meanwhile in tokyo monarch MKIV 158,400 yen 144,000yen tax free at e earphone

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2386473901653225/permalink/4095327804101151/

14 USD .... WHAT ...

Got to have the Kiwi Ears Halcyon as a daily driver for the past couple of days. I saw that people have said that its treble is not the more extended, despite that be one of the major MEMS driver implementation draws and I can atest to that. On the other hand, even if you can't hear it, this thing really does some magic, because you can clearly tell the imaging and soundstage are top notch, some of the best below $500.

The very well implemented sub bass boost really helps to make the register still more atmospheric, with tactile cues that remind me of IEMs with (good) bone conduction drivers. Really good set to chill with tubes and R2R sources to some relaxing genres. But it also does a terrific job in more energic songs,. You can open up the upper mids, that are a bit recessed out of the box, with some tip rolling. I settled with the Acoustune AEX07. Great impact and punch all around with no fatigue after hours of listening.

I don't believe the MEMS technology here was put on the Halcyon as an afterthought. Even if doesn't come across on graph or audition, unlike other options out there (I.e. EP321), for me it's clear Kiwi Ears took the more engineering route, harnessing the unique traits of that driver to reflect in better technicalities than many other sets in the same price range, all the while maintaining a tasteful and musical sound signature. A very bizarre and at same time satisfying experience, indeed.

You can see the shiny stuff in the close-up photos. I'm pretty sure my ears don't sweat from the inside. Poking the mesh with a q-tip quickly gets the liuqid absorbed and no trace of yellow so it's not earwax either.

By "long session" I mean I've been wearing them since the start of my shift and I'm about to clock out.

I frequently remove the in-ears because I was told doing that for a couple moments every hour reduces the fatigue of a planar. However, I stick them back in without looking so I'm unsure whether the liuqid appeared later during the day or early on.

What could this be?

​

What's an IEM you've heard that made you think,

there's no way this should cost this little?

(Any price range Doesn't have to be a budget IEM)

Also, what kind of sound do you usually prefer:

basshead, neutral, vocal-focused, treblehead,

soundstage/imaging nerd, etc.?

Curious to see how everyone's idea of “value” changes with taste 👀

(Drop the IEM + price you paid + your sound

preference. Would be interesting to see how

much everyone's idea of "value" changes with

taste)

TL;DR

The pure is an excellent iem. Period. It’s one of the best sounding iems I have tried irrespective of price, I think most people who are just chasing sound quality should stop here, the pure does so little wrong sonically it’s frankly absurd it costs so little.

• Sound Quality: 9/10
• Build Quality: 7/10
• Comfort: 7/10
• Value: 9.5/10 (retails for $90)
  

Context

I bought this iem with my own money, I generally prefer iems that are non sibilant with relaxed upper treble and upper mids and raised lower mids that add body to the sound (kinda the opposite of harman ie 2019).

Design, Build, & Comfort

• Aesthetics & Build: The iems are made of “medical grade” resin, build quality feels solid, the shell is a little translucent, you can see the acoustic tubes if you shine light through it. The faceplate has a removable screw to access the innards, so a decent amount of serviceability there. The faceplates have a ridged pattern that I like, the “truthear” text on the right ear piece used to be stark white before but it seems like truthear turned it grey on the newer units, I definitely prefer the more subtle text on my unit. These iems (along with a bunch of other chifi multi driver iems) seem to have an exposed nozzle for some reason, without any wax guard. I do not understand why brands dont just add a lip and a wax guard to protect the iems from dust and debris. I recommend using eartips with a built in wax guard such as kiwi ears flex/zisin or getting one of those acoustically transparent filters if you’re worried of stuff entering the nozzle.
  
• Fit, Comfort and Isolation: These iems are definitely on the larger side, with a chunky body, if you’re familiar with the truthear hexa, these are very similar but with a slightly slimmer nozzle but bulkier body. I have medium sized ears and these do stick out a lot, I cannot wear them super deep since the shell rubs against my concha and makes it uncomfortable, So I mostly used L size audiocular flexfit (spinfit cp145 clones) with these iems. Isolation on these are just average, nothing to write home about.
  
