Cadenza12 vs S12 Pro: which needs more amplifier?

The Letshuoer Cadenza12 is 16Ω at 110.0 dB/mW; the Letshuoer S12 Pro is 16Ω at 102.0 dB/mW. This page is only about what they ask of an amplifier — not how they sound, which no specification on either sheet can tell you.

The S12 Pro needs 8.0 dB more than the Cadenza12 to reach the same loudness — 0.63 mW against 0.10 mW.

The numbers that decide it

SpecificationCadenza12S12 Pro
Impedance16 Ω16 Ω
Sensitivity110.0 dB/mW102.0 dB/mW
Sensitivity (voltage)128.0 dB/V120.0 dB/V
Power for 100 dB0.10 mW0.63 mW
Voltage for 100 dB40 mV0.10 V
Current for 100 dB2.5 mA6.3 mA
Highest source impedance
that leaves them alone (one-eighth rule)
2.00 Ω2.00 Ω
Sources that reach 100 dB
out of 280
280280

Where the two part company

Every source in the database that drives one of them drives the other. On power, the choice between these two changes nothing about what amplifier you need.

15 sources stay below the audible-hiss threshold with the S12 Pro but cross it with the Cadenza12 (FiiO BTR11, FiiO K11 R2R, Lake People G103-S Mk II, 12 more).

280 of the 280 sources here reach 100 dB on both. That count is about power only — the output-impedance and hiss lines above are separate questions, and a source can pass this one and fail those.

Both pages in full

Each model has a page of its own with the full source list, the hiss estimate and the provenance of every figure above: Letshuoer Cadenza12 and Letshuoer S12 Pro. Every figure on this page comes from what Letshuoer published, or is derived from it — what that maker publishes, counted.