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Letshuoer Cadenza 4, new IEM with very promising frequency response

MacClintock

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There is a new IEM, the Letshuoer Cadenza 4, and the published frequency response measurements look very promising. It has less energy in the ear gain region than the Harman 2019 IEM target, which should appeal to quite a few people. When compared to the Zero:Red, which also went into this direction, it seems that the treble is much smoother (I know that the measurements become shaky there, but all I have seen point to it). Comared to "my IEM target", which is just Harman2019 up to 1kHz and above USound/Oratory1990, it is pretty close. It seems also to be a bit less shouty than one of the current stars of the show, the Truthear Nova.
I think the little less bass that is has will be balanced quite well with the less pronounced ear gain region, like it seems to be the case for the SoundGuys target, which scored equally well than the new Harman Beta 2024 in Sean Olive's recent Talk.
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I wish more companies sent IEMs to amir to review.
 
Mine arrived last week!

It is an extremely correct, very neutral iem. And the most comfortable IEM I have ever used, just for that alone I would keep it.

Soundwise it is very similar to the Softears Studio 4. With a tad little more mass and punch in the bass, maybe because it is a DD doing the bass instead of a BA.

The sound can be perceived as boring, but sometimes it plays some audio illusion on me that sideway sounds really sound outside my head. Why this happens? I wouldnt know.
 
Being 7Hz Sonus my reference, this seems something I'd also like a lot, but for 4X the price I'm not gonna try, plenty happy with what I already got.

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anyway it get the the top of my list in case I'll become a bit less el cheapo in the future.
 
That's almost exactly my preferred FR; tracking Harman 1-2kHz then a touch lower from 3-6kHz.

I would personally have shot for 1.5dB lower than 2.5dB though
 
I spent a bit more money this time because I thought that this is supposed to be my "perfect" frequency response. I know, EQ, but I dont want to EQ IEMs.

So this is nitpicky, but these do sound a hair too cold/thin to me. I also find them a bit on the shouty side. Shoutier than the ER4XR, actually, which is not what I expected. I like the ER4XR tonality a lot so I did not expect at all that this might become a problem. Maybe I just need to find the right ear tips. The bass is great though, it just lacks lower mids to me. Of course, there are certain tracks where the Cadenza 4 just sounds perfect.

The shell is amazing. The cable could be perfect too but the chin slider doesnt hold too well.

They are really good but I kind of hoped that I found my perfect allrounder now. I guess I didnt.
 
I tried a couple with more or less the same response but I didn't like them, to me they sounded mid-forward a bit bass shy and unnatural, like listening to speakers at low volume without compensation (equal loudness), lot of IEMs with this response now a days though so people must like it.

That's almost exactly my preferred FR; tracking Harman 1-2kHz then a touch lower from 3-6kHz.

I prefer the same response plus a dB or so more of mid-bass (200Hz) if I feel the IEM needs it.
 
This might sound like cope, but I think I solved the problem with different ear tips (Kiwi Ears). They have a rather narrow bore. It is not a huge difference of course but its better now. They slightly boost the bass which is helpful against the perceived shoutyness.

The change of upper treble is also interesting. I heard a peak at 11,5k before, now it is at like 15k but it is more balanced overall.
The original CD master of Kate Bushs debut sounds a bit sharp on this one, otherwise everything sounded fine yet. Maybe a few songs sound a hair too "safe" now.

I also want to mention again how comfortable this shell is.
(I think I will rate all IEMs I have checked out somewhen.)

This is the big challenge I've found with choosing an IEM. Most who are passionate are busy defending their FOMO and the true allrounders get sidelined. Maybe that's why I spent a weekend creating a target: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/versatile-iem-target.55147/
I also choose my IEMs by FR and I know quite well what I want. I scroll through the FR graphs like through vinyls at a music store. It is just that I am nitpicky. If I would not be addicted to find the perfect sounding IEM I could have stopped at my ER4XR or at my 7hz Zero. :D
Besides, I think we agree that it is not possible to antipicate the sound of an IEM *exactly* by measurements, especially in the treble.
 
This might sound like cope, but I think I solved the problem with different ear tips (Kiwi Ears). They have a rather narrow bore. It is not a huge difference of course but its better now. They slightly boost the bass which is helpful against the perceived shoutyness.

