Letshuoer S12 Pro vs Shure SE215: which needs more amplifier?

The Letshuoer S12 Pro is 16Ω at 102.0 dB/mW; the Shure SE215 is 17Ω at 107.0 dB/mW. This page is only about what they ask of an amplifier — not how they sound, which no specification on either sheet can tell you.

The Letshuoer S12 Pro needs 5.0 dB more than the Shure SE215 to reach the same loudness — 0.63 mW against 0.20 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationLetshuoer S12 ProShure SE215
Impedance16 Ω17 Ω
Sensitivity102.0 dB/mW107.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)120.0 dB/V124.7 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.63 mW0.20 mW
Voltage for 100 dB0.10 V58 mV
Current for 100 dB6.3 mA3.4 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
2.00 Ω2.12 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280280

Where the two part company

Every source in the database that drives one of them drives the other. On power, the choice between these two changes nothing about what amplifier you need.

8 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the Letshuoer S12 Pro but cross it with the Shure SE215 (FiiO BTR11, FiiO K11 R2R, Lake People G103-S Mk II, 5 more).

280 of the 280 sources here reach 100 dB on both. That count is about power only — the output-impedance and hiss lines above are separate questions, and a source can pass this one and fail those.

Both pages in full

Each model has a page of its own with the full source list, the hiss estimate and the provenance of every figure above: Letshuoer S12 Pro and Shure SE215. Every figure on this page comes from what Letshuoer and Shure published, or is derived from it — what Letshuoer publishes and what Shure publishes, both counted.