[odanovich]

Screw money is tight, WIZARD option, spend, spend spend. Its the only way. :veryevil:

Yeah, i'm going to have to agree with Watagump. If i'm splurging on CIEMs, might as well go all the way and get one of these beautiful Wizard Designs... just thought buying a used pair would help me make sure i'm buying the right CIEM.. but without a warranty transfer it would be hard to get my money back.

My desktop headphone is the Audeze LCD-3. And from what i've read, the K10's come pretty close.. i'll be powering them with a Hugo.

Just wish I could hybernate the next few months.. that why they would get here already! Lol

 

[Watagump]

Yeah, i'm going to have to agree with Watagump. If i'm splurging on CIEMs, might as well go all the way and get one of these beautiful Wizard Designs... just thought buying a used pair would help me make sure i'm buying the right CIEM.. but without a warranty transfer it would be hard to get my money back.

My desktop headphone is the Audeze LCD-3. And from what i've read, the K10's come pretty close.. i'll be powering them with a Hugo.

Just wish I could hybernate the next few months.. that why they would get here already! Lol

 
Heck yeah, if you like surprises, letting John dazzle you is a great one.

 

[sq3rjick]

Wow thank you for the response sq3rjick!

That gets me excited for my new CIEMs. Can't wait to get everything in and start listening! I did choose balanced termination for my therium cable from norne. I like that it has 2 card slots with up to 400gb of potential added storage. I also like that it has full access to google play right out of the box. Do you get static or any unwanted cracks or noises with 3rd party apps such as tidal? Or is it a silent background always even turning the volume high.

Also yea I don't think class A is a big deal.

No issues from Spotify or Google Play Music for me. No issues on Shuttle+ or GoneMad, either. I don't use Poweramp or Tidal, so I couldn't tell you on those.

 

[obsidyen]

Sorry. I'm going to call you on that.
I have heard some very high end headphone rigs and it is my belief that headphones will never sound like live music.
At best they will sound like extremely well reproduced music from headphones. Which the K10 certainly does.
Live? No.

 
You're right obviously, I was trying to say it sounds more like live music compared to most other headphones/IEMs. I was simply saying that K10U sound is what neutral actually is. Thin, anemic sounding "reference" headphones are too far from real music, much more so than K10.
 
Also, no headphone can shake your body like a high-end speaker system in a club.
 
On another note, I love my K10s so much I decided to write a review. I'm a noob at that and I usually can't be bothered with it, but K10Us deserve one.

 

[FullCircle]

The Kaiser 10 (aka K10)
 
The foundation of the K10 was built in the early days, back when I was in Thailand trying to build "FullCircle" the CIEM/IEM company. During those days I had created a product line, and as I mentioned before, we were ready for to launch, but some things occurred that prevented that from happening.  
 
Any how, as I mentioned before, I left for China and there we began using the designs I had prepared to launch FullCircle.   That being said, we didn't use all my designs, and nor did I submit all my designs to the project.  Luckily I never did submit the 10 driver design (K10).  There were several reasons for that, one simple one was, the K10 is difficult to build and hard to accommodate a lot of ears. (That being said, it is rare event, when we can not accommodate an ear)
 
Another reason I didn't submit my ten driver design was that it wasn't really finished, the foundation was there, but it needed some more refinement, before it could be launched commercially.
 
Another reason was, my crystal ball was indicating to me that I was going to be departing from the current situation in the near future.
 
   Not only were there internal issues that were pushing me toward a departure, but my wife was pregnant, asking a woman to give birth in a country where she can not communicate, is a big ask.   
 
 
So I kept the 10 driver design to myself, as I knew that it very well could be my winning move.
 
 

 
 
 
When it was determined that we were leaving, we held a dinner meeting at a local restaurant, and there we sat down and discussed the 10 driver design.  It was felt that we need to do something to pull the highs up more, and by the way....   this was a design that no one but I had heard before.   We were just considering the drivers involved, and the x - over.   We thought we should make some changes to the design and those changes were decided upon at that dinner table.   
 
We used a Samsung smart phone to do the math, the math seemed like it would work, and luckily it did!
 