The change of upper treble is also interesting. I heard a peak at 11,5k before, now it is at like 15k but it is more balanced overall.
The original CD master of Kate Bushs debut sounds a bit sharp on this one, otherwise everything sounded fine yet. Maybe a few songs sound a hair too "safe" now.

I also want to mention again how comfortable this shell is.
(I think I will rate all IEMs I have checked out somewhen.)


I also choose my IEMs by FR and I know quite well what I want. I scroll through the FR graphs like through vinyls at a music store. It is just that I am nitpicky. If I would not be addicted to find the perfect sounding IEM I could have stopped at my ER4XR or at my 7hz Zero. :D
Besides, I think we agree that it is not possible to antipicate the sound of an IEM *exactly* by measurements, especially in the treble.
Yes, like scrolling through vinyls at a music store, that's definitely how I feel scrolling though squigs. Tangzu Waner graphs pretty great for a cheap 1DD but I heard icepick treble when I tried it in person. On a different note it's fascinating to me how some well liked sets right now are converging, Dusk, Mega5EST and Hype 4. And yet when looking "zoomed in" you see plenty of differences as well, but they are all virtually equally well liked. It's indicative to how your expectations should be tempered when graph sniffing.
 
So this is nitpicky, but these do sound a hair too cold/thin to me. I also find them a bit on the shouty side. Shoutier than the ER4XR, actually, which is not what I expected. I like the ER4XR tonality a lot so I did not expect at all that this might become a problem. Maybe I just need to find the right ear tips. The bass is great though, it just lacks lower mids to me. Of course, there are certain tracks where the Cadenza 4 just sounds perfect.
I think I found the real problem now. The Squiglink measurements did not represent what I am hearing.
Crinacle measured this IEM recently. I hope you see the subtle difference to other measurements in the pinna gain. This should explain why I perceive it as shouty.

I still have not give up hope to find ear tips which behave like in the measurements from the Squiglink above.
(I also mention this because this might be interested for other people who are interested into this IEM. You might get the "shouty" frequency response as well.)

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How does the Candenza 4 compare to the Truthear Nova (ignoring the price difference)?
I like a crisp, clean sound, with a clear mid-range, and good vocals.
I usually listen to singer-songwriter, americana, country, and pop.
 
How does the Candenza 4 compare to the Truthear Nova (ignoring the price difference)?
I like a crisp, clean sound, with a clear mid-range, and good vocals.
I usually listen to singer-songwriter, americana, country, and pop.
Have you thought about Truthear Hexa? I prefer it over Nova and have had both.
 
Have you thought about Truthear Hexa? I prefer it over Nova and have had both.
Yes, that’s also a contender, but I will happily pay more if the Cadenza 4 is superior to both. When I say pay more I’m referring to the heavily discounted price. I wouldn’t consider it at full price.
 
Yes, that’s also a contender, but I will happily pay more if the Cadenza 4 is superior to both. When I say pay more I’m referring to the heavily discounted price. I wouldn’t consider it at full price.
Just get the Hexa IMO. You won't have to baby it and you can bring it with you anywhere without worrying. And you will help send a message to manufacturers that neutral tuning has some market demand.

Otherwise yeah C4 seems like a good deal discounted. Specs looks good and the tuning has been well received.
 
I ended up ordering the Candenza 4, down to $132 for Black Friday.
I have no need for a new earphone, and can barely tell a good one from a bad one, but I don't think I have a neutral tuning in my collection, so what the heck.
 
I ended up ordering the Candenza 4, down to $132 for Black Friday.
I have no need for a new earphone, and can barely tell a good one from a bad one, but I don't think I have a neutral tuning in my collection, so what the heck.
$132 is a damn good deal.
 
Recommend these if anyone is interested. Fit great & sound great, at least to my ears. Using the Penon Liqueur orange tips, and these things are practically glued to my ears.
I think these are probably the new favorites in my collection.....guess I'd call it a budget collection since everything I own was well under $200 on sale. They are quite smooth. Some of my other IEMs sound a bit harsh when I go back to them. These are not heavy on the bass though, if that's your thing.
 
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