Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR VS Moondrop Kadenz

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

Home Ranking Compare IEMs

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR and Moondrop Kadenz are in-ear monitors. Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR costs $160 while Moondrop Kadenz costs $190. Moondrop Kadenz is $30 more expensive. Moondrop Kadenz holds a slight 0.4-point edge in reviewer scores (6.5 vs 6.9).

Insights

Metric Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR Moondrop Kadenz
Bass 6.5 6.9
Mids 6.5 7
Treble 6.5 7.3
Details 6.5 6.3
Soundstage 6.5 6.1
Dynamics 6.5 5
Tonality 7 6.6
Technicalities 6.5 6.7
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Average Reviewer Score:

6.5

Cautiously Favorable


Moondrop Kadenz Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Average Reviewer Score:

6.9

Cautiously Favorable


Reviews Comparison

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR (more reviews)

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR reviewed by Crin

Crin 6.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
B+ Tech
An ER4 with a bit less treble and upper extension.

Crin original ranking

Crin Youtube Channel

Moondrop Kadenz (more reviews)

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Super* Review

Super* Review 8* * score rescaled + normalized
Nice physicality and punch. Better bass as most basy IEMs. Okay technicalities. Image Separation is not the widest but decent.

Super* Review original ranking

Super* Review Youtube Channel
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Price: $219

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Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Paul Wasabii

Paul Wasabii 7.2 * Score computed by IEMRanking.com
A Tuning
B+ Tech
Neutral, timbre-first single DD with natural mids and pulled-back bass/treble; great for acoustic and slower tracks, less engaging for EDM. Stage is intimate and resolution is not the focus. Natural, emotive mids with coherent neutral-neutral tuning; three nozzle lengths help fine-tune treble to ear geometry. Upper-treble energy and sub-bass lift are restrained, making resolution, dynamics and stage feel smaller; heavy shells may challenge comfort for some users.
Youtube Video Summary

Kadenz targets a timbre-focused presentation with a neutral-neutral balance. The shells are hefty with a matte finish, and the kit includes three nozzle lengths that subtly shift treble interaction at the ear. The aim is natural tone over spectacle—ideal for listeners who value correctness rather than bass slam, etched detail, or airy sparkle.

Bass follows a gentle sub- to mid-bass arc that stays neutral—full enough for weight yet never boomy. The mids are the centerpiece: emotive, convincingly natural, and free from bass bleed. Lower treble is crisp without spikes, while the upper treble is rolled back, yielding an easy-listening, coherent sound some may label as “boring,” but which serves timbre and vocals well.

Technicalities lean modest: the stage sits mostly inside the head with some depth and no bright spots, and overall resolving power is less resolving than detail-chasing sets. It excels with acoustic and slower material where vocal expression shines, but it's less suited to high-energy genres that rely on air and treble drive. A specialist tuning that prioritizes natural mids over fireworks.

Bass: B+ Mids: A+ Treble: B+ Soundstage: B Details: B

Paul Wasabii original ranking

Paul Wasabii Youtube Channel

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Z-Reviews

Z-Reviews 7.2 * score rescaled + normalized

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Jaytiss

Jaytiss 7 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
A- Tech
Great Cohessiveness and tonality. Upper air is very nice.

Jaytiss original ranking

Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Mids: B Treble: A- Dynamics: C+ Soundstage: B

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Jays Audio

Jays Audio 6 Reviewer Score
A Tuning
B+ Tech
Literally a more fancy Tangzu Xuan NV. Sounds basically the same but just with better packaging, cable/case, and build... but for $100 more?? Nah

Jays Audio original ranking

Jays Audio Youtube Channel

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Gizaudio Axel

Gizaudio Axel 6 Reviewer Score
B Tuning
B+ Tech

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Tim Tuned

Tim Tuned 5.5 Reviewer Score
B- Tuning
A- Tech
check links for more info:

Tim Tuned original ranking

Tim Tuned Youtube Channel
Bass: A- Mids: A- Treble: A+

Moondrop Kadenz reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 8.5 * score rescaled + normalized
2 community members have rated the Moondrop Kadenz at an average of 4.5/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Moondrop Kadenz User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

No user reviews yet. Be the first one who writes a review!

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.7

Gaming Grade

B+

Moondrop Kadenz Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

6.7

Gaming Grade

B+

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A-
  • It balances warmth and clarity well, showing only minor quirks along the way. Timbre feels believable with most instruments.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • It offers a competent showing, maintaining cohesion on straightforward arrangements. Complex passages start to challenge it, but never derail the show.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Moondrop Kadenz Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B+
  • A mostly enjoyable signature keeps things listenable despite a handful of quirks. It handles most playlists without major complaints.

Average Technical Grade

B+
  • The presentation is steady if unspectacular, holding onto essential details when the music stays simple. Fine details occasionally slip through the cracks.
Bass B+
Low end hits with respectable impact while staying reasonably tidy. You get a healthy sense of rhythm.
Mids A-
The mids sound lush and articulate, capturing emotion effortlessly. Strings and keys shimmer with realism.
Treble A-
It provides outstanding treble finesse, balancing brightness and control gracefully. It's engaging yet remarkably controlled.
Dynamics C+
Dynamics feel competent, bringing energy without the finest detail. It carries energy without sounding aggressive.
Soundstage B
The presentation supplies a believable venue outline where each instrument owns its pocket of space. The stage opens up nicely for live cuts.
Details B
Recordings feel well sorted, with supporting details snapping to attention. Small articulations remain intact.
Gaming B+
Respectable environmental presentation favors atmosphere over precision. Detects obvious directional cues while conveying game world ambiance.

Etymotic ER3SE/ER3XR User Reviews

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Moondrop Kadenz User Reviews

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Price: $285

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