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The Noble Fokus Apollo has unbelievable sound high quality, with balanced, deep bass and clear, vibrant treble.
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This headset presents a number of connectivity choices, together with wi-fi and wired capabilities.
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The Fokus Apollo’s noise-canceling function is nice for eliminating low-pitched hum.
Noble Audio might be finest recognized for his or her in-ear screens, particularly their custom-made ones. However this 12 months, Noble launched a brand new over-ear wi-fi noise-canceling headset, Noble Fokus Apollo, which is the primary wi-fi headset to make use of hybrid 40mm dynamic and 14.5mm planar magnetic drivers. That is massive information for audiophiles, so naturally I needed to check how they sounded.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to get my palms on a pair and as of this writing they’re now bought out and I should see how this hybrid driver setup sounds in observe. These are for certain essentially the most distinctive headphones I’ve tried in my profession to date, so I used to be excited to get in and so they did not disappoint.
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Noble Focus Apollo
The Noble Fokus Apollo options hybrid dynamic and planar magnetic drivers for glorious sound high quality in addition to glorious noise cancellation. In consequence, the headphones are a bit cumbersome, however the comfy earpads and headband make up for that.
- Unimaginable sound high quality
- nice african nationwide congress
- Wi-fi and wired choices
- LDAC and aptX HD help
- massive and heavy
- Microphone might be higher
Costs, specs and availability
A really distinctive headphone for audiophiles
Noble Fokus Apollo are hybrid driver noise-canceling headphones. It comes with 40mm dynamic drivers and 14.5mm planar magnetic drivers, the primary of its sort with these particular driver specs. The headphones can be utilized wirelessly by way of Bluetooth or wired utilizing a 3.5mm cable or a USB-C cable, each of that are included with the headphones. The headset makes use of Bluetooth 5.3 and helps SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX and aptX HD codecs. The headset additionally helps multipoint connections.
Different equipment included with the Noble Fokus Apollo embrace a removable increase microphone, 1/4-inch adapter, L-shaped 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter, and two-prong aviation adapter.
By way of design, the earphones have an anodized aluminum shell, reminiscence foam earpads are wrapped in leather-based, and the reminiscence foam headband is wrapped in Alcantara. The headphones function onboard quantity buttons, energy/Bluetooth button, noise management button, and microphone mute swap.
Use noise-canceling headphones, which have longer battery life when noise-canceling is turned off, and wired use will not drain the battery.
The Fokus Apollo has a battery lifetime of as much as 80 hours with out noise cancellation, and 60 hours of playback with noise cancellation turned on.
It has a companion app, the Noble Fokus app, obtainable on iOS and Android.
The Noble Fokus Apollo prices $649 and is obtainable from Noble, Bloom Audio, and different audiophile gear retailers.
Why I like Noble Fokus Apollo
Nice sound mixed with nice design
The obvious factor concerning the Noble Fokus Apollo is their sound. Certain sufficient, these headphones sound nice. The default sound profile is sort of bassy, which is to be anticipated since most individuals choose a bassier sound profile. The bass frequencies really feel pretty, however not too overpowering or overpowering the marginally larger bass frequencies. These bass frequencies are highly effective with out being overbearing.
The highs and mids sound nice too, with the treble frequencies vibrant and nice and the excessive finish in no way sharp or harsh. The mids are usually not ignored in any manner, nor do they get misplaced within the highs and lows.
The Noble Fokus app helps you to alter your sound profiles utilizing a 10-band equalizer, which is at all times a great possibility in the event you do not essentially just like the preset sound profiles or wish to customise them for various genres . It has a wide range of presets comparable to Preset, Basic, Pop, Jazz, and Rap, and you may as well customise the equalizer to your liking and save your individual {custom} presets. The app additionally incorporates a listening take a look at that performs tones throughout the spectrum to see the place you may must strengthen, and it can save you this as a customized {custom} preset.
If you wish to block out exterior noise whereas commuting to high school or faculty, then carrying these in your prepare or bus commute is certain to be a easy expertise.
The Fokus Apollo’s noise cancellation is spectacular, powered by six microphones contained in the headset. After I put the headphones on, turned on the noise cancellation, and did not have music on, I could not hear any hum from issues like site visitors, dryers, or loud fridges. I’d examine the noise discount to my Sony WH-1000XM4 and it is rather good. If you wish to block out exterior noise whereas commuting to high school or faculty, then carrying these in your prepare or bus commute is certain to be a easy expertise.
By way of development, the headscarf and ear pads are very comfy. Each are reminiscence foam cushioned for a very comfy listening expertise, particularly over longer durations of time. That is particularly vital contemplating the load of the headphones, so I actually admire the hassle put into consolation.
I at all times admire a number of methods to attach my headphones, and on this case, I actually admire that I can pay attention wirelessly utilizing Bluetooth or pay attention wired utilizing a 3.5mm cable or USB-C cable. I additionally admire all of the Bluetooth codecs the Fokus Apollo helps, particularly since LDAC and aptX HD can present larger high quality audio than AAC and SBC.
What I don’t like about Noble Fokus Apollo
Whereas I can establish some issues, there aren’t any dealbreakers
Because of the nature of such headphones, the Fokus Apollo are fairly heavy and hulking. Planar magnetic drivers require more room and elements than common dynamic drivers, so the truth that these headphones have two drivers means they’re naturally going to be heavy and hulking, particularly in comparison with headphones with smaller dynamic drivers and plastic casings in comparison with headphones. Fortunately, the load is supported by the comfy headband and earpads, so it isn’t an enormous downside, however price noting.
Equally, the Fokus Apollo aren’t waterproof, which is to be anticipated with a pair of headphones like these. Most noise-canceling headphones are usually not waterproof, nor are most audiophile or planar magnetic headphones. Which means you might trigger critical harm to your Fokus Apollo in the event you put on them within the rain or spill a drink on them, so you must take further precautions contemplating their worth.
You possibly can trigger critical harm to your Fokus Apollo in the event you put on them within the rain or spill a drink on them, so you must take further precautions contemplating their worth.
The built-in mic, in addition to the removable increase mic, aren’t the perfect I’ve heard in a headset, which is a bit disappointing for such an costly headset. That is to not say the mic could not be used, it was completely acceptable and I might hear myself clearly on the recording. However I discovered that the mic picked up a bit of an excessive amount of of the upper frequencies, making sibilant seems like “S” and “T” sounds very hissy. Once more, the built-in mic and removable increase mic are completely high-quality for calls and do not trigger any points, however I do want the mics sounded higher given the value of the headphones.
Must you purchase Noble Fokus Apollo?
When you’re an audiophile and have $650 to spare, the Noble Fokus Apollo is a good alternative. The hybrid drivers enable for glorious sound high quality, the noise cancellation is excellent, the headphones are comfy and well-built, and so they can be utilized wired or wi-fi, which makes them extraordinarily versatile.
These headphones aren’t for many who aren’t already critical audiophiles, as chances are high, you will not essentially have the ability to hear an enormous distinction and not using a extra skilled ear. If you wish to get into audiophile territory, there are different cheaper headphones which are higher stepping stones. If you would like noise-canceling headphones, there are many headphones beneath $300 that may serve your wants effectively and nonetheless sound nice.
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Noble Focus Apollo
