Letshuoer Cadenza 4

NEUTRAL-ized​

LETSHUOER CADENZA 4

SETUP. 10mm dual-chambered beryllium coated DD + 3 BA drivers (Knowles & Sonion)
SEN & IMP. 102dB/mW | 15Ω
PRICE. 249€ en letshuoer.net

Click to expand...

Go ahead, I can't be so harsh in the final assessment, only taking into account how far from my profile this headset is, not because of the frequency response, but because of the performance in certain frequencies that I find very pleasant ( I admit it, I'm a basshead).
But all this is no reason to place this headset far from where it should be.

It's not coming to invent the wheel, it does not have a striking or particular tuning, it is coming to continue the style of the THIEAUDIO HYPE and similar iems, but with a more contained price and the quality of SHUOER. Not only because of a great construction and appearance, rarely seen on the market, but because when it comes to looking for good materials and drivers, they are professionals in this. Really, the selection of BA and filters that they have placed, the softness in the upper midrange, culminated by a fantastic scene, is not within the reach of many brands. They achieved this in every-one of his releases.

And although the dynamic driver has speed, picks up quickly and agilely, it's capable with sources with little power, to give that extra that making close to be perfect. It is true that it has the ability to equalize, just like my beloved VARIATIONS, for which a couple of decibels at 100hz are wonderfully good... but that lack of power on the bass does not give you it in analytical capacity, like other headphones with a profile similar.

In any case, in the sub300€ range you have so much to choose... but this CADENZA 4 is clearly one of the possible candidates in that selection; If you are looking for an analytical, correct & safe profile, add a fantastic packaging & construction, just need to forgive the lack of forcefulness in the lower area.



It's a visit for all those looking for a NEUTRAL profile, with capital letters.

Great and technical mid-highs
Capsule material is the future
One of the best scenes on the market
Sensitive to EQ and sources
A little off price
Some filters or switches are missing
Anemic bass, which requires a lot from the listener
Headphone for monitoring, not for enjoying

Disclaimer:​

The Letshuoer Cadenza 4 was sent to me as a review sample from Ivy from Letshourer, for which I’m grateful!


After the opportunity to try the S12 Pro, S15, and DZ4, I will finally tell you my opinion on the Letshuoer Cadenza 4.


The collaboration with Heygears continues; lately, Letshuoer shells are all produced by them. The aesthetics are always very minimal but I must say that the workmanship of the shells is still excellent.


Unlike the others, this is the first hybrid I’ve tried from Letshuoer so comparisons will be made with other brands.


I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.


So I’m not going to use super technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.

Tech Specs:​

Packaging:​

The packaging is the one we have already seen on the Letshuoer S15. It differs in very small details that are difficult to notice. It looks like a box of expensive jewelry or a beautiful watch. In the upper part of the box, we find a small letter with manuals and QC inside and immediately below the Cadenza 4, while in the drawer below there are the following accessories:

• Hard Case
• Adapters
• Cable
• Tips

If there’s one thing I like about the Letshuoer standard equipment, it’s the modular cable (even if it’s a bit stiff). The tips are carefully chosen and give you two options. The case is not the most comfortable but certainly one of the most resistant. The quantity and quality of accessories are good.

Design/Build quality:​

As you may have noticed, the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 follows the aesthetics of the DZ4 and S15. Letshuoer has been collaborating with 3D printing company HeyGears for a while now. The aesthetics are very minimal; they may not appeal to everyone, but I would like to say that on the aesthetic side, there are IEMs with superior aesthetics. In any case, the use of 3D printing allows you to create precise structures for the internal parts and probably also the tubing of the drivers. I’m not particularly interested in aesthetics but if I had to choose, it would be for the shells made from solid aluminium. The Letshuoer Cadenza 4 is still a nice sight. The faceplates are made of metal, which is very simple on the aesthetic side. We see that on the shell we only have one ventilation hole. The nozzle is massive and could annoy some but the shape is perfect as far as I’m concerned.


This time, the configuration is hybrid! We have a 10mm beryllium dynamic driver coupled with 3 balanced armatures. The first balanced armor is a Sonion, while the other 2 are Knowles. A decidedly interesting configuration already makes you understand why the price is a little high.

Comfort/Fit:​

As already mentioned, the shape of the shells is one of the best so far. The most classic forms are often the best and this proves the theory. They are very light and extremely comfortable. The original tips are both fine if you don’t want to replace them but I still used the Tangzu Sancai wide-bore ones. Decent insulation but not perfect.