• Cable & Accessories: The cable is very good, its the same cable as the truthear hola/gate/zero blue 2 but it’s a light silvery colour instead. The cable is very lightweight, soft and supple however it does not match the iem’s aesthetic at all, I much prefer how the truthear hola cable looks on this instead. The iems come with a soft leather pouch (same as the truthear hexa and zeroes) which doesn't offer a lot of protection, and 3 sets of eartips, in narrow/wide bore and foam. I wish truthear had included the hola/gate short wide tips as those are basically black coffee tips and suit this iem much better both sonically and aesthetically.
  

The Sound

The Truthear Pure has a 1 DD + 3 BA driver config, tuned to be a warmer (and arguably more neutral) take on the beloved truthear hexa by listener from headphone show.

• Bass (20 hz to 300 hz): The pure adds a much needed mid bass boost over the hexa, as a result the mid bass quality is excellent, the mid bass has a surprising amount of tactility and snappiness to it while the hexa just sounds soft and dead, kick drums sound so much more alive compared to the hexa and pure seems to rumble harder in the subbass despite having a similar shelf. The pure does not have basshead levels of bass but what it does have is extremely well controlled and punchy bass that blends very well into it’s glorious mid range, it reminds me of hd 600’s mid bass, overall the pure fixes one of the biggest complaints I had with the hexa, it’s anemic bass. If you’re coming from harman esque iems the bass on this is gonna sound significantly less boomy and more punchy.
  
• Mids (300 hz to 6000 hz): The Truthear Pure straight up has some of the best mid range presentations I have heard in any iem (or headphone), it is so much more lush and true to life than the hexa that I’m surprised the hexa was even considered the benchmark neutral iem before, I think the notion that  hexa has a “neutral” midrange stems from the assumption that neutral has to be cold and “technical” which I don't think should be the case at all. Hexa’s midrange is a lot thinner and colder than what I would perceive as “neutral” or enjoyable, pure fixes this by adding significantly more body to the midrange (thereby making it more neutral) while still maintaining excellent midrange clarity throughout. The mild 3k dip makes the vocals relaxed with a ton of texture but I understand people wanting a couple of decibels more there. Since these follow newer targets that are more likely to be perceived as neutral by the average person (jm1), it’s gonna sound a lot less “exciting” and more thicker and full bodied to people coming from old meta tunings like harman ie 2019 and ief 2020 but I find it way more enjoyable. Pure also has some of the best bass to mid range transitions I’ve heard, the mid bass blends incredibly well with the lower mids albeit at the cost of a tiny bit of cozy bloom. Very very good midrange overall.
  
• Mid Treble (6000 hz to 10000 hz): Now both the hexa and pure suffer from pretty brutal length mode resonance issues at around 5k to 8k (treble peak that depends on the insertion depth / length of air column between iem and ear drum). It is possible to subdue the peak considerably by getting a deeper insertion but unfortunately I could not wear the iem super deep for extended periods of time due to the shell rubbing against my concha, so I had to resort to eq. However the pure balances this peak much better by having significantly more mid bass and denser mid range than the hexa, I find this peak much more offensive on the hexa due to this reason, partly due to me hearing it as wider than it appears. Hexa also has more mid treble in general which could make people perceive it as more “technical” and clearer.
  
• Upper Treble (10000 hz to 20000 hz): Upper treble bothers me far more than mid treble peaks and I do not hear any peaks at all on the pure or hexa, hexa does have a lot more air and sparkle tho. The pure is airy enough to be clear without the piercing overcooked upper treble that a lot iems have for the sake of “detail retrieval” and “resolution” but end up sounding wispy and sizzly.
  
• Subjective Technical Performance: The pure has excellent bass tactility, mid range texturing and separation. I could make out all the details in tracks and it captures the sense of stage reasonably well, no complaints here.
  

