Disclaimer Please note that I am not an audiophile, and this review does not delve into the technical aspects of the IEMs. My impressions are based on my personal preferences, and others may have different experiences with this product. I also have a very limited experience with audio products so please take this review with a grain of salt.
The Letshuoer Cadenza 12 SE was lent to me as part of a review tour in the Philippines.
Note: This review is also posted on Head-fi.
Pros
- Premium polished titanium shells, lightweight and comfortable
- Neutral and non-fatiguing tuning,
- Clean bass, clear mids, and smooth and very detailed treble
- Wide soundstage with precise imaging and separation
- Doubles well for gaming thanks to accurate directional cues
Cons
- Fingerprint- and scratch-prone mirror finish
- Large shells and thick nozzles may cause fit issues for smaller ears
- Bass is clean and controlled, but may not satisfy bassheads
What’s in the box
- IEM shells & cable
- Metal display plaque
- 9 pairs of eartips: vocal-focused, bass-focused, balanced each with S,M, and L sizes
- Swappable connectors: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and 2.5mm
- Carry case
- Box divider (so you can use the box for storage if you remove all the foam cutouts)
Impressions
IEM Shells
- The shells are made of polished titanium that are surprisingly lighter than what I expected. The Elysian Pilgrim felt much heavier than this pair
- The mirror finish on the IEMs are prone to scratches and fingerprints
- The shells are fairly large and protrude a bit from my ears, people with small ears might have some fitment issues
- The nozzles are also large-ish so I need to use XS eartips for comfort.
Cable
- The thick braided cable doesn’t fit well in the case since it’s stiff and holds its shape. A bigger case would’ve been better.
- The cable is also on the heavy side since from the termination point until the split, it’s made of braided cable, which feels very premium.
Sound
- Tuning: As far as I can tell, the Cadenza 12 is as neutral as it gets.
- Bass: The bass of the Cadenza isn’t the kind that is front and center, but it’s clean and impactful. The bass rumble is just enough.
- Mids: The mids are clean and accurate, leaning more toward a neutral presentation. Vocals sit naturally in the mix without being too forward or too thick. Instruments like guitars and pianos come through detailed.
- Treble: The treble is clear, airy, and smooth. Vocals sound articulate and pleasant without crossing into sibilance. There’s some brightness here, but it feels more like refined sparkle than sharpness.
- Technicalities: The soundstage is quite wide, giving you the feeling of open space. Imaging and instrument separation on the Cadenza 12 is excellent!
- Gaming: The Cadenza 12 does pretty well for gaming, especially for competitive shooters like Overwatch. Directionality and distance were pretty accurate, especially for audio cues like footsteps and minute sound effects.
Gear used
- Xiaomi 13T + Letshuoer DT03
- PC + iFi nano iDSD LE
- Snowsky Echo Min
Final Thoughts
The Cadenza 12 SE feels like a proper flagship. Light titanium shells,
neutral and detailed sound, great staging, and even solid for gaming. The
problem is practicality: the mirror finish is a smudge magnet and it’s not
something I’d daily or toss in a bag. If you’re chasing warmth or big bass
there are better options, but if you want a clean, precise set in a
premium package AND you can afford it, this one delivers and knocks it out
of the park.
Other Opinions
Once gear goes past $500, the improvements aren’t as obvious. You’re
mostly paying for refinements. Diminishing returns is real, so don’t feel
like you’re missing a huge jump if you’re coming from cheaper gear. With
that said, I’m still glad I got to experience what this level of gear can
do.