[krismusic]

Does anyone know if there have been some in-depth comparisons between the K10 and 4C? I'm considering the 4C as a sidekick to my K10s, but only if the differences are significant enough in the direction I'm looking for. (slightly leaner sound and less forward presentation of the mids)

Yesterday I heard the 4u and K10u. If I could not afford the 10 I would probably be very happy with the 4. The 10 just seemed to have a little... more.
I cannot really see why you would want the 4 if you have the 10. Unless you wanted a tool for mastering or something.
Personally I really like the idea of a CIEM that has a carefully selected sound sig. Rather than a neutral sound. It seems to me that the former is where art meets science.
Maybe after I have owned the K10 for a while I too will hanker after a different sound. I kind of hope not. I would like this to be the end of my CIEM journey just as the HD600 is the end of my headphone journey.

 

[krismusic]

Apologies. That all went a bit X Factor!!!

 

[Chiyo]

Thinking of getting a Noble 4C. If I opt for a clear shell, will it discolor/blur in a few years?

 

[EDWARIS]

Maybe make a special request for recessed sockets? That helps with less stress on the connectors and less likely of cables becoming loose.

1964ears have that as an option.

I asked them do it! they just don't understand me! I really very dissapointed very much about it!!! they take 1800 USD for headphones!!! 1800 USD!!! 1800!!!! I can buy a car here for them! and they do not want do anything with this freaking pins??? I just don't understand it! they offer full customization... super individual design, any colors and plates, many things for this money... but no any other sockets?? no even recessed one??? really????? for 1800 USD???

someone wrote he did not have any problem with a lot of ciems... I had only one ciem for just two years and I had so many problems!!! I have westone ES5... with 2pins before.. they always bend the first year, always! in the end one of them was broken and stay inside the earphone... I couldn't remove it and had to send it from Russia to Colorado to repair... lost 2 monthes and some money... but then one earphone became so loose that it fallen apart all the time... all the time!!!! I lost it dosens time and searched it a lot everyehere!!!! sometimes it lost a cable right in the ear, I had to fix it on the go... in the end I send it to colorado again and asked to change it for new MMCX socket. lost another 2 monthes but now it almost perfect... I hate those two pins. maybe it was an industry standard many years ago... but no anymore!! JH now use another reliable one and westone use another one and many others... why most expensive staff on the market and probably the best on the market still use this ancient terrible 2pins??? it's like take 19-century wood wheel for modern ferrary...

why they cant do reliable socket for 1800 ciem??? or offer some customisation? or even do some recession for more safety? I really like and want K10, I like the designs and believe it has superior sound... but 2pins even without recession??? really??? ferrary on wooden weels? I really afraid it very much...

 

[fiascogarcia]

So let me get this straight, you don't like the 2 pins???

 

[Buddhahacker]

That appears to be the case.  Personally, I like the 2 pins since that connection type is uncomplicated unlike the MMCX which I have had several problems using. 

 

[M Coupe]

He should have ended his rant with
 
#mikedrop
 
LOL

 

[FullCircle]

  Thinking of getting a Noble 4C. If I opt for a clear shell, will it discolor/blur in a few years?

 
Highly likely, plastics tend to do that over time, and on top of that the CIEMs are coated with lacquer. Lacquer (varnish) tends to "yellow" due to UV light exposure.

I asked them do it! they just don't understand me! I really very dissapointed very much about it!!! they take 1800 USD for headphones!!! 1800 USD!!! 1800!!!! I can buy a car here for them! and they do not want do anything with this freaking pins??? I just don't understand it! they offer full customization... super individual design, any colors and plates, many things for this money... but no any other sockets?? no even recessed one??? really????? for 1800 USD???

someone wrote he did not have any problem with a lot of ciems... I had only one ciem for just two years and I had so many problems!!! I have westone ES5... with 2pins before.. they always bend the first year, always! in the end one of them was broken and stay inside the earphone... I couldn't remove it and had to send it from Russia to Colorado to repair... lost 2 monthes and some money... but then one earphone became so loose that it fallen apart all the time... all the time!!!! I lost it dosens time and searched it a lot everyehere!!!! sometimes it lost a cable right in the ear, I had to fix it on the go... in the end I send it to colorado again and asked to change it for new MMCX socket. lost another 2 monthes but now it almost perfect... I hate those two pins. maybe it was an industry standard many years ago... but no anymore!! JH now use another reliable one and westone use another one and many others... why most expensive staff on the market and probably the best on the market still use this ancient terrible 2pins??? it's like take 19-century wood wheel for modern ferrary...

why they cant do reliable socket for 1800 ciem??? or offer some customisation? or even do some recession for more safety? I really like and want K10, I like the designs and believe it has superior sound... but 2pins even without recession??? really??? ferrary on wooden weels? I really afraid it very much...