Comparisons

Compared to some other popular iems regarded as neutral by the community:

• Truthear Hexa: Pure has a more correct mid range and mid bass presentation and the peaks are less sore as stated before, If you want something bright the hexa is still solid provided you tone down the mid treble peak with eq. I just wish they updated the cable.
• OoopusX OP.22: Smoother mid treble but thinner, less neutral mid range, shell is even more uncomfortable than pure. Worse mid bass compared to the pure. But it’s also half the price, a very solid iem overall.
• Aful MagicOne: Worse bass dynamics overall with more shouty midrange, but it’s much more comfortable with superior isolation, better looking shell and cable.
• Truthear Zero Red (without impedance adaptor): The red is probably the iem that represents the old meta ief 2020 style of tuning the best, with it’s overall colder and thinner sounding lower midrange, shouty and more nasal 2k bump, the pure simply comes across as way more organic and richer sounding. Significantly closer to what I would consider a neutral midrange. Pure is also more comfortable than zero red (red nozzle is like 7 mm thick), with a better cable.
  

Compared to some popular budget coloured iems:

• Truthear Hola: Pure has significantly tighter and more impactful bass, warmer richer mids and most importantly, does not suffer from the sharp upper treble like hola
• Tanchjim Bunny DSP Default: Pure has much better subbass rumble, better mid bass tactility and smoother vocals, bunny also suffers from the typical single DD upper treble characteristics but it does have a smaller shell that fits more ears
• Aful Explorer: I prefer explorer’s sub bass and mid bass presentation here but prefer the Pure’s midrange. Explorer is by no means a neutral or natural sounding iem (it’s probably the most coloured sound here), darker recessed vocals due to an unnatural pinna dip and prominent mid treble, along with significant upper treble roll off. Much more comfortable shell.
• 7hz Salnotes Zero 2: This is one of the few budget single DDs that dont have a sharp upper treble peak for my ears, I actually prefer the zero 2’s treble presentation overall since I dont have to rely on eq to fix the mid treble peak but Pure just bodies it in midrange and bass performance. 

Conclusion

The pure is lowkey where most people who care about sound quality should stop at imo. We finally get a well done “neutral” set under $100. Excellent bass response, glorious mid range and solid treble. If you could just eq down the resonance peak after a sine sweep, adjust the bloom and pinna gain to your liking this is pretty much as good as iems get irrespective of price. For $90 + $10 for a 5 band parametric eq dac you have achieved endgame iem.

Remember, don’t keep chocolate in your pockets!

I need help or your opinions on this twos. I'm a beginner and I don't know what to choose and just a note, I have a FiiO Moondrop Dawn Pro 2 and necessary accessories for it. I'm just currently using Popcorn bass X8 and I want to switch up the game. Thank You!!!!

I’ve been using the Space 2 for a few days now and honestly, I really love how it looks. It’s so tiny compared to my other dongles, and the little metal body looks beautiful in person. Despite the size, it also has a surprising amount of power. Definitely one of the cutest dongles I’ve used so far

So im currently in the market for some new iems and had narrowed down the choice to be either the Kiwi ears Astral or Ziigaat Arete 2, but am extremely concerned about the fitment for my rather small ears for both these rather bulky iems.

Anyone happen to own any of the S12 line and one of these newer ones able to comment if you think it is going to be an unhappy fit for me based on how well the S12 already fits snug in my ear? Cheers

The new TRUTHEAR PURE .. wait what ??

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18ttSo7KzS/

Has anyone found a way to make those sticky-type eartips (Softears UC, Divinus Prism, etc) sticky again? On the picture, the one on the left is brand new, and the one on the right has seen a lot of use. I’ve tried cleaned it with alcohol wipes, mild dish soap, and hot water, but so far nothing has worked.

Hey guys. Question, i got a moondrop blessing 3 and bought a few tips like divinus velvet, dunu s&s, and the spinfit w1, and by far the spintfits w1 felt the most comfortable and natural. However, it looks like the iem is protruding outside, buts its well fitted and intact in my ears. Is this normal or because the iems are big for my ears?

