Today, we review the new Noble Audio FoKus Apollo Wireless Headphones, which are selling for $649 USD.
Disclaimer: Noble Audio sent us the FoKuS Apollo for this