Disclaimer: I purchased these CIEMs from the Noble website at the price of 1850$, before the markup. I do not have any interest conflicts or relations with any audio parties, and am writing this review as an individual enthusiast. This review is to share my early impressions of these CIEMs with the Head-Fi community.
All listening is done with the Astell&Kern AK240 as depicted.
Ever since I started this journey, I have been dreaming about the CIEMs that I would get once I felt like the time was right. And boy, did these CIEMs make my dreams come true.
Pros:
Fabulous sound that I have ran out of superlatives to describe.
Wide soundstage.
Great build.
Did I mention fabulous sound?
Cons:
Expensive. But definitely not exclusive to Noble.
Long build time. (Also not exclusive to Noble)
People might make mental health institution recommendations after learning about your purchase.
Poorly mastered tracks become glaringly obvious.
Purchasing experience:
I put these headphones into motion around mid January, where I sent my impressions to Noble. The Noble CIEM team started building my earphones, and I received the package in mid April. However, the left ear was too large and I had to send them back for a slight remodel. I received the remodeled earphones in early May. Throughout this experience, the Noble team was fast to respond to my inquiries. I would like to thank Sunny, Nancy, Brannan and Mr. Wizard for their care of their customer. I am impressed by the Noble team.
Accessories:
The accessories were minimal for a purchase of this price tag; a wax cleaner, a cleaning cloth, a hard pelican case that is definitely too big to carry around but apt for shipping, a soft pouch case, two Noble bands that are too tight to wear around your wrists and two Noble stickers. Oh, you also get a shiny owner's card for all your troubles!
Build:
The build of the headphones are phenomenal. These things are built like a truck; I definitely don't see them breaking anytime soon. The only thing I have to criticize are the cables; they are normal cables, and again, some might expect more at this price tag. I expect to find some nice aftermarket cables after trying them out. After the remodel, the fit is exquisite. These things really hug my ears. The ear pieces are a bit larger than I expected, though they will not protrude out of your ear canals.
Art:
I requested the red and black carbon fiber, with a personal design on one side and the Noble sign on the other. The product is stunning and looks better than I thought it would, though it would probably be even more beautiful had I chosen the Wizard design. (400$ mark up for that option!) I would also like to note that there is no extra charge for choosing fiber or other designs, unlike some other CIEM manufactures. I like this, as the compound cost of artwork CAN creep up on you if you aren't careful with other companies.
Sound:
I love the sound. I think Noble have produced a landmark audio product; the tone is lush and beautiful, highs, mids and lows come through as they should; the sound is analytical yet enticing. The soundstage is huge, the details captivating, the depth blissful. I really think Noble have found the perfect balance between analytical and musical; put in any genre, and you find yourself thoroughly enjoying the music. These earphones are responsive, tight and absolutely critical of your mastering quality. Bad tracks are glaringly obvious and can become hard to listen to, while you will find details you didn't know existed in masterfully recorded scores.
Summary:
The Noble flagship proves to be CIEMs that is one of the best in the industry. These CIEMs will make your love your music library even more than before.
End game CIEM.
