The Letshuoer Astralis is a single-driver in-ear monitor using a 15.5mm ring-type planar dynamic driver. It launched in spring 2026 at a price of 189 USD.
The Tipsy Audio M3 is a hybrid driver IEM featuring a 9.8mm dynamic driver for the bass and dual balanced armature drivers for the mids and highs. It launched in late 2025 and is also priced around the 200 USD mark.
TIPSY M3 SPECIFICATIONS
- Drivers: 1 dynamic and 2 balanced armature drivers
- Crossover: 2-way
- Impedance: 17 Ohms @ 1kHz
- Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW @ 1kHz.
- THD: < 1%
- Nozzle Diameter: 5.6 mm
- Cable: Detachable 1.2-meter quad-braided high-purity alloyed copper cable.
- Connector/Pin Type: 0.78mm 2-pin QDC
- Plug Termination: 3.5mm single-ended audio jack.
- Shell Material: 3D-printed, skin-friendly resin
- Weight: 4.4 g per side.
- Metal carrying case and tips included
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Tipsy M3
LETSHUOER ASTRALIS SPECIFICATIONS
- Driver: 15.5mm 5th-Generation proprietary ring-type planar diaphragm driver
- Impedance: 20 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 104dB
- Frequency Response: 20Hz~40kHz
- Chassis Material: Aluminum Alloy
- Cable: 1.2m detachable 216 x 0.05mm strands of silver-plated monocrystalline copper
- Cable connectors: 0.78mm 2-pin
- Cable termination: 3.5mm and 4.4mm interchangeable
- Carrying Case: Puck shaped, screw on lid
- Ear Tips: 2 types in 3 sizes each
- DT01 Pro 3.5mm to Type-C DAC amplifier included
Current price and availability:
LISTENING COMPARISONS
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
- Tips: SpinFit CP145
Maridalen by Maridalen
The M3 has excellent bass, great timbre, and a very spacious delivery with strong imaging. It is also notably tactile. The Astralis is equally impressive, though it has a somewhat thicker sound. The overall tonal balance is very similar between the two, though the Astralis is not quite as articulate as the M3 and the space between instruments is not as clearly defined. It is different, but the delivery isnot inferior.
In the Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
The Astralis is warm, lush, and smooth, with a detailed and effortless presentation. The M3 has a less rich but still impactful bass. It offers better imaging and is again a touch more articulate than the Astralis. That said, more than anything, the two are quite similar.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Here too they are very similar. The Astralis has a slightly richer bass, while the M3 is a touch tighter.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
They’re excellent. The bass is especially impressive on both, as is the overall tonal character, detail level, and separation. Vocals are delicate and smooth. The M3 is again a touch ahead in terms of dynamics, articulation, and instrument separation.
The Hidden Camera by Photek
Here the M3 has stronger bass, but otherwise they are very similar. Which one has the more powerful bass depends somewhat on the dominant bass frequency of the track.
Eye of The Day by Marta del Grandi
The Astralis sounds rich and beautiful. Vocals are smooth and delicate, and the bass is relatively powerful, giving the track a very warm feel. The M3 also has powerful bass, but the vocals sound brighter and not as lush.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
The vocals are lusher with the Astralis, while they are a bit leaner and brighter with the M3.
Rambling Man by Laura Marling
The Astralis is very smooth and lush. The M3 has brighter vocals and is more articulate and dynamic, while the Astralis is smoother and richer.
Keep Distance by Peder af Ugglas
The Astralis is again lush and smooth with plenty of detail, and delivers a very nice rendition of this track. The M3 is also very impressive. The two are not very different, but things stand out a bit more with the M3, and it is again the more dynamic of the two.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
This track combines beautiful, tender male vocals with an intense and very challenging bass line. The vocals are very similar between the two and sound excellent on both. The bass is also excellent on both and very comparable, with both earphones delivering plentiful bass with minimal distortion.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
Both have nice, nuanced string timbre, with the Astralis a touch lusher, but both are very natural and strike a very good balance between warmth and texture.
Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
This orchestral piece is rendered very well by both. There is good instrument separation, plenty of detail, and strong imaging on both. The M3 sounds a bit brighter and crisper in direct comparison, while the Astralis is a bit lusher.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Tipsy M3 and Letshuoer Astralis are quite similarly tuned. Both have elevated bass, neutral to modest mids, and smooth highs. Their frequency response curves are not identical, so which sounds bassier or more forward in the midrange depends on the track.
Treble
The treble is very similar on these two IEMs. It is detailed yet smooth, never overly bright or sharp.
Midrange
The midrange is generally lusher with the Astralis, and can often sound a bit brighter and leaner with the M3. Both have excellent detail.
Bass
Both have quite pronounced bass presence with exceptional bass quality. Which sounds bassier depends on the track, but they are essentially on the same level. Again: the quality is stunning, especially at this price point.
Soundstage and Imaging
The Astralis has a good sized soundstage and very good imaging, but the Tipsy M3 is simply exceptional in this area, especially at this price point. The instrument separation and articulation of the M3 is truly impressive.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
I find them to be equally detailed. The Astralis has very good dynamics, but the M3 is even better and simply outstanding.
The timbre is also relatively similar, but the Astralis tends to be lusher and warmer, while the M3 is a bit leaner in the mids and does not sound as rich or thick.
CONCLUSION
The Letshuoer Astralis and the Tipsy M3 are two excellent in-ear monitors around 200 USD. Both have elevated bass presence with excellent quality and relatively smooth yet detailed highs. The Astralis tends to be a bit lusher and sweeter in the midrange, while the M3 is a bit leaner and sometimes a bit brighter. However, the M3 shines in dynamics and articulation.
Both come highly recommended.
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- Amazon: Tipsy M3
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