Noble Audio - the Wizard returns!

[rantng]

I love most of the prestige options on the website but there was just such a Dawn and Dusk sentiment to 005 - plain exceptional. I might inquire to have a Zephyr built instead of the current options I’m currently excited for the Sea Monster Sultan that’s on its way though (I’ve decided that’s how I’m naming it )

I did much prefer the contrasting L-R shells on blueberry cheesecake.

 

[rantng]

Could someone please post some shell size comparisons of Zephyr Prestige with other IEMs?

 

[AustinGrayson]

Yes, that means Katana. I very like Katana sound signature, but I prefer timbre from dynamic driver. Khan have perfect bass and highs for me, but I dislike mids, because not timbre. I listening a lot of asian music, especially soundtrack from anime, like Sawano, Kalafina, Aimer.
Would you like compare bass on Khan and Zaphyr, especially quality, decay, timbre, very thanks for answer.

Khan does have awesome bass quantity and texture but I don't think its high is good enough, too dry, too shouty. But I know a way to fix that, swapping the stock cable to a gold/silver-gold alloy cable, that would bring more body to the midrange, makes it more intimate and richer, also helps smoothen out the treble.

 

[FullCircle]

Oh maaaaaan that is tragic I pmed the Wizard about reserving that unit while waiting for the Odin’s refund but we couldn’t get that organized in time - oh well

They are actually placed on "hold" for someone

 

[msiekkb]

Khan does have awesome bass quantity and texture but I don't think its high is good enough, too dry, too shouty. But I know a way to fix that, swapping the stock cable to a gold/silver-gold alloy cable, that would bring more body to the midrange, makes it more intimate and richer, also helps smoothen out the treble.

I trying this, still not enough timbre mids for me, and I very like forward female vocals.

 

[mvvRAZ]

They are actually placed on "hold" for someone

Daaamn! My birthday is next week that’s one hell of a present I’ll update you ASAP once the refund has been processed

 

[AustinGrayson]

I trying this, still not enough timbre mids for me, and I very like forward female vocals.

Well, in that case, the old generation would be more suitable for you, l felt in love with Noble IEMs just because of the sweet midrange. I think Dr.Wizard is having a different approach in his new lineup, bass comes first then treble, 3rd is mid, they sound great on instrument-focused tracks. So don't get to hopes up too high. I'm expecting the Zephyr would wow me on the tracks of Minnesota Orchestra & Eiji Oue.

 

[msiekkb]

I agree uiem/ciem in the line of brand should have a different signature, because each person likes something different. I very interesting Zaphyr for this mids, especially peak on 1-2 and 3 kHz I very interesting, because I very like forwards, natural timbre, and clear female vocals this is most important to me, that why I prefer listening on Katana than Khan, although Khan have best bass all iem for me, and I very like sparkly highs in Khan, but mids not good for jmusic.

 

[AustinGrayson]

I agree uiem/ciem in the line of brand should have a different signature, because each person likes something different. I very interesting Zaphyr for this mids, especially peak on 1-2 and 3 kHz I very interesting, because I very like forwards, natural timbre, and clear female vocals this is most important to me, that why I prefer listening on Katana than Khan, although Khan have best bass all iem for me, and I very like sparkly highs in Khan, but mids not good for jmusic.

Agreed, I've never tried any vocal songs on Khan, just know its mids wouldn't satisfy me anyway.

 

[msiekkb]

Agreed, I've never tried any vocal songs on Khan, just know its mids wouldn't satisfy me anyway.

Khan is awesome uiem/ciem to rock, metal, bass&drums, trance and other similar music genres, but no music when most important vocal, especially female.

 

[FullCircle]

Zephyr

 

[SLC1966]

Our review of the Zephyr is now posted with comparisons to the EVE20, Valkyrie, and the TUX 5.

https://headfonics.com/noble-audio-zephyr-review/

Excellent review. I was just about to post about the Zephyr vocals being well placed in a small slight forward position in a very good way. I was also going to comment more on the timbre of the Zephyr being very well done. Your review covered those areas well!

i have spent a couple days now with just the Zephyr and Sultan. There is really nothing similar between the two. The Zephyr is smooth and musical and emotional. The Sultan is more of an out of body experience. Both are extremely well done in their own right!

 

[mvvRAZ]

The Sultan has arrived! FedEx delivered 2 days early and an hour ago, 9:30am local time, I was barely finishing up my first coffee lol

These is a sort of pre-initial commentary, based on an hour of listening, maybe even less - none of that burn in, tip, cable or source rolling - just a sense of what the Sultan is like

The Khan felt a bit more experimental to me (and I was quite upfront about my opinion that the treble acted pretty much as a coat to everything else and would show up even in places where there wasn't even any treble ) - the M3 I really really did not like, and so I was a bit nervous about the Sultan, and what direction Noble decided to take with its tuning - I was very pleasantly surprised however

The Sultan feels like the culmination of Noble's house tuning to me - they've gone back to a sound that resembles the Encore and Katana, and presents the music with great balance and coherency, and straight up incredible sense of air and space. It has a faster, tighter low end which might come off as a bit surprising considering it's a DD, but to me it works really well with the airier, slightly colder midrange. The treble is IMHO the aspect of the Sultan that makes its tuning shine, and saves it from sounding straight up thin or anemic. The staging is wide, deep and high, worthy of the TOTL title.

Addition: just as a disclaimer, 0 harshness, sibilance or shoutyness anywhere throughout the FR

Will be sharing more complete impressions tonight or tomorrow, but the Sultan is an easy winner to me - great work from Noble

 

[mvvRAZ]

A more complete set of Sultan impressions up

 

[skootb]

damn, someone snatched 21. any more green zephyrs coming?