Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Shinigami84
86
Sep 12, 2018
How do these compare to Shure se846? My ue triple fi 10 finally died (right body broke a second time) so I'm looking to upgrade or replace them with something. Got Shure se215 (new model) but they're not much fun. Old model was better. They have 846 in store, the price would be the same as these kaiser 10 after import fees and all. Which one would be a better purchase?
I listen to Google play music in high quality, using my Samsung galaxy s7 phone. No dedicated amp, nothing fancy. May upgrade to LG quad dac phone later. I use music as a background for work to help me concentrate (work place is noisy, ear plugs simply cause, er, pink noise?) and during commute. I use speakers at home.
Shinigami84Objectively
Both the shure & the TF 10 have a plastic housing
Both have a litz cable
K10 full cnc aluminum housing Tensile cable
Shinigami84
86
Sep 12, 2018
HefeI don't care about cable as long as it is replaceable.
Thanks for reminding about metal body - winters in Ukraine get cold, 20-30 degrees below 0C sometimes. Could this cause problems for headphones or my ears?
I'm most interested in sound comparisons, but there aren't any shops to test noble Kaiser 10 - they're out of stock everywhere. I like se846 - they isolate well and seem comfortable, sound better than tf10 but at $1150 I'm eager to look for alternatives (anything around $900 becomes almost $1200 after import fees here). Custom IEMs are not an option due to shipping and adjustments - too expensive and hard to explain why you need to ship an item back and forth without paying import fees every time.
Shinigami84K10 hasn't been on the market for over 2 years, it would be difficult to find one in stock at a brick and mortar type store.
Shinigami84
86
Sep 12, 2018
HefeThanks for info! That explains rarity.
jk.fr
10
Sep 16, 2018
Shinigami84I ever own SE846 before.SE846 was small+nice and comfort,the sound was wonderful too and with the filter tt can change style of listening but to compare with K10,i really feel more relax when listening to K10 and the sound was very pretty with hi-res audio.
kennn
26
Sep 20, 2018
Shinigami84se846 is a very good iem, good bass for a ba, but lacked in detail and treble for me. also it was quite an intimate iem. k10's have a peak in the treble, may be bright for some but for most that peak brings more detail out. soundstage is also larger than se846. if you can sacrifice some bass for much more better detail and soundstage, id suggest waiting for the massdrop x empire ears zues XIV drop on september 24th.
CheX07
13
Sep 26, 2018
kennnI am actually trying to decide between K10 and Zeus, which are both on drop at the moment. Currently I have a pair of SE846, which I am pretty happy with but looking for a new set since I bought my 846 a long time ago. I don't care much about Bass at all. I am not particularly familiar with terms here but I mostly care about Vocal and sometimes would listen to Two Steps from Hell and etc. With K10 And Zeus which one would you recommend? What about Andromeda and N5005?
jaydunndiddit
3262
Sep 26, 2018
CheX07For vocals, I would recommend the Andromeda or the Zeus. I have the Andro S and the mids are so very dynamic, intense, and detailed. From what I have read about the Zeus, it also excels very similarly to the Andro in this regard. I also own the Shure 846 And would put them in-between the K10 and Andromeda from an overall perspective. They all really have more in common than not and each has one or two things it does better than the group I mentioned. It'll all boil down to your musical tastes. For me, the K10 while fun, fast, and detailed, was just too lean and bright. I also found them to be the least smooth out of the bunch. The 846, doesn't have much in the way of treble extension but has wonderful textured lows and smooth mids. The Andro is easily the most dynamic of the group and has mids, imaging, and a resolution I haven't heard from many other IEMs in this price bracket. They also have wonderful sparkly treble with great extension and they never lose their airiness or soundstage. But, the Andro has the worst bass of the group. I don't know what it is about them, but their bass always disappoints me. It's honestly just too fast and sounds unnatural.
Either way, you really can't go wrong with any of them but I really like my Andros and 846. If I didn't have them already, the Zeus would get my coins.
kennn
26
Sep 26, 2018
CheX07I've owned the SE846 before my k10ua's, and have listened to the Zues for a few hours. Unfortunately, i do not listen to the same kind of music as you, but i can at least point out objective observations of each when compared to the se846: K10: More exciting, known to be the "all-rounder" IEM by quite a few reviewers ive come across. slight boost in bass and also in the treble (which attributes to it being "exciting"). most reliable build (on the outside at least, can't speak for internal damage if dropped, but the outside will most likely hold up to being ran over by a small car). Noble's Wizard will probably blaze anyone who speaks badly of this IEM and will always bring up its 5 star reviews and awards. its estranged me from the company but has attracted others to it. Zues: technically more superior, has better technology, but is more of a unique taste. wider soundstage, much more detail, but has less bass (however bass quality is exceptional) and the acrylic shell is less sturdy than the aluminum shell of the k10. i prefer this over both the noble and the shures. Andromeda: never listened, but read its remarkable as a neutral iem, but BA bass and comfort of the fit have been a deal breaker for some N5005: have listened to it, lovely bass, sparkly treble, for my ears at least, it came a bit sibilant for me (might not be for you) but its decent for the price. i feel there is a large fan club for these.
