LETSHUOER CADENZA 4
two years later, it is still as good as I remember…
Pros:
- Fast, clean, well-texture low-end.
- Well-balanced, smooth, pleasant mid-range/vocals.
- Natural highs without overbearing brightness.
- Good technicalities.
- Universal tuning.
- Great build & packaging.
- Still reasonably priced by todays standard.
- Not picky on pairings.
- Underrated.
Cons:
- Imaging is not the sharpest in its class.
- Understated higher pitched vocals.
Driver Configuration: 10mm Berrylium Coated DD + 2 Knowles BA + 1 Sonion BA.
MSRP: $249.00
✧ ════ •IN-DEPTH REVIEW• ════ ✧
「SOUND-SIGNATURE」
It goes for familiar neutral tuning with a sub-bass boost. The bass is lifted tastefully to serve as a good supportive bassline. It is quite the mid-centric set as vocals tend to attract your attention more so than the rest. The treble has enough extensions to cover the high-end spectrums. It is neither bright nor dark.
「BASS ／LOW-END」
► The low-end though has a heavier sub-bass profile is tastefully done. It possessed just about enough warmth to counter the upper frequencies, creating a more balance signature. It has a moderately fast tempo that sounds clean, tight with tangible impact.
► The sub-bass is relatively well-defined. It extends deep enough with believable pressure and sustain. The rumbling, booming and tremoring elements does come across sounding punchier than atmospheric. There is a subtle vibration as it resonates from the lowest point. It gives its subline a fair level of texture as it tingles your eardrums gingerly. Despite not being a bass-head set, I still managed to enjoy EDM, hip-hop and rap music with it (YMMV).
► As we progress upper in the bass, the bass presence gets lighter in density. It gives about enough warmth and body to solidify those percussive instruments. Thankfully, the dynamic-driver does a great job in preserving their attack definition.
► Kick-drums plays with good authority. There is a nice sense of tactility behind every kick. It hits deep and sturdy.
► Drum-strike may not carries the same level of foundation. But it slams with good attack amplitude with a noticeable spring-like rebound as the stick bounces back.
► Bass line guitar goes for a more precise approach. It does it without dampening the rate of hums and drones. Though, I must say the sustained tone that is on the short side.
► Bass drop is kept clean and clear. While ghetto bass elements are just enough for you to hear the bass rebound.
► Bass control is skilfully done. It is free from any muddiness or bloat sensation. But more importantly, there is little to none being compromised when it comes to bass dynamics and layering.
To some, it might missing that extra touch of warmth, body, or enveloping bass presence. Yet, as I shuffled through my bass playlist, it’s well-defined bass attacks managed to keep me thoroughly engaged.
「MID-RANGE ／VOCAL」
► Undoubtedly, it is tuned to be a more mid-range/vocal focused. It strikes a good balance of warmth and brightness to renders its vocals and instruments in a smooth, clear and natural manner.
► Vocal and instruments that falls within this region will sound more to the fore. But in listening experience, they never felt too frontal. Vocals sound wide and are well separated from the background elements.
► The mid-range resolution quite is decent. It maybe not be the most analytical in its class but it managed to highlight subtle nuances, vocal grain and delicate movement on instrumentals naturally without sounding force.
► It possesses a natural warmth and note weight that allows its mid-range elements to have a good level of foundation. One could expect to hear a well densified vocals and instruments that is quite consistent across the range.
► MALE/LOW-PITCHED: Having said that, if you’re familiar with a warmer, lusher presentation, you might be craving for a fuller, richer tone coming from baritone, especially with those deep, growly male vocals. At least, to my ears it didn’t cross the line of being too thin or hollow. It still sounds relatively natural. The vocal weight gets noticeably better as it lands higher in range. Even so, I find male vocals have generally good vocal dynamics to keep the musical elements going.
► FEMALE/HIGH-PITCHED: Interestingly, its female counterparts offer a similar level of performance. Perhaps slightly more reserved as you progress higher in the pitch. The head-voice sounds more controlled than liberated. There is a slight noticeable roll-off with its extension. The delicate rasp or throat detail is more subdued. It tends to have a safer vocal playstyle. Which makes it’s an anti-shout set. Having said that, their performance is not completely flat or lifeless. Just not as ethereal as some female vocal specialist would suggest. Aside from that, there is no thinning effect or sibilance accentuation throughout the test.
► I appreciate that there is no BA grain or pixelated quality on vocal transient. It retains a clear and smooth playback.
► Guitar plays or any plucked instruments in general have a rather natural tone and timbre. The attack has this distinct, resonating bite with a pleasing warm tonality behind each note.
► Piano is quite a treat to listen. Each note has a clear distinct tap with a natural tonal weight that is uniform across the range.
► String class (bowed), mainly, violin and cello carry a pleasant, mellow tone. They prioritized smoothness over expressive playstyle.
Overall, it’s a well-balanced, smooth and safe mid-range that is quite pleasant to listen.
「TREBLE ／ HIGHS」
► To my ears it treads along the neutral lines just nicely. When it comes to the brightness, it hits the sweet spot to let the treble brilliance to shines through. Air extension is on the polite side with just about enough airiness and shimmers at the trailing end of notes.
► The treble rolls off gradually with no sign of jarring peaks like hotness, sibilance or distortion. Even at higher volumes, it showcased a good control over the highs.
► In terms of treble definition, it is not the sharpest in its class. But it sounds the most natural among its peers. It achieved a fine mixture of smoothness, bite and weight. The highs seem to decay naturally without any sense harshness or dryness to its timbre.
► Hi-hats pitched with just the right brightness and warmth to sound natural. The “chicks” plays clearly without being too sharp.
► Cymbals crashes and clangs have a good blend of smoothness and crispiness. The shimmers decays beautifully with a satisfying, flowy quality to them.
► Drum-snare will have a more rounded-edge to the “pops” and “cracks” while retain an organic tonality.
► E-guitar somewhat possessed a pleasant tone. The chord progression is well distinct without being aggressive. It’s got just about enough grunt to pull through itself from those busy rock & metal tracks.
► Glockenspiel does come across sounding uncoloured. It dings correctly with subtle overtones.
► As for synthesizers or electronic elements, it tends to play with a smoother, warmer tone. It can lack a little bite and crunchiness when you want to.
► Based on my assessment, it is quite a safe treble which means treble sensitive folks will have nothing to worry about. Even with brighter pairings, it responds fairly smooth. On low-fi tracks, it tells the quality of the recordings, but it doesn’t emphasize on its bad nature. It still allows you to enjoy them without distracting.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best ‘neutral’ treble responses I’ve heard at this price point. It’s well-defined and refined without any overbearing brightness, offering a seamless treble experience.
✧ ════ • TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE & OTHERS ASPECT • ════ ✧
The STAGE has good dimensions. It is quite wide with good headroom and front-to-back depth. The vocal is well centralized surrounded by instruments. The background is dark enough with no sense of haziness to the backstage.
IMAGING performance sounds accurate with believable sharpness to its sound projections.
INSTRUMENT SEPARATION is solid. Each element of sound was given a good space between each other. Even on a complex passage, the boundaries of sound have a decent delineation of sound.
DETAIL-RETRIEVAL is up to its standards. It is not a detail monster, but you can expect it to have decent layering across the range.
DYNAMICS have good articulations. Most of the time it managed to follow the rhythm of the music. The loud and soft elements are well depicted to keep its musicality going.
TONE & TIMBRE? This is probably one the most well-balance tuning in its price-point. Everything just has the right tonal temperature with minimal colouration.
DRIVERS? You can tell it uses a good, high-quality drivers. The 10mm Beryllium Plated dynamic drivers combined with 3 branded balance armature drivers (2 Knowles + 1 Sonion) via 3-way crossovers showcased a great level of coherency with nigh excellent PRaT. There is no sign of struggling (distorted or pixelated sound) throughout the test.
SYNERGY? It is not fussy on pairings. But it does benefit from having a greater amplification. At lower gain, it sounds more docile, but it is not completely lifeless. At higher gain, it does liven things up. The bass will sound impactful; the mid-range will sound fuller while the highs retain its smooth response.
PRICE? At $249 USD, it is still a capable earphone. Despite being released back in March of 2024. It shows no sign aging. From sonic performance to build & packaging, it is still highly competitive.
✧ ════ •BUILD/ PACKAGING/COMFORT• ════ ✧
The matte finished CNC aluminium faceplate combined with the white 3D printed resin shell looks simple and classy. It is one the most comfortable earphone to wear coming from Letshuoer’s series. It is lightweight without feeling budget. There is no pressure-build up or driver-flex issue while using it.
Inside the box there is a little drawer which they placed all the accessories in. The black rounded casing is not too big, but it is large enough for you to the store the IEM with the stock cable. Speaking of the stock cable. The 2-core silver-plated wire is well braided with excellent build and feel. The termination plug is swappable from 2.5/3.5/4.4MM. The stock ear-tips is probably the best I had from any brand. There is 2 type of silicone ear tips (wide and narrow bore) sizing from S to L. I especially like the non-clear version which to my ears gives the best comfort and sonic profile. You really don’t need to spend more on aftermarket ear tips or feeling the needs to replace the stock cable other than preparing a decent DAC/AMP to run it.
HEAD-2-HEAD
2024 Letshuoer Cadenza 4 (CAD4) vs 2025 ZiiGaat Cresent (CRES)
Both runs on stock cable. Cadenza 4 uses stock tips while the Crescent running on Spinfit CP100 (M).
< BASS >
CAD4 sub-bass has greater extensions, it hits deeper with a faster and wider transient. The ups and down on bass drop will a have better contrast. On the CRES, it offers abit more atmospheric feel. The subline seems to sustain a little longer. The mid/upper bass on the CRES sounds warmer and a tad thicker in presence. With the CAD4, again, the attack hits harder giving kick drums and drum-strike instrument a more tactile feel. Bassline guitars on the CRES sounds more prominent but it is the CAD4 that gives its humming and droning a better sense of rhythm. Ghetto bass on the CAD4 is at tad bouncier. Overall, the CRES offers a warmer, atmospheric bassline while the CAD4 offers a better bass complexion.
< MIDS >
CRES offers more intimate mid-range; it tends to sound fuller and richer in tone thanks to it warmer lower spectrum. I find vocal and instruments in general have better sustain which allows them to fully bloom before released. In comparison, it makes the CAD4 vocals sound a tad flatter. It focuses more on the initial attack or the surface of detail than depth of it. However, when it comes instrumental bits, namely piano, guitar and violin. Their attack does sound more realistic. It gives them a better sense of texturing. If I were to listen to vocal alone, the CRES is a better set. But for instrumental, acoustic or orchestra, the CAD4 is more up to the game.
< TREBLE >
The CRES treble does come across ever so slightly brighter. It sounds more linear and airier up top. Percussions (hi-hats, cymbals and snare) as well as e-guitar have a more frontal presentation. As a result, their attack does come across being more aggressive. However, I do find the CAD4 to sound more natural. Especially to the way it decays. The shimmering-end of notes is better captured. It doesn’t have the slight metallic-edge or dryness timbre exhibited by the CRES. The CAD4 treble sounds more refined yet still well defined. It is just a seamless treble experience. The CRES will be more capable to dissect those treble elements. It is abit better for monitoring purpose. But for treble sensitive folks, the CAD4 is a safer pick.
< TECHNICALITIES & OTHER ASPECTS>
▲ STAGE-DIMENSION must go to the CAD4. It has slightly more expansive stage, it is like you’re looking at the music. The CRES felt like you’re in the music. Everything sounds closer to you.
▲ IMAGING? The CRES will have a sharper image, but I find the CAD4 does the placement more accurately.
▲ SEPERATION wise, the vocal and instrument on the CAD 4 does have more room in between. With the CRES, they tend to sit closer to each other but still sets a clear boundary.
▲ DETAIL-HANDLING? The CAD4 offers more layered bassline. The CRES does offer a sharper treble definition. As for the mid-range, it is a toss between the two. It depends on what you want to capture.
▲ The CRES have a stronger sense of macro-dynamic. While the CAD4 is more intricate with its micro-dynamics.
▲ TIMBRE-WISE, the CAD4 does come across sounding more natural from lows to highs. But something about the vocal presentation on the CRES that make it sounds a tad more musical.
▲ BUILD & PACKAGING? Overall, I have to give it to the CAD4. It feels abit more premium overall. But the PVC leather case on the CRES is more useable.
▲ The CAD4 $249 is the cheaper product to own while the $279 CRES by no means a bad value product.
" The ZiiGaat Crescent is my go-to for purely vocal-centric tracks, as it delivers a slightly more immersive and emotional experience. However, the Letshuoer Cadenza 4 proves to be the better all-rounder, offering superior soundstage dimensions and a more natural tone and timbre overall.
→ CONCLUSION ←
I first heard the Cadenza 4 two years ago when I got the chance to listen a friend’s unit who used to review audio gear. My initial impression was that its sound profile shared a lot of similarities with the Letshuoer EJ07M (metal shell). I was impressed, since the Cadenza 4 actually outperformed it in certain areas (like soundstage dimensions, dynamics, and fit). Two years later, I still find it to be relevant in today’s market—largely thanks to its well-implemented, branded drivers.
With recent price hikes, many brands now cut corners using custom, unbranded drivers. While those can handle detail and dynamics decently well, they often sounded as if they’re right on the edge of the limits. The Cadenza 4, on the other hand, possessed similar strength while sounding effortless and refined. If you’re looking for a neutral-balanced signature with a sub-bass boost for around $250, please give the Cadenza 4 a chance. It might be an older set that gets overlooked, but it easily earns my recommendation as a product made with genuine care and intention.
LETSHUOER CADENZA 4
PRICE : PERFORMANCE [$249] : ★★★★⯪ (9.0/10)
BUILD & PACKAGING [BASED ON PRICE]: ★★★★★ (10/10)
COMFORT : ★★★★★ (10/10)
PERSONAL ENJOYMENT (BIASED) : ★★★⯪ (7.0/10)
OVERALL : ★★★★ ( 9.0/10)
1-2 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this
3-4 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
5-6 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick! (CONSIDER)
7-8 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection. (SHORTLIST) (RECOMMENDED)
9-10 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have! (BLIND WORTHY)
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【SOURCE & GEARS】
● Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]
● Foobar2000 [ROG Strix G814JVR (2024)] [USB C Thunderbolt] (Main)
● Samsung S24 Ultra [as my DAP phone][ App- Foobar2000]
● iFi ZenDac V2/ Tanchjim SPACE / LUNA Asano Tanch / Hidizs S9 PRO/ Kiwi Ears Allegro Pro
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Where to buy? (Unaffiliate)
[Official Website]
[Aliexpress]
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006717745426.html
SHOUTOUT TO LETSHUOER FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE!
If you like me to review your gears, please do send me a message! I’ll try to respond ASAP!
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