Noble Audio Iris Review: Single Never Sounded So Good!

When it comes to hi-fi IEMs, Noble Audio has some of the best in the business. The flagship Kronos is a standout, with the Agis II and Lu Ban being great midrange options. Their true wireless FoKus series is another highlight that people search out for hi-fi travel. Recently, they've released a few new models for you to add to your collection. Today, we're taking a look at the Noble Audio Iris, a new release that retails for $699 and has an impressive single-driver configuration. What does this IEM have to offer the audiophile world? 

As always, we start with the build and physical design of the earphones. The Iris joins a select group of Noble IEMs that have a smaller shell than most, including the Van Gogh, Lu Ban, and some true wireless models. The dark blue shell with black accents is a nice aesthetic that doesn't stand out too much, appealing to those who like a more incognito look. As someone with smaller ears, the Iris was very comfortable and pleasant to wear for long listening sessions. It definitely was less fatiguing to wear, as opposed to some other models with larger shells. If you're worried that the Iris will be too small for your ears, getting a larger eartip will definitely help with that. The nozzle is a standard size and will easily fit whatever third-party eartips you like best. 

The cable for the Iris has an interchangeable end, allowing you to choose between 3.5mm and 4.4mm. You can pair the Iris with any DAC or amplifier of your choosing, and the 2-pin connection on the IEM itself allows you to easily swap out the cable should you want to use a third-party cable of your own. I found that the Iris paired well with many portable DACs, including the FiiO BTR17 and the iFi GO Link Max 2. The Iris doesn't require too much power to drive, so small DACs and adapters like these are a perfect match. 

• Driver Configuration: Single 10.2mm Dynamic Driver
• Diaphragm: 3-layer PU + PEEK Diaphragm with coating
• Magnet Type: Dual Neodymium Iron Boron Magnet
• Acoustic Design: Triple Sound Chamber System
• Housing: CNC-Machined Custom Micarta
• Cable: 8-Core OCC Cable with 3.5/4.4mm Replaceable Plug
• Frequency: 10Hz - 40kHz
• Sensitivity: 113dB @ 1kHz
• Impedance: 34Ω @ 1kHz

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

The Noble Audio Iris has the analytical listener in mind. Upon an initial listen to the sound profile, I was immediately struck by how balanced and open the sound was. For in-ear monitors, having an open signature is sometimes difficult to achieve. The Iris has a very wide soundstage that expands horizontally in an impressive sweep. The sound is definitely punchy and very forward, so you get hit immediately with realistic detail and shine right in your face. If you prefer something a little more relaxed, the Iris may be overwhelming at first; however, I found I was a fan of how the Iris created a wall of sound for your tracks. Depth wasn't as far back as I'd expected, but the separation between elements was still very present. This made the imaging more accurate across the horizontal stereo field. 

As mentioned before, the signature of the Noble Iris was very balanced. There was a slight V-shape that made the midrange the most forward of the three ranges, but you still got a pretty level response from the bass and treble. They didn't sit too far backwards, and displayed plenty of detail and character. I liked that this IEM had a very realistic sound quality to be used for very analytical listening, but it still produced some stark dynamics that made the monitors fun to listen to. I would recommend the Iris to people looking for a good travel pair of reference earphones, but also for someone who wants high-quality listening on the go. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

For most IEMs, it's easy for the bass to become very thick and overwhelming in a signature. The seal of a good eartip and the noise isolation can enhance a bass response quite easily, and the Iris is no exception to that. However, the bass in the Iris stays controlled and high in clarity. It has a punchiness that drives high-energy tracks forward, but also a relaxed warmth that comes out more in slow-paced tracks. Throughout the bass response, the low frequencies come through with clarity and precision. The sub-bass extension felt natural and wasn't as pronounced as some other IEMs, but with the colorful character throughout the range, it still gave the Iris body and depth that could have been lost otherwise. The transition from the low-end frequencies to the lower midrange is smooth and natural, so you can appreciate how the ranges work together as much as they are individual sections.  

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange of the Iris is the most prominent part of the signature. It comes forward to create the V-shape noticed in the initial listen, but doesn't overtake the signature completely to make the other ranges hard to appreciate. The midrange highlights vocals on the Iris to push them to the very center. The natural sound reproduction comes out with exceptional clarity, allowing you to distinguish between timbres with ease. The slight depth of the signature comes out here, and the expansiveness of the horizontal soundstage allows you to separate all these elements easily. While the sound was natural, you had some fun dynamic flair that made listening very entertaining. It didn't warp the sound of the Iris, and instead kept the signature engaging for all listening genres. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

Rounding out the signature, the treble in the Iris is bright and airy. Against the punchiness of the bass and the forwardness of the midrange, the treble is well-placed and creates the balance that the Iris signature is known for. The treble takes a step behind the midrange and extends the signature into the ultra-highs to give more room for frequencies to dissipate naturally. It makes the entire profile more lightweight and open, so you don't feel compressed or too closed-in during listening. The detail and precision in the treble range carried throughout the Iris's signature, not limiting itself to just the treble range. This sharpness carried to the bass and midrange, making the analytical side of the IEMs show more throughout listening. 

The Iris joins an impressive lineup of IEMs from Noble Audio. At a similar price point, Noble already has the Van Gogh. This IEM was definitely a favorite of mine, with its U-shaped signature and very present bass response. How does it compare to the new Iris? The shape of both of these IEMs is very similar, so you get the same small shell that is perfect for more sensitive ears. The Iris's sound compared to Van Gogh is definitely very different. They are almost the inverse of each other, where the Iris sounds more V-shaped, and the Van Gogh has a U-shape. If you're someone who prefers more balance in your listening, you'll likely find the Iris is a better match for your ears. People who are chasing a punchy and forward bass sound would definitely prefer the Van Gogh. 

That being said, the Iris then has some competition outside of Noble Audio. The Sennheiser IE series is a famous single-driver IEM setup that people praise as the best for reference sound. How does the Iris stack up against something like that? You could best compare the Iris to the Sennheiser IE 600, being a high-quality IEM under $1k. The Iris has a fuller bass response in comparison to the treble-forwardness of Sennheiser. The imaging and expansiveness of the IE 600 is hard to beat, though the Iris puts up a good forward image that utilizes depth. Both are fairly small in size, so you won't have to worry about comfort differences. Depending on whether you like a touch more bass or forwardness, you'll be able to decide whether the Iris or IE 600 is for you.

The Noble Audio Iris is a great IEM for those looking for an upgrade to their listening setup. The small shell is a perfect fit for any ear, and the universal nozzle allows for any eartip to fit easily with a good seal. The interchangeable connections allow for compatibility with any DAC or amplifier, so you won't have to worry about getting all new gear for a portable setup. The balanced presentation of the Iris's signature is great for the analytical listener, but the dynamics in the V-shaped profile stand out to make it an engaging piece of tech. At only $699, the Iris is a great value pick for audiophiles looking to upgrade their setup without breaking the bank. 

You can get the Noble Audio Iris at Audio46.