[scubaphish]

Good to know I wasn’t alone with not being able to express sound differences between Pro and Mystique

 

[marcusd]

Nice review.

For no real reason I've been wondering if this was as good as it gets in the range, from what I've read on comparisons with other models and brands the Kublai Khan hits every single point I'm looking for when I'm listening to music.

If it hits every point you are looking for then its as good as it gets for you

 

[Sound Eq]

I have fokus pro and can vouche its the best tws I heard

wonder if noble audio @FullCircle can share with us his thoughts bout when we might get tws to sound as great as wired iems

so far the most focus needed by companies is in both the mids and treble, but so far the fokus pro is a great tws

hope when aptx looselss becomes more main stream on phones we can witness even better tws, so far i know nura tws supports aptx loseless and only a couple of phones support that codex such as asus phones

one thing i noticed with fokus pro is that the supplied tips are the most ideal to use it with, despite i have tons of other tips but stock tips work best with focus pro

 

[FullCircle]

Are we there yet? I guess it depends on which wired products the comparison is made. In some respects, tws blows away wired products (app versatility / value per dollar tech)

 

[jwbrent]

Are we there yet? I guess it depends on which wired products the comparison is made. In some respects, tws blows away wired products (app versatility / value per dollar tech)

Interesting comment from the maker of 3K and above sets.

 

[FullCircle]

It is what it is. Each tech has its pros & cons, one must weigh the value of what those pros and cons are & decide on which to buy. Fortunately, we offer the best of both worlds.

 

[SynaestheticA]

Are we there yet? I guess it depends on which wired products the comparison is made. In some respects, tws blows away wired products (app versatility / value per dollar tech)

I'd be interested in your thoughts. After listening to the Kublai Khan and comparing it against TWS my suspicion is that for all the talk of codecs, the true thing keeping tws back is the power to drive more powerful drivers (can I phrase that better?).

Even playing low res files on the Kublai Khan has the sound sounding so much more voluptuous. It doesn't feel like I'm getting more information through via a cable, but rather that there is more power and stronger/better drivers being used.

 

[FullCircle]

I'd be interested in your thoughts. After listening to the Kublai Khan and comparing it against TWS my suspicion is that for all the talk of codecs, the true thing keeping tws back is the power to drive more powerful drivers (can I phrase that better?).

Even playing low res files on the Kublai Khan has the sound sounding so much more voluptuous. It doesn't feel like I'm getting more information through via a cable, but rather that there is more power and stronger/better drivers being used.

In the case of the kublai khan, the piezo electric is extremely precise and fast. I don't think it is a matter of more powerful drivers being used.

The secret sauce in the FoKus Pro & the Mystique is understanding where corners are cut in the industry & resisting to cut those corners, especially if they impact sound quality.

 

[scubaphish]

The secret sauce in the FoKus Pro & the Mystique is understanding where corners are cut in the industry & resisting to cut those corners, especially if they impact sound quality.

May I ask a loaded question? In your opinion what are the tuning or tonal differences between the two FoKus models, Pro and Mystique?

 

[FreeBlues]

Maybe somewhere in the huge thread my question(s) have been addressed, but I've not read all the previous posts and thought I'd post this as a current wonderment.

Some background. I've owned (and love) a set of Noble Custom 8C's since they were first released, 2014 perhaps? Before that I owned a variety of superb CIEM's. My few attempts with Universal IEM's have been less than satisfying - I have some issues with fit and they seem to need resealing several times during my listening sessions. In particular, since I use these at the gym and move around a lot, even slight fiddling is a nuisance. Not an issue at all with CIEM's.

So my question, all else being equal, why spend huge bucks for a Universal when for about the same amount you could get CIEM's? The recent comments on the Kublai Khan seem to indicate this (Universal) IEM is the pinnacle of sound and it is certainly big bucks. But, spending "only" $400 gets the custom version. For me anyway, if I'm already spending $2,600, an additional $400 seems like a much better way to go.

Further, and not to open a can of worms on the "worth it" debate, I just can't wrap my head around spending $4,000 for the TOTL Ragnar Universal. In fact, if I correctly interpret the info on Noble's website, the Ragnar is only offered as a Universal. I just don't get it.

Now please understand this is in NO WAY a knock on Noble. I own their IEM's and they have treated me with nothing but the absolute best customer service and support. In my limited experience they offer the very best IEM's currently (or ever) made. I just don't understand why one would buy a super expensive Universal IEM if a custom version is available. Am I wrong in thinking a CIEM will always offer a better fit, better seal and, most importantly, a better reproduction of whatever music is being played? And IF I'm right, if the absolute best IEM is the goal, why not go Custom instead of Universal?

 

[skootb]

any way to order a ragnar with a non-pentaconn connector? Or is the answer just use adapters?

 

[Blueshound24]

Maybe somewhere in the huge thread my question(s) have been addressed, but I've not read all the previous posts and thought I'd post this as a current wonderment.

Some background. I've owned (and love) a set of Noble Custom 8C's since they were first released, 2014 perhaps? Before that I owned a variety of superb CIEM's. My few attempts with Universal IEM's have been less than satisfying - I have some issues with fit and they seem to need resealing several times during my listening sessions. In particular, since I use these at the gym and move around a lot, even slight fiddling is a nuisance. Not an issue at all with CIEM's.

So my question, all else being equal, why spend huge bucks for a Universal when for about the same amount you could get CIEM's? The recent comments on the Kublai Khan seem to indicate this (Universal) IEM is the pinnacle of sound and it is certainly big bucks. But, spending "only" $400 gets the custom version. For me anyway, if I'm already spending $2,600, an additional $400 seems like a much better way to go.

Further, and not to open a can of worms on the "worth it" debate, I just can't wrap my head around spending $4,000 for the TOTL Ragnar Universal. In fact, if I correctly interpret the info on Noble's website, the Ragnar is only offered as a Universal. I just don't get it.

Now please understand this is in NO WAY a knock on Noble. I own their IEM's and they have treated me with nothing but the absolute best customer service and support. In my limited experience they offer the very best IEM's currently (or ever) made. I just don't understand why one would buy a super expensive Universal IEM if a custom version is available. Am I wrong in thinking a CIEM will always offer a better fit, better seal and, most importantly, a better reproduction of whatever music is being played? And IF I'm right, if the absolute best IEM is the goal, why not go Custom instead of Universal?

What keeps me from going Custom is because Custom IEM's have limited resale value, and I haven't found the IEM I want to stick with for a long enough time to invest in Custom.

 

[FullCircle]

@ FreeBlues
The amount of usable floor space in a ciem is an unknown factor as the shape of the ear is dynamic. Whereas the shape of an IEM is static & can be controlled by design. The amount of internal parts in a Viking is the limiting factor for building CIEM versions.

@ skootb
Ask jim@nobleaudio.com or abacus@nobleaudio.com
Hopefully they can sort that request out for you

@ bluehound24
That is a common concern & now that technology has grown in sophistication getting a CIEM reshelled to fit a new owner by a 3rd party is larger gamble than it was years ago.

 

[FullCircle]

https://www.headphonedungeon.com/noble-audio-fokus-mystique-review/

 

[FullCircle]

There is wood, and then there is Wood.