Noble Audio FoKus Rex5

Introduction to the Review of Noble Audio FoKus Rex5

Noble Audio is a company mostly known for its experience in designing, tuning, and manufacturing in-ear monitors. The first time I came in contact with one of Noble’s creations was during the Audio Video Show in Warsaw back in 2022, just as I was getting started in this wonderful hobby. The first Noble IEM that graced my ears was the Kublai Khan, so the bar has instantly been set somewhere right in the stratosphere. I was quite shocked by how explosive and in-your-face the sound can get, and that kind of performance was what I would nowadays dub as Noble Audio’s signature – fast dynamics served on an expansive stage with that sparkle in the top end.

That’s also a good way to label their wireless range. A while ago, I reviewed the Noble FoKus Apollo, and the dynamics absolutely blew me away. I still think the Apollo represents one of the best bass signatures among wireless over-ears. With that in mind, the expectations for the Rex5’s sonic performance are high. I have heard Noble Audio’s wireless IEMs in the past, but the Rex5 is the first model that I have had some serious listening done with. I think the Rex5 sets a new precedent as far as true wireless performance goes, and it deserves some serious consideration if you’re in the market for an upgrade for your AirPods. Let’s dive in deeper.

Packaging

The unboxing experience for the reviewed Noble FoKus Rex5 is quite solid, appropriate for a TWS IEM at this price range. The box itself is housed inside a graphic sleeve with all the information. Inside the box, the first thing you will see is the IEMs and the charging case. Beneath that, there is a smaller box with the accessories inside.

The accessories include your usual set of tips, though this time there’s a lot: a total of 9 pairs. Bi-flange, foam, and ordinary silicone. Each type comes in three sizes, so there’s no chance you won’t find something for yourself. Apart from the tips, there’s also a small velour-like bag and a USB-C cable to charge your Rex5. All of that, plus some usual paperwork, and that’s all she wrote.

Build Quality, Design, and Tech

The Rex5 comes in two colorways – the green-black-gold one that I got for the review, and a simpler, black-gold colorway. To be honest, I prefer the flair that comes with the green colorway, as I find the black-gold one to be too similar to the rest of the Noble Audio TWS line-up. The shells are quite light with plenty of tips to choose from, so comfort should not be an issue here, unless you mind the shells sticking outwards quite a bit. Still, reviewed Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 has a pretty universal shape that should suit most listeners once the proper eartip is chosen.

The build quality is decent, with most of the construction being aluminum and acrylic. I have no complaints regarding the sturdiness and fitment of the pieces. One minor thing I would like to point out is that the lid itself is quite heavy compared to the strength of the hinge on the charging case – sometimes it would just close on its own. As you can see, I have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to really find something wrong with the build of the Rex5, but it’s nothing new as far as Noble Audio’s level of finesse goes. A nice touch is the nozzle having holes in the shape of Noble Audio’s crown logo. It looks consistent with the extravagance of the color scheme and sturdy materials, and, as you come to find out later on, the extravagance of the sonic performance as well. The controls are pretty easy to get used to.

The tech aspect of the Noble Rex5 is acceptable. Acceptable being the keyword here, because the Rex5 is completely fine as far as functionality goes, but the competition (AirPods Pro 2) sets the bar extremely high, at two-thirds of the price of the Rex5. Delving deeper, the battery life between the two is quite similar, with the Rex5 edging the APP2 by up to an hour on a single charge, and two hours in total with the charging case included. Where the difference starts to creep up on you is the ANC and ambient mode performance. The APP2, to no one’s surprise, are simply in a different league when it comes to the amount of noise blocked by ANC and the clarity of the sound in ambient mode.

The ANC of the reviewed Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 is decent, perfect for daily use when no power tools are involved, especially if you listen to music at moderate volume. The Rex5 still performs okay when no sound is playing, but you can definitely hear more ambient noise than with APP2. Speaking of “ambient”, the ambient mode is also fine, but there’s a caveat – if there’s a lot of high-pitched noise around you, like someone sliding a cardboard box across the floor, it comes across as a bit exaggerated and sizzling in the Rex5’s ambient mode. Although decent, I would point out the ANC and ambient mode as the Rex5’s biggest weakness.