 
 
I chose the name "Kaiser" as it is the German word for emperor.   With 22 consecutive 5 star reviews, I think it was named correctly.   I also liked the name Kaiser as Kaiser Soze had taken on a role of leadership and I thought some recognition of his efforts should be made.  Kaiser and dB, both fugitives, have been friends for probably 20 years, together they make a great team.  Kaiser, physically, is a large fellow, doesn't talk much, but when he does it is usually wise words he chooses.   dB on the other hand, he is more of a joker kind of guy....   any one willing to jump out of a perfectly good plane, has to have some humor.
 
 
Any how, that is pretty much the story of the K10, the foundation was laid probably 5 years before it was ever launched, and was refined over a dinner table, with a Samsung calculator and a group of friends

 

[LouisArmstrong]

I know the word "Kaiser" from the game Fatal Fury.  It still sounds amazing after all these years. Is there a way to fix the loose pin connection on one earplug though, without having to send back for repair? I can still listen to it but it is quite dangerous when it is not in my ears.
 
Quote:

  The Kaiser 10 (aka K10)
 
The foundation of the K10 was built in the early days, back when I was in Thailand trying to build "FullCircle" the CIEM/IEM company. During those days I had created a product line, and as I mentioned before, we were ready for to launch, but some things occurred that prevented that from happening.  
 
Any how, as I mentioned before, I left for China and there we began using the designs I had prepared to launch FullCircle.   That being said, we didn't use all my designs, and nor did I submit all my designs to the project.  Luckily I never did submit the 10 driver design (K10).  There were several reasons for that, one simple one was, the K10 is difficult to build and hard to accommodate a lot of ears. (That being said, it is rare event, when we can not accommodate an ear)
 
Another reason I didn't submit my ten driver design was that it wasn't really finished, the foundation was there, but it needed some more refinement, before it could be launched commercially.
 
Another reason was, my crystal ball was indicating to me that I was going to be departing from the current situation in the near future.
 
   Not only were there internal issues that were pushing me toward a departure, but my wife was pregnant, asking a woman to give birth in a country where she can not communicate, is a big ask.   
 
 
So I kept the 10 driver design to myself, as I knew that it very well could be my winning move.
 
 

 
 
 
When it was determined that we were leaving, we held a dinner meeting at a local restaurant, and there we sat down and discussed the 10 driver design.  It was felt that we need to do something to pull the highs up more, and by the way....   this was a design that no one but I had heard before.   We were just considering the drivers involved, and the x - over.   We thought we should make some changes to the design and those changes were decided upon at that dinner table.   
 
We used a Samsung smart phone to do the math, the math seemed like it would work, and luckily it did!
 
 
 
I chose the name "Kaiser" as it is the German word for emperor.   With 22 consecutive 5 star reviews, I think it was named correctly.   I also liked the name Kaiser as Kaiser Soze had taken on a role of leadership and I thought some recognition of his efforts should be made.  Kaiser and dB, both fugitives, have been friends for probably 20 years, together they make a great team.  Kaiser, physically, is a large fellow, doesn't talk much, but when he does it is usually wise words he chooses.   dB on the other hand, he is more of a joker kind of guy....   any one willing to jump out of a perfectly good plane, has to have some humor.
 
 
Any how, that is pretty much the story of the K10, the foundation was laid probably 5 years before it was ever launched, and was refined over a dinner table, with a Samsung calculator and a group of friends

 

[FullCircle]

 

 
squash the pins slightly with a pair of pliers, vice grips etc

 

[Dillan]

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Quote:

 

Turquoise and gold, essentials. ​

 ​

 ​

​

​

 
Oh my goodness those turquoise and gold themed IEM's are some of the most beautiful IEM's I think I have ever seen. Keep in mind some of those colors (especially the turquoise) when building mine!

 

[krismusic]

You're right obviously, I was trying to say it sounds more like live music compared to most other headphones/IEMs. I was simply saying that K10U sound is what neutral actually is. Thin, anemic sounding "reference" headphones are too far from real music, much more so than K10.

Also, no headphone can shake your body like a high-end speaker system in a club.