 
 I'm offering a photo to help explain
 

 
 
 
 
Essentially the problem is, the drivers used int the K10 are too big to begin with, a recessed socket is just that.....   it is a socket that has been "recessed" into the interior of the CIEM shell.  There is NO ROOM in the CIEM shell to accomadate a recessed socket and 10 drivers
 
 
While there are other socket designs, none of them are perfect either. All sockets carry some type of compromise, we have studied this and decided the two pin, although it has its faults, is well supported by the DIY, and cable up-grade community/industry.  There are a lot of folks with 500$+ cables that would be disapointed when they realize their cable could not be used with a new "super socket" etc etc.

 

[ScottFree]

Highly likely, plastics tend to do that over time, and on top of that the CIEMs are coated with lacquer. Lacquer (varnish) tends to "yellow" due to UV light exposure.

 I'm offering a photo to help explain







Essentially the problem is, the drivers used int the K10 are too big to begin with, a recessed socket is just that.....   it is a socket that has been "recessed" into the interior of the CIEM shell.  There is NO ROOM in the CIEM shell to accomadate a recessed socket and 10 drivers


While there are other socket designs, none of them are perfect either. All sockets carry some type of compromise, we have studied this and decided the two pin, although it has its faults, is well supported by the DIY, and cable up-grade community/industry.  There are a lot of folks with 500$+ cables that would be disapointed when they realize their cable could not be used with a new "super socket" etc etc.

How much difference in room with the drivers is there between the K10 and some of the other CIEMS that you sell

 

[FullCircle]

Some of our products could, in theory, accept a recessed socket. Maybe one day we will offer them, and maybe not.  That being said, ultimately, a K10 can not use  recessed sockets due to size restrictions.

 

[AlanYWM]

I was at a shop offering the K10 recently. The connectors to the K10U were so loose that both ear pieces fell off when I tried to wear them. I know this is a demo unit but.... And after reading about some of the complaints here, I know this is not an isolated problem.
 
I have nothing against Noble Audio. I personally liked the sound coming out from the K10. However, for something that costs around $1600, I would have expected a more secure connection. I hope Noble Audio is able to fine tune the connector part and make it more secure. Perhaps to something like Fitear? 

 

 

[M Coupe]

I have had the same problem with MMCX.  I think the good Dr's comments are spot on.  No perfect connector.
 
Regarding MMCX.  I own/ed the SE215, SE535 LTD, SE846, W60 all with MMCX connectors.  Guess what, all forms of issues too.  Loose connectors, channel cutout, and beyond.  I have to containers of deoxit red and gold for this purpose alone.  When all else failed, I would gently nudge the pin off axis a degree and issues resolved.
 
Now the question-  Could you not gently pry the 2 pins apart to tighten the fit.   I am sure noble is cringing but no duct tape is involved.  MacGyver would approve though.
 

 

[FullCircle]

  I was at a shop offering the K10 recently. The connectors to the K10U were so loose that both ear pieces fell off when I tried to wear them. I know this is a demo unit but.... And after reading about some of the complaints here, I know this is not an isolated problem.
 
I have nothing against Noble Audio. I personally liked the sound coming out from the K10. However, for something that costs around $1600, I would have expected a more secure connection. I hope Noble Audio is able to fine tune the connector part and make it more secure. Perhaps to something like Fitear? 

 

 
 
Could you share with me the location/name of your dealer so this can be addressed.
 
Something that should be understood, dealers often times allow potential customers to "trial" their demos with their own personal "fancy" cable in order to hear the sound quality of the product with the cable.   We can ask the dealer not to allow this type of activity, but ultimatley we can't really do much about it if a dealer desides to allow this to occur. (other than repair the demo)
 
Folks the major issue here as that not all cable MFG use the same pin MFG, so the tolerances are going to be different.  If say one cable has a larger tolerance and is used on a socket, it will stretch the socket, rendering the socket loose.

 

[M Coupe]

A great demo song to explore what the K10 does artfully.  I first heard this song with speakers I purchased (I cannot remember if I got the disc with the Wilson Sophias or BW 802Ds I had).  Anyway it has been a demo song ever since.  The irony of the song gives chills too.
 
Even if you don't like the music, you will hear what the K10s can do.  Check it out.
 

 

[FullCircle]

  A great demo song to explore what the K10 does artfully.  I first heard this song with speakers I purchased (I cannot remember if I got the disc with the Wilson Sophias or BW 802Ds I had).  Anyway it has been a demo song ever since.  The irony of the song gives chills too.
 
Even if you don't like the music, you will hear what the K10s can do.  Check it out.
 

 
 
That is nice.... like the low end