Initial sound impression:​

At first listen, I noticed its medium-centric tendency. It’s not a bad thing but I noticed it immediately because I spent weeks with Simgot in my ears. I went from something with a certain brightness and definition to something that has a certain roll-off at high frequencies. It makes everything very safe and appealing to a wider audience.


It winks at the Harman target, rather than V-shaped, I would say it is W-shaped or U-shaped at times. The sound has a warm, lush note that is extremely pleasant. All in all, there is an excellent balance between all frequencies, with a slight preference for the mids. Everything sounds particularly natural; the sub-bass has a nice push that adds that depth that I like so much. Another very important thing is that it goes well with practically all musical genres.

Final sound impression:​

Equipment was used for the testing above.

Device:

• iMac
• Redmi Note 7 Snapdragon
• Poco M4 Pro Mediatek

Software:

• Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz (Both)
• Spotify

DAC:

• Moondrop Dawn Pro
• Fosi SK02
• Fiio KA11
• Fiio KA17
• Simgot Dew4x (Top synergy)
• iBasso DC04pro
• EPZ TP20 Pro
• Hidizs S9 Pro Plus
• EPZ TP50 (slightly less dew4x)
• Creative SoundBlaster X5 (slightly hot cirrus/Creative signature)

My first impressions after about 20 hours of burn-in, in which I let them play without listening to them, are that the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 is a very interesting set and certainly, given the tuning chosen, many will like it. Furthermore, she goes with different musical genres. I started from EDM, D&B, R&B, Jazz, classical, and rap, and there isn’t a single genre in which I wasn’t surprised with the performance.


Letshuoer has created a good mix while remaining on the safe side. In terms of Dac/Dongle, you don’t need an exaggerated amount of power to drive them at their best but a good dongle with balanced output certainly helps them considerably. If you have something analytical and neutral, even better! Its slightly warm nature is mitigated by analytics dongles such as the EPZ TP50, Fosi DS2 or Fosi SK02. The synergy it has with the Simgot DEW4X is particular, which presents a superior soundstage. Personally, I think it is the combination that I like the most and that I will continue to use for the review.

Tips Rolling?​

Tips Rolling

An upgrade of the tips is not strictly necessary but the Tangzu Sancai Wide Bore had just arrived and I thought I’d try them. The nozzle practically comes to be totally free in your ear, avoiding reductions in soundstage. Excellent combo.


The Divinus velvets, as usual, prove to be universal; every headset you mount them on will give you the perfect seal and improved comfort. In terms of sound, I didn’t notice an exaggerated change from the stock balanced tips. Maybe less bass.


The Dunu S&S I didn’t think they could be suitable for the Cadenza 4 and instead I had to change my mind. They move the IEM away from the ear a little but we remain in our comfort zone. The difference compared to the Tangzu is a slightly less full bass, brighter mids and slightly more refined highs. Obviously, the soundstage is wider and I can tell you that all in all, it has an excellent result if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of bass.


In my opinion, the included SS20 similar tips are exceptional, even the others are not bad at all for being stock. You don’t need a real upgrade but if you have some tips rolling at home, it never hurts.

Bass​

I must say that with the Tangzu wide bore tips, the basses have a very pleasant level up, the sealing obtained is perfect, andthe insertion is also quite deep. The bass quantity is not high, but the 10 mm single DD returns a rich, warm, and textured bass. Let’s be clear: it’s not at a basshead level but it still makes itself felt. The one that is properly emphasized is the sub-bass, which adds the rumble and the right rich and deep vibration. Honestly, very pleasant bass in the quantity that I would have liked to hear on the Simgot. A slight emphasis, without exaggerating, is an excellent combination with the mids.

Mids​

The mids are the real protagonists of Letshuoer Cadenza 4. They present themselves ahead of everything, making the vocals and instruments alive and rich in detail. Track after track, we become more and more sympathetic to this kind of choice. A silky representation of the voices, which are all extremely exciting, the instruments are particularly well sounding and natural. I only notice a very light nasal note and a very small haze on some tracks. Let’s say that it isn’t noticeable that much and perhaps it is precisely this touch that gives a certain warmth and sense of reality to the voices. The precise separation of frequencies here becomes much clearer, the tubing of the drivers is well done, and the sounds are all in their place without invading regions that do not belong to them. What is perhaps missing is a slight extra sparkle on the highs, which causes some detail to be lost.

