Noble Kaiser 10 ($1600) versus the Future Sonics MG5pro ($750):
Well the K10 needs no introduction, it’s the flagship of the Noble Audio line and one of the very best CIEMs available. Here’s my full review of the K10.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/685225/review-noble-audio-kaiser-10-10-driver-custom-fit-in-ear-monitor
It has a full, rich sound from the full, powerful bass to the warm, thick midrange to the smooth and bright treble. It does this top to bottom with excellent clarity and detail. While no earphone is for everyone, the K10 does very well at practically everything and sounds fantastic. The main reason it’s not my “go-to” earphone is that I treat my set like gold! The acoustic-filter-free, dynamic driver design of the MG5pro means I can run out of the house with it after a quick after-shower ear-swabbing and I’m not as concerned of the long-term effects of moisture (a concern that holds for the jh16fp and all my other CIEMs as well).
The MG5pro is less than half the price of the K10 and it actually competes. I would say that the main difference at this level is tuning. The MG5pro is tuned as a stage/studio monitor, so part of the idea is to present music without richness or warmth added. It’s a little more “matte” without added shine to the music so a musician can hear what’s really being played. I happen to really like that and I know it is some people’s preference. The K10, on the other hand, has a richer sound with more warmth in the midrange and sparkle in the treble. I think many people will like how the K10 gives that little extra colorful note to music. It’s just a very nice musical experience. I like it a lot as well. Neither approach is better, per se, it’s really according to what you want to hear.
Treble: The K10 has amazing treble, very smooth, ultra extended. It’s bright but almost always non-fatiguing. The MG5pro actually does very well in the treble as well. Both are well extended in treble. I’m not concerned past 16-17khz (several pro audio engineers have separately defined “air” in music as being from 10-12khz), but the K10 has a set of ultra-high tweeters so it probably extends higher… I’ll say that people who want more sparkle but no harshness will find it in the K10. It’s a bit brighter than the MG5pro. For those who want to avoid any trace of harshness in the upper frequencies but don’t want a dark sound, the MG5pro delivers, which is a real accomplishment. It also has a really accurate, nice weight to notes in the treble range.
Midrange: The K10 is warmer, thicker, richer, more colorful, as I’ve mentioned, while not sacrificing clarity and detail. It’s a beautiful sound. The MG5pro is more of a monitor sound, accurate and clear. Both have excellent timbre, but it’s hard to beat a dynamic driver. Both CIEMS have a rise in the vocal region as this suits the way the human ear prioritizes how it perceives sound. Without it, I’ve found earphones sound dull over the long term even if they wow in the short term. Both of these earphones are for long term enjoyment! The MG5pro has a bit more of a rise, but still less than other stage monitors I’ve heard.
Bass: The K10 has excellent bass, with two of the largest armatures you can buy dedicated to bass. It has good sub-bass extension and a good balance between mid-bass and sub-bass with a tilt toward mid-bass. The MG5pro actually has less bass in quantity. However, it has something special—a real air-moving quality thanks to the dynamic driver in a vented shell design. It also has amazing punch. The MG5pro actually has a more detailed, textured, more real bass sound with more sub-bass rumble available. Think of it as having less quantity generally, but more power in reserve. And this is with the very firm statement that the K10 has excellent, absolutely top-tier bass.
Isolation: The K10’s closed shell is a half step better than the MG5pro’s vent design. The MG5pro is better than most dynamic drivers for isolation, so it does isolate excellently for noisy train and long plane flights.
Soundstage: Most of what we think of as earphone soundstage comes from cues in the recording. An earphone like the MG5pro will seem to change soundstages with the recording based on these musical cues. The K10, of course, is similar. The MG5pro has a slightly more natural sounding soundstage with absolutely perfect coherence (single driver), while the K10 will have the greater separation of a multi-driver design and still very good coherence.
Overall: These are both excellent earphones with different tunings which will appeal to different people (or the same person if you’re me). I think technically, the K10 slightly edges the MG5pro in things like isolation, detail resolution, and separation. The K10 does have more bass quantity, which could be better for some listeners. I think the K10’s supremely well-designed, warm, colorful, detailed tuning will make it a more popular choice for many listeners who just want the most musical experience you can find in pretty much any earphone. It also has the art of Dr. John Moulton—the best appearance of any earphone on the market.
The MG5pro is a great monitor CIEM for less than half the price of the price of the K10. Its clear, accurate mids with a boost in the vocal range, its bright, extended, non-fatiguing treble and its amazing, world-beating bass with not overmuch quantity can stand with the best earphones on the market. It’s an amazing achievement and for those looking for the feel of live music and an organic, real sound, it comes out over much more expensive rivals. The MG5pro’s durability means that it’s the earphone that’s in my ears the most. While no earphone is right for everyone, the K10 and MG5pro are each excellent choices for anyone looking for the high-end sound they provide. I'll also add that both Noble Audio and Future Sonics have the best customer service in the business, so I feel confident recommending either of their earphones.