Noble’s FoKus Rex5 Wireless IEMs Offer Stunning Sound Quality

Standout products are few and far between in the consumer electronics industry. Too many companies simply feast off the innovation of others and rarely attempt to break down technological barriers or bring us true innovation. However, today I am reviewing a pair of true wireless earbuds which I think are a genuine breakthrough in audio innovation that set.s the standard for audiophile wireless earbuds.

To call the Fokus Rex5 hybrid wireless earbuds is a bit like calling a Ferrari a runaround. These aren’t earbuds, they are In-Ear Monitors with a level of sophistication that’s way ahead of the pack. What Noble has done is build a pair of wireless IEMs using three different driver technologies and then use the best Bluetooth audio codecs and chipset available.

The Noble FoKus Rex5 hybrid five-driver wireless IEMs also include Active Noise Cancelling for cutting out unwanted sound and are the brand’s most advanced earbuds to date and it’s also the company’s first collaboration with Audiodo’s sound personalization software which is something of a game changer.

The Noble FoKus Rex5 IEMs have a hybrid driver configuration made up of five separate drivers in each earpiece, producing incredible depth and clarity. Each earpiece contains a powerful 10mm dynamic driver for the lower frequencies, a precision 6mm planar driver for the mids and three balanced armature drivers creating the treble end of the sound spectrum. The result is an impressive soundstage producing a beautifully warm and full bass, superbly sculpted mids, plus a treble that is so smooth and clear that it focuses the soundstage perfectly. The frequency range is an impressive 20Hz to 40kHz.

On the wireless side of things, Noble has included support for Bluetooth audio codecs including aptX Adaptive, LDAC, AAC and SBC. The FoKus Rex5 ensure the best-resolution codec is selected to deliver the best sound possible for the device the listener is using. The combination of five premium drivers and the best codecs puts the FoKus Rex5 in the top tier of IEMs currently on the market.

As if all that technology weren’t enough, Noble FoKus Rex5 integrate Audiodo’s sound personalization software that produces a unique audio profile that’s perfectly aligned with the listener’s hearing. The process of setting up the profile is simple and fine-tunes a sound that considers hearing loss and preferences, turning these IEMs into a product that’s as personal as a bespoke suit. The difference with Audiodo is incredible and it can be tested by turning the personal EQ on and off.

The Noble FoKus Rex5 are built around Qualcomm’s QCC3091 chipset which can store the customized Audiodo profile within the earbuds, making the personal EQ accessible on any device without the need for an app. These listening profiles are particularly valuable for those of us with different hearing sensitivity in each ear. The result is a much more balanced sound that centers the music perfectly.

As you might expect with any modern pair of wireless earbuds, the Noble FoKus Rex5 have an impressive battery life that can play for up to seven hours with ANC turned off and five hours with the ANC activated. The charging case take the total playing time to 40 hours. Placing the IEMs back in their case when they aren’t being used ensures they will be fully charged when next used.

A fast-charging feature delivers 2 hours of playtime from a 15-minute charge while the ANC circuitry reduces the impact of external sounds and provides a more immersive listening experience in a noisy environments such as an aircraft or railway carriage. There is also a Transparency Mode that lets user be aware of their surroundings, if necessary.

Other high-end features include the use of the latest Bluetooth version 5.4 which means there is support for multipoint connectivity, so two devices can connect at once letting the user take a phone call on one device while listening to music streaming on another. Switching between the two is seamless. The microphones built into each earpiece offer good quality with cVc noise reduction if making calls in noisy environments.

The Noble FoKus app can be used to fine-tune the settings of the Rex5 such as changing the ANC mode. There’s a function for customizing the touch controls on each earpiece so the commands can be set up to suit the user’s preferences. Alongside the Audiodo personalization, the app also provides graphical and parametric EQ adjustments. The app feels slick and well-coded.

Verdict: The sound produced by the Noble FoKus Rex5 is nothing short of phenomenal... straight out of the box. But with the correct-sized ear tips fitted and the Audiodo personalization profile created, these IEMs become probably the best-sounding pair of true wireless IEMs available. The unique combination of the five drivers, using the best that each technology has to offer, makes the sound from the Noble FoKus Rex5 stunning. The dynamic driver delivers a coherent bass with a perfect balance between bass and sub-bass. The planar driver produces mids that underline just where the technology excels. The way the planar drivers articulate lyrics by bringing them to the fore of the soundstage is just spine-tingling. Finally, the three balanced armature drivers produce a silky finesse to the top end that is never harsh or tiring. The lack of distortion makes the Noble FoKus Rex5 easy to listen to for hours on end. These are IEMs that sound as good as a wired pair of premium headphones. If wireless earbuds have always been a turnoff for you, then the Noble FoKus Rex5 will change your opinion. This is what true innovation sounds like.

Pricing & Availability: The Noble FoKus Rex5 TWS IEMs are available now from selected retailers worldwide priced at $449 / £419 / €499. In the U.K., readers can contact Hifonix. In the E.U. they are available from Audiomagic, while in the U.S. the IEMs can be ordered from Audio46 or Bloom Audio.

Tech Specs:

• Drivers per earpiece: 1 x 10mm Dynamic, 1 x 6mm Planar, 3 x Balanced Armature.
• Frequency response: 20 – 40KHz.
• Chipset: QCC3091.
• Bluetooth: Version 5.4.
• Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC.
• Multipoint connection: Two devices.
• Playtime: 5 hours (ANC) 7 hours (ANC/OFF).
• Charging case: 40 hours total.
• Charging method: USB-C / Qi wireless.
• Noise cancellation: ANC, Transparency and Off.
• App: Noble FoKus with Audiodo integration.