Treble​

As I already said, they didn’t exaggerate with treble extension. I can say that the choice certainly makes sense since many do not tolerate these frequencies very much, but those who tolerate them will certainly notice that some details are lost. Fortunately, the loss is not high and the highs are very fluid with good resolution, as they are not extremely high you cannot hear sharp highs. The IEM can be pushed at high volumes without reaching annoying peaks. The separation is excellent but for trebleheads, it could be considered warm and calm, even if, in the end, there is a good presence of macro and micro details. A touch more sparkle would have been perfect, however, there are DAC combinations that solve this situation slightly.

Soundstage and Imaging:​

Letshuoer Cadenza 4 doesn’t reach the levels of the Letshuoer S15 but I can tell you that the result is excellent. The driver tubing and precise tuning maintain excellent sound separation which contributes to a wide soundstage with good depth. Each sound arrives at the eardrum clear and perfectly distinct from another. Following every little nuance of the track you are listening to is very simple. Good job!

LETSHUOER Nebula Cable Upgrade:​

Nebula Cable & Earhook
If you expect a difference between day and night, then know that this is not the case. However, against all expectations, despite being a copper cable (which usually increases the bass), here we have a very strange increase in brightness. I say strange because I doubted I would notice any differences, especially regarding the high frequencies, somehow like a sprinkling of stardust on the already excellent Lethshuoer Cadenza 4. Somehow it makes them extremely attractive, starting from the mids, which lose the very light note of warmth or nasality they had. With this upgrade, the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 seems much less mid-centric, giving a superior balance between all frequencies.


I’m very much for the placebo effect, it’s almost inevitable that our brain comes into play. There is a bit of self-conviction that the new cable is better than the old one. In any case, if there were large variations in sound it means that one of the two cables was made of non-conductive material. I am also passionate about audio systems and speakers and have already suffered from cable disease. Now I feel better and as long as we’re talking about pure copper everything is fine.


Without bench tests with measurements, my words stop at personal sensations.

Comparison:​

vs Letshuoer S15


If you prefer the bass of the DD, the Letshuoer S15 will probably not be considered. The almost $100 higher price makes them fit into a totally different budget. There are those who consider them one of the best planar IEMs to date but they have opponents like the Hidizs MP145 who question their price. What I can tell you is that the planar presents many more macro and micro details and the soundstage develops in a wider and more precise way. Personally, I prefer the bass of the Cadenza 4 but on everything else, the planar driver has a superior and more immersive performance. The rumors about Cadenza 4 are slightly better but both are very attractive.

vs Simgot EM6L​

Simgot EM6L
A much cheaper hybrid IEM from Simgot. One of the best examples of a successful hybrid in a price range where others have failed to achieve great results. Every time I wear them, I am surprised, even though the driver configuration does not include BA from Sonion or Knowles. Its sound is full of energy and the tuning is also suitable for gaming as it is very precise on details. The Simgot EM6L, although successful, does not keep up with the brand new Candeza in terms of technicalities.

vs Simgot EA1000​

Simgot EA1000
The Simgot EA1000 but also the EA500LM allow you to ask yourself the following question: “Do we really need more drivers?”


Honestly, in the case of the EA1000, the answer is that no other drivers are needed. This is not a rule but Simgot has demonstrated that it is possible with a single driver to obtain something extremely close to what we can define as high fidelity, both in terms of performance and timbre. I consider them a point of reference for those looking for something that sounds extremely faithful.


vs Hidizs MS5

Hidizs MS5
The MS5 are the IEMs that decided to start the reviews. A sort of first love. A fairly extreme hybrid IEM from Hidizs with a purely V-shape nature with borderline highs, if you are sensitive, these are absolutely not for you. They go far beyond the brilliance you can experience on Simgot. In terms of bass, they are more present and emphasized. my favorite nozzle is obviously red. The others are too much, even for me. At the detail level, the macro and micro details are more highlighted.


But its biggest flaw is that it is not an IEM suitable for any musical genre. In terms of results, the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 is superior,in my opinion.


vs Hidizs MS3

Hidizs MS3
I consider the Hidizs MS3 to be an excellent rival, typically more V-shaped, providing a much more robust bass and livelier highs. Sometimes they could be at the limit but I’m on balanced cable, and they are more contained than the MS5, giving that touch of brilliance that is kept more controlled on the Cadenza 4. Depending on what you are looking for, they could be an excellent alternative.