On another note, I love my K10s so much I decided to write a review. I'm a noob at that and I usually can't be bothered with it, but K10Us deserve one.

I reckon people on here spend a lot of money chasing unrealistic goals. Regarding neutral, I would suggest that the term implies that no frequency is emphasised.
I further suggest that the K10 is not neutral.
It is skillfully voiced to give a musical rendition of what it is fed. IMHO.

 

[MadDane]

Looking forward to tomorrow. Last day of May. Plus since I haven't been to any live music concerts amplified or unamplified, does anyone have any good concert stories.

Found out that Ottmar Liebert is playing in Sept at Yoshi's in Oakland 100 seat venue $29 per ticket and great Japanese food to boot, only an hour from Napa.

 

[DrSheep]

Regarding neutral, I would suggest that the term implies that no frequency is emphasised.
I further suggest that the K10 is not neutral.
It is skillfully voiced to give a musical rendition of what it is fed. IMHO.

I agree with this, and I further add that neutral does not necessary implied transparent, which the K10 sure is neither.

 

[Sorensiim]

  The Kaiser 10 (aka K10)

The foundation of the K10 was built in the early days

Spoiler: A great story of love, loss and the design of a future legend

, back when I was in Thailand trying to build "FullCircle" the CIEM/IEM company. During those days I had created a product line, and as I mentioned before, we were ready for to launch, but some things occurred that prevented that from happening.  
 
Any how, as I mentioned before, I left for China and there we began using the designs I had prepared to launch FullCircle.   That being said, we didn't use all my designs, and nor did I submit all my designs to the project.  Luckily I never did submit the 10 driver design (K10).  There were several reasons for that, one simple one was, the K10 is difficult to build and hard to accommodate a lot of ears. (That being said, it is rare event, when we can not accommodate an ear)
 
Another reason I didn't submit my ten driver design was that it wasn't really finished, the foundation was there, but it needed some more refinement, before it could be launched commercially.
 
Another reason was, my crystal ball was indicating to me that I was going to be departing from the current situation in the near future.
 
   Not only were there internal issues that were pushing me toward a departure, but my wife was pregnant, asking a woman to give birth in a country where she can not communicate, is a big ask.   
 
 
So I kept the 10 driver design to myself, as I knew that it very well could be my winning move.
 
 

 
 
 
When it was determined that we were leaving, we held a dinner meeting at a local restaurant, and there we sat down and discussed the 10 driver design.  It was felt that we need to do something to pull the highs up more, and by the way....   this was a design that no one but I had heard before.   We were just considering the drivers involved, and the x - over.   We thought we should make some changes to the design and those changes were decided upon at that dinner table.   
 
We used a Samsung smart phone to do the math, the math seemed like it would work, and luckily it did!
 
 
 
I chose the name "Kaiser" as it is the German word for emperor.   With 22 consecutive 5 star reviews, I think it was named correctly.   I also liked the name Kaiser as Kaiser Soze had taken on a role of leadership and I thought some recognition of his efforts should be made.  Kaiser and dB, both fugitives, have been friends for probably 20 years, together they make a great team.  Kaiser, physically, is a large fellow, doesn't talk much, but when he does it is usually wise words he chooses.   dB on the other hand, he is more of a joker kind of guy....   any one willing to jump out of a perfectly good plane, has to have some humor.
 
 
Any how, that is pretty much the story of the K10, the foundation was laid probably 5 years before it was ever launched, and was refined over a dinner table, with a Samsung calculator and a group of friends

 

A great story, but I can actually add a bit more to it...

After the design was finalised, a single prototype was built, merely as a proof-of-concept, to see if the calculations held up. They did, and after the first brief listen, this prototype was broken down for parts and the good doctor Moulton soldiered on, while working secretly to assemble the crack team that would become Noble Audio. When he needed a flagship product to launch with the new company, the plans for the K10 were taken out of the secret drawer in his workbench. He needed a set of CIEMs that would convince the world that Noble Audio was a serious contender and boldly state that their flagship was the new King Of The Hill. Not only that, but he needed to convince a jaded Head-Fi’er from the cold north that his new design could actually beat the 8-driver design that had until then been Dr. Moulton’s crowning achievement. Not a small task, but not impossible for a Wizard apparently.
 