What I absolutely love about the Rex5’s functionality is the custom EQ profile. I don’t usually delve into the subject of EQ, but having a profile prepared specifically for your own ears is very appealing, courtesy of Audiodo. What happens here is, you download the Noble FoKus app and go to the “Personal EQ” section, where you take a short hearing test. Then, the app tailors the sound to the results. I was given an EQ profile that boosted the dynamics of the low end and the clarity of vocals, which results in a sound signature that wipes the floor with the APP2.

Sound of the reviewed Noble Audio FoKus Rex5

The Rex5 sports 5 drivers per side – a 10mm dynamic, a 6mm planar, and 3 balanced armatures. The IEMs support LDAC and aptX Adaptive as well. Overall, it’s a pretty interesting construction, and it is also reflected in how it performs sound-wise. The sound signature is lively and dynamic, setting a new precedent for how TWS audio should sound. The performance leaves you wanting to experience more of your music, and users making an upgrade from some ordinary TWS earbuds will find themselves shocked at the amount of new information hidden within their favorite music. Let’s dive deeper.

BASS

As was the case with the FoKus Apollo, I consider the bass reproduction to be a standout feature of the Rex5 TWS. Its speed and tactility are unprecedented as far as Bluetooth listening goes, and it makes a huge contribution to the fun and engagement factor that we know and love from previous Noble TWS offerings, like the FoKus Prestige. Each type of instrument that needs a significant level of performance in the lower registries will find itself well-accommodated, thanks to what those wireless IEMs have in store. The bass response is a mix of incredibly tidy and well-pronounced, striking a perfect balance between engagement and accuracy. Overall, this is one of my favorite ways to reproduce bass – it’s punchy, it’s fast, but most importantly, it’s clean.

Apart from the precise single bass hits, another aspect in which the Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 excels is its capability of reproducing texture and tactile vibration. A perfect example of this would be the Star Wars soundtrack by none other than John Williams. In the classic soundtrack piece, “The Hologram/Binary Sunset”, the spectacle is opened with low string notes, which carry huge amounts of texture and tactility into the mix. The Rex5 has no issue reproducing such notes with authority, putting the complexity of the music piece on full display. Overall, the bass response is one of the greatest strengths of the Noble FoKus Rex5, and is a key factor in shaping the one-of-a-kind sound signature.

MIDRANGE

The midrange, as reproduced by the Noble FoKus Rex5, leans towards a natural presentation, but it also has a slight tinge of warmth to it. Nothing over-the-top, just something to boost the sense of intimacy, especially when it comes to vocals – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ “People Ain’t No Good” is a perfect example of that. Nick’s vocal performance conveys a lot of detail, but the slight, yet present warmth makes the presentation lean more towards mellow and laid-back rather than analytical and artificial, despite the technical proficiency displayed by the FoKus Rex5.

Let’s move a bit higher. Agnes Obel’s vocals in songs like “Familiar” come across as large and lifelike, with a well-established presence and realism. The upper midrange is characterised by high dynamism, building upon the impression that Agnes is in the near vicinity when delivering one of her most popular masterpieces. Another reason why that is is the immense clarity. Despite the aforementioned tinge of warmth, the vocals and higher instruments don’t sound veiled; nothing is missing, nothing takes away from the liveliness and emotional aspect of the presentation. The important aspects are highlighted, but not overly colored, maintaining a natural presentation.

TREBLE

The highest registries’ most apparent quality is the dynamics. I’ve mentioned Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds before; let’s bring him up again! This time, the track in question is “Abattoir Blues. From the very beginning, the kick drums echo through the soundscape, together with Nick’s deep, textured voice. Despite how present and seemingly dominant those aspects are, the hi-hats and cymbals break through, keeping the presentation in check. Despite playing a seemingly minor part in the grand scheme of “Abattoir Blues”, they are punchy and dynamic, with a life of their own.