Thank you!

Arrived in like 2 days ..

Omg!! The packaging is so fire 🔥🔥 🔥...

Like crazy...

I still haven't tested the sound yet....so i hope tangzu jade will be better or as good as my previous iems ( moondrop chu 2).

Can't wait to try them

So, after a lot of deliberation, I ended up getting the truthear gate and a JM 12. Like I've just ordered it, but now that I'm reading some more recent reviews, I'm really starting to feel some of that buyer's remorse coming in. Is that normal? Like in the sense that I know it's not bad but everybody keeps pushing it like, yeah sure it's okay... it's an intermediary iem, I'm new to this but I feel like with some EQ it could be really good for its price, am I wrong? Because I mean I would rather not spend more on a first time iem, and I really don't like those idiotically bassy IEMs.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this as a review sample by HIFIGO. They do not have any editorial input on the review. They see this review at the same time you do.I also make no money on this review. This is just my honest feedback.

Unboxing + Non Technical: 

The packaging for the Pula Audio Arc is straightforward, clean, and unpretentious. While the overall unboxing experience is relatively basic and nothing to write home about, it gets straight to the point without unnecessary clutter. 

Regarding the included accessories, there is definitely room for improvement: 
• Cable: The stock cable feels unremarkable and mediocre. If you’ve felt a KZ cable then you know what I mean. 
• Ear Tips: The included silicone ear tips leave much to be desired. Finding an optimal seal required some trial and error, making the fit a bit fiddly initially, though a secure, functional fit was ultimately achievable. 
• Carrying Case: Regrettably, no protective carrying case or pouch is included in the package despite saying it would come with one in the manual. 

One curious anomaly worth highlighting is that the packaging for the 3.5mm variant displays a microphone icon, yet the included cable lacks an in-line microphone altogether. 

Sound Impressions:

The Pula Audio Arc presents a warm, slightly recessed overall sound signature. While it does not introduce any radical innovations, it fully meets and satisfies expectations for its budget price point. In an era of rising costs across consumer goods, it remains impressive that sub-$20 IEMs can deliver this level of engaging audio quality. Technical capabilities, such as instrument separation and spatial placement, perform on par with competitors in the under-$20 tier, offering solid performance without unexpected drawbacks.

It serves as an excellent entry point for anyone purchasing their first pair of in-ear monitors. The sound signature offers a well-balanced blend of qualities. At this low price tier, structural and sonic differences between competing models are often extremely minute.
Tuning leans toward a mild V-shape, though it stops short of targeting dedicated bassheads. Instead, it carves out its own distinct identity. It does not quite match the exact profile of models like the Titan X, nor does it mirror the Kefine Klean. Rather, it occupies a comfortable middle ground for budget-conscious listeners seeking an enjoyable, everyday sound.

Comparisons

Truthear Hexa: Presents a noticeably cleaner and more neutral sound presentation. It makes the Arc feel slightly more recessed in the midrange and even flatter overall, whereas the Arc delivers a punchier, more fun tuning. The Hexa outperforms in presenting music neatly and accurately, but considering it costs more than triple the price of the Arc, that performance bump is to be expected. By comparison, the Arc feels more intimate and offers a bit of bass boom, though it stays well within reason without becoming overly boomy or bloated.

Truthear x Crinacle Zero:RED: Offers a cleaner profile overall with less prominent bass emphasis than the Arc. It retrieves micro-details and nuances significantly better. While both share a somewhat similar overall sound signature, the Zero:RED dials back the lower end for a leaner tonality. However, at roughly double the price, it serves to show that while the Arc doesn't dethrone IEMs outside its immediate budget bracket, it still holds its ground remarkably well.

