Noble Audio FoKus Prestige Review

Noble Audio is one of the few famous high-end IEM brands to dip their toes into the wireless world. Given that the Company never produces an average consumer product, it’s unsurprising that their latest true wireless model, the pricey, FoKus Prestige, looks quite different from the sea of other popular wireless earbuds. What can you expect in terms of sound performance and design?

What’s in the Box?

• FoKus Prestige Earphones

• Charging case

• Carrying pouch

• Charging cable

• 6 pairs of ear tips

Look and Feel

Right out of the box, the Focus Prestige is unlike any wireless IEM model I’ve seen. The charging case itself is thing of beauty, with its intricate wooden textures and glossy finish. The IEMs are just as gorgeous, incorporating the same sumptuous and richly detailed design as the case. 

With respect to comfort, the fit is quite snug. And it becomes clear that you’re wearing a super sound isolating IEM rather than a typical wireless in-ear model. The ear tips are even double flanged to ensure that the buds really squeeze into the ear canals. Still, the FoKus Prestige was reasonably comfortable to wear for extended periods. Just don’t expect it to be as forgiving as some of the cheaper and more traditional wireless earbuds on the market. 

Design

Controls and Functionality

You’ll have access to a host of controls and functions through both, the companion app and the touch sensors on the earbuds themselves. I was pleasantly surprised to see the Noble FoKus app work so seamlessly, since so many of the more niche headphone brands fall short in creating reliable applications. But here, you have a fully customizable equalizer, as well as a bunch of other options, such as the ability to choose the functions you control on the earbuds. In addition, you have a Hear Through mode, which is handy, given how much sound the Prestige blocks out.

Bluetooth

The FoKus Prestige employs Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring the best transmission currently available. Of course, this model also supports the aptX Adaptive hi-res codec.

Battery

The FoKus Prestige offers commendable battery performance, especially when compared to other wireless in-ear models in its class. A single charge provides a generous 10 hours of playtime, complemented by the case offering four more charging cycles.

Sound Impressions

Soundstage

What first popped out at me was the fantastic height of the stage. Placement across the vertical axis felt almost exaggerated in both, its tallness and its distancing between elements at times. While the sense of depth may not be as obvious, there’s definitely enough behind-the-ear placement to create a multidimensional stage. Placement across the stereo filed feels super precise. And just like you want from any soundstage, the above attributes translate into a somewhat transcendent audio experience. Certainly, this is the most holographic soundstage I’ve ever heard from a wireless earphone. And it’s one of the standout features of this IEM.

Low-End

There’s no holding back here. The bass rumbles and punches with chocolaty warmth and that famous Noble Audio speed. Still, despite the generous low-end, the bass always remains neatly contained. Most notable is the transparency, which is pretty impressive for a wireless in-ear. Textures and timbral resonances come out loud and clear, making the low-end just as suitable for acoustic genres as it is for pop or hip-hop.

Mids

The Prestige achieves the very difficult balance of delivering full low-mids and dynamic upper-mids all at once. While the higher midrange sits a bit forward, the low mids hold their own space as well. At the same time, the profile is spotless. So, despite the presence of the lower frequencies, the tidy separation and layering make for a cleaner sound, rather than one that is warm and gooey.

Highs

Super detailed in the highs, the Prestige reveals all the crackles and breath in vocal performances. And while the sound is far from thin, there’s a levitational quality to the treble. At the same time, there’s some richness in this range too, adding just a touch of depth to acoustic elements. Although the high-end may not be the major player in this sound signature, it seems to perfectly compliment the bolder lower frequencies. 

Summary

There’s no question that, out of all the competition, the FoKus Prestige comes the closest to approximating a high-performance IEM. Fast, transparent and impeccably clean with a powerful bass, energetic mids and easy highs, I haven’t heard another true wireless model that sounds this good. The price tag is admittedly steep, but after listening to FoKus Prestige even for a few minutes, it becomes clear that Noble is looking to set an entirely new standard in wireless sound.

You can find the Noble Audio FoKus Prestige at Audio 46.