nova 7 SE)
TRACKS USED:
A mixture of lossy, lossless and Hi-Res files will be used to give a general overview of the different formats in which the gear will be used.
Docs file explaining each track and what to look for: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oMa7GPLaqtpnnoR9tixvWI4aK-7tXMyTEZCJAVkIZx0/edit
I currently prefer a lot of R&B, Indie, Funk and Adult Contemporary/Vocal centric. However, I am very flexible with the music that I listen to and always try to look for the best genres for the gear.
ACCESSORIES USED:
Tips:
Stock tips (in S&M)
Final E (in S&M)
Newbees (in S&M)
TRI Clarion (in S&M)
Cable:
Stock Cable (3.5mm)
NOTE ON ACCESSORIES:
The stock tips were adequate for the DZ4, but using smaller tips improved on the overall stability. It also tames the upper mids, but also affects the already narrow stage. For this review, I primarily used the stock tips in Medium, but tip-rolling is recommended.
BRAND BACKGROUND:
Letshuoer is a brand many of us are familiar with in the hobby with their legendary planar prodigy, the S12 and their EJ series taking up the mid-fi market by storm and even having the likes of HBB, Zeos and Timmy collaborating with them. Least to say, they’re no unknown Chi-Fi brand in 2023. However, not only is this their first 3DD + 1PR IEM, this is THE first 3DD + 1PR in the market. So whether this is merely a tech demo or something compelling, we’ll find out today.
UNBOXING:
Of course, we can’t talk Letshuoer without talking about their unboxing. I’ve really only unboxed 2 Letshuoer’s as of writing, but both provided some of the cleanest yet prettiest external packaging in my experience. The Letshuoer Galileo being one and the DZ4 now keeping up the pace (spoiler: that won’t be the only similarity they have)
Greeting you as you receive your box is a clean, white background with what seems to be a series of lines and circles that, presumably, represents the 4 drivers that are inside of the DZ4. Clever stuff, haven’t seen it before. But what else have I not seen before? Different printing textures and different paper materials. Yes, I know I’m probably the only one who is amazed by this but the orange bits and the printing of the DZ4 and Letshuoer are debossed and embossed respectably, giving a three-dimensional tactile experience to the DZ4’s packaging. This also applies to the Letshuoer logos on the side of the box which is a pretty awesome touch. Flipping the packaging, you’re met with the usual specification sheet, warnings and contact info on different languages.
Removing the sleeve reveals a clean, white box with Letshuoer’s logo printed in silver in the middle. Removing the top box, you’re met with a couple of paperwork and a rather pretty instructional manual printed in a thematic orange. It’s not as intricate as the Galileo’s pamphlet, but still very much creative in intention I’d say. Removing the paperwork reveals the dope looking IEMs, as well as the puck case right below it, housed in a foam cutout. And that’s about it.
Here is a full list of the inclusions:
The IEMs themselves
Puck Case
3 Pairs of Vocal eartips
3 Pairs of Balanced eartips
Cable
Warranty Card
Instruction manual
Inspecting the puck further, you’re met with the nice 4-core braided cable that I’m quite a big fan of along with a circular tip-holder and some silica gel packets.
The puck itself is very sturdy, akin to the Galileo’s case which is made from a very sturdy material that I’m not so sure what. And just like the Galileo, Letshuoer decided to challenge their consumers with their case as I was a little dumbfounded at first on how to open the case. Eventually, I realized that it was a screw-on cap which was nothing I’ve seen prior. It’s a decently spacious although definitely not pocketable case that is best to store whatever the DZ4 came in with (along with the IEMs) and nothing more.You can opt to store more than 1 IEM, but that could be a little cramped if I may say.
The tips are decent with a slightly wider bored clear tips and black narrower bored tips. The clear tips seem to be the vocal tips, although the labeling seriously needs some work because it was not aligned to a specific tip. The balanced tip on the other hand is of a similar style and material with different color schemes. They’re alright tips, the clear ones being reminiscent of the KBEar07/AET07 tips which are my darlings, but upon further inspection, they are quite different on the stem area. Whether this affects the sound, I couldn’t really tell as both the tips sealed crap with the IEM itself, but they do feel nice and might work for you.
Overall, a decent unboxing experience that is akin to the Letshuoer Galileo in which it’s more than satisfied with what it comes with for the price. The box is intricate but tasteful, the presentation is good and the inclusions are alright. Nothing much to say about it, honestly.
