Massdrop x Noble X Universal IEMs Discussions | Drop

Massdrop x Noble X Universal IEMs

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Dec 5, 2016

Thanks to Brannan at Noble, I was able to listen to the Noble X's a few minutes ago. The bottom line is that I was totally impressed with the sound. They are really good and definitely a bargain at $249. I currently have all the Noble universal IEM demo units and the Noble X's are worthy of the $499 MSRP. Here's some quick impressions I posted on the SBAF Noble X thread: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/massdrop-x-noble-x.3272/page-7#post-101386
-Darin __________________________________________ Darin Fong Audio - Out Of Your Head http://fongaudio.com

Dec 5, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioSorry, I have never heard any of the Shure IEM's.

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astromaddie

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioHave you heard any of Etymotic's? I'd love to hear how these stack up to the ER4XR or ER4S

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JamieCole

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioThanks for your kind words and quick review on the Noble X! Given the heritage of Noble IEMs, I have no doubt the X is a deal. I'm wondering if you've had a chance to listen to the X alongside the Dulce Bass? I was set on purchasing the sweetness but the X is intriguing and a good deal. Cheers and thanks!

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Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioHi @astromaddie , I actually have owned a pair of Ety ER-4S' that I bought 20 years ago. My very first "high end" IEM's. They are certainly still quite remarkable in terms of detail. However, they have always been sorely lacking in bass and mid bass. The Noble X's are nothing like the Ety's. The Ety's are bright and lean. The Noble X's are much darker and have a Ton more bass and mid-bass than the Ety's. Not as much detail as the Ety's, but overall the X's have a much more pleasing sound due to the added bass and just more body all the way around. I would take the Noble X's over the Ety's for sure.

astromaddie

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioOhhh well thank you for this! that certainly complicates matters. The XR has a bit of a bass bump, so it's not quite as lean as the S... but it doesn't sound like nearly the stark difference you're talking about.
I just ordered a red a pair of Oppo PM3, which have plenty of mid but is more lacking in the highs and lows... now I'm wondering if I really should pass up on these Nobles after all...

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Dec 6, 2016

JamieColeHi @JamieCole , I am listening to the Dulce Bass right now. As you can imagine, the bass is quite a bit stronger on the Dulce Bass than the X's. They are also tilted downward as you go up in the frequency response curve. So with regard to the highs, the Dulce Bass' are darker than the X's. The bass is certainly "sweet". The mids are warm and sweet as well. They sound a little more closed probably because the top octave air is subdued quite a bit.
If you're a "bass head", then the Dulce Bass are for you. I am not a bass head at all. I am more of a treble head if anything, so for me, the X's are more suited to my tastes and even more so, the Katana and Encore.

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Omegawolf

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_Audioim thinking about buying these as my first high quality iem. does the noble x have deeper bass then the oppo pm3 or is it the same? I'm afraid it would be to polite for me because I really like deep punchy bass. I'm also afraid that they won't fit my ears and won't have isolation. On the other hand they have a cable for iPhone which I'm going to use as my main source without a dac/amp And there are not many iems that fit iPhones. should I join the drop?

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Pika

152

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioSorry for the trouble, how do these stack up to the RHA T20?

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Dec 6, 2016

OmegawolfHi @Omegawolf , I haven't heard the PM-3's, sorry. But the X's have very good bass and a decent amount too. They're not lean at all. The bass reaches pretty low. But it's not boosted or for bassheads. Maybe with some EQ, it seems like it's capable of a lot of bass.
The fit is a whole different story, but fit and seal issues would need to be solved no matter which IEM you buy. Some may fit better than others, but finding the right tips is most of the battle, I think.
I can't tell you whether you should join the drop or not, but I would be completely thrilled if these X's were my first IEM. What a great way to start. Also, when more people get them and hear how good they are, you probably won't have any trouble selling them if you decide they're not for you.

Dec 6, 2016

PikaHi @Pika , I have never heard the RHA IEM's. Sorry.

