Lynn opinions the Noble Audio Knight, an reasonably priced tribrid IEM with a 10mm dynamic driver, single BA, and Piezo tremendous tweeter configuration. It’s priced at $289.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank Noble Audio for his or her assist.
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Noble Audio Knight Overview
Abstract
For these looking for an IEM that provides each an impressive look and the substance to again it up, the Knight is a good funding. Noble Audio exhibits that entry-level doesn’t essentially imply compromising on sound high quality.
Professionals
The sound signature is eminently listenable throughout a number of genres.
Tight, managed bass, with a superb thump.
The treble word comes throughout as vibrant, with out an excessive amount of sparkle.
Cons
The shell is a bit bigger than I’d have preferred.
No laborious case.
I used to personal some Noble Audio IEMs, appreciating the sound qualities of their home sound, very like I do with the not too long ago launched wi-fi headphones, the FoKus Apollo.
There’s a cause the “Wizard” is a part of Noble lore, and their TOTL IEMs are nonetheless extremely wanted. The Knight has three distinct driver sorts, specializing in separate frequency ranges, permitting every to hold the present inside the total scheme.
Settling into the reasonably priced bracket, the $289 Knight comes with excessive hopes it will possibly seize that famed Noble tuning at a way more reasonably priced value.
I discovered how nicely it performs towards the brand new ‘upstarts’ resembling LETSHUOER’s Cadenza4 and Kiwi Ear’s KE4 in my full evaluation under.
Options
The Noble Audio Knight is a tribrid design with three distinct drivers. A twin magnet 10mm dynamic driver with a composite diaphragm handles the lows, a Sonion balanced armature for the midrange, and a piezo tremendous tweeter for the higher areas.
The Knight has an impedance score of 26Ω and an SPL of 104 dB/mW, making it a comparatively straightforward monitor to drive from all kinds of sources, together with dongles and DAPs.
Design
The Knight’s aluminum shell is form-fitting with an ear nub that helps to maintain the IEM in place when correctly match. Whereas retaining the general weight down, the shell is related to a three-dimensional-effect acrylic faceplate.
The attractive darkish blues and purples change hues if you flip the IEM, very like a automotive or truck with a metallic paint scheme. Plus, purple has been the colour of the Aristocracy all through the ages.
The shells are a bit bigger than I’d have preferred, in comparison with others I’ve reviewed not too long ago. Nevertheless, they didn’t transfer about and caught out solely marginally. The matte black of the aluminum shell additionally doesn’t carry fingerprints, which is a big constructive in my e-book.
Related by way of 0.78mm 2-pin, the gloss black cable has no microphonics whereas laying nicely. Tightly wound 8-strand braids add to the enchantment whereas serving to the cable lay with out tangling.
The cable cinch is kind of laborious to maneuver, so I counsel being cautious. That stated, I usually don’t use them and maintain the cinch proper above the Y-splitter.
The jack and Y-splitter are fabricated from carbon fiber, including to the standard look. The Knight brand embossed on the aft aspect of the shell and silver-colored mesh overlaying add to the look.
Consolation & Isolation
The bigger IEM nonetheless match nicely in my average-sized ears, and with correct adjustment, they sat out solely barely. The ear nub helped to maintain the Knight in place with out including any stress to the match, as can occur typically.
The lengthy shrink-wrapped ear information permits the Knight to suit precisely the place one desires. The shape-fitting sleeve is compliant and delicate whereas additionally holding its form round one’s ear.
Generally ear guides can pinch the highest of your ear whether it is too inflexible. The Knight will not be a type of instances, and I might put on the unit for lengthy listening periods with out trouble.
Tip selection will alter match, sound high quality, and isolation. Thankfully, the Knight comes with a plethora of choices in silicon and foam in three choices: single and double flange, and the aforementioned foam ideas.
A pleasant change for the froth ideas is a reducing radius conical form, which permits for a deeper insertion with out including stress.
I discovered the big foam ideas labored finest for me sound and fit-wise. Isolation because of this was excellent, retaining undesirable distractions outdoors the listening chamber. I additionally discovered that decision elevated with the froth ideas, which appears counter to many previous experiences.
Ear Suggestions
Coming in a Noble Audio Knight crest-laden plastic case, the ear ideas current a “knightly” search for the consumer. The skinny case is eminently carriable, permitting you to vary rapidly with minimal house taken up for storage.
The ear ideas are available three shapes: “balanced” silicon with a medium-sized bore opening, twin flange “treble enhanced” form with a bigger bore opening, and three sizes of reducing radius conical-shaped foam presenting a “bass-enhanced” sound that additionally has wonderful decision.
I’ll add that the froth ideas are likely to spin round on the nozzle however by no means disengage as a result of lip on the IEM. Consequently, rolling the tip for correct match took a concerted effort.
