PRE-REVIEW NOTES
The Kaiser Encore was provided to me as a sample for the purpose of this review.
I am a huge fan of the Kaiser 10. Those on the Noble thread who have seen my ramblings on the K10 would be fully aware of my fascination with its sound. My sonic preferences are mostly aligned towards a more midrange-boosted tonality, with a greater, accentuated low-end presence. The K10 fits that description pretty well, and boasts some of the best vocals in the industry, despite being several years old.
So, I was very intrigued when the Kaiser Encore was announced. A successor to the legendary K10? Well, count me interested. The hype was real; everyone on the Noble thread was convinced that this was the acclaimed heir to the throne. I was amongst those eagerly awaiting its arrival.
Fast forward a couple of months, and the very first time I tried them on was when I was in Tokyo in February. I brought my AK380 with me to the famed E-Earphone store and Akihabara, and I was ecstatic when I realised that the Encore was a recent arrival to the store’s demo floor. I immediately made my way to its listening booth (or space - it was shared with other Noble IEMs), took out the trusty Astell & Kern, and pressed play.
Suffice to say, I was initially shocked that this was supposed to be the new K10 - or an Encore version. It sounded nothing like its namesake, with a midrange that sounded thin and lacking in visceral body. I had my custom K10 with me at that time, and further comparisons with my unit and the store’s own universal K10 confirmed my worst fears. This was no improved K10; rather, it was a departure from that sweet, rich, coloured and wholesome sound.
So here I am, with a Kaiser Encore in my hands and some time to boot. Owing to my hectic work schedule, I could only make time for thorough listening sessions on weekends. Still, I took a fair bit of time to put the Encore through its paces, and I must say, I am now a fan.
So let's get to it, shall we?
SOUND
Soundstage & Imaging
Let’s start with the staging capabilities of the Encore, shall we? The original K10 sounded very intimate, but the Encore took that stage, and pulled it across all dimensions. The end result is a sound that promises a wider, deeper and higher 3-dimensional sound.
With the stage set, the Encore set about placing instruments and musicians in definite, coherent sections, and this effort translates into a very accurate and realistic imaging experience. I could accurately pick out the positions of that guitar solo, that thumping bass line, or that euphonic singer.
Thanks to the huge stage and some world class imaging skills, the Encore is effortless in its ability to articulate sounds. Vocals or instruments are clear, and are easy to spot, even when playing complex tracks from genres such as Happy Hardcore.
Bass
Now, on to the facet of sound that gets me hooked first, and keeps me lurking around for more.
The Kaiser 10 was fantastic at reproducing some great, textured lows. The Encore on the other hand, sounds very restrained in comparison. At first glance (or listen, for that matter), this is not an IEM suited to the particular tastes of bassheads. We require more thump, more oomph, more beats. Something to move your head to, to tap your feet along with. (MOAR BASS)
Still, I persevered, and decided to give the Encore a try with my dance tracks. I listen to a lot of dance music, and they usually sound better when a full, thumping bass line is omnipresent, giving the musical piece some added boost. To my surprise, and after some time, I might add, the Encore proved that it was equally as adept at reproducing lows as it did highs (more on that later).
Yes, the Encore doesn't have as much of that low-end presence as its older brother. If it lacks in quantity, the Encore compensates with some of the finest bass in the business. Extension is remarkable, going very low (or into the deep end) without any noticeable roll off. On my Hard Style and Hard Trance tracks, the bass line rumbles to the very end. Yummy.
Coupled with its far-reaching capabilities, the lows have equally good separation, and are audibly distinct from the registers of the lower midrange. It doesn’t bleed or obstruct the sound in general, offering a polite but fantastic low-end that shows up, and happily so, when the music requires its presence. Plus, it has good speed, balancing the twin aspects of resonance and decay perfectly.
Bass on the Encore is pleasant as it is, but scales very well when paired with amplifiers that boost the lower frequencies. I’ll get back to this later - I’m enjoying the Encores now.
Midrange
The star of the Kaiser 10 show decided to clone himself, tweaked it a little, installed some upgrades, taught him a thing or 2 about the power of the human voice, then sent him off to the burgeoning Encore party. That’s pretty much how I’d describe the Encore’s stellar midrange.
The K10 has always been the king of the mids, and Noble knew that they could never forsake its chief strengths. Hence, all of that awesome detail has been carried forward into the flagship, and further enhanced still. Call it the K10 on steroids, if you will. You hear everything better - That awesome guitar solo; The haunting vocals of your favourite artiste, The perfect unity of a band trashing out its greatest hits. The Encore does it all.
