The Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 is the latest addition to the brand’s renowned FoKus series, combining cutting-edge audio technology with a bold new design. These true wireless in-ear monitors (IEMs) aim to deliver a personalized and immersive listening experience, featuring Audiodo’s hearing profile technology, an intuitive EQ system, and effective active noise cancellation. With its striking green aesthetic and a dynamic sound signature, the FoKus Rex5is positioned as a premium option for both audiophiles and everyday listeners. In this review, we’ll explore its features, performance, and whether it lives up to its $449 price tag.

What Comes In The Box

• FoKus Rex5 True Wireless In-Ear Monitors
• Charging Case
• USB-C Charging Cable
• Various Size Eartips

Aesthetics and Functionality

The FoKus Rex5 from Noble Audio marks an exciting new addition to the brand’s FoKus series, with a striking shift in design. The vibrant green finish is a bold departure from Noble’s usual blue aesthetic, giving the Rex5 a distinctive visual identity. While promotional images suggest a compact design, the earbuds are slightly larger than expected, but this does not detract from their comfort or wearability. Thanks to the variety of included ear tips, achieving a secure and personalized fit was straightforward, and the FoKus Rex5 remained comfortable even during extended listening sessions. Despite their weight when held, they sit snugly in the ears without causing discomfort or fatigue. 

Pairing with my device and to the Noble FoKus app was a breeze. A button on the inside of the charging case along with signal LEDs on the IEMs themselves makes it easy to tell when they are in pairing mode and when they’ve successfully connected. The touch controls are intuitive and highly responsive, enabling seamless playback control, while the companion app adds to the Rex5’s versatility by allowing users to customize settings and enhance the overall listening experience

Features

The FoKus Rex5 continues Noble Audio’s trend of incorporating innovative features, with the standout addition being Audiodo’s personalized hearing profile technology. This system, previously featured in products like the Denon PerL Pros, allows the Rex5 to tailor sound output to the user’s unique auditory profile. The companion app also offers an intuitive adjustable equalizer (EQ), with a sliding scale that lets users toggle between brighter and bass-forward tonalities. 

This simple yet effective system makes EQ adjustments accessible to both casual listeners and audiophiles. Testing the FoKus Rex5 with a personal hearing profile revealed subtle yet impactful enhancements, adding a sense of depth and liveliness to favorite tracks. While the personalized profile may not suit every listening session, it provides an engaging option for those looking to add extra character to their music.

Tech Specs

• 5 Driver Configuration
• 1 (10mm) Dynamic Driver
• 1 (6mm) Planar Driver
• 3 Balanced Armature Drivers
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
• Bluetooth: 5.4
• Codec Support: 
• SBC
• AAC
• aptX Adaptive
• LDAC
• Multipoint Connection: Connects up to 2 devices
• Battery Life
• 5 hours (ANC on)
• 7 hours (ANC off)
• + 40 hours with charging case
• Modes: ANC, Transparency, and Basic modes
• App Compatibility: Updated Noble FoKus App with Audiodo integration
• Personalized Sound Software: Audiodo

Listening Review

Soundstage & ANC

The soundstage of the FoKus Rex5 offers a more intimate and focused presentation, with audio positioned closer to the listener rather than extending into a wide spatial field. Despite this narrower soundstage, the earbuds excel in spatial imaging, delivering precise positional cues and a sense of depth. The Rex5's dynamic sound signature ensures excellent textural detail across the frequency spectrum, maintaining both clarity and smoothness. Coupled with highly effective active noise cancellation (ANC), the FoKus Rex5 provides a fully immersive listening experience, isolating the user from external distractions and enhancing the overall impact of the sound.

Low Frequencies

The FoKus Rex5 achieves a well-balanced low end that is powerful without overwhelming the rest of the sound signature. Many IEMs with active noise cancellation tend to overemphasize bass frequencies, but Noble Audio has struck a fine balance here. The bass delivers ample warmth and depth, making it an excellent fit for energetic genres like rock and pop, while retaining the subtlety needed to complement slower, more delicate tracks in genres such as indie and R&B. The clarity in the lower frequencies ensures that the bass remains well-defined, avoiding muddiness or excessive resonance, even during more demanding bass-heavy passages.

Mid-Range Frequencies

The midrange on the FoKus Rex5 stands out for its exceptional detail and tonal accuracy. Complex arrangements, such as large ensembles or layered studio productions, are rendered with impressive coherence and texture. Instruments and vocals in this range are clearly articulated, with a smooth transition between frequencies that avoids harshness or disjointedness. The midrange retains a natural timbre, ensuring that instruments and voices sound realistic and uncolored. This balance allows the Rex5 to deliver an engaging and harmonically rich listening experience, making it particularly appealing for genres that emphasize vocal and instrumental clarity. 

High Frequencies

The FoKus Rex5’s treble performance is both bright and detailed, offering a complementary counterbalance to the warmth of the bass. High-frequency instruments, such as flutes, piccolos, and upper-register strings, are presented with remarkable clarity and airiness. Even sharp or high-energy elements in this range avoid harshness, flowing smoothly and naturally without piercing or shrillness. The treble extension enhances the overall sound signature, with subtle reverberations and echoes dissipating naturally to maintain an organic quality. This refined treble response adds vibrancy and texture to the Rex5, breathing life into otherwise subdued recordings.

Summary

The FoKus Rex5 from Noble Audio is a testament to the brand’s dedication to innovation and quality, offering a well-rounded listening experience that balances functionality and sound performance. The integration of personalized hearing profiles via Audiodo and an intuitive EQ system makes the Rex5 accessible to a wide range of listeners, while its dynamic sound signature ensures versatility across various music genres. Although the soundstage leans more toward an intimate presentation, the precision in spatial imaging and tonal balance more than compensate. With its striking design, user-friendly features, and detailed sound performance, the FoKus Rex5 is a standout addition to Noble Audio’s FoKus series, catering to both audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

The Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 is available today at Audio46.