Distinctive sound variations had been had between the three, which isn’t at all times the case. Care was taken to current completely different signatures for the consumer, which I appreciated.
Inventory Cable
The 8-strand woven OFC silver-plated cable has a good braid, which I like. Some cables that characterize the upper finish come extra loosely wrapped, however the inventory Knight cable is tightly wound, which I appreciated.
No microphonics had been had, even with the plastic sheath coating the wires. There was a small quantity of stiction, which might account for the correct laying and lack of microphonics.
The make-up of the cable jogs my memory of a bigger model of a competitor’s inventory cable. I like this one higher.
The Knight cable comes with a straight 4.4mm balanced jack that has a tight-fitting rubber grommet to maintain the cable in place.
From the seems to be, it gave the impression to be not inserted fully, however upon nearer examination, I discovered the additional half was for defense in addition to to maintain the cable in place.
Packaging & Equipment
The Noble Audio Knight is available in packaging match for a king. The slide-off sleeve has the requisite data, and the internal field opens side-to-side like a sacred e-book.
The primary look inside is the shield-shaped case for the ideas, with the IEMs wound gracefully above. Lifting the medium weight foam insert, you discover the velour bag, guarantee card, and cleansing instrument. Name it elegantly easy in presentation but understated as nicely.
If there’s a draw back to the presentation, it’s the velour bag. Whereas it really works, and I perceive why it’s included, a tough case would have been appreciated.
That stated, the bag does its job with out trouble, and it’s fairly straightforward to place the IEMs in and take them out.
Sound Impressions
The sound impressions had been made utilizing the FiiO JM21 and HiBy R4. I used the “massive” conical foam ideas and the inventory cable for many of the evaluation.
Abstract
The Noble Audio Knight comes throughout with a deep attain to the bass, together with an immersive sound that engages the listener to expertise the music somewhat than dissect it.
The piezo up high handles the treble notes with alacrity however with a smoothness to it that differs from some earlier iterations of the know-how.
This doesn’t imply the Knight is boring, however as an alternative that engagement attracts the consumer into the expertise with a pure tendency bordering on natural with a luxurious midrange tying the signature collectively.
A largely cubic soundstage provides to the expertise, with the peak and depth barely higher than the width.
Bass
Opposite to some, I get a superb push down low with a management that retains any discrepant reverb in examine. Impactful however with wonderful management, retaining any looseness in examine, the bass lays a stable basis from which to construct.
Together with that affect comes wonderful readability to the low finish notes. Element retrieval is superb however not on par with dearer choices from Noble (a small trade-off in my e-book).
This results in little or no bleed into the mids until the sound engineer has bred that into the music.
The management exhibits its mettle right here, and it’s straightforward to separate the lows from the environment, however not in an increasing technique. Managed separation, permitting the bass to shine as a part of the present.
Mids
The Sonion balanced armature hits the correct stability between peaky and plush with a clear facet that enables particular person devices, resembling guitar struts, to shine. Vocals come throughout with wonderful element retrieval because of this.
The decision, mixed with the lower-mid heat (tying properly to the low finish), retains all of it in examine however on the expense of true vocal readability.
Whereas vocals can certainly shine, there’s a bit an excessive amount of heat for correct precision. In some genres, resembling jazz, this can be a desired trait, however in others, not a lot.
I discover the mix above completely acceptable throughout most of what I’d hearken to, and I discovered an appreciation for greater than my typical listening experiences.
Treble
The resonant tonality up high can result in wonderful extension but additionally turn out to be a bit too sparkly.
I’ll admit that I’ve points with piezo drivers as a result of perpetual treble listening to loss, however the Knight comes as near me appreciating the know-how as any I’ve heard.
That is one piezo that by no means comes throughout as too piercing (fortunately) however as an alternative comes throughout as totally able to presenting a reliable high finish with out imbuing an excessive amount of character to it.
One would possibly suppose this could be boring, however as an alternative, this permits the signature of the music to current itself naturally with none synthetic enter that may occur within the treble vary.
Staging & Dynamics
The 3D impact of the soundstage delivers a virtually cubic platform. As a substitute of a easy sq., the form is paying homage to an extended, taller small venue that an ideal dice. This permits the spatial character of the presentation to return throughout as extra outlined to me.
As a substitute of an ideal airplane the place all meets in unison, that depth and peak permits for the instrumentation to indicate throughout the house as an alternative of WITH the house if it had been purely cubic.
I’d name it “non-linear,” which describes completely how one hears the music within the Knight. Thus, the music might be loved by way of the singular expertise of devices or mixed with higher spatial traits.
Placing all of this collectively, you get an IEM that has wonderful depth, permitting imaging and separation to return throughout in a 3D facet.
Click on on web page 2 under for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