Tonality is both natural yet clear, offering a very organic sound that suits most genres perfectly (rock and pop are its greatest strengths, in my opinion). Vocals have always been the K10’s ace in the pack, and the Encore doesn’t disappoint, proudly bearing the hallmark of the famed Kaiser name. You get that weighted emotion and all of the sweet, nuanced accents. You could listen for hours.
Moreover, thanks to its slight emphasis on neutrality, the Encore’s mids have great articulation, with a less congested sound that readily provides an expansive and slightly airy presentation. Mind you, it doesn’t do a 180 degree turn on the K10 - Yes, you lose some of the intimacy, but you gain a lot in both clarity and transparency.
Treble
Frankly, I’ve always found the K10 a little weak in its highs. This was the only aspect of the overall package that was found lacking. It doesn’t overly detract from that great, hall-of-fame sound, but it’s something that could obviously be improved. Thus, step forward, Kaiser Encore.
I’ve always been very sensitive to overly strident treble, and I avoid, like the plague, earphones and headphones that are heavily treble boosted. My poor ears couldn’t survive those harsssssssssh soundsssss.
Thankfully, the Encore stays within my list of favourites by offering clear and detailed highs. You get to hear every shimmer in crisp, clear tones, without venturing into the dreaded Realm of Sibilance. Sparkle is also present in abundance, carrying a level of energy that balances the Encore’s powerful midrange.
Like its bass counterpart, the Encore’s extension into the mountainous highs are remarkable. It carries the treble, with all of its sparkle and zest, into the highest reaches possible. None of that roll-off nonsense here, just technical proficiency at its very best.
COMPARISONS
I’ll include select comparisons with some of my other IEMs here. I own all of these earphones, and they have been in my possession for at least a year and a half.
Noble Kaiser 10 (custom)
As mentioned above, the K10’s bass is the easiest point of difference here. It is simply greater in quantity, and offers a weightier low-end punch.
Thanks to its smaller midrange (in all dimensions), and with its boosted low end, the K10 sounds a lot more intimate. However, The Encore trumps it in all other aspects, though, with better extensions at both ends, an equally adept and articulate midrange, better imaging and staging qualities, and a far improved treble presentation.
Empire Ears Zeus XIV (custom)
The XIV straddles the fine line between the Encore and the original K10. It has a slightly greater bass presentation, and a smoother treble presence, but matches the Encore with its massive stage. Detail is also a strength of the Zeus XIV, providing clarity in abundance. The midrange of the Zeus XIV is a similar contender for the crown, with a tone that is both natural yet powerful.
This is a titanic fight between the 2, and I wouldn’t be happy if I couldn’t have both in my collection. They complement each other well. Both are aces in the technical categories; the Zeus being more powerful, and the Encore sounding a little more refined.
JH Audio Roxanne (custom)
Compared to the Encore, the Roxanne is dark, with highs that are smooth and a lot less prominent. Bass on the other hand, is a lot more noticeable, even at its lowest levels. I tend to keep the Roxanne at the 12 o’clock setting, and this is when it shines the best.
It has a silky smooth midrange that is at once intimate and magnificent. However, it concedes ground to the Encore in most technical aspects - The Noble flagship has greater clarity and detail and has far better imaging and separation capabilities.
CONCLUSION
Has the Encore dethroned the original Kaiser 10? Not quite, to be honest. You can see aspects of the K10 in the Encore, but the successor ultimately sounds very different. The midrange magic is back, but it brings along with it an enhanced and delightful treble section and a more reserved but refined low end. To top it off, other technical components of the Encore are several steps up the ladder from the K10.
This is an IEM that plays very well with a variety of sources. It is also friendly with a myriad genres. I’ve played so many songs and tracks on the Encore, but it has never once failed to astound me with its ability to sound magnificent. It’s no jack of all trades - It is a master in all.
So while I wouldn’t be replacing the K10 yet (I still LOVE its mids), the Encore serves as a great alternative for the times when I need a little more refinement, better technical wizardry, or a more lively treble presentation. And the times when I need these qualities are increasing by the day. It must just usurp the K10 one day.
GEARS USED
DAPs
Thanks to my extended time with the Kaiser Encore, I’ve had the opportunity to use it with a variety of sources. 2 of the more common ones are -
Astell & Kern AK380: This is my go-to portable source. It sounds straight up great with the Encore.
Astell & Kern A&ultima SP1000: This is the clearest, cleanest possible combination in my stable of gear, but it does sound a little too neutral for my tastes. The addition of an amp definitely makes things a lot more exciting.
Portable Amplifiers
The addition of an amplifier makes things a lot more interesting. My 2 favourite are -
ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono: I use this mainly with the SP1000. It adds some body and warmth to an otherwise superbly clean and detailed presentation.
ALO Audio Rx Mk3-B+: This amp is semi-permanently bonded with the AK380. It adds some power to the DAP, and its bass boost function lends a hand when required.