LETSHUOER CADENZA 12: The Eminent Virtuoso Performer

(Note: TOTL= Top of the line)

Cadenza is a virtuosic performance of a solo performer of a specific musical instrument in a very complex and technically difficult part of a piece of passage on classical music in either orchestra or opera.

Putting a word "Cadenza" on a certain device should exhibit a very competent, meticulous and technically skilled performance with an elan. Will this device that does have a specific model name will even live it out on its name? Let's find out how I will do some assessment and do some thorough testing on this set.

LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 is the latest top of the line flagship model from Letshuoer. Before that product introduction, let me share some information about Letshuoer as a company. LETSHUOER (previously known as Shuoer Acoustics) was established by a group of talented veteran audio professionals in 2016 whose goal is to provide the global audience some high-fidelity audio reproduction gears and to deliver the best possible tuning that audiophiles and casual music lovers could have from their offerings. They were also an OEM company before. The founder and current CEO, Mr. Danny Du (To on their official site) was a former senior engineer of Panasonic and has garnered some decades of experience in audio engineering and manufacturing process. Even his partners and senior staff members in the business are equally experts and veterans in their specific role with particular expertise in the field of audio technology. With these people involved in producing some exquisite and good workmanship of their audio products, we can certainly put our trust in their proficiency to deliver on such quality. They release some products that garner some attention and earn a good reputation from audio enthusiasts with the likes of Shuoer Tape, Shuoer Singer, Letshuoer S12 and its Pro variant, Letshuoer EJ07 and LETSHUOER Galileo which I made an initial impression of.

Let's focus on the main point of this review, LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 is a hybrid multi-driver set which is composed of 2 types of transducers, a single dynamic and 11 balanced armature drivers. The said dynamic driver is a 10mm Liquid Silicone Diaphragm which I'm really familiar with as I owned at least 2 IEMs from other brands with the same type of dynamic driver. Liquid Silicone Diaphragm drivers are known to have nimble, very sensitive, good elastic properties and superb transient response due to the combination materials consist of Kevlar and Silicone diaphragm which also perform a good absorption of excess vibration and less distortion. The balanced armature drivers that were implemented along the Liquid Silicone Dynamic Driver are of high quality and deliver a high performance of each specific frequency. These balanced armature drivers that LETSHOUER use to implement on Cadenza 12 are a combination of Knowles and Sonion which are both premium audio solution companies on their respective rights.

These drivers are enclosed in a titanium alloy shell chassis along with an electronic crossover which acts as a frequency divider that segregated into six-parts to give a distinctive timbre of each driver along with 5 acoustic bores that are connected to drivers for the channelling acoustic waves without a hitch and avoiding possible distortion and phase issues.

The titanium alloy shells of Cadenza 12 takes a UIEM-style shape in a well-polished mirror-like surface with some smooth contours of it and they are of a large size given the number of drivers on its internals. We are also aware of the typical properties of titanium alloy: exceptional corrosion resistance, high tensile strength and good thermal conductivity. The overall aesthetics of Cadenza 12 are rather minimalist and utilitarian in my opinion but it gives its character to be presented as intended. The interlocking mechanism that was implemented on this set are recessed 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.

The fitting of this set is actually very comfortable on how it rests well into my lug holes despite its heft on its shell chassis. This is one of the most comfortable metal shell chassis IEMs that I've ever wear in TOTL flagship range along with VE Erlkönig and Noble Audio Katana. As for sealing and insertion, it gives me a good passive isolation as it blocks a substantial amount of external noises from the outside surroundings.

As a TOTL flagship IEM, it should have a premium and high quality cable and LETSHUOER never fail to deliver such exquisite cable. The said cable has 204-strands of 6N Mono-crystalline copper and silver wires in a weaving hybrid pattern construction and it is also of a modular  design with detachable stainless steel termination plug and a locking screw mechanism on its metal jacket to provide a good rigidity. The available modular adapters for this cable are 3.5mm single ended, then 2.5mm and 4.4mm which are both unbalanced.

When it comes to product presentation. LETSHUOER provide the most luxurious and premium unboxing experience on their TOTL flagship product. This is the biggest packaging box that I have ever encountered so far for an IEM. It has a big, square-shaped cardboard box with silver coloured-finish. And  then inside of it, there's another black-coloured accessories box that reminds me of some jewellery and watch boxes. The contents of the box are presented in a well-organised placement of inclusions.

