Noble Audio Lu Ban: An IEM That Goes Back to Basics

Noble Audio has always had stunning build quality in its IEMs, and the Lu Ban is no exception to this trend. The brown wooden finish is dark and incognito, so it doesn't stand out too much if you like to keep your listening gear on the subtler side. The Lu Ban is smaller than the typical Noble Audio IEM, which tends to be a bit bigger and ergonomic to the shape of your ear. The smaller size invites a more comfortable fit for longer periods of time, being less fatiguing, so you can enjoy your music for longer. With the assorted eartips included, you can find a good seal that blocks out ambient noise quite easily.

For me, the Lu Ban was very comfortable to wear and easy to use for hours on end. The small shell was easy to fit in my ear, and with a universal nozzle size, I could fit my personal SilPhase eartips from Strauss & Wagner on the IEM for an ideal fit. I was impressed with how comfortable it was to wear, and the lightweight build made it nearly unnoticeable in my ear after a bit of time. 

The cable that comes with the Lu Ban is a sturdy, braided cable made of premium materials. The silver-plated OCC cable terminates in 4.4mm, which has become the most popular balanced connection for audiophiles and their various amplifiers and DACs. The 2-pin connection on the Lu Ban IEMs themselves means this cable can easily be swapped out for something more compatible, but I highly suggest keeping this cable handy. It is a good quality wire that will last over time, even with extensive use. Noble Audio's cables have always impressed me in the past, and the Lu Ban is no exception. 

• Driver Configuration: 
  • 10mm Wooden Composite Dynamic
  • Dual Planar Drivers
• Sensitivity: 108 dB SPL/mW
• Impedance: 27 Ω
• Connector: 0.78mm 2-pin
• Termination: 4.4mm balanced

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Lu Ban's sound signature was a bit startling at first. With a dual planar magnetic configuration paired with a dynamic driver, I would have expected a very full, forward sound. Instead, I was met with something quite linear and a bit flat. The soundstage itself was very wide, opening up a large horizontal stage for frequencies to spread out and live. The instruments got fairly decent separation and individual space to live, making them easily recognizable in the field. There wasn't much vertical height from the Lu Ban, but it did expand backwards in a way to make it more multi-dimensional. Everything stayed fairly even in the soundstage, creating an even balance that was good for analytical listening. This IEM could become a reference sound for people with its detailed nature, though the overall balance and color coming from the sound reproduction may just make this an earphone for casual listening. 

As far as the overall signature goes, the planar magnetic drivers definitely had a heavy hand in its shaping. The Lu Ban had a bright signature that leaned towards the treble more than anything, leaving the bass a little lacking and thin as opposed to punchy and driving. Over time, as I listened more, I found the bass to be a subtle thrum below the detail and precision provided by the treble range, with the midrange becoming very transparent. If you're a fan of heavy bass and an encompassing low end, the Lu Ban may be disappointing. Conversely, if you like precision and detail that feels analytical, the Lu Ban will impress and be geared towards your ear. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

As mentioned before, the bass in the Lu Ban was lacking in power. This isn't to say it lost all its color and character; instead, it kept things very subtle and let the midrange and treble do all the talking for the signature. I thought I would not like the Lu Ban with its lack of bass and initial overbearing treble, but I soon found that this IEM was actually quite entertaining to listen to. Where punchy bass would have been the focus in some tracks, the Lu Ban almost forces you to listen to those minute details that are hidden in the treble and upper range. That being said, you still get a great foundation in the bass frequencies, keeping things warm and soft like a blanket over the lower register. Kick drums and tonal bass notes were still recognizable in many tracks.  It didn't get muddy or washed out too much in the face of a detailed treble. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange in the Lu Ban is surprisingly transparent, which makes the low end and treble stand out a bit more in the overall signature. The midrange was a bit hollow upon a first listen, and it took my ears some time to adjust to this oddly recessed presentation. I think the overall color in the midrange was quite effective, making instruments immediately recognizable in any genre. The power of brass in some jazz tracks was a fun brightness that flowed seamlessly from the upper mids to the treble. Similarly, string instruments like guitars and basses had a thicker presentation to transition from the bass frequencies to the lower mids. It made the entire signature a little more cohesive and flowing, like everything tied together seamlessly to work in tandem. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

Moving to the top of the signature, the Lu Ban impresses with a very bright and detailed treble response. The treble was the first thing I noticed when I started listening to the Lu Ban, and I worried that the brightness and sharp detail would become fatiguing too quickly. I was very happy to be proven wrong, discovering a softness in the signature that appeared at the very top of Lu Ban's range.  The roll-off of those upper frequencies prevented the Lu Ban from being too harsh or piercing as you get to sharper strings and shrill voices. The treble softened just enough to create space in the soundstage. It made the entire signature more open and less compressed, so you didn't feel as closed in while you were listening. For an earphone that already sounds quite flat and lacking in height, the Lu Ban definitely benefited from that extra stretch of space. 

At the $1400 price point, you'll find there are a lot of earphones that stand up against the Lu Ban. From Noble Audio itself, it wouldn't be fair to pit it against the Kronos or the Shogun, retailing for nearly three times the price. You may compare it to the Kadence, a balanced armature configuration with 8 drivers. It retails for $200 more than the Lu Ban, and it is a significantly brighter IEM. The Lu Ban has a soft bass, but it is more present in the signature than in the Kadence.  

If you're looking outside of the Noble brand, you might consider some options by Sennheiser or Campfire Audio. The Sennheiser IE 900 shares a similar design with its single dynamic driver, and it has a similarly wide soundstage. The IE 900 is definitely more laid back and has a lack of punchiness that the Lu Ban definitely has. In the same vein, you'll find that the Campfire Grand Luna presents a darker tonality in comparison to Lu Ban's brighter signature. For two IEMs at the same price point, you may find you prefer the brightness of the Lu Ban over the bassiness of the Grand Luna. No matter which you choose, you'll be getting a high-end earphone that is made for high-quality listening. 

The Noble Audio Lu Ban IEMs are an interesting and surprising upgrade. Their shape and size invite listeners with any ear size, especially with the assortment of eartips that give you plenty of options to find the perfect fit. The sound signature of the Lu Ban may be surprising and unassuming at first, but its flatness lends itself to close listening and detail-oriented analysis. The soft bass may not be for everyone, but you'll certainly find the wide soundstage to be a great reason to add this to your collection. 

You can get the Noble Lu Ban at Audio46.