Short answer: the Shuoer Cadenza 12. Both are rated 4.2/5 for sound quality (#187 and #206 of 450 in-ear headphones), and the Shuoer Cadenza 12 costs $2,299 against $2,599 for the Softears Karma, with sound quality a draw, the lower price decides it.
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. The tradeoff: 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 Shuoer Cadenza 12. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $300 less than the Softears Karma.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Shuoer Cadenza 12 | Softears Karma | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,299.00 | $2,599.00 |
| Ranked | #187 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones | #206 of 450 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by HypetheSonics, via AutoEQ) | 76 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.92 dB standard deviation | 1.80 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.43 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 11 balanced armature) | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 bone conduction + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 MEMS) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 11 x balanced armature | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x bone conduction + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x MEMS |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB/mW | 122 dB/V |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to Shuoer Cadenza 12:
- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs Shuoer Cadenza 4
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- Shuoer Cadenza 12 vs qdc Gemini
- Softears Karma vs qdc Gemini
- Softears Karma vs Unique Melody MEST Fortune
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
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
Softears Karma: $2,599.00 HiFiGo eBay
Full Softears Karma review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2026 (4 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.80 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 2 bone conduction + 4 balanced armature + 2 electrostatic + 1 MEMS) |
| Drivers | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 2 x bone conduction + 4 x balanced armature + 2 x electrostatic + 1 x MEMS |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 7 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 122 dB/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons