Aug 9, 2021 at 3:27 PM Post #36,001 of 70,110
As it is with a lot of Head-Fi gear, price doesn't always relate to quality (especially sound quality). The Melomania Touch is a bit of an outlier in a really good way.

Nice comparison and, though I haven't tried the over-ears or the 65t, works say my listening impressions agree with you. That 75t's V can be adjusted with tips, too. I really liked the Crystal for those.

1. Status Between Pro - good tonality, ok timbre and technicalities. Worth it under 100 USD, but not at the currently-advertised $150. My son has these now.

2. Nuarl - missing the boat on these, but they sound like midrange kings.

3. Devialet - don't own, but they sound pretty darn special. Just have to decide if they're worth the cost to you

4. Nura - interesting concept, but no personal experience

5. MT - well, we know where I stand with these. Probably the value champs of everything on this list

Don't think you'll be upset regardless of which you pick.
IME, Nuarl are most about sub bass and bass and then treble and then mids/vocals but all are excellent so it is a 1, 1A type of thing.

The new Noble are looking solid. Here is what they had to say about them:

"We are hoping to have the full launch in September and we are currently gearing up for full production. The FoKus Pro has an 8mm dynamic driver and 2 Knowles BA drivers. The shells are 3d printed with designer faceplates. We have chosen to focus on the sound (thus the name) and have not included things like ANC or hear-thru as these techs tend to decrease sound quality. The fit of the FoKus is a significant improvement over the Falcon, and they do not stick out your ears nearly as much as the Falcons do. Probably one of the features that we are most excited about is the app that will go with the FoKus. While it has a fully adjustable equalizer, the app can also administer a hearing test and automatically adjust the equalizer for your hearing. Pretty cool stuff. The price will be $349."

They will not support LDAC but they seem to be upping the game on SQ overall. And I'm excited about the new fit.
I call BS. $349 needs to have excellent mic and good ambient. BS that "tends to decrease SQ thing". Maybe hurts profit if we spend to implement correctly but need not hurt SQ esp. hear through.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 3:31 PM Post #36,002 of 70,110
IME, Nuarl are most about sub bass and bass and then treble and then mids/vocals but all are excellent so it is a 1, 1A type of thing.
I didn't mean for them to be weighted rankings; just wanted to provide the same order they did. You've got more experience with the Nuarl than I do, so thanks for the elaboration.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 3:35 PM Post #36,003 of 70,110
IME, Nuarl are most about sub bass and bass and then treble and then mids/vocals but all are excellent so it is a 1, 1A type of thing.


I call BS. $349 needs to have excellent mic and good ambient. BS that "tends to decrease SQ thing". Maybe hurts profit if we spend to implement correctly but need not hurt SQ esp. hear through.
I’m not sure I’m ready to call BS. They are a high end IEM manufacturer focused on SQ. Kinda of like Dunu it doesn’t surprise me that this is the approach they are taking. I agree 349 is a bit rich and 299 would be more reasonable given the lack of technology. But I think there is a market for a tws designed solely for sound. Let’s give them a chance. The falcon 2 are well regarded around here.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 3:38 PM Post #36,004 of 70,110
I didn't mean for them to be weighted rankings; just wanted to provide the same order they did. You've got more experience with the Nuarl than I do, so thanks for the elaboration.
Yep, just as far as the best descriptor, unless I am hearing them wrong :), the mids are sweet indeed but third as far as focus or what hits you. Though the balance and quality level persist through the range so it is more what they highlight than the FR being either more mid or U.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 3:39 PM Post #36,005 of 70,110
I anxious to hear how you feel about the sound and the fit.
Fit is incredibly comfortable (for me). Sound is exactly like the normal MW08, if you've heard them by chance, otherwise very engaging, "fun", exciting and V shaped but with very clear highs and a good bass, not a muddy or bloated one.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 3:44 PM Post #36,007 of 70,110
I’m not sure I’m ready to call BS. They are a high end IEM manufacturer focused on SQ. Kinda of like Dunu it doesn’t surprise me that this is the approach they are taking. I agree 349 is a bit rich and 299 would be more reasonable given the lack of technology. But I think there is a market for a tws designed solely for sound. Let’s give them a chance. The falcon 2 are well regarded around here.
Nuarl did a great job for $150. Can't tell the ambient is on as far as SQ. It does not have to degrade. Then on the other side ANC is designed to counter the loss of SQ from noise. Yes, a lot of lower quality ANC but it is not snake oil that the end result will be SQ degradation esp. in the intended situations. So still don't buy the we don't do those cause it hurts SQ. :) They sound like Ety with the one armature is all that is needed philosophy they held for ages. Now they have a triple driver.

