Short answer: the Moondrop Psyche. It ranks #56 of 450 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $2,399. The Shuoer Cadenza 12 ranks #187, rated 4.2/5, at $2,299, $100 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Moondrop Psyche is the better-sounding pick.
Why pick the Shuoer Cadenza 12: A preference score of 76 with deep, well extended bass, only 0.5 dB short of target at 30 Hz from its 10 mm dynamic woofer. Watch for: An 8 dB dip near 5 kHz pulls the presence band 5.5 dB below target, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and soft.
Buy the Moondrop Psyche. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $100 with the Shuoer Cadenza 12 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Moondrop Psyche | Shuoer Cadenza 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,399.00 | $2,299.00 |
| Ranked | #56 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #187 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.26 dB standard deviation | 1.92 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 planar) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 11 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x planar | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 11 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 17.5 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V | 110 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 46kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 20Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Moondrop Psyche compares with other leading options:
- SoftEars RS10 vs Moondrop Psyche
- Moondrop Solis 2 vs Moondrop Psyche
- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs Softears Karma
- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs qdc Gemini
- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs Shuoer Cadenza 4
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Moondrop Psyche: $2,399.00 Amazon eBay
Full Moondrop Psyche review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.26 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (2 dynamic + 4 balanced armature + 4 planar) |
| Drivers | 2 x 10mm dynamic + 4 x balanced armature + 4 x planar |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 7Hz - 46kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 17.5 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 115 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.2 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.24 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Shuoer Cadenza 12: $2,299.00 Linsoul eBay
Pros: A preference score of 76 with deep, well extended bass, only 0.5 dB short of target at 30 Hz from its 10 mm dynamic woofer. The warm tilt and full low end suit listeners who prefer a bassy, relaxed presentation over a bright one. Its 110 dB/mW sensitivity and 16 ohm impedance make it easy to drive from a phone, and it rates well above the pricier Shure KSE1500.
Cons: An 8 dB dip near 5 kHz pulls the presence band 5.5 dB below target, so vocals, snare and guitar attack sound recessed and soft. The SoftEars RS10 costs less and carries a clearly higher rating.
Full Shuoer Cadenza 12 review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.92 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 11 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 11 x balanced armature |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -2.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,361 Hz | -2.8 dB | 1.27 |
| Peak | 3,336 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.12 |
| Peak | 6,210 Hz | +4.0 dB | 4.38 |
| Peak | 61 Hz | +2.6 dB | 1.23 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 182 Hz | -0.9 dB | 1.18 |
| Peak | 4,851 Hz | +2.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 94 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.37 |
| Peak | 4,263 Hz | -1.6 dB | 5.99 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons