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Noble Audio - the Wizard returns!
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Conclusion
It's no surprise here. I love the Savant very much. It ticked most of the boxes I want in my book and it passed the mid-centric standard in my gauge with near flying colors.
The overall smooth sound of the Savant just made me curse myself for not being able to afford it even if I want to, which is a shame.
It's slightly mid-centric nature and tamed treble made listening on long sessions a more ideal choice than other competitors. This is one of those IEMs that will stay with my preference choice for a long, long time.
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Next in line: The Noble Dulce Bass.
The Savant's midrange emphasis is simply sweet. In many aspects, it looks to have taken many cues from its bigger brother, the K10. Still, that slight lack of a bass punch is what makes the K10 the reigning champ. Still, the Savant is no pushover, and is definitely a great choice (if your tastes are skewed toward a more midrange-centric sound).
Looks like you're enjoying the hunt. Have fun!
I am very excited about the Singapore show. I had a great time at the first one, and please do come by and say HI.
I missed the first one this year (owing to a hectic personal schedule), but I'll be sure to attend the one in 2017. Let's have a meal together, John! It'll be great to chat about all things earphones and Noble over a good dinner.
Rin1990
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No doubt about it. I enjoyed the hunt.
And my memory on testing the entire range hasn't failed me yet. Unfortunately due to budget constraints I am forced to make baby steps in my IEM upgrade.
So I am going to start my journey with a pair of Meze in-ears thanks to their magical budget-price-performance ratio. But who knows when I will reach to a Noble IEM eventually.
Savant will definitely be in my attention range next to the K10 and the Katana.
I will add the Dulce Bass Impression soon.
Just off after extensively demoed The K10U for a duration of 2+ hours...
1st try, the most prominent aspect of the IEM is immediately apparent.. De Bass! It is so encompassing and deep I felt like being punched around by a boxer.. "Maybe it's because I'm not used to this kind of signature" was what I'm thinking, there goes 45 mins trying to get my brain to get used to it.. And guess what, I just can't.
Trying different song and genre I do find behind all the bass, there's a sweet and clear mids, coupled with such extension and detail in the treble. Instruments sounds layered with good separation. But that bass! That bass just keep punching me around like a punchbag! I just gotta do somethin. Off then with the stock red bore tips, on one with wider bore, now the bass are more evently spread out, with Spin Fit it became even less, but the treble become a bit harsh. Ah well, can't have everything.
Must say for the price and the fame it has.. I was not mesmerized.
Would love to try Savant and Katana though.
1st try, the most prominent aspect of the IEM is immediately apparent.. De Bass! It is so encompassing and deep I felt like being punched around by a boxer.. "Maybe it's because I'm not used to this kind of signature" was what I'm thinking, there goes 45 mins trying to get my brain to get used to it.. And guess what, I just can't.
Trying different song and genre I do find behind all the bass, there's a sweet and clear mids, coupled with such extension and detail in the treble. Instruments sounds layered with good separation. But that bass! That bass just keep punching me around like a punchbag! I just gotta do somethin. Off then with the stock red bore tips, on one with wider bore, now the bass are more evently spread out, with Spin Fit it became even less, but the treble become a bit harsh. Ah well, can't have everything.
Must say for the price and the fame it has.. I was not mesmerized.
Would love to try Savant and Katana though.
Someone else was saying recently that they found the bass of the K10 overwhelming. I'm puzzled as I have never found it to be. A bit of warmth in the lower midbass but everything else pretty balanced IME.
Maybe it really is because of a vasty differend daily gear and music preference.. If even after 45mins I still can't get used to it, just can't help it.
Changing out from stock red bore tight fitting tips did help, and I can see why it's so revered, but still that low end distract me from truly enjoying my music.. Doing some reading and it seem to be that both the Katana and the Savant might fit my preference more snugly..
Changing out from stock red bore tight fitting tips did help, and I can see why it's so revered, but still that low end distract me from truly enjoying my music.. Doing some reading and it seem to be that both the Katana and the Savant might fit my preference more snugly..
tienbasse
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Bass is quite present, but it's not overwhelming indeed. For sure, they're warmer than the Katanas, but it's far from what can be achieved with warmer IEMs in terms of bass (T8ie and its Tesla driver, or even the AK Angies with the bass attenuator off).
Rin1990
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While I am still quite far away from writing the impression on the Katana, which happens to be my best star of them all in the good selection of Noble IEMs, I will say this though...
It is easily one of the sharpest and most accurate-sounding IEM I've ever tried. The precision of sound production it has puts even Layla to shame, in my opinion. I've never heard any IEM that is on the verge of being a monstrous detail-IEM that is scapel-level precise yet managed to retain some form of musicality without sounding too flat and boring.
The Katana wins my top pick among the Noble range next to K10 and Savant.
It is easily one of the sharpest and most accurate-sounding IEM I've ever tried. The precision of sound production it has puts even Layla to shame, in my opinion. I've never heard any IEM that is on the verge of being a monstrous detail-IEM that is scapel-level precise yet managed to retain some form of musicality without sounding too flat and boring.
The Katana wins my top pick among the Noble range next to K10 and Savant.
I have to admit that there is 1 album I can't listen to with my K10s because it makes the bass a bit too much and it sounds strange and it did take me a couple of days to get fully used to the sound signature. Overall I do prefer a bassy sound though so I love them.
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The viariability of our perceptions of sound from person to person is amazing. I got a Dulce Bass to complement my K10s because I occasionally find the K10 to not have enough bass for me. Even with the Dulce's I occasionally EQ the bass up slightly to really give me that gut punch.
animalsrush
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I can't agree with you more. It took me about 2 mons to get used to the sound as I came from westone es5 and now I absolutely love it.. it didn't wow me at first but I can safely say I made the right choice. Also I have the CIEM..that makes a difference over universal..
NaiveSound
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Anyone here have any experience with the Ifi iematch anti hiss?
I'm certainly not suggesting that you don't go with your own assessment!
The Dulce is extraordinary IMHO, from what I heard. Thunderous bass but all other frequencies present. A very neat trick!
I got one the day they came out. Cuts all hiss on my Mjolnir 2 but maintains the same fantastic sound quality. I definitely recommend one if you have a problem with hiss.
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