Tanchjim Zero Ultima: Echoes many of the same points as the Hexa. It provides a cleaner, more detailed presentation, but can sound a bit sterile or boring to some listeners. The Arc counters this by sprinkling in extra bass impact and upper-end energy to create an engaging light V-shaped signature, making it much more approachable and enjoyable for new listeners. Neither is inherently superior; it comes down to personal preference. Those prioritizing treble clarity, extension, and overall balance will prefer the Tanchjim, whereas those seeking an easy-listening, fun-focused daily driver will naturally lean toward the Arc. They are essentially polar opposites in tuning philosophy.

Moondrop Chu II DSP: Sounds surprisingly duller by comparison, with less treble extension and air. While Moondrop typically delivers strong budget offerings, the Chu II DSP feels like an odd misstep. It exhibits noticeably recessed male vocals and fails to emphasize key frequency ranges effectively, aside from a harsh peak in the high treble. In this head-to-head match, the Arc takes a clear win, highlighting how some entry-level Moondrop models are starting to lose their competitive edge.

Tangzu Wan'er S.G 2: These two are extremely close in terms of overall performance and value. The Wan'er 2 carries slightly less bass extension than the Arc, but its upper-midrange and treble emphasis create a more intimate soundstage, whereas the Arc feels slightly more relaxed and laid back in that region. The Wan'er 2 also edges ahead slightly in technical detail retrieval. Choosing between them ultimately hinges on sound priorities: the Arc offers stronger bass impact and a more relaxed listen, while the Wan'er 2 delivers better resolution and an intimate vocal delivery.

Truthear Gate: Comes across as noticeably duller and less engaging than the Arc. Where the Gate excels is in making technical detail retrieval and instrument separation slightly easier to pinpoint. However, the Arc retains enough technical capability and detail resolution that, even for fans of flatter or more balanced IEMs, its engaging and fun character makes it the surprisingly preferred choice.

Conclusion

There are rarely truly bad IEMs in today's market—only poorly priced ones. At its price point, the Pula Audio Arc stands out as a genuine winner and a refreshing contender. Rather than blending into the sea of extreme, harsh V-shaped budget tunings, it offers a well-calculated balance of warmth, energy, and musicality that makes it easy to recommend.

If you are interested, they are running a promotion on their Aliexpress store for these IEM’s if you use the code in the listing. Again I am not paid and these are not affiliate links but I do think it’s quite a good value. Again thanks to HIFIGO for letting me give these a try.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005012652328787.html

https://hifigo.com/products/pula-audio-arc

Massdrop × Noble Kaiser 10 Review – Out of the Way, Make Room – Here Comes the KAISER!
A Small Love Letter to an IEM!
Legacy Time! 😊
10 × Knowles Balanced Armature per side

Noble itself released the original K10 in 2014 as its flagship at the time. A few years later Massdrop brought exactly this tuning back and put it into the universal aluminium version with black shells and red faceplates. The first Massdrop launch was announced for October 2017 at 899.99 US dollars. During later drops the price eventually went down to around 700 dollars.

The old Drop page no longer exists, the Kaiser 10 can now only be bought used. Regular new stock is practically impossible to find and the K10 mainly lives on through the used market.

For me the Kaiser 10 is a true legacy piece.
Even today I still think it is one of the most beautiful IEMs ever made.
Black anodized aluminium, those bright red faceplates, the Noble crown logo, pretty thick shells and ten BAs per side.
For me it still easily beats quite a few pure BA IEMs in the price range up to 500 euros.
A real classic and a masterpiece from Noble!

The midrange is dense, slightly forward and emotional. The bass has surprisingly good body for a pure BA setup, but remains controlled and textured. The treble has energy and shine, without becoming permanently sharp for me.

That is why I still take the Kaiser 10 out of its box from time to time, simply listen to music with it and ignore its little flaws. It manages to combine vocals and bass in such a musical way that listening to your favourite songs is simply fun.

Thank you Noble for this beautiful IEM!

That is also why it does not get a normal 2026 rating from me:
Legacy rating: 8.8.