A slightly warm sound signature that doesn’t lose the life in the upper registries is one of my favorites. I am glad to report that it’s the case here. I am equally as glad to reveal that there are no signs of sibilance or harshness in the treble, even in tracks that aren’t as well mastered as most popular audiophile recordings. Take “Gruppa Krovi”, a classic by the band Kino, as an example. As beautiful and meaningful as the track is, I have heard better mastered songs in the past. The final guitar sequence has this buzzing characteristic to it, with an abundance of treble coming through. Noble FoKus Rex5 reproduces it faithfully, giving space for the textures to shine, but leaves the harshness behind, letting you bask in the guitar’s cries with no discomfort. Wonderful!

SOUNDSTAGE

The soundstage of the Rex5 is a well-executed mix, at times showing vastness on a pitch black background, other times reeling you in with an intimate vocal performance, as described in the “Midrange” section of this review. In tracks like “Gypsy” by The Organism, various sounds flash in and out of focus, with a ton of space and air in between, creating a sensation of grandiosity of scale. It’s not the largest soundstage I’ve perceived in IEMs, but it sure is noteworthy that despite the note weight and density of lower registries, we still get clarity and tidiness in the mix. Another aspect of the reproduction of space that I love is the imaging. In “Gruppa Krovi”, the placement of the instruments is evident, and when the second guitar comes into play later on in the final sequence, its presence can be felt immediately. It’s hard to expect wonders when trying to gauge the sense of space in an IEM, but the Rex5 is one of the cases worth appreciating.

Comparisons

Apple Airpods Pro 2

I think for many readers this will be the most important part of the review. After all, it symbolizes the battle between ordinary consumer electronics and audiophile creations, in a constant fight to win your ears over. This time, just as each time before (see the Noble FoKus Apollo review), the tale of the tape is no different.

In terms of features, Apple is once again hard to beat. The ANC and Ambient Mode are some of the best in the world currently, giving off a sensation of a “second nature” to your ears – the Ambient Mode feels just like having nothing in your ears, and the ANC is one of the most resistant to sharp noise that I’ve come across. The controls are also, in my opinion, more responsive and easier to get used to than with any other wireless IEM I got to test. 

Aspects like the ergonomics and build quality are a mixed bag. It’s down to preference for most people, with Apple AirPods featuring a sleek, clean design, and the Rex5 with its grandiose, flashy, and luxurious looks and materials. Some users may prefer Apple here because of the smaller shell, but I had no issues with fitting the Rex5 to my ears – they have a surprisingly inoffensive shape for an IEM with a shell this size. 

But when it comes to sound? The Rex5 is simply in another league, justifying its shortcomings, and then some. The performance is akin to high-quality wired IEMs that wipe the floor with the AirPods. While I do enjoy what Apple did with the sound signature of the APP2, the Rex5 scores extra points for enhanced dynamics, natural feeling, and slight warmth of the midrange, as well as a great reproduction of space. All in all, the Rex5’s sonic performance is a force to be reckoned with, not only for AirPods Pro 2 or 3 or whatever is next, but also for any wireless IEM to come.

Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 Review – Summary

Noble Audio FoKus Rex5 is a TWS IEM that sees its greatest strengths in the sonic performance. I consider the sound signature of the Rex5 to be a benchmark for future TWS generations to come, thanks to its amazing technical capabilities, natural sound signature, and a wonderful sense of engagement that simply cannot be found in most TWS IEMs. I have enjoyed my time with the Rex5, whether using it at home, at work, or on the go. Its sound signature proves that many mainstream electronics companies, like Apple, despite having the upper hand when it comes to functionality, still have a lot to learn when it comes to tuning – here is their lesson, courtesy of The Wizard.

The Rex5 has certain areas that can be improved upon – I would like to see Noble take things up a notch as far as ANC and Ambient Mode go, but functionality-wise, the Rex5 makes up for it with Audiodo integration, giving the user an option for personalized tuning, as well as a good battery life. All in all, I consider the Rex5 to be a very easy recommendation for users seeking the state of the art as far as TWS sound reproduction goes, which is certainly worth your money, despite the Rex5 being more expensive than its usual mainstream counterparts. That being said, I can’t wait to experience what Noble Audio has to offer next in their TWS department, with my fingers crossed that I can experience the amazement time and time again.

Highly Recommended.