Meanwhile, I was up here in Denmark, the cold land of pork and taxes, minding my own business, working as an IT Specialist while enjoying my 8.A customs. I had reviewed some of John’s earlier designs, so when he reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing his new super secret flagship, my immediate reaction was… “Yeah, sure, why not?”. I had a set of impressions made, shipped them off and then went back to enjoying the 8.A.
 
When my impressions arrived at the lab, they started crafting what would become the second set of K10’s ever made, and the first set to actually make it off the workbench. It would be a Wizard Design and they needed to make sure that Noble’s first impression onto the world would be a good one.
 


 
You know what? I think they nailed it.
 
PS: If you think waiting for the K10 is hard, imagine being the first person on the planet (except for Dr. Moulton) to hear these, to see this design, and then keeping your mouth completely shut about it for six months! It was agonizing, but I wanted to be absolutely certain that I was really hearing what I thought I was hearing and Noble had to be ready for launch before I spilled the beans. Mine was the first review of a new product, from a new company and it was absolutely glowing. Naturally (and, to be honest, completely understandably) I was attacked by a swarm of Head-Fi'ers calling me a shill or worse. That's why every time I see a new, overly positive review of the K10 I think to myself "See? I told you so. They really are something special."

 

[DrSheep]

Great read and thanks for sharing.

 

[Podster]

 

A great story, but I can actually add a bit more to it...

After the design was finalised, a single prototype was built, merely as a proof-of-concept, to see if the calculations held up. They did, and after the first brief listen, this prototype was broken down for parts and the good doctor Moulton soldiered on, while working secretly to assemble the crack team that would become Noble Audio. When he needed a flagship product to launch with the new company, the plans for the K10 were taken out of the secret drawer in his workbench. He needed a set of CIEMs that would convince the world that Noble Audio was a serious contender and boldly state that their flagship was the new King Of The Hill. Not only that, but he needed to convince a jaded Head-Fi’er from the cold north that his new design could actually beat the 8-driver design that had until then been Dr. Moulton’s crowning achievement. Not a small task, but not impossible for a Wizard apparently.
 
Meanwhile, I was up here in Denmark, the cold land of pork and taxes, minding my own business, working as an IT Specialist while enjoying my 8.A customs. I had reviewed some of John’s earlier designs, so when he reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing his new super secret flagship, my immediate reaction was… “Yeah, sure, why not?”. I had a set of impressions made, shipped them off and then went back to enjoying the 8.A.
 
When my impressions arrived at the lab, they started crafting what would become the second set of K10’s ever made, and the first set to actually make it off the workbench. It would be a Wizard Design and they needed to make sure that Noble’s first impression onto the world would be a good one.
 


 
You know what? I think they nailed it.
 
PS: If you think waiting for the K10 is hard, imagine being the first person on the planet (except for Dr. Moulton) to hear these, to see this design, and then keeping your mouth completely shut about it for six months! It was agonizing, but I wanted to be absolutely certain that I was really hearing what I thought I was hearing and Noble had to be ready for launch before I spilled the beans. Mine was the first review of a new product, from a new company and it was absolutely glowing. Naturally (and, to be honest, completely understandably) I was attacked by a swarm of Head-Fi'ers calling me a shill or worse. That's why every time I see a new, overly positive review of the K10 I think to myself "See? I told you so. They really are something special."

Love the enhanced story behind these gentlemen, have had this picture in my wish folder for some time now

Love this design

 

[obsidyen]

I reckon people on here spend a lot of money chasing unrealistic goals. Regarding neutral, I would suggest that the term implies that no frequency is emphasised.
I further suggest that the K10 is not neutral.
It is skillfully voiced to give a musical rendition of what it is fed. IMHO.

 
I only spend money to get musical enjoyment, and K10U gives me that. I'd never buy HD800, for instance, not my cup of tea.
 
Do you have the custom K10? K10U Aluminium is said to sound different by some people who heard both.