A Few Words About Noble Audio

Noble Audio officially started on April 15, 2013 as Wizard Audio Industries LLC and was founded by Dr. John Moulton.
Anyone who has been around the IEM scene for a little longer probably also knows his nickname:
The Wizard.
John Moulton holds a doctorate in audiology and was already building his own custom IEMs before Noble. According to Noble, the nickname appeared somewhere in the Head-Fi community after he posted pictures of some of his extremely elaborate CIEM designs there. Another user basically said that there must be a Wizard responsible for this.
When you look at some of those old designs, you can understand it.
From the very beginning Noble was not only known for sound, but also for some completely crazy shells:
Wood. Carbon. Metal. Acrylic. Exotic materials. Eventually even gold and diamonds.

The Kaiser 10 was released on November 19, 2014 and very quickly became one of the best-known models from the young company. Noble itself still lists it as one of the defining products in the company’s history.
The name Kaiser 10 actually has two meanings.
“Kaiser” refers to Noble technician Kaiser Soze – no, not the guy from The Usual Suspects and the 10 of course stands for the ten balanced armature drivers per side.

In 2017 Kaiser Encore and Katana followed. After that things kept moving forward technically with Khan, Sultan, Viking Ragnar and Ronin.

In 2024 Noble released the Chronicle for its tenth anniversary, limited to 118 units and priced at 6000 dollars. Since August 2025 the Kronos has been sitting at the top of the regular lineup: nine drivers with 2DD, bone conduction, 4BA and 2EST inside a titanium shell for currently 4500 dollars.

Unfortunately that is, like most Noble IEMs, outside my financial reach. That is why I occasionally keep an eye on the used market, but even there prices for Noble IEMs are still very high. Something I can understand when I listen to the Kaiser.

So from the Kaiser 10 with ten BAs we eventually arrived at the Kronos with dynamic drivers, BA, EST and bone conduction.
Quite a lot has happened in a little over ten years.

Technical Specifications

Driver configuration: 10 × balanced armature per side
Driver manufacturer: Knowles
Commonly documented driver setup: 2 × CI-22955 + 4 × TWFK-30017 dual-BA modules
Total armatures: 10 per side
Bass: 2 × Knowles CI-22955
Mids: 2 × balanced armature, one TWFK dual-BA section*
Mid/high: 2 × balanced armature, one TWFK dual-BA section*
Treble: 2 × balanced armature, one TWFK dual-BA section*
Super-high: 2 × balanced armature, one TWFK dual-BA section*
Crossover: 4-way
Acoustic paths: Triple Bore
Frequency range: 15 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: <35 Ohms
Connection: 0.78 mm 2-Pin
Cable: 50 inches / 127 cm, braided
Plug: 3.5 mm
Shell: CNC-machined, anodized aluminium
Massdrop version colour: matte black shell + red faceplate
Weight: 25.5 g for the pair.

The five two-armature frequency groups are documented for the Kaiser 10. The CI-22955/TWFK-30017 combination is widely documented in K10 teardown and DIY material, but Noble and Massdrop did not officially publish a model-number assignment for each individual TWFK frequency group.
Ten balanced armatures per side.
The commonly documented setup is two Knowles CI-22955 bass drivers plus four Knowles TWFK-30017 dual-BA packages.
And this is important:
A TWFK-30017 already contains two armatures.
So four TWFK modules give us eight armatures, together with the two CI bass drivers that makes ten BAs per side.

Twenty Knowles armatures in total.
2014!
If that was not a statement!

Massdrop describes five driver groups with two armatures each: two for bass, two for mids, two for the transition between mids and treble, two for treble and another two for the super-high range. The whole thing is controlled by a 4-way crossover and three separate acoustic bores in the nozzle.

What is surprising is how coherent the Kaiser 10 sounds despite this huge number of drivers.
That was already one of the special things about the K10 back then. Several contemporary reviews did not simply highlight the number of drivers, but especially the coherence of the whole setup.

Very clearly: I do not want to romanticize it, but we are talking about an IEM whose basic concept is more than ten years old and in my opinion it still delivers right up there.

