GS Audio SE 12
$929.00 retail
12 Driver per side
5 way crossover.
2 Sonion 38D series BA for sub bass.
2 Sonion 37 series BA for bass/low mids
4 Knowles unidentified BA for upper mids/treble
4 Sonion EST65QB02 magnetostat for ultra high.
22 ohm @ 1 kHz impedance.
118 dB/mW sensitivity
9 Hz - 40 kHz frequency response.
- Preamble:
Please allow me to quickly recognize The Tone Deaf Monk for generously loaning me the GS Audio SE12. Providing me the opportunity to experience this multi driver hybrid IEM is much appreciated.
I find the SE12 source sensitive. They are a high resolving and detailed pair, and I find they can get a bit hot in the upper frequencies when paired with sources that are also highly resolving, or bright.
After rolling through my available sources I chose the AK SP2000T on Tube Amp mode for this evaluation.
- Fit, Build, Packaging, etc.
Fit for me is very good, and very comfortable during lengthy listening sessions.
The metal nozzles are long enough to provide an insertion depth that is adequate for me to get a good seal and anchor using X Large Moondrop Spring tips.
I didnât receive the stock tips with this loaner set, and I generally rely on third party tips anyway due to fitment issues with the majority of âstockâ tip offerings.
The âstandardâ 5.5mm nozzle diameter (6.0mm at flange) means many 3rd party tips will fit, allowing for a wide and varied selection of tip options.
Build quality is excellent, the clear resin shells have the appearance and feel of quality, and are smooth with no sharp angles or edges. The faceplates are fully integrated with the shell, the seam is invisible and undetectable.
The shell is not vented, I have seen comments that some users have experienced pressure build up, but this has not been my experience and I have several multi hour sessions under my belt with the SE12.
I would identify the shells as mid sized, which is impressive for a 12 driver hybrid. They are molded with a mild âwingâ on the shell. I know some donât like these, but they typically work well for me for maintaining proper alignment for nozzle angle. Interestingly, with the SE12 the wings donât actually make contact with my ear but the IEM still stays in place and maintains a good seal and anchor.
Packaging is something I canât really comment fully on as I received only the IEMs, Stock 3.5mm SPC cable, and carry case, but not the original retail packaging or other accessories.
The SE12 does come with a sturdy pelican style carry case that provides the IEM excellent protection.
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Equipment:
GS Audio SE12 aged unknown hrs.
AK SP2000T Tube Amp mode, 4.4 balanced.
Eletech Prudent 8 core SPC terminated 4.4mm.
Moondrop Spring XL wide bore ear tips.
(Additional equipment used identified below under âsourcesâ)
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Sound:
Iâm not certain how I would classify the SE12 sound signature. It could be perceived as U or mildly V shaped, but mids and vocals rise up and are forward enough I think W shaped is perhaps a more appropriate designation.
Bass is very capable. Sub bass can extend very low, but decay is fast so despite the ability to rumble it doesnât bloat, carry excessively into the mids, or overwhelm the soundstage.
Mid bass is detailed and well defined. It decays fairly quickly making it quick and tight. On detailed recorded sources, you can hear string slap and finger plucks clearly on stringed bass instruments, but resonance rolls off quite quickly.
Lower mids are recessed but upper mids recover fully. They elevate above the bass shelf and present forward, They are clean, open, and uncluttered, they extend nicely above the lows. Clear, clean, and highly detailed.
Vocals present forward but are not over elevated, they sound like they are in front of the band.
Vocals are clear, detailed and concise. They lean slightly toward a bright timbre and I pick up an occasional hint of sibilance, but, the majority of vocalists sound, for the most part, natural and accurate.
Highs are bright, crisp, clear, and highly detailed. They roll off around 8kHz so air is somewhat attenuated, but there is no lack of energy in the higher frequencies.
Detail retrieval is excellent and micro detail retrieval is very good.
Snare drum attack is crisp, and cymbals have nice sizzle, synthesizers are crisp and sharp.
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Head Stage:
Fully encompasses the head space.
Width is mostly inside the head, but I do perceive some percussion to present just outside the head.
Height is very good, sub bass extension draws it low, and despite the early roll of the highs, there is little or no limit on extension into the upper reaches.
Depth is just good, Mids and vocals present forward enough to provide an âin front of the bandâ perception.
Imaging and layering are very good left to right and top to bottom. It is easy to place and identify individual instruments.