Of course that is just me saying that I won't buy it if it doesn't have ambient at that price and that it can be implemented w/o issue. Nothing negative to say about the SQ which should no doubt be good.
 
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Aug 9, 2021 at 4:15 PM Post #36,008 of 70,110
Nuarl did a great job for $150. Can't tell the ambient is on as far as SQ. It does not have to degrade. Then on the other side ANC is designed to counter the loss of SQ from noise. Yes, a lot of lower quality ANC but it is not snake oil that the end result will be SQ degradation esp. in the intended situations. So still don't buy the we don't do those cause it hurts SQ. :) They sound like Ety with the one armature is all that is needed philosophy they held for ages. Now they have a triple driver.

Of course that is just me saying that I won't buy it if it doesn't have ambient at that price and that it can be implemented w/o issue. Nothing negative to say about the SQ which should no doubt be good.
I suspect that adding those technologies do interfere with sq to some degree. They probably add distortion and cause addition stress on batteries and amplification which contributes to less clean power being available. I believe Dunu was referring to this as well. As for the price, I think we’re going to pay a premium for anything Noble makes just like Apple or any other premium manufacturer.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 4:39 PM Post #36,009 of 70,110
I suspect that adding those technologies do interfere with sq to some degree. They probably add distortion and cause addition stress on batteries and amplification which contributes to less clean power being available. I believe Dunu was referring to this as well. As for the price, I think we’re going to pay a premium for anything Noble makes just like Apple or any other premium manufacturer.
Maybe we are taking the comment too literally... The inclusion of ANC and transparency mode probably take resources from whatever they have budgeted - developers and component/manufacturing budget - so adding those features subtracts from available investment that would otherwise go towards sound quality.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 5:11 PM Post #36,010 of 70,110
I anxious to hear how you feel about the sound and the fit.
Sound is the same. I think I posted info a week or so ago. I LOVE them. I very much prefer the Kevlar case and the wireless charging is a great addition. Foam tips secure and isolate the buds better for me. I highly recommend if money is no object. If you don't care about the new features, you can't go wrong with the standard version.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 5:15 PM Post #36,011 of 70,110
Sound is the same. I think I posted info a week or so ago. I LOVE them. I very much prefer the Kevlar case and the wireless charging is a great addition. Foam tips secure and isolate the buds better for me. I highly recommend if money is no object. If you don't care about the new features, you can't go wrong with the standard version.
What are your thoughts on sq v the Klipsch?
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 5:16 PM Post #36,012 of 70,110
I’m not sure I’m ready to call BS. They are a high end IEM manufacturer focused on SQ. Kinda of like Dunu it doesn’t surprise me that this is the approach they are taking. I agree 349 is a bit rich and 299 would be more reasonable given the lack of technology. But I think there is a market for a tws designed solely for sound. Let’s give them a chance. The falcon 2 are well regarded around here.
Same. Noble Audio doesn't make bs. They make incredibly solid buds. NFPs are just awesome. I'm a transparency/passthrough mode guy, so I'll prob pass on the new ones... until I get a wild hair. Again. And again.
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 5:17 PM Post #36,013 of 70,110
Same. Noble Audio doesn't make bs. They make incredibly solid buds. NFPs are just awesome. I'm a transparency/passthrough mode guy, so I'll prob pass on the new ones... until I get a wild hair. Again. And again.
You’ll break down when you see those custom face plates ….
 
Aug 9, 2021 at 5:18 PM Post #36,014 of 70,110
Sound is the same. I think I posted info a week or so ago. I LOVE them. I very much prefer the Kevlar case and the wireless charging is a great addition. Foam tips secure and isolate the buds better for me. I highly recommend if money is no object. If you don't care about the new features, you can't go wrong with the standard version.
Would agree with everything here. Great buds. Superb battery life as well. Good ANC (not Sony/Bose good but good), call quality also good, as is the transparency mode. There is not a lot I would change (besides still having an EQ in the app maybe).
 
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Aug 9, 2021 at 5:21 PM Post #36,015 of 70,110
What are your thoughts on sq v the Klipsch?
Ha ha! Using the Klipsch right now and plan on testing them on my first work zoom call. I truly love them. One stupid feature, although simple, it's awesome - when you're listening to music and you pause, transparency automatically turns on. Just an option that's rare on tws these days. I think I prefer the K vs the M&W. Primarily because I can EQ the K. But both are staying in my collection for now. They knocked my Sony XM4's out and I've sold them. I was comparing and contrasting the K's vs the Sony last night and the bass is just much more punchy on the Klipsch. Love my punchy, not muddy bass.
 
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