Here are the contents of the included accessories:

■ a pair of LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 IEMs

■ 3 pairs of Bass ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of Balanced ear tips in different standard sizes.

■ 3 pairs of Vocal ear tips in different standard sizes (reminds me of Symbio W ones)

■ Cadenza 12 stock modular cable.

■ A Cadenza 12 commemoration copper plaque.

■ 3 types of termination adapters, 2.5mm, 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors.

■ Cleaning Cloth

■ Warranty Card

■ Instruction Manual

■ Product Postcards

As for amplification and scalability on required power output, even with the amount of drivers that Cadenza 12 has on its internals, this set can be driven well even on devices with decent power output. But putting them in better sources will give you a very good amplitude level and it sounds very dynamic and fuller within its frequency range spectrum. I've tested the Cadenza 12 on my different devices from LG smartphones to USB DAC dongles.

Regarding its tonality, LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 has a balanced-neutral to warmish-neutral sound profile that gives a  more organic yet very detailed sound. It has more emphasis on midrange and treble with some ample presence of bass.

(This graph was provided by Practiphile, Thanks mate)

Here are some of my observations on its sound characteristics from each frequency range.

LOWS/BASS:

The bass of Cadenza 12 is rather balanced in the overall sound presentation. It has a sufficient slam, incisive and clean as it segregates well and it doesn't smear to other frequency regions.

It shows a good quality amount of sub bass as it rumbles and reverberates if a sub bass-laden track needs it. From drum machines, low pitched bass guitars and synthesisers from classic rock to synth-pop  tracks, I discerningly felt those low registered pitches.

Mid bass have satisfactory texture to give an ample body on instruments like violas, bass guitars, bass drums kicks and vocals like bass-baritones. Bass guitars have that resonant and earthy sound that gives a growl and abrasiveness especially of Patricia Morrison's line on Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia, My Reflection", while violas sound very sonorous and warming in my ears on how its resonant sound evokes gloomy and intense feelings. On bass drum kicks, it sounds so resonant with sufficient thudding. And for bass baritones, it has decent deep and sufficient power to give that weight on vocals that I was still able to enjoy the voices of Barry White and Andrew Eldritch of Sisters of Mercy.

This is not definitely a basshead's bass quantity but a more quality bass for a reference type of listener.

MIDRANGE:

This particular frequency region is one of the highlights of this set. It has a sufficient warm, smooth, pristine and detailed sound to give a substantial note weight, almost tonally precise and clarity on both male and female vocals. On male vocals, baritones have this velvety and lushness on them as listen to Eric Clapton and Lenny Kravitz. Then on countertenors, it has this smooth and yet fiery sound with the likes of Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Elton John. Moreover, on tenors, lyrical types has a clear and bright on how Freddie Mercury, Justin Timberlake and The Eagles' Don Henley belted out their vocal prowess to sound more brassy and dazzling, more ringy, robust and intensely powerful dramatic tenors like Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. On females vocals, contraltos like Tracy Chapman and Annie Lennox have this "chesty", dark and smoky trait on their vocals. And then, on Mezzo-sopranos, they have this soothing, smooth and velvety sound that is quite very comforting and lucious to my ears especially on vocals like Andrea Corr, Deborah Harry of Blondie and Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's. And the last type of female vocals, the sopranos has this sweet, light and silvery sound on lyrical types like Alison Krauss and Mariah, then a more emotive, rich and darker tone of typical dramatic types like Tarja Turunen and then, the coloratura ones like Diana Damrau and Olga Peretyatko has these agile, shimmering, rangy and airy quality on their impressive vocal range. The vocal rendition of the Cadenza 12 was its strongest asset that few IEMs even were able to match its accuracy, transparency and intricacy.

Almost all classes of instruments that I have tested here have a correct tonal colour that is quite very natural sounding. Strings like acoustic guitars have this crisp and lingering tone that I was able to hear the plucking, and a vibrant and eloquence of violin on every motion of the bow string along with the finger notation. Brass instruments like trombones have this "dramatic", intensity and eruptive sound while trumpets have this substantial, fuller, brilliant and vivid sound depending on the type of register tone. Woodwinds like flutes have airy, silvery and poetic features and saxophones have sonorous, lively and reedy sounds on them. Then on percussive, toms have this hard, deep and resonant sound, then a sharper and precise sound of snare drums. On Celeste, it has this ethereal and shimmering sound to give that distinct "heavenly" sound. And last but not the least, Pianos are very balanced sounding, it has a warmth and luscious at the same time, a tad brighter tone.

HIGHS/TREBLE:

Treble has definitely more emphasis on this one in the overall frequency range spectrum. It has elevated upper mids to the presence part of the treble region. And then a tad gradual slope to give that smoothness and ascending gently on the brilliance part to give that sense of air and sparkle. This is a well-done treble quality, with a good amount of shimmer to give a more definition on details yet it has those smooth response to avoid any unnecessary harshness and sibilance.

Cymbals sound so natural that they are lustrous and resonant sounding with a good dose of sizzle to give a more airy sound and doesn't sound too splashy at all. Cadenza 12 does indeed have a well-extended treble air. Even the hi-hats sound very life-like in that aspect, its recognisable timbre has a short, buzzing dull sound.

This is quite a unique sound for a treble-focus sound signature that might be tolerable to some treble sensitives.

SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

As a TOTL IEM, it is given that it should have the best possible technical performance, and Cadenza 12 didn't fail to deliver it. It has a good spacious sound field dimensions, above-average to wide on width on which I think there are some other TOTLs sets that are a bit wider than this set.  It also has a remarkable height ceiling and impressive depth that it has good distance between front to back. Overall, it gives me a sense of a decently spacious head room as I able to perceive them.

Imaging was presented in an immersive 3D-like presentation in which I was able to locate the placements of instruments and vocals in an utmost pinpoint precision with its spatial confines. It has impressive separation on how it sets apart each element like instruments and voices to give its own distinctive outline of frequency and dynamic layering in the sonic canvas. In that aspect, even the most complex, multi-instrumental tracks will be able to have pristine and the handling of each specific instrument very stable without any issues like sounding veiled and disarray.

The drivers inside of Cadenza 12 perform perfectly on how they deliver a cohesive and homogenous sound that the envelope of sound quality perfectly matches it. It has fast transients, better time alignment performance (for a portable audio equipment) and phasing issue is non-existent.

In resolution capabilities, both macro-dynamics and micro-detail retrieval are remarkably impressive. It has a very solid and corporeal layout on its macro-dynamics and a clear-cut of recovering some nuances and subtle datas and information in a track on a pitch-black sonic canvas.

As for tonal colour, it takes a more organic, a tad warmer approach to give a more natural, clean analogue sound than being dry and too analytical.

PEER COMPARISON:

Effect Audio X Elysian Gaea

■ Gaea is actually much cheaper as it costs about US$1300 if my memory serves right about its pricing. Like Cadenza 12, it is also a hybrid driver set but in lesser quantity as it has only 1 DD and 4 Sonion BAs along with a proprietary venting system on it. Its shells are also large and its made of composite materials consist of resin and laminated wood and it is pretty much more of a looker and very eye-pleasing than a utilitarian look of Cadenza 12. It has a proprietary MMCX variant connector which make the cable swapping a bit more complicated.

■ Gaea takes a more safer tuning approach which is a U-shape sound signature that is slightly more improvement on a typical Harman curve. It has more sub bass focus bass region as it is fast and well controlled, a bit recessed but transparent, leaner, neutral midrange and an upper mids emphasis to give a definition and more energetic but in some tracks, it has noticeable sibilance. It's a bit too bright in my opinion in some instances.

■ On technical side of things, I put the Gaea in above average category, it has an above average sound/speaker stage, a spot on quality  imaging, separation and layering but on timbre, they are not the most natural sounding due its bright U-shaped tonality that they are a bit unnatural in my ears.

Unique Melody Mason FuSang

■ Mason FuSang is also a hybrid multi-driver IEM albeit instead of a typical dynamic driver, it uses a Bone Conduction System driver. Its shells are made of composite materials made of medical-grade resin and carbon fibre and it has a very eye-pleasing aesthetic design on its faceplate. The stock cable is an 8-core, 24AWG OCC Litz cable. And this IEM is x2 more pricey than Cadenza 12.

■  Mason FuSang's sound profile is more of balance-neutral tuning. It has a more punch and deep lows, an even more texture, even more immaculate and yet neutral midrange and more airier treble. This is the set the really replaces my all-time favourite IEM of all time as the eminence one.

■ Mason FuSang has the widest staging for a hybrid, multi-driver that I've ever heard and if compared to Cadenza 12, the latter will even sound narrower in comparison. Then from imaging to layering, they have almost the same performance. The timbre of Mason FuSang is equally natural but it has a trait of being clinical sounding too.