Separation is good, the stage is âintimateâ. The technicalities and resolution of the SE12 are capable of preserving the individuality and identity of instruments and vocalists, but they sound like they are close together for a more intimate performance.
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Technicals:
Tonality leans toward bright in mids and higher frequencies. Bass is warm.
Timbre is very good. Personalities of individual instruments are well defined and identifiable.
Dynamics are excellent.
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Summary:
I personally find the SE12 to be a highly resolving and technically competent iem. It leans toward the bright side, and I find it source dependent, preferring warmer sources over brighter or highly resolving sources.
Even on warmer sources I find it can occasionally exhibit some minor sibilance, but I am nit picking here. I very seldom notice this when relaxed while just listening âwithout listeningâ. During critical listening while prepping this evaluation I would pick up on it from time to time.
The Bass is very capable of of providing a good foundation for the mids and highs. It stays in place and doesnât interfere with the technical prowess of the mids and highs.
At just shy of $1000 retail it is imperative that the SE12 is capable of performing to a high standard.
More important than its technical capabilities is does it sound good? My answer is yes, very good, paired with the correct source for your personal preference.
It works well with most genre in my opinion.
I have very much enjoyed the SE12 listening experience.
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Other Sources:
The SE12 is easy to drive.
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iPhone 13 with lightning to 3.5mm adapter. Stock 3.5mm cable. **Streaming Apple Lossless on iPhone.
SE12 drives very easily straight off the phone. Good listening volume is attainable below 50% volume.
The bass is excellent with good extension. There is some reduction in detail and resolution in the mids highs, but still very good. Vocals remain forward.
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iPhone 13 with Colorfly CDA M1, 3.5 mm stock cable.
The bass becomes more prominent. Vocals remain forward. Mids detail is poor, highs are good.
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Hiby R3pro balanced out. Low gain, Eletech SPC cable.
Not a good pairing for me. R3pro is a bright DAP and turns the SE12 into an electronic ice pick.
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Hidizs AP80 X, balanced out, low gain, Eletech SPC cable.
Very bass prominent. Mids and vocals become very forward, high end looses detail.
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Hiby R6III, balanced out, Class A amp mode, Eletech SPC cable.
Pairs very nicely, Bass is warm and smooth, mids are clear and detailed, vocals clear and natural, highs loose a small amount of detail and resolution but not enough to hinder enjoying the SE12.
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Shanling M9, low gain, balanced out, Eletech SPC cable.
The Shanling is a warm and powerful DAP. Bass is very full and rich, the tonality is a bit less bright but retains clarity and detail in the mids and highs. Vocals are a bit more forward providing some additional stage depth.
Very nice pairing.
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FiiO M11Plus ESS, mid gain, 4.4mm cable.
The FiiO is also a warmer source thanks to the THX amps. It is less powerful than the M9 so I upped the gain to mid.
Bass picks up some boominess and carryâs into the mids a bit. Vocals are forward and natural. Mids are warmer but loose some detail. Highs also are less detailed and loose some resolution, but remain bright.
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A bit about me and the music types used for evaluation below.
If you give a cats meow about that stuff.
** note: I try to be objective, but I am biased somewhat by my personal preference for sound signature. I lean toward a more balanced sound with perhaps a slight mids forward bias, good bass, good mids, good treble.
I am somewhat treble sensitive in the 8-9K range.
I do NOT consider myself a professional/career reviewer as I have no formal training as a sound engineer or musician.
I enjoy doing evaluations as part of my hobby.
- i.e. the thoughts presented here are strictly personal opinion based on my hearing, your mileage may vary.
** My hearing taps out at around 12.5 kHz, I can hear 12.5 but itâs more a background sound. I think it is fair to note this.
âAirâ is typically a reference to treble that is present above 12.5 kHz, it is therefore beyond my hearing capability. When I reference âairâ in a sound evaluation Iâm referring to where I perceive the positioning of the upper treble ranges, ie. where they present themselves within the sound stage/head stage.
*** I have large ear canals, and typically the stock tips included with most IEM donât fit well for me. I have a selection of third party ear tips that fit well in most cases so I default to these. I will identify my tips of choice, but unfortunately, seldom can I comment on the stock offerings.
- Music:
varied selection of tracks from my playlists played from SD card. FLAC 44 through 192 and DSD 2.8 (64) through 22.4 (512)
My mainstay are Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country, Classical.
I also streamed Apple lossless for electronic, R&B, Death Metal, etc. to get a well rounded experience of how well this IEM handles a variety of genres.
