LETSHUOER Cadenza 12

The unboxing experience was flattering though I received my unit already unboxed. To summarize, upon opening the magnetic flap, the upper lid will reveal a transparent piece of paper with Letshuoer branding printed on it. A long black carton that takes up two-thirds of the sponge pad's surface is the first layer. It is printed with the fancy handwriting "LETSHUOER" and contains a stack of exquisitely printed mini posters/brochures that basically advertises Shuoer's classic products. A pair of Cadenza 12 earpieces with accessories are located on the lower part of the cardboard. The accessory list is all follows:



Even though other IEMs may have an ergonomic design similar to the Cadenza's, it's difficult to match other models' distinctive appearance. The outside of the Cadenza's case is composed of a strong titanium chassis with a silver surface finish that reflects light. It is blingy and attention-grabbing without being obnoxious. The shells are larger than usual and feel dense while held in palms. However, equal emphasis is given to ensuring optimal density and a feeling of quality at the same time. The Cadenza's lightweight yet substantial design is impressive, to say the least. For a pair of high-end IEMs, this is a terrific look because it looks the part and is simultaneously comfy and useful.



The stock cable has a half-sleeved design and the cable internals use 204 strands of 6N monocrystalline copper and silver as materials. Sounds fancy on paper and looks the part though the cable also feels thick and heavy. It is a good cable and does its job well. It also modular so can be simultaneously used with different type of outputs without swapping to a different cable frequently.

Cadenza 12 is a very coherent, neutral and transparent sounding IEM which does not suffer from typical Chi Fi oddities i.e. shouty thin vocals, bass thats either too boomy or "Farty" and treble rougher than sandpaper. It is also super easy to drive though and does not showcase any particular penchant for any specific source. Even decent high end dongles are enough though hig end DAPs can definitely amp things up.

It is not completely "neutral" though and has some fun factor blended it, mostly in the upper frequencies. C12's bass is one of the most tastefully done executions under 3000 USD. It does not have the raw animalistic energy of the Legend Evo or Z1R but in no way or form, bass light. It is tight, controlled and engaging and retains proper extension and rumble like a good dynamic driver should. It might not be "fun" or "energetic" in the traditional sense, but sounds like what bass should sound like in real life as it has just the right amont of decay.

Midrange sounds "right" without any unnecessary quirk. It is not thick/lush like warm/warm neutral IEMs but not sterile/thin either. C12's midrange is what proper, no nonsense midrange should be like. Both male and vocals sound clean and articulate without any hint of muddiness. Though I wish electric guitars sounded slightly livelier. Other than that, I have found no particular issue whatsoever that could ruin the midrange experience for me, accross all genres.



The treble is lively and zingy. I have read some complaints regarding the treble quality but I would mostly disagree. I never found the treble misbehaving too much. The zing added some element of fun, not annoyance and I believe my fellow trebleheads would agree. The lower treble, however, is a bit rough at times and I can see why It would be bothersome for some audiophiles.

Soundstage is impressive especially the tallness and depth of it. The width is no slouch either but there are other IEMs in this price range that sound markedly wider. The vocals sound a bit intimate. It does not exhibit diffused, concert hall-like soundstage ("holographic", to be precise) like some IEMs out there do. I actually prefer this approach to soundstage as it helps me to focus on the music more. Imaging and separation performance was phenomenal. I would not call it class-leading as that would be hyperbole but it is definitely up there among the best. The Cadenza 12 is the most impressive Chi Fi IEM I have heard to date I cannot think of many IEMs that are as lively and unique sounding under $2000 as it is. I am looking forward to trying out more IEMs from this brand in the future.

According to Wikipedia, "Cadenza" is generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists. To be frank, I was not that aware of the Cadenza 12 before I got my hands on it. I only saw a few sneak peeks on the internet and audio convention feedback from people who got to try it. Thus it was quite a shocker when my good friend @BonGoBiLai reached out and asked whether I would be interested in doing a review of the Cadenza 12. I am somewhat well-versed in classical music terms and given the origin of the name I have high expectations from the Cadenza. Will it sound as musical as the moniker suggests? Or will it be another overambitious marquee project by a modern Chi-fi legend failing to hit the spot?


Unpacking the cadenza was not something I would describe as an extravagant experience Though it did not feel lacking in any way either. Letshuoer provides a semi-sheathed copper cable with modular termination, 3 different sets of ear tips, and a cleaning cloth alongside some documentation. Build quality is flawless. From an aesthetic point of view, Cadenza is a flashy IEM that constantly screams ‘’Look at me!’’ A non-audiophile friend of mine even mistook it for jewelry at first glance.

However like other reviews have already mentioned, the stock cable is not the most malleable or ergonomic. It is my only complaint regarding the accessorisation of Letshuoer Cadenza 12. I used a paracord sheathed aftermarket cable instead which @BonGoBiLai included in the packaging alongside Softears UC tips which was more comfortable for me to wear.



Cadenza is a brightish IEM that sounds very open, clean, and balanced. I consider myself somewhat of a treblehead and Cadenza 12 more than fulfills my need. It makes high hats and string instruments sizzling and exciting. As a connoisseur of classical and orchestral music, Cadenza 12 was simply a boon for my ears. Though Cadenza 12 has some treble-forwardness, it did not sound harsh or sibilant to me. There is this incredible amount of air up top that reminds me of the Hifiman Susvara in a competent DAC Amp setting. Breathy vocals, live unplugged sessions and orchestras sound scarily tantalizing on the Cadenza. Trebleheads are much rarer than bassheads in my circle of audio hobbyists which makes the Cadenza such a bliss for us folks.

I generally do not care much about midrange. I think most IEMs and headphones have serviceable midrange nowadays. That being said, I think the midrange performance of Cadenza 12 is commendable. It is neutral and uncolored and has a good transition to treble. I did not find any glaring issue with Cadenza’s midrange. Instruments and vocals sound as they should and guitars have the right amount of crunch.

I do not consider myself to be a basshead either but I do enjoy some good bass. Cadenza’s bass was satisfactory to my ears. The bass has proper extension and some nice punch and rumble. Though there are IEMs that have a more pronounced bass response Cadenza 12 is not aiming to be those IEMs. I think the bass response fits perfectly with Cadenza’s sound profile.



Soundstage performance was satisfactory especially the verticality of it (height and depth). Details are not microscopic but not lacking either. The imaging performance was great. I played some Apex Legend and Rainbow Six Siege sessions on it and positional cues were very accurate. The Cadenza 12 performs superbly as a gaming IEM although I am not sure if you should spend more than 2000 bucks for gaming alone.



I loved my time with the Cadenza 12 though I am not keen on the pricing. I wish it was priced at least in the IE 900/ Symphonium Crimson range. That could have made it a more appealing purchase. But the question of value aside, Letshuoer Cadenza is a wonderful treblehead experience.