Conclusion:​

Undoubtedly, Letshuoer has managed to make an extremely exciting hybrid IEM, and the Nebula cable is certainly an appreciable upgrade. Also keep in mind the importance of the eartips and, above all, the DAC with which they are combined. In my opinion, the Simgot DEW4X is the one that has the best synergy of all.


The Letshuoer Cadenza 4, aesthetically, is simple but sturdy; the design may not appeal to everyone but the HeyGears shell is of excellent workmanship. Comfort is optimal and being light, they do not cause any problems of heaviness even after several hours of listening. On long listening sessions, it does not cause any kind of problem or annoyance, whatever genre of music and listening volume you choose. I can’t say the same thing about the Hidizs MS5, on which the volume I can tolerate depends a lot on the track; the highs literally bite the eardrum despite some extra detail. I really liked it, one of the best hybrids so far.

Where to buy? More info? (no affiliate links)​

LETSHUOER Cadenza4 wired IEM Hifi earphones Beryllium coated DD BA hybrid High-fidelity monitoring in-ear monitor

Introduction:-

Hey guys, today I have the Lethsuoer Cadenza 4 with me. This is the budget version of their flagship iem the Cadenza 12.


I have also shared a video version of the review at YouTube any support there in form of a view, A like or A subscribe is greatly appreciated. But if you so wish to read the written version you can read this.







This is a review unit from letshuoer but all the thoughts and opinions you are about to hear are my own.


Buy it here (Unaffiliated Link) :-

Letshuoer Store - https://letshuoer.net/products/letshuoer-cadenza4-wired-iem-hifi-earphones-in-ear-monitor

Amazon USA - https://www.amazon.com/Letshuoer-Beryllium-Coated1DD-Detachable-Audiophile/dp/B0CRGQ9BMB

Letshuoer Aliexpress - https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806531430674.html


I will be as usual following my bullet style format for better readability for those who are dyslexic and in general find it hard to read long paragraphs. I follow this guide in general from the British Dyslexia Association.


Lets get started!

---

Build, Comfort and Accessories:-



1. The overall packaging of the Cadenza 4 is exactly as same as the S15, I will show a picture so you get an idea.






2. The iem is this 3d printed plastic which has the same texture as the fantastic case.



3. It has only 2 types of tips one for vocal and one balanced, for my testing I have used the balanced tips



4. The cable is modular and is really supple and is better than the S15 cable in my opinion. The cable also has very minor microphonics



5. The iem is built very well, and the outer face plate is made out of aluminium



6. The fit is fantastic! I mean this is literally the best fit of an iem I have had. For me it seems like a custom mold



7. I can wear them for 8-10 hours and wont find any discomfort.



8. When I wear the iem, there is an immediate reduction of surrounding noise. The passive noise isolation is really good.



9. The price of the Cadenza 4 if ordered from the pre-sale from March 25th to March 31st is $229 and the MSRP is $249



10. The cadenza has a 1 Dynamic Driver and 3 BA drivers with 1 being sonion and other 2 being knowles



11. They have 3 acoustic tubes with a 4-way crossover



12. There is no driver flex here



13. There is a minor BA Timbre

---

Sound Impressions:-



1. The overall sound impressions of the cadenza is that its very neutral with a subtle sub-bass boost.



2. While this might seem like a harman tuning at first but the treble is much more well controlled than harman



3. The overall tuning sounds really clean and it doesn’t cater to either basshead or treblehead



4. Honestly its refreshing seeing a tuning like this in a sea of harman or v or u shaped iems!



5. I will be using my usual devices for testing the cadenza 4



6. They are easy to drive but does scale well with power, so some of the testing is done via the 4.4mm



7. In my opinion they sound quite good at low volumes too, but the iem shines when playing at medium to medium high volumes.



8. All my testing is done at variety of volumes to get a proper idea



9. I have used all the stock accessories for testing



Bass-



1. The bass here is sub-bass focused rather than md-bass focused which is good for me personally



2. If you are someone who likes mid-bass over sub-bass, you might be a bit disapointed.



3. But that doesn’t mean that the mid-bass quality is bad.



4. The overall bass quantity is very apt that is its not too much or too less.



5. But, what I did find is that some bass heavy songs like crack crack crackle by classy does lack that final crispness of the bass. A tad bit more bass could have soundeed even better.