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needhelp

331

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_Audioremoving my comment because it is not my intent to stop people from buying from MD

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Dec 6, 2016

needhelpHi @needhelp , Thanks for your great comment. My review doesn't say anything about Shure IEM's but I am certainly not credible when talking about Shure IEMs.
Are you saying that someone who has never heard a Shure IEM is not credible enough to express an impression of a Noble IEM? OK, that's fine. In that case I am not credible to you at all. Please ignore me. Thanks, -Darin

needhelp

331

Dec 6, 2016

Darin_Fong_Audioremoving my comment because it is not my intent to stop people from buying from MD

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Dec 6, 2016

needhelp I try to steer clear of Shure fanboys.
"But hey, I have never heard of the Noble X's, but the Shure SE215 is cheaper and better, I'm Shure of it."
How credible can you be if you have never heard the Noble X's? So no one is credible unless they have heard every IEM. OK got it.
I think we can agree on one thing: We should ignore each other.

jaybird123

Dec 7, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioHave you heard the noble 4s? I understand the 4s are closer to neutral than these, but I'm concerned about the recessed upper mids/lower treble in the X's

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needhelp

331

Dec 7, 2016

Darin_Fong_Audioremoving my comment because it is not my intent to stop people from buying from MD

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Dec 7, 2016

jaybird123Hi @jaybird123 , I have had the Noble 4's before. (They are currently loaned to a friend.) But I haven't listened to them in a while... I have listened to the Savanna recently. Both the Savanna and N4's are brighter than the X's. But I wouldn't say the X's have recessed upper mids or even lower treble. It's really the upper octaves that are toned down compared to the Savanna or N4's. However, the X's have more bass.
In headphone terms, maybe if the Savanna or N4 is more like a Stax or HD800 sound, then the X's are more like an Audeze LCD sound. (Not exactly, but you get the idea.)
I have found that the placement of the tips can also change the sound signature. Since I also prefer a brighter sound, if I push the tips so that they are as far down on the IEM as possible, that makes the X's a little brighter. Whereas I try to do the opposite on the brighter IEM's like the Encore or Sage. So you can "tune" the IEM to some extent just with tip rolling and tip placement.

Z3PETT0

Dec 7, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioAs I read some opinions, I think that Noble X is quite darker than some brighter earphone like ER4S. In my personal experience, I prefer earphones like SCL5, Campfire audio ORION and ER4S. Should I buy this product or not? I'm bit worried that NOBLE X lack of highs.

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dustytrail

Dec 7, 2016

Z3PETT0i originally joined this drop but after reading some initial reviews on headfi, i cancelled this purchase. i am a die-hard etymotic er4b fan and from what i read, i got the impression that the noble x sound signature will have recessed mid highs and lack sparkly highs that are very present and prominent in etymotic earphones

Dec 7, 2016

Z3PETT0Hi @Z3PETT0 , You are correct that the Noble X's are not as bright as the ER4S. I have heard the Campfire Andromeda and the Noble X's are darker than those too. But when I say darker, it doesn't mean that it sounds muffled. There is plenty of detail, it just doesn't have a "sparkly", "airy" high end. It's also not harsh or strident either.
But if you like a sound signature that is bright, then the Noble X's are not bright and sparkly. I like bright too. That's why I have Stax 009's, Katanas, AKG K1000, etc. But for a lot of poorly recorded music, those bright cans can get fatiguing. I think the Noble X's are designed so that everything sounds good and smooth, but isn't bright.

dustytrail

Dec 7, 2016

Darin_Fong_Audio @needhelp forgot to take his/her medication. He/she went from zero to retard for absolutely no reason! His/her logic is also laughable, I don't understand why does having not listened to Shures before would discredit anything you say.

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matteroll

Dec 7, 2016

needhelpI think you need help. I personally find Shure IEMs overrated. Sure they perform good but there are better alternatives. Me personally? Shure IEMs are not my sound signature and I don't think I'll ever own a pair of Shure IEMs. Does that mean I am not credible in terms of my audio opinion? No.

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Z3PETT0

Dec 7, 2016

dustytrailThank you for kind explanation and good opinion! :)

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Z3PETT0

Dec 7, 2016

Darin_Fong_AudioThank you for detail explanation about the noble x and compare with er4. I'm really appreciated with your opinion and experience. Thank you:)

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