BUILD AND FIT
Cable:
The cable that the DZ4 use is a 4-core, 216 strand 0.05mm Silver Plated Copper Cable with a 3.5mm SE termination and a 0.78mm 2-pin interface.
If you’ve seen the Galileo, this is exactly like the Galieo’s cable in a different color scheme. No kidding. So here’s my cable impressions from my Galileo review since I’ll just be saying the same things.
The build is definitely on the beefier side with an interesting stiff but malleable material that allows it to behave while feeling durable. Each strand feels quite thick and durable but never felt too hefty or weighty in any way. It is, however, definitely on the stiffer side which would occasionally make it feel a little bit janky to pull around. Due to the thickness, it does not tangle easy and when it does, it’s quite easy to untangle
There are thankfully no microphonics despite the textured and beefier nature which I absolutely adored as I really liked the stock cable.
Starting with the jack, it’s your standard 3.5mm gold plated jack housed in a minimalist cream housing with Letshuoer’s typography printed near the jack itself. It then tapers off with a jack tail to the 4 core strands.
There 2 grey strands and 2 silver strands and they are both housed in a textured material that allows them to feel quite durable.
Moving up then reveals the y-split which uses the same material as the jack and a chin-cinch which, interestingly, is of a clear material and seems somewhat out of place. Thankfully, due to the combination of the cable material and the shape of the chin cinch, it is quite usable and I’d argue is one of the most sturdy chin cinches that I’ve tried.
Moving up, the cable then split to the two 2-core strands all the way to the preformed ear hooks and the 2-pin interface. The earhooks, for the first few hours of listening, is definitely on the more aggressive in terms of fitting as I found that it really dug into the back of my ears and gave me some discomfort not only behind the ear but also in the inner ear due to the fitting.. However, the earhooks would then form into your ear and it becomes more comfortable. Of course, if you choose to do it manually, you may use a hairgun or heatgun to form it to your desired shape. The interface itself are smooth and uses the same material as the jack and y-split and has a small engraved section for easier pulling. The right side is indicated with a red ring covering the interface while the left is covered with a plain opaque material.
Overall, a solid stock cable that rivals even more expensive IEMs. I seriously wouldn’t mind using this cable for my other IEMs and even more expensive IEMs. It feels durable but not beefy, although a little bit stiff for my liking. The chin cinch, as mentioned is one of the best that I’ve tried in stock cables. The texture definitely helps making it feel more premium than it is. But definitely keep the preformed earhooks in mind, especially if you’re buying a new unit. And honestly, them using a similar cable to the Galileo is a very smart way to save money because as the famous saying goes: if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.
IEM:
The DZ4 features a total of 4 drivers. Three 6mm Dynamic Drivers and One passive radiator. This is all housed in a 3D Printed Resin topped off with a CNC-milled Aluminum with a semi-open design. Letshuoer also states that the drivers are connected to the dual-pin receptacle via a flexible printed circuit or an FPC crossover board. They also collaborated with HeyGears in the creation of the IEM itself
To those uninformed, a passive radiator according to Sweetwater is defined as;
“A passive radiator is an element that is designed to move sympathetically with the energy in the cabinet. They generally resemble a low frequency driver or woofer, but have no voice coil or any element to actively generate sound.”
The faceplate features an awesome looking pattern that is similar to the packaging of the DZ4. Looking closer into the faceplate, you are met with the design actually showing a somewhat grill that could potentially be the faceplate vent to make the DZ4 a semi-open back IEM. It’s effectiveness is debatable, but that’s a really cool touch to see the small circles or vents in between the pattern. The faceplate itself feels like a metal with a distinctive tactile feel when you rub your finger against it. It then transitions into a different material for the inner shell that holds the drivers and the 2-pin connectors. It’s a very smooth construction with a very small wing to hold the IEM in place. The nozzle is very reminiscent of the Galileo as it is absolutely massive. I found myself needing to use my smallest tips in order to properly fit into my ear as the stock tips just would not fit. More on this later. I’m quite a big fan of the usage of cream as I don’t really see a lot of IEMs having a cream or skin color which I think is a shame. Cream or beige is a very pretty color when done right, and I’d say that the DZ4 has got that in the bag.
The IEM itself admittedly feels a little bit cheap. Reminiscent of the Hola, it has this somewhat matte texture giving off this somewhat smooth, rubbery but concerning feel. You know, the type of plastic that if enough heat from long periods of use will cause it to melt or just feel icky over time.
As for fit, the IEM does feel comfortable, but that large nozzle definitely causes some problems. Initial fitting may be problematic for those who aren’t used to large nozzles and long term fitting may cause fatigue around the ear. This is also due to the earhook angle being so darn aggressive and ending up causing more pain than stability. Stability however is very good as, when I get a good seal, it really stays in my ear.
This then transitions into its surprisingly impeccable seal and isolation without causing and air pressure build up or driver flex. Occlusion effect is also very well controlled as I didn’t find my voice too annoying while I spoke with the IEM which was seriously surprising considering its seal.
Comparing this to other IEMs, I can’t help but really find that this and the Galileo fit very much alike. No other set has given me a mixture of comfort and discomfort as the nozzle can be quite problematic, yet a good seal with this is absolutely perfect.
Overall, it’s a mixed bag for me as the build can raise concerns over its longevity due to the material and the comfort due to the larger nozzle, but on the other hand, the cream color as well as the unique stylings and its solid isolation and comfort, when paired with the right tips, give it a pass for me as I genuinely think that this is a very nicely built IEM that has had to take some compromises somewhere to keep it as cheap as it is.
SOUND:
Sound Signature:
Letshuoer DZ4 Frequency Response Graph from squig.link
The DZ4 follows a neutral sound signature with extra energy in the vocals, reminiscent of a diffused-field target like an Etymotic. Although not exactly, they follow a very similar lean and vocal centric tuning that should appeal to those allergic to bass and like a lot of vocal energy.
Efficiency and Source Pairing:
The DZ4 is middle of the ground in terms of efficiency. It’s not the easiest to run set with it still needing to crank the volume quite some ways but also not insanely difficult to drive that a smartphone can’t effectively power it. Speaking of, a smartphone can decently power it but not at its full potential. Pairing it with a dedicated DAC/AMP will improve your listening experience and it does scale quite decently with power in smoothing out the edges of the treble and vocals
Bass:
The overall bass presentation is sub-centric with a very lean, clean and tight midbass that is more quality over quantity.
The subbass goes in decently deep but not necessarily hitting harder than it should. It’s quite tight too, despite the 3 dynamic drivers pointing out that it would be a very bassy set along with the passive radiator to enhance than even more. But to my surprise, it was a very clean, non-boomy subbass. This is DEFINITELY not for bassheads as there is barely enough bass to get you to shake your head.
Midbass is even cleaner and tighter. You hear the notes more than you feel them, which means the texture is virtually absent. Grunginess and engagement in this region is low, but details and tightness is very high, just like the subbass. This then gives it a leaner, more grounded and clearer bass listening rather than being immersed into it. What it lacks in authority, it makes up for in clarity.
Tracks that have any thick bass, the DZ4 really won’t do any justice. But it does bring out a lot of the notes and is quite articulate in providing some of the tigthest bass I’ve heard in an IEM in a very long time. The intro to Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys is very clean with the electric and bass guitar having quite the detail, but not so much the warmth as well as the impact coming from the kick drum or the heaviness of the bass guitar.
Mids:
The overall midrange of the DZ4 is very neutral, but starts to fall into the leaner side due to the upper mids being prominent and lower mids being quite pulled back.
The lower mids have the tendency to sound quite thin and, dare I say, a little bit stale when listening to tracks that need more energy in the low end. Vocals are affected by this too as male vocals, while not entirely recessed or pulled back, tends to sound a little bit underemphasized and thin on certain tracks. Generally however, male vocals come across as very articulate and clean without any semblance of bleed from the midbass and a tightness in the vocals that never gave out any coloration or unnaturalness in that region.
Upper mids however tells a mixed story. One one hand, vocals and instruments are phenomenal in terms of the clarity and detail being put out which makes critical listening on this set wonderful. However, there are instances of vocals and instruments in this region sounding a little bit too forward which affects the timbre of some vocals, particularly with a more contralto vocal quality. This in turn induced shout on higher volumes which was quite uncomfortable, especially paired with the leaner and thinner midbass not really counteracting the forwardness and elevation of the upper mids. Regardless, it presents vocals and instruments in such a way that really puts them front and center and quite intimate that gives such a crisp image.
A track like Mess U Made by Michelle sounded a little thin in the lower end, but my goodness the vocals of the band sparkled like never before with the DZ4. The ensemble of the vocals along with the percussives gave such a crisp and clean listening experience that truly made me fall in love with vocals in general with this set.
Treble:
With the shout coming from the upper mids, you might expect a similar story to the treble. Yet, this is arguably one of the most baffling parts of the DZ4 as it’s both smooth and insanely resolving and detailed. However. Extension can definitely still be improved on this set, but never coming across as dark. Just closer to a Diffused Field type of treble.
Lower treble thankfully does not follow the upper mids by not inducing and harness and sibilance, yet still forward enough to be able to pump out percussives, air and string instruments to such a degree that gives them a very articulate and detailed presentation while keeping it silky smooth. I usually find smoothness attributed to the lack of incisiveness or attack in the upper frequencies, but in this case, it was genuinely so smooth and refined that I was shocked not to find any hints of sibilance.
This was even more evident in the mid treble where I often find the problems with leaner sets as the lack of bass to compliment the treble presentation give a somewhat grainy or sharp sound that can get uncomfortable which the DZ4 did not exhibit any. Microdetail was absolutely superb with each note sounding very crisp and fast which, considering this is an all DD set, was a splendid surprise.
Upper treble does relax the overall treble presentation a little bit as the air wasn’t as much as I wanted, yet sufficient enough for most people who will try this set. It has enough extension to not make vocals and instruments choked or compressed, but not elevated enough to tickle my ears.
Can’t Hide Love by Earth Wind and Fire will always be a perfect treble test for me because this track often induces quite the harshness on sibilant sets, but the DZ4 passes almost perfectly without any harshness, barring the shout region being quite problematic. Each cymbal strike sounds so detailed and fast with cleanliness that compliments the vocals more than it takes away from the mix.
Technicalities:
While stage may be a little disappointing, DZ4’s separation capabilities are superb with a fantastic layering between instruments minus bass as I just found most tracks to be single noted in that region. Stage is definitely affected by the upper mids having a little bit of a hump at around 1-1.5k which I also noticed in other sets with a similar quality and found that toning this area down makes a difference in the perceived stage.
COMPARISONS:
Vs Letshuoer Galileo ($109)
Similar overall unboxing experience and inclusions
Galileo has a more traditional resin finish that feels more durable but similarly cheap
Both have a similar neutral sound signature
Bass is clean and tight on both, but Galileo has more weight while DZ4 has more impact
Mids are also similar, but Galileo sounds more natural while DZ4 sounds more analytical
Treble is MUCH more extended and crisp on the DZ4
DZ4 has better overall technicalities
Vs 7hz Legato ($109)
Legato has more inclusions, but DZ4 has a better overall unboxing experience
Legato has a more confident yet more awkwardly fitting build
Legato has a BIG bass v-shape sound signature
Legato has MUCH more bass, but DZ4 sounds cleaner and together
Legato has recessed and colored mids with DZ4 having a much more neutral and vocal centric mids
Legato has slightly sibilant treble with DZ4 having a smoother yet more detailed treble
DZ4 has MUCH better technicalities
vs TRI Star River
DZ4 has a better overall unboxing and inclusions
Star River has a shinier resin that fits better in my ear, but both have a similar build quality
Star River has a U-Shaped sound sound signature with more energy on both ends
Star River has more bass quantity, but considerably less bass quality and clarity
Star River has considerably worse midrange presentation, although have a similar shout quality but not at the level of the Star River
Star River has a more elevated, more extended but harsher and more sibilant treble
DZ4 and Star River has similar staging but DZ4 has better separation and layering
VERDICT:
The Letshuoer DZ4 is an IEM that tests the grounds for weird driver types that are often found in full sized speakers or ballsack looking IEMs. Yet, execution was quite well done with enough technical chops to make it a compelling choice not only to those looking for weird IEM setups, but for those who want a lean, clean and crisp sounding IEM.
The argument whether the passive radiators actually work is anyone’s guess, at least until someone breaks one apart and compares the measurements. To me, I don’t think that they work as well as they intend it to be. I mean heck, I’m in doubts whether all the DDs work due to how lean it sounds.
But regardless, these definitely have its shortcomings when it comes to bass impact, note weight and potential shoutiness, but I would say that the DZ4 does not target those big, bassy tracks more so than taking their usually neutral mid and flagship sets to a much cheaper demographic. And if that indeed is their goal, then they’ve provided one lean, mean crispy machine with the DZ4.
Thank you so much for reading my review!
If you would like to avail the product reviewed today, check the non-affiliate link below!:
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