6. This bit of lack of bass is also apparent when listening to instrumentals like cassiopea and ymo



7. When listening to the 1985 live album from cassiopea the instruments sounds good but the overall impact of them feel a bit flabby. But when a bit of bass is addeed like lets say by using the Xbass mode of my ifi go blu the instruments gets this body they become tactile and they really shine



8. Using the xbass mode in my ifi go blu also gives me that final crispness of the bass which I found lacking for some songs.



9. While majority of the audience who likes a clean sound will be pleased with the sound of cadenza 4



10. I think adding a tad bit to the bass region with the likes of ifi go blue using a xbass mode really makes the overall bass shine and also giving the instruments a bit of body and edge






Mids-



1. The midrange is really good



2. The male vocals sounds crisp and they come across in the mix



3. Sometimes in some songs deep thick male vocals like bill withers or chris cornell sound a tad bit sterile and their thick luscious nature doesn’t really come across that well.



4. Again adding a tad bit of bass helps a lot here too. Then again this is a nitpick here for the price and tuning it is following, but I still thought of mentioning it.



5. Now female vocals here are exceptionally done!



6. They are really good and come across perfectly, they aren't too shouty but neither are they laid back.



7. Songs like OP from Tearmoon teikoku monogatari which is Happy end princess by Sumire Uesaka comes across perfect! Her voice is neither too shrilly or too laid back.



8. I really recommend this if you want something for female vocals which also has good male vocals



Treble-



1. The overall treble is really well done



2. The treble doesn’t sound shrilly or piercy at all and is perfectly in sync with the upper mids



3. There is a slight roll-off on upper treble which might be a bit of issue for some songs



4. This is not a treble head iem, but it does a very good job in balancing a good treble details while not sounding too piercy



5. People who are sensitive to treble will like this



6. Although someone who loves even darker treble, might have some issues here. And might find it a tinge shrilly at higher volumes



Technicalities:-



The overall technicalities is really good. Its not the cleanest out there, but as I said before it does everything nicely and does a great balancing act






Soundstage & Imaging:-



It is really fantastic! The soundstage is probably best in the price range. And when listening to songs like Galatic Funk by Cassiopea the 1985 live version it is even more apparent. The claps at distance and the placement of the instruments is so well done.



The imaging too is very well done, the left to right transition and vice-versa comes across really well.



Gaming Test:-

Here they do a really good job. The footsteps are heard really well while also having a good idea about the surrounding too. But when there is too much happening and If played at higher volumes they will sound a bit shrilly.

---

Comparison & Recommendation:-



1. v/s 7hz Timeless AE – I prefer the cadenza 4 in some cases as it does a good job in most genres. But if I want a fun sounding V-shape iem then the timeless AE will be my choice.



2. v/s EA1000 – The ea1000 is harman done well. Its fantastic iem, but the ea1000 is quite a bit bright sounding when compared to the Cadenza 4. If you are a treblehead ea1000 it is, if you are not and want a more all rounder iem then the cadenza makes a better choice.



3. v/s S15 – The s15 is more of a relaxing iem while the cadenza 4 is more of an all rounder iem. The cadenza 4 has better treble response than s15. But the S15 is almost $100 more than the cadenza 4. So it really depends on what you want.



3. I really like the cadenza 4, specially for the price both MSRP and early bird.



4. I think so the cadenza 4 is an almost perfect neutral sounding iem for the price.



5. While it wont fit the bill for the bassheads or trebleheads out there, it does a great job balancing the act.



6. I personally prefer pairing the cadenza 4 with the ifi go blu and using the xbass mode






7. The tad bit better bass response and giving the instruments a bit of a body which I get by doing that is so well worth it.



8. Its really nice seeing an iem like this in a sea of harman tune or v tune iems.



9. I think so the cadenza 4 is an excellent option for anyone wanting an all-rounder iem.



10. If you do get it, I highly suggest adding a tad bit more bass or if you have an ifi go blu suggest using the xbass mode to improve the overall sound a bit.



11. Unlike the S15, cadenza 4 is priced is fantastically. A default recommendation form me around the $200 price point as of now.



12. So thats my review of the Cadenza 4. I hope you liked, Thanks for stopping by!

---

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me and also if you have any issues regarding this format of review please do comment I will try to mend it. Also sorry to those who are used to reading long paragraphs of review in headfi. I hope my review was upto the mark, I appreciate any feedback.

Again a big thanks to Letshuoer for making this review possible.

Have a great day ahead, Bye