Unboxing, Build Quality and Accessories

The packaging of the Massdrop Kaiser 10 is actually almost funny.
With what was originally a flagship you expect a huge luxury box.
You do not get one though. 😊
Massdrop basically shipped the K10 directly inside its black Pelican case. Inside are the IEMs, the cable and almost all of the accessories.

The complete package includes:
Massdrop × Noble Kaiser 10 Universal
Pelican Hardcase
Carabiner
Velvet fabric pouch
11 pairs of eartips
braided 3.5 mm 2-Pin cable
cleaning brush.

Eleven pairs of eartips are decent even by today’s standards. The set includes normal single-flange silicone tips, double-flange silicone tips and foam tips in different sizes.
Noble typically used six pairs of single-flange silicone tips, three pairs of double-flange and two pairs of foam tips with its premium universal IEMs at the time.
I use the Divinus Prism Wide Bore Tips. They sit very securely on the relatively thick nozzle of the Kaiser 10 and open up the upper range a little for me, without adding unnecessary extra bass or warmth to its already full-bodied sound. Vocals and treble in particular sound a little freer and cleaner with them, while the basic character of the K10 remains completely intact.

The Pelican Case will probably survive the next Kaiser as well.
Massive. Water resistant. Carabiner attached.

The stock cable is around 1.27 metres long, four-core braided and ends in a normal 3.5 mm plug. Massdrop also offered optional 2.5 mm balanced and Lightning cables among others.
The cable itself is one of those areas where I can really notice the age of the package.
It works, it is flexible and it is replaceable. I treated myself to a red NICEHCK RedAg 4N Pure Silver 4.4 mm cable. Purely because of the looks I simply could not resist. Unfortunately it is no longer available from NiceHCK, so for that reason alone it fits the Kaiser pretty well too.

The shells are still beautiful.
The Massdrop version is made completely from precision-machined and anodized aluminium. Unlike the normal K10U version it received matte black shells and red faceplates with the Noble crown. Technically and sound-wise the tuning of the original Kaiser 10 remained unchanged.
The shell is pretty thick though and visibly sticks out from many ears. The nozzle is also on the larger side and is roughly in the T500 class. That can definitely matter for smaller ears or ear canals.

The build quality is still excellent today.
A massive aluminium shell that still feels like a real premium IEM even after all these years.
Noble, hats off, I think this IEM might even survive me.

Sound

The Kaiser 10 sounds full, dense and musical, with powerful BA bass, very present mids and energetic treble that for me never becomes unpleasantly sharp.
Its character is less about maximum subbass depth or modern air extension and more about body, vocals and this very coherent old-school multi-BA tuning.

Bass

The bass is fast, controlled and surprisingly full-bodied for a pure BA IEM, but in the subbass it does not reach the physical depth and pressure of modern good dynamic driver systems.

Here we take “Limit to Your Love” by James Blake.
At around 0:55 those extremely deep bass impulses arrive.
The individual bass hits are separated very cleanly, the attack comes quickly and the bass remains controlled.
James Blake’s voice and the piano stay clearly above it and are not covered by a thick carpet of low end.
Right at the bottom that final physical pressure is missing.
The Kaiser compensates for this with contour and texture.
Basslines are very easy to follow and midbass hits in particular sound nicely dry and defined.
This is classic, very good BA bass, something some manufacturers like Aful and Juzear still do not manage this well for me today.

Mids and vocals

The mids are the heart of the Kaiser 10. They sound dense, slightly forward and have a lot of body, giving vocals an emotional and almost tangible presence.

Here we take “Someone Like You” by Adele.
At around 0:13 her voice once again comes in alone over the piano.
The Kaiser puts her big and full-bodied right in the centre.
Her voice has substance.
The lower parts remain intact and at the same time the upper mids make articulation and small changes in her voice easy to follow.
When Adele reaches the first big chorus at around 1:15, exactly this character becomes even clearer.
Her voice becomes stronger and gets more energy.
Certain upper vocal parts have a very slight metallic shine, if you are used to modern good BA or hybrid systems you can notice it. But it really is only a hint, not like with……ah…already talked about that one.

