Short answer: the Sonic Memory SM2. It ranks #42 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $249; the Shuoer Cadenza 4 ranks #70, rated 4.6/5, at $249. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
What the Sonic Memory SM2 does well: Tuned close to the Harman target that most listeners prefer in blind tests (preference score 83). The tradeoff: The rating reflects sound quality only; comfort, build and noise isolation are not part of the score.
The case for the Shuoer Cadenza 4: A preference score of 81.3 across 23 hobbyist measurements on squig.link puts its tuning close to the Harman target, with a nearly neutral tilt and 1.4 dB of overall deviation. Watch for: A 6.2 dB peak near 11.9 kHz and a 4.8 dB dip around 6 kHz make the treble uneven, so some cymbals sound distant while upper sparkle can turn sharp on bright recordings.
Buy the Sonic Memory SM2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Shuoer Cadenza 4 at the same price, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Tuned close to the Harman target that most listeners prefer in blind tests (preference score 83).
e-earphone (JP) eBay
A preference score of 81.3 across 23 hobbyist measurements on squig.link puts its tuning close to the Harman target, with a nearly neutral tilt and 1.4 dB of overall deviation.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sonic Memory SM2 | Shuoer Cadenza 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 | $249.00 |
| Ranked | #42 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #70 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 83 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 81 (median of 26 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.24 dB standard deviation | 1.40 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.16 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.02 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Hybrid (1 dynamic + 3 balanced armature) |
| Drivers | 1 x dynamic | 1 x 10mm dynamic + 3 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | - | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB |
| Frequency Response | - | 20Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Sonic Memory SM2 from lumerion, recode and therollo9; the Shuoer Cadenza 4 from achoreviews, aftersound, atechreviews, audioamigo, awsmdanny, banzai1122, bedrock, boizoff, cqtek, csi-zone, dl, flare, jaytiss, mmagtech, practiphile, precog, pw, sl0the, soundcheck39, soundignity, superreview, theaudiostore, timmyv, tonedeafmonk, treblewellxtended and vortexreviews, all via squig.link.
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