once again, this is my opinion, YMMV, i listen to a lot of synthetic music, expecting good, amazing bass, wide soundstage and as much detail as i can get
CheX07
13
Sep 26, 2018
jaydunndidditThanks so much for such detailed answer! At this point, I am leaning toward Zeus (and hopefully at some point I'll get a pair Andromeda with a drop of something.) One more question though, should I expect a huge jump from SE846 to Zeus? I had a pair of SE535 before I got my SE846. I didn't get the WOW moment that others described but I could perceive the slight "upgrade" if you will. Should I expect something like that instead? Or perhaps one wouldn't really tell that much of difference between the SE846 and Zeus at all?
CheX07
13
Sep 26, 2018
kennnThanks again for your review. I wrote a response but somehow it disappeared when I hit "submit". Anyway, I am mostly wondering if Massdrop's Zeus will be any different from the stock version? While I have mostly given up K10 (since most of the reviews and comments left me the impression that it focus more on the bass than others), I can't really decide among other three. However, it seems more "logical" to me that it is a better deal to get Zeus since it is less than half of its original price. Or is that logic flawed?
jaydunndiddit
3262
Sep 26, 2018
CheX07Funny you say that. I own the 535 (and 215) and thought it was a big jump from the 846 (I use black filters and yellow foamies w/a balanced cable). I feel like the 846 captures the mids of the 535, adds in its great low-pass filter system, and smooths out the treble (never a bout of sibilance, tizz, hot treble, etc.) Funny how things can sound so different to other ears.
Anyhow, I doubt you're going to get that "wow" factor. Since you're becoming more accustomed to higher end offerings, it all starts to mash together and then you start nitpicking at the finer details that matter to you. I was absolutely let down when I first heard the Andromeda. I was quite confused by all the people stating this is the best IEM soundstage ever. To say the least, the hype was well overblown. Much like another IEM we have been discussing in which I won't name for various reasons. This doesn't mean they are bad by any means, just too hyped up for their own good.
You will notice a difference between the two as the Zeus is a mid-centric IEM. The Zeus will also undoubtedly have better treble extension and sparkle compared to the 846. The Shure would win with bass texture, tone, and impact (very close to the prowess of a good dynamic driver) and overall smoothness. The issue with that is (much like Andromeda) this sort of tuning is very genre specific. The same thing applies to how it reacts to output impedance (you can read about how the Zeus XIV changes).
All that being said, the 846 is much more genre agnostic compared to Zeus which is a much more refined listening device. I think it will boil down to musical tastes. Also, the Shure unabashedly has the better build quality. They can be worn in the gym and other activities that are intensive since they resist sweat and being tossed around more aggressively in a bag. The Zeus is not known for its durability by comparison but that is one of those things MD is addressing. How much that durability has improved I can't say sadly. If you're looking for a highly detailed and revolving mid-centric sound, the Zeus is a safe bet. I'd also suggest looking at the new CA Andromeda S as they have a new mid-driver (also a different tuning) that so far has been delivering a much more dynamic presentation than when I originally sampled the normal Andro. They're also made of stainless steel and come with some swanky accessories. Just a suggestion since you seem to be looking for a very well done mid-centric IEM.
CheX07
13
Sep 26, 2018
jaydunndidditOh wow. Thanks again for your time and effort.
I tried all 3 filters of my 846 and ended up switching back to the balanced one (the blue one?). Same for the yellow foamies but I've been using the stock cable. I was hoping since SE846 is indeed a couple of years old and Zeus XIV does have that many more drivers, the experience will be much "better" I suppose. I guess not lol. Then I am not sure if I want spend that much on another pair of earbuds even though it seems to be a great deal.
I tried the Andromeda and liked it however, I can't find a happy fit for me since they either hurt my ears or they are not really in the right position. I assume the Andromeda S will present a similar problem for me:/ Also, I guess I've asked others this question as well, but wouldn't be more "logically" to catch a drop rather than paying full price? Especially given that the Zeus are so much cheaper than the stock version.
kennn
26
Sep 26, 2018
CheX07no I totally agree. if i had the money I would get this as well. from what I've read, mass drop claims that the drivers and crossovers are identical. only place i can see that they cut corners would be the shell (which they've confirmed to be a simple, cost friendly and yet sturdier design), connections of internals (2 pin port, cabling inside, solder material) and maybe accessories? I could be wrong and might miss out a bunch of stuff. I havent read anything on sound impressions yet but it was emphasized that the stuff that matters most, are the same of that which is in the Zues from EE. no one has received these yet IIRC. once again, YMMV, those who love the zues often dont listen to the music I do, but more on classical, vocal and rock, but even myself who LOVES BASS (I have the legend x) I really love the zues.
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile