Between the Cadenza 12 and IER-Z1R, the Cadenza 12 comes out ahead in impedance / driver count, while the IER-Z1R wins on several specs. Overall, the Cadenza 12 scores 70.1 and the IER-Z1R scores 50.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The Cadenza 12 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 19.8 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 impedance / driver count. The biggest gaps in its favor are impedance, driver count, sensitivity.
The IER-Z1R similarly does not 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 do not 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
- ▲Impedance — 24.00 Ω less. 16 vs 40.
- ▲Driver count — 9.00 more. 12 vs 3.
- ▲Sensitivity — 1.94% more. 105 dB vs 103 dB.
Why Sony - IER-Z1R wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Drivers
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | Sony - IER-Z1R |
|---|---|---|
| Driver count | 12lead | 3 |
| Driver types | 1DD + 8BA + 2EST + 1BC Tetrabrid | 2 Dynamic + 1 Balanced Armature |
| Impedanceⓘ | 16 Ωlead | 40 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 105 dBlead | 103 dB |
Build
| Spec | Letshuoer - Cadenza 12 | Sony - IER-Z1R |
|---|---|---|
| Detachable cable | true | true |
| Connector | 0.78mm 2-pinlead | MMCX |
Spec-level deep dives
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