Noble Audio - the Wizard returns!

[Sebastien Chiu]

I’ve had it since the Canjam so I’m a little past initial hehe

Either way though, all in all very positive at any price point and outstanding at 190USD

It’s pretty nice and refreshing to see a TOTL company developing products at competitive prices as opposed to the quest of recent to max performance regardless of any value consideration

Glad to hear! Can't wait to hear it at RMAF myself, will be my first time trying it then!

 

[krismusic]

Though to some that may not be a lot of money, to spend that amount on a cable is a LOT of money to many people, including myself.

If you make 10 times what I do, then $200 to you is $2000 to me.

it's all relative, like aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc.

I don't buy into cables making a difference to sound but even if it does, if you have a nice pair of headphones and a decent source I don't think you need to spend money on replacing cables to enjoy your music.

 

[mvvRAZ]

Glad to hear! Can't wait to hear it at RMAF myself, will be my first time trying it then!

Noble 8 wire A0001 bouta get tested with the big boys

 

[Redcarmoose]

I don't buy into cables making a difference to sound but even if it does, if you have a nice pair of headphones and a decent source I don't think you need to spend money on replacing cables to enjoy your music.

Cables are a subject of debate at Head-Fi. They are also an enigma as some folks claim to hear big differences between them with other people suspect of a difference. Though in my situation it was just an easy way to get my IEM plugged into 4.4mm. Though I do believe they can make a difference at times. If you go over to the Z1R impressions thread a very large amount of people think aftermarket cables can make a difference. It’s maybe sensible to guess that different cables would at least be something to test; just incase something changed. Though folks randomly buying cables for everything does seem extreme?

 

[mvvRAZ]

Cables are a subject of debate at Head-Fi. They are also an enigma as some folks claim to hear big differences between them with other people suspect of a difference. Though in my situation it was just an easy way to get my IEM plugged into 4.4mm. Though I do believe they can make a difference at times. If you go over to the Z1R impressions thread a very large amount of people think aftermarket cables can make a difference. It’s maybe sensible to guess that different cables would at least be something to test; just incase something changed. Though folks randomly buying cables for everything does seem extreme?

I think it’s somewhere in the middle - I can hear a difference between a crappy 20$ cable and one with proper terminations, materials with high purity and all that.

I can also hear a small difference between cables *and I can’t stress this enough* on IEMs that I know very well and have spent loads of time with - to the point where I know exactly how certain songs sound like on them - once I do the cable roll then, I can tell them apart without much issue

That being said

I’m not sure if it’s a question of my ears or if that’s normal, but the cable hooks weight and build affect how well IEMs fit and stay in my ear, which is a pretty major factor when it comes to sound perception - I tend to be more favourable towards cables that make the IEMs feel better in my ears

That being said (Ha Ha so funny)

I feel like a cable is a very good compliment to an IEM in terms of esthetics, feel and comfort of everyday use - I generally just don’t enjoy having a great IEM with a mediocre stock cable strapped to it. That’s why I generally try to focus on build quality more so than sound in a cable review - I mention the small differences I heard when it comes to the sound but that’s more of a passing comment

Anyways, is it a huge difference to the sound and is it worth hundreds or thousands of euros? It’s up to you and you gotta decide where you draw the line - 500 dollars is mine

On the topic of balanced vs straight you have to be pretty deaf to not hear the differences imo (no offense to anybody who doesn’t but I think it’s glaring)

 

[Watagump]

I am going to build a $20 cable and put a $1000 price tag on it, that will settle the debate.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I am going to build a $20 cable and put a $1000 price tag on it, that will settle the debate.

Finding the best master of favorite recordings seems to be unarguably the easiest way to improve sound. Though what’s amazing is how much audiophiles are swayed by how stuff looks. Meaning if their gear has a certain look it sounds way way better........even in total darkness?

 

[Watagump]

Finding the best master of favorite recordings seems to be unarguably the easiest way to improve sound. Though what’s amazing is how much audiophiles are swayed by how stuff looks. Meaning if their gear has a certain look it sounds way way better........even in total darkness?

The audible difference between files/music is another debate that will never be settled. I would love to have someone do a blind test with cables, but not swap any cables, just to see how it went. I do like cables for looks and other things, but I have never found they improved the sound. Companies should sell them though, enough people do want them and its a business first.

 

[Redcarmoose]

The audible difference between files/music is another debate that will never be settled. I would love to have someone do a blind test with cables, but not swap any cables, just to see how it went. I do like cables for looks and other things, but I have never found they improved the sound. Companies should sell them though, enough people do want them and its a business first.

I guess your right, audiophiles have also disputed which master of a recording is best. But.......unarguably it’s subjective “truth”......whatever that means.

 

[FullCircle]

For a lot of people, this is a hobby, and a hobby by nature is about spending time/money on an activity or object that really has most value to the owner and may have zero value to most people outside this particular hobby.

For my mom, she loved making bowls. I ashamed to admit I never saw any value in her bowls. I never really appreciated the art, the skill, the challenge it was to make her bowls.

Years later, I saw one of her bowls on my brothers fire place mantel....
I had never been offered or given one of her bowls.

At that moment I realized I was the one that lost out, I lost the oppertunity to appreciate her craft.

For me, I am more in line with mvvRaz has to say, quality craftsmanship shouldn't just end with the IEM. Sound wise, I'm not really going to get into that debate. But I do want to offer quality workmanship and materials from end to end.

The 8 core is a leap above our 4 core. While the 4 core is very practical, does the job, and can be used to tow a car... it doesn't smack of artisan quality.

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

Echoing John, that artisan quality is what makes Noble stand out from everyone.

None of us make much money doing this because everything goes back into the product. Frankly, we do this because we love it. It's art for the eyes and art for your ears.

In the words of Macklemore, "a life lived for art is never a life wasted."

 

[Rowethren]

Any chance you will do a ~40cm cable for those of us using Bluetooth dongles?

 

[krismusic]

Sorry to continue this. I certain do not want to get into the endless and tedious debate about cables and SQ. My point is that if you have saved hard for a Noble piece they are at a level that you do not need to spend money that is hard to come by on accessories to enjoy them. If money is not a problem for you then enjoy. I have never read of anyone claiming huge improvement from cables. Balanced is a different matter that involves different circuitry. Differences other than loudness are debatable there too!

 

[FullCircle]

I t

Any chance you will do a ~40cm cable for those of us using Bluetooth dongles?

I think we still have 4 core short cables for dongles

 

[FullCircle]

I t


I think we still have 4 core short cables for dongles

Let me know if you need some short cables, we no longer offer the bts dongle but I do believe we have the support cable in inventory