Between the Cadenza 12 and IER-M9, the Cadenza 12 comes out ahead in driver count and impedance, while the IER-M9 wins on several specs. Overall, the Cadenza 12 scores 70.1 and the IER-M9 scores 54.5 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Cadenza 12 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 15.6 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the Cadenza 12 if you care most about driver count and impedance. The biggest gaps in its favor are driver count, impedance, sensitivity.
The IER-M9 similarly doesn't carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable detachable cable, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the Cadenza 12 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 wins
- ▲Driver count — 7.00 more. 12 vs 5.
- ▲Impedance — 2.00 Ω less. 16 vs 18.
- ▲Sensitivity — 1.94% more. 105 dB vs 103 dB.
Why Sony - IER-M9 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | Sony - IER-M9 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 12lead | 5 |
| Driver types | 1DD + 8BA + 2EST + 1BC Tetrabrid | 5 Balanced Armature |
| Impedanceⓘ | 16 Ωlead | 18 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 105 dBlead | 103 dB |
Build
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | Sony - IER-M9 |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | 0.78mm 2-pinlead | MMCX |
Spec-level deep dives
More from the same brands
vsMars is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.