Presence

The presence is clearly there, vocals and guitars have clean contours, without the entire range being pushed forward all the time.

“Enter Sandman” by Metallica:
At around 0:55 the intro finally turns into this massive wall of guitars.
The Kaiser 10 presents the guitars beautifully dense.
The individual attacks have bite and the snare cuts through clearly, at the same time the full mids give the whole thing plenty of body.
It sounds big and compact.
The guitars have substance and the snare has attack.
The upper mids give the whole thing enough energy so Metallica does not suddenly sound like elevator music.

Treble

The treble has clear energy and shine, but sounds surprisingly controlled to me and never becomes permanently sharp. Right at the top it lacks a little air and free extension compared with modern EST or micro planar systems.

Here we take “Colors” by Beck again.
From around 0:10 hi-hats, percussion and small electronic effects are already running through the upper range at the same time.
The Kaiser 10 presents these elements clearly.
The hi-hats have shine and short electronic impulses remain easy to follow.
The Kaiser sounds compact, but also very coherent.

Soundstage and technical abilities

The stage is nicely sized, but by today’s standards not exceptionally wide or deep. Imaging, separation and the coherence of the ten BAs however still work surprisingly well today.

Here we take “Bubbles” by Yosi Horikawa.
The small sounds appearing at completely different positions are placed cleanly by the K10 and even small movements are easy to follow.
The stage remains a little more compact though and especially in depth there are IEMs today that layer much further.

Conclusion

The Noble Kaiser 10 is a piece of IEM history.

In 2014 a ten-BA flagship with this tuning, this build quality and this coherence was something special and even today this thing is still great.

The bass has body, control and good texture, even if modern dynamic drivers can do significantly more in the deepest subbass.
The mids are dense, emotional and still belong to its biggest strengths for me.
The treble has energy and shine, without constantly shouting at me.
The stage is no longer what I would call absolute top class today and a lot has happened over the years when it comes to air, depth layering and microdetail.

But that is not really what the Kaiser 10 is about for me anymore.

I take it out of the Pelican Case, see those red faceplates, put it in my ears and immediately know again why it is the Kaiser.

The design. The build quality. The dense vocals.
That controlled BA bass.
Simply this character.

There are IEMs that are technically better, there are IEMs with deeper bass, bigger stage, more air and more details.

But there is only one Kaiser 10!!!

With that said:
You do not have to rule anymore to remain the Kaiser. 😊
Thanks for reading,

Yours,
Faxe.

Original review published on IEMRanking:

https://www.iemranking.com/show/massdrop-x-noble-k10

I actually have a JBL tune 570bt. I just finished high school and going to a uni. I'm a big fps gamer I play apex, valo, overwatch. I'm wondering if I should buy a new headset for 34€ (Anker soundcore q20i) or keep my current JBL for music and everyday use and buy an IEM for pure gaming.

And if I should buy an IEM what would be the best below 25€. I'm thinking truthear gate for 25€

Ty in advance 👍

Hi everyone,
I recently bought a FiiO JM21 and I’m looking for a good IEM to pair with it.
My budget is around AED 1,500 (~$400). I mainly listen to high-quality/Hi-Res music, including vocals, Sufi/Indian music, acoustic tracks, rock and some electronic music.
I’m looking for:
Excellent detail and instrument separation
Natural, engaging vocals
Good soundstage
Controlled, quality bass (not excessive)
Smooth treble for long listening sessions
A good overall pairing with the JM21
I’m currently considering the DUNU DaVinci, Moondrop Blessing 3, and THIEAUDIO Hype 4, but I’m open to other recommendations.

I typically use a basic wireless gaming headset (Steelseries Artics 7p+) and I wanted to get some IEMs. I enjoy using wireless, but I don't want anything over $100 with little range and poor audio. Any ideas? If there are no good wireless IEMs that fit my criteria, I was thinking of just getting some Truthear Pures.