FiR Audio NE4

■  Like Cadenza 12, NE4 is a multi-driver hybrid set but with lesser numbers of balanced armatures. It has a 10mm self-developed dynamic driver and 3 custom-made balanced armature drivers for each frequency range. Another unique featurs of NE4 is that it has a proprietary "Kinetic Bass Port" as it has a large vent hole on it for better bass response and another vent system to eliminate driver flexes. The shells of NE4 is made of CNC-milled aluminium alloy on its cavity bass and a sapphire glass on its face plate which has good resistance to scratches and of high strength with good thermal conductivity.

■ NE4 has balanced-neutral sound signature as it has satisfying slam on the lows, a balanced and a tad warmer midrange with some sense of transparency that is quite impressive on vocal tracking and the treble is rather on a balanced side but notably it has a sufficient air on the brilliance part.

■ It has a spacious head room due to wide soundstage, good depth and height reach but the imaging is rather a 2-dimensional stereo panning is a bit linear. It has a good separation of elements and decent spacing of frequency and dynamic layering but it will be a bit unrefined compared to Cadenza 12.

As I concluded this review article, with my analysis on this product for a few days, LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 is definitely has a TOTL-level tuning and technical performance. This is not an analytical set that audio detail eccentrics that will fall in love upon as it is not a clinical sounding set that will dissect every frequencies and layer of a music track but it is leaning towards on musicality that it should sound very natural and tonally accurate as best possible to be more engaging on both audio enthusiast and casual listeners alike without compromises due to altering the intended sound reproduction.

To be honest, I can't still imagine that how fortunate am I, that I was able to put up a full assessment on a TOTL flagship product on this site. I am no stranger of TOTL IEMs as I was able to test some of the best sets in the high midrange to high-end segment before but the duration of time was quite short and I feel unsatisfied and hungry for more high-fidelity pleasure. Having a LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 in my possession even for a short time was indeed a bliss and this is probably one of the happiest moment in my quest of pursuing the wonders of audio technology.

The LETSHUOER CADENZA 12 is currently available in HIFIGO, You check it out if you are interested. Non-affilliated link guaranteed.

Another option is you can also purchase this set directly through LETSHUOER'S official site, click HERE.

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: LETSHUOER CADENZA 12

IMPEDANCE: 16Ω

SENSITIVITY: 110dB

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 20Hz – 30KHz

CABLE LENGTH: 1.2M

PIN TYPE: 2-PIN CONNECTOR (0.78MM)

PLUG TYPE: 3.5mm

DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (11) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS

PROS:

△ A very sturdy titanium alloy shell chassis to ensure high durability.

△ The fact that it is a titanium alloy shell, it is quite light and its UIEM style contours fits well into my lug holes.

△ High quality modular stock cable for termination versatility for different outputs.

△ Inclusions are of high quality.

△ Probably, the best product packaging presentation that I have encounter so far.

△ Balanced to warmish-neutral tuning that is quite very engaging and lively, TOTL-tuning has some of the unique tonal profile.

△ Punchy, sufficient warm bass response yet it is very clean and well-controlled, absolutely no smearing on other frequencies.

△ Adequately warm, evenly textured and immaculate midrange.

△Superbly tremendous vocal projection.

△Sufficiently shimmering and crisp treble quality.

△ Very airy and sparkly treble extension to add up more brilliance and harmonics.

△ Outstanding overall technical performance.

CONS:

▽ Mirror-finish surface of the shells (I hate wiping it out constantly due to fingerprint smudges).

▽ To be honest, very pricey and expensive unless you are a deep pocketed audiophile who can wad out on it.

▽ Of all things that a TOTL flagship level IEM product packaging forgot, a mere cleaning tool.

▽ Definitely not for uber-bassheads, and also for dry and analytical connoisseurs.

Some Tracks Tested: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *

Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**

Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **

Mountain - Mississippi Queen *

Queen - Killer Queen **

Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*

Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'

Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'

Pearl Jam - Daughter **

Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *

Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*

Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *

New Order - Blue Monday *

The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *

The Madness- Buggy Trousers *

Metallica - Motorbreath **

Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *

Destiny's Child - Say My Name *

Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *

Mozart - Lacrimosa *

New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *

Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*

Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *

Exciter - Violence and Force *

Diana Krall - Stop This World **

Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**

Suzanne Vega – Luka **

Lauren Christy – Steep *

Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *

Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*

P.S.

I am not affiliated to LETSHUOER nor receive monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to HIFIGO especially to MS. YUMU SONG and MS. LVY YAN. And I also say thanks to NEIL NIÑO CLARK for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.