Today, Nihal reviews the LETSHUOER Cadenza4, which is an affordable hybrid single 10mm dynamic and triple BA driver universal IEM priced at $249.00 SRP.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank LETSHUOER for their support
To read more about LETSHUOER products previously tested on Headfonics click here.
Note, that this article follows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read here.
LETSHUOER is a well-known brand from China. They have released IEMs ranging from budget offerings such as the Tape to the likes of the Cadenza 12 hybrid flagship. Their products have received appreciation for their good tuning and quality.
The Cadenza4 is the latest addition to their growing Cadenza series. Priced at $249, the hybrid quad-driver universal Cadenza4 IEM is pitched more to the affordable end of the market but also a niche that is becoming very competitive right now.
Tech Highlights
The Cadenza4 is a hybrid universal in-ear monitor using a 10mm dual-chambered beryllium-coated dynamic driver and 3 BA drivers.
The proprietary dynamic driver exhibits the qualities of being lightweight and exceptionally rigid. You get a mix of BA drivers, 1 from Sonion and 2 from Knowles using a series of 3D printed nanometer acoustic tubes combined with a 4-way electronic crossover.
The Cadenza4 has an impedance of 15Ω @1kHz and a sensitivity rating of 102 db/Vrms so it is quite an easy IEM to drive.
Design
LETSHUOER carries design elements from one release to another.
The shells of the Cadenza4 are built in 3D-printed resin with a standard-sized nozzle extension. The faceplate is built in CNC-machined aluminum alloy and is colored in shiny silver with a matte white finish to the shell. This is a similar texture to what the shells of S15 had.
The shells are small and lightweight yet the whole construction feels quite robust.
Comfort & Isolation
The Cadenza4 is very comfortable to wear. Due to their lightweight and low profile in the ear, I found them ideal for long listening sessions.
The edges and corners of the shells are very smooth, which adds to the comfort factor. There is no unwanted pressure on the ears, even if the shells are on a deep insert.
The isolation capability of the Cadenza4 is notably strong. When paired with a properly fitting ear tip, it effectively blocks out a decent amount of noise.
Throughout my experience with the Cadenza4, I found it quite efficient in blocking distracting noise such as conversations happening nearby. During my time with the IEM, I did not have any driver flex issues either.
Ear Tips
LETSHUOER included six sets of tips, including one that comes mounted on the IEM. There are two types of tips – vocal and balanced. These types of tips come in three different sizes – small, medium, and large.
The balanced tips have longer and thinner stems, which restricts the soundstage and takes away some air and openness. The vocal tips have shorter and thicker stems. It sounds more open, and the mids have more body on these ear tips. For me, the bass has more impact on the vocal tips.
Other than the stock tips, I also tried some third-party ear tips. The bore on Azla SednaFit Light tips is wider than required, which does not make it an ideal pair.
The SpinFit W1 tips work well with the IEM, maintaining a good balance of bass impact and openness of sound. I find the isolation on these tips to be the best.
Stock Cable
The Cadenza4 comes with a 392-strand high-purity silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable. This cable has very good build quality and complements the aesthetics of the IEM.
The sleeve has a shiny character and maintains simplicity using a plain silver-colored y-split and a 2-pin 0.78mm socket.
The good part is the modularity of this cable as it comes with three swappable plugs – 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm. With this modularity, a variety of devices are covered.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging and presentation of Cadenza4 have a lot of similarities with that of the previous release from the brand, S15.
There is a good balance of aesthetics and minimalism in the presentation. There is also good attention to detail in protecting the contents of the box.
Upon opening the packaging, we get two different compartments. The upper compartment houses the user manual and the IEMs. The lower compartment adopts a drawer-style design.
Inside the lower compartment, we get the case, and the three cable plugs fit in cutouts. The box can be pushed out through a small cutout below the drawer to avoid the hassle of taking it out.
The case contains the cable and the pack of ear tips. The case is all black this time and is very similar to the one that comes with the S15. It has a matte finish on the exterior and the interior. This case has enough space to store the cable and the IEM.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Cadenza4 were completed using a mixture of my main source, Lotoo’s Paw Gold Touch, and occasionally the Earmen Angel DAC/amp. I paired the IEMs with stock cable and SpinFit W1 ear tips, size S.
Summary
The Cadenza4 has a neutral profile with a hint of warmth. Its sound remains largely uncolored. This is more of a reference tuning that is not overly analytical. This sound prioritizes musicality over analytical precision.
Bass
The Cadenza4 has a very decent bass profile. The bass presentation focuses more on the quality aspect than the quantity. The bass is far from being a basshead IEM. It is more of a neutral bass with some good sub-bass boost.
It achieves a very good sub-bass extension which goes quite deep. This makes the IEM very enjoyable to listen to. The mid-bass lacks the necessary impact and punch, but the sub-bass comes to the rescue with its decent rumble when there is a need.
There is good layering and texture in the bass, which is quite controlled throughout. The bass does not intrude in the upper-frequency regions and leaves them quite clean.
Overall, the bass on Cadenza4 is likable and is perfect for casual listening. I find the bass fits most of the genres. For those who want an extra bit of fun and a heavy dose of bass, they may not find this bass suitable.
Notably, I find the Spintfit W1 ear tips bring out the best bass performance for the IEM.
Midrange
The Cadenza4 mids offer very decent clarity combined with a natural timbre, presented in a slightly forward manner.
On the Paw Touch Gold, the mids have a good body as it adds to the weight and warmth. With the Earmen Angel, which maintains a slight bright-neutral profile, the mids are not as lush sounding.
The lower mids remain neutral and do not have enough weight or body. There is a hint of thinness in the lower mids region, so it may not gel quite well with people looking for lush mids and more weight in the midrange. Vocals are rendered with good texture but are not quite rich and lack weight.
The upper mids have safe tuning. It does not get shouty. There is some thinness, for sure, but the region is devoid of any unwanted spice or peakiness.
Treble
The treble on the Cadenza4 has a smooth character. There is minimal harshness or excessive brightness in the treble region. There is an absence of brilliance and sparkle, with a lack of airiness.
I suspect the treble definition may not please trebleheads. This is more of a controlled and relaxed treble, which is ideal for treble-sensitive people.
The upper treble is rolled off and has a less detailed presentation. The overall treble lacks a bit when it comes to minute details.
Staging & Dynamics
On the technical front, Cadenza4 is above average in most aspects. The soundstage has a decent width and good depth. There is a good sense of spaciousness. With better ear tips (SpinFit W1 for me) and good power fed to the IEM, the soundstage improves a lot, spreading further.
The layering and separation of instruments on Cadenza4 are done very well. On busy musical passages, there is no feeling of congestion.
The imaging is not as strong as other technical aspects of this IEM. While it delivers ample micro-detail, the precision in instrument localization seems somewhat blurred.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
