A Premium Audio Experience: Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 Review

The Price Point: Justifiable or Exorbitant?

When considering the quality of earbuds available in the market at a price of $100 or less, $449 might seem steep. However, Noble Audio has crafted a truly unique listening experience with the FoKus Rex5, featuring five drivers.

Design of the FoKus Rex5

The earbuds are predominantly green, with a focus on a green charging case and aluminum and acrylic housing. The design has an IEM (In-Ear Monitor) aesthetic, which is consistent with Noble’s product line. For those who prefer a different color, the FoKus Prestige model will be available in black and blue when it is back in stock.

The design emulates standard earbuds in terms of shape, but the weight is well-balanced, ensuring a secure and comfortable fit. Additionally, Noble includes nine sets of extra ear tips in the box, including foam and silicone options, to help users find the perfect fit for their ears.

Software and Features

The settings and features for the FoKus Rex5 are managed through the Noble FoKus app. This offers users customization options such as EQ settings, media controls, and noise-cancellation toggles. The app also features a 10-band EQ, EQ curve, and personalized EQ settings. The Personal EQ is powered by Audiodo’s customizable sound software, allowing users to calibrate the audio to their hearing needs.

FoKus Rex5 Sound Quality

The five-driver setup of the FoKus Rex5 delivers impressive sound quality. Noble states that the driver array "effortlessly delivers rich, full bass, detailed mid-tones, and crystal-clear highs." This is evident in various genres of music, where users can hear nuance and subtlety that is not typically present in everyday earbuds.

The earbuds offer an extended frequency range of 20Hz-40kHz, surpassing the typical range of 20Hz-20kHz found in most earbuds. This allows users to hear a wider range of frequencies, providing a more immersive listening experience.

ANC Performance

While the FoKus Rex5’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is considered "sophisticated," its effectiveness is only average. The earbuds are able to minimize constant noise sources, such as fans and noise machines, and slightly reduce the volume of human voices in the background. However, it struggles with ambient noise and sound leakage. Users should not rely on the ANC as the primary selling point, as the sound quality is where the FoKus Rex5 truly shines.

Call Quality on the FoKus Rex5

Call quality is an area where the FoKus Rex5 falls short. The audio performance during calls is average, and the ambient mode does not enhance voice clarity. Users may struggle to hear themselves clearly during conversations, making this a less-than-ideal choice for virtual meetings or other situations where clear communication is necessary.

Battery Life

Despite the additional drivers and advanced features, the FoKus Rex5 delivers impressive battery life. Noble promises up to five hours of listening time with ANC enabled and up to seven hours without. The wireless charging case provides an additional 35-40 hours of use, and a 15-minute quick charge offers two hours of listening time.

The Competition

Other high-end earbuds, such as the Sennheiser PMX S3i, deliver excellent sound quality but do not offer the same level of detail and separation as the FoKus Rex5. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 offers similar sound quality, yet its ANC performance is not as robust, and its feature set is less advanced. Ultimately, the FoKus Rex5 stands out as a premier listening experience, but its price point may be out of reach for some users.

**)