Noble’s FoKus Rex5 Wireless IEMs deliver stunning sound quality

Standout products are few and far between in the consumer electronics industry. Many companies simply enjoy the innovation of others and rarely try to break technological barriers or bring us real innovation. However, today I’m reviewing a pair of true wireless headphones that I feel are a true breakthrough in audio innovation that sets the standard for audiophile wireless headphones.

Calling the Fokus Rex5 hybrid wireless headphones is a bit like calling a Ferrari a lap. These aren’t headphones, but in-ear monitors with a level of sophistication that’s far above the pack. What Noble has done is build a pair of wireless IEMs using three different driver technologies and then use the best audio codecs and Bluetooth chipsets available.

The Noble FoKus Rex5 wireless hybrid five-driver IEM also includes active noise cancellation to cut out unwanted sound and is the brand’s most advanced headphones to date, and is also the company’s first collaboration with Audiodo’s sound personalization software that it’s something of a game changer.

The Noble FoKus Rex5 IEMs feature a hybrid driver configuration consisting of five separate drivers in each earcup, producing exceptional depth and clarity. Each earbud features a powerful 10mm dynamic driver for the lowest frequencies, a precision 6mm planar driver for the mids and three balanced armature drivers that create the treble end of the sound spectrum. The result is an impressive soundstage that produces beautifully warm and full bass, beautifully sculpted mids, plus a treble that’s so smooth and clear that it focuses the soundstage perfectly. The frequency range is impressive from 20 Hz to 40 kHz.

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

As if all that technology wasn’t enough, the Noble FoKus Rex5 integrates Audiodo’s sound personalization software that produces a unique audio profile that is perfectly matched to the listener’s hearing. The profile setup process is simple and fine-tunes a sound that takes hearing loss and preferences into account, turning these IEMs into a product that’s as personal as a custom suit. The difference with Audiodo is remarkable and can be tested by turning the custom EQ on and off.

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

As you’d expect with any modern pair of wireless headphones, the Noble FoKus Rex5 has an impressive battery life that can play for up to seven hours with ANC off and five hours with ANC on. The charging case takes the total play time to 40 hours. Placing the IEMs back in their case when they are not in use ensures that they are fully charged when they are next used.

A quick charge feature provides 2 hours of playtime from a 15-minute charge, while ANC circuitry reduces the impact of external sounds and provides a more immersive listening experience in a noisy environment such as an aircraft or railway carriage. There is also a transparency mode that allows the user to be aware of their surroundings if needed.

Other high-end features include the use of the latest Bluetooth version 5.4 which means it has support for multi-point connectivity, so two devices can be connected instantly allowing the user to make a call on one device while listening streaming music to another. The transition between the two is seamless. Built-in microphones in each earpiece provide good quality with cVc noise reduction if you make calls in noisy environments.

The Noble FoKus app can be used to fine-tune the Rex5’s settings such as changing the ANC mode. There is a function to customize the touch controls on each headset, so that the commands can be configured to suit the user’s preferences. In addition to Audiodo customization, the app also offers graphic and parametric EQ adjustments. The app feels great 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 right sized ear tips in place and the Audiodo customization profile in place, these IEMs become perhaps the best pair of true wireless IEMs available. The unique combination of five drivers, using the best that each technology has to offer, makes the sound from the Noble FoKus Rex5 stunning. The dynamic driver delivers coherent bass with a perfect balance between bass and sub-bass. The planar driver produces mids that highlight exactly where the technology shines. The way the flat drivers articulate the lyrics bringing them to the forefront of the soundstage is simply tingling. Finally, the three balanced armature drivers produce a silky finesse all the way through that is never harsh or fatiguing. The lack of distortion makes the Noble FoKus Rex5 easy to listen to for hours. These are IEMs that sound as good as a pair of premium wired headphones. If wireless headphones have always been a turn-off for you, then the Noble FoKus Rex5 will change your mind. This is what real innovation sounds like.

Price and availability: The Noble FoKus Rex5 TWS IEMs are available now from select retailers worldwide priced at $449 / £419 / €499. In the UK, readers can contact Hifonix. In the EU they are available from Audiomagic, while in the US the IEMs can be ordered from Audio46 or Bloom Audio.

Technical characteristics:

• Headphone drivers: 1 x 10mm dynamic, 1 x 6mm planar, 3 x balanced armature.
• Frequency response: 20 – 40 KHz.
• Chipset: QCC3091.
• Bluetooth: Version 5.4.
• Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC.
• Multipoint connection: Two devices.
• Play time: 5 hours (ANC) 7 hours (ANC/OFF).
• Charging case: 40 hours in total.
• Charging method: USB-C / Qi wireless.
• Noise cancellation: ANC, Transparency and Off.
• Application: Noble FoKus with Audiodo integration.