The new FoKus Rex5 TWS earbuds are a feature-rich design that takes things into uncharted territory with its hybrid five driver configuration paired with ANC. An attempt to create high-end true wireless earbuds that rival the wired IEM experience, the FoKus Rex5 design is Noble's most advanced product to date, also signaling the company's first collaboration with Audiodo’s and its unique sound personalization software.
Noble Audio is known for its high-end "audiophile" IEMs, and the company recently launched also its first ever wireless headphone model, featuring a dynamic driver and planar magnetic driver hybrid speaker arrangement with ANC and hi-res audio streaming with LDAC and aptX HD support. Founded in 2013 in the US, Noble has been leading bold design and development approaches in universal and custom in-ear monitor design thanks to its unique engineering team and supply chain connections in China. Having already explored true wireless territory with two models launched since 2020, Noble recently launched the FoKus Triumph earbuds, which also feature a hybrid design with an xMEMS Cowell tweeter. That makes it very clear that the company founded by John Moulton is pushing the envelope on what's possible with the latest available technologies.
But the Noble FoKus Rex5 earbuds are probably one of the most extreme examples ever attempted, since combining a hybrid five-driver configuration in a true wireless design is in itself a crazy idea, given that the battery autonomy will inevitably suffer with each driver that is active, independently of the audible benefits. Nobel says this multi-driver configuration awards "remarkable depth and clarity of sound – rarely achieved in true wireless audio."
Each earbud combines a 10mm dynamic driver, a 6mm planar driver, and three balanced armature drivers with dedicated crossovers to award an extended frequency range of 20Hz to 40kHz. Noble says this is reflected when paired with advanced audio codecs including aptX Adaptive and LDAC, allowing the FoKus Rex5 earbuds to adapt to different listening sources, including high-resolution audio streaming.
And taking things even further, Noble collaborated with Swedish company Audiodo and its unique personalization algorithms to take sound customization to new heights. As the announcement explains, the Noble FoKus Rex5 integrates Audiodo's software that adapts audio to each user's hearing needs. The setup process guides listeners through a unique calibration that fine-tunes audio output based on the sensitivity of each ear, adjusting the complex behavior of the multi-driver configuration accordingly.
Noble also explains that the memory capability of the Qualcomm QCC3091 chip that was implemented in the design allows it to store this customized profile within the earbuds, making it accessible on any device - no app required. The sophisticated ANC technology that is enabled by this Bluetooth 5.4 platform not only effectively minimizes external noise but also allows for a transparency mode that is also processed by the personalized sound profiles directly within the earbuds.
And with all these features and complexity of design, Noble still says that the Noble FoKus Rex5 earbuds are able to deliver up to 7 hours of playback without ANC and 5 hours with ANC on a single charge. The USB-C charging case adds up to 40 hours of extra playtime with fast charging capability, which will be needed.
The Noble FoKus Rex5 earbuds are expected to start shipping at the end of November 2024 and retail for $449/€499.
www.audiodo.com
www.nobleaudio.com
