Between the Cadenza 12 and Monarch MKIII, the Cadenza 12 comes out ahead in impedance and driver count, while the Monarch MKIII wins on sensitivity. Overall, the Cadenza 12 scores 70.1 and the Monarch MKIII scores 72.9 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are nearly even on the Mars Score (70.1 vs 72.9). The decision isn't about overall quality — both clear the bar — it's about which specific trade-offs fit your use.
Pick the Cadenza 12 if you care most about impedance and driver count. The biggest gaps in its favor are impedance, driver count.
Pick the Monarch MKIII if you care most about sensitivity. Its strongest claims are sensitivity.
Both ship with comparable detachable cable, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity tells you both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Why Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 wins
- ▲Impedance — 6.00 Ω less. 16 vs 22.
- ▲Driver count — 2.00 more. 12 vs 10.
Why ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII wins
- ▲Sensitivity — 6.67% more. 112 dB vs 105 dB.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 12lead | 10 |
| Driver types | 1DD + 8BA + 2EST + 1BC Tetrabrid | 1DD + 6BA + 2EST + 1 Bone Conduction Tribrid |
| Impedanceⓘ | 16 Ωlead | 22 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 105 dB | 112 dBlead |
Build
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | ThieAudio - Monarch MKIII |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | 0.78mm 2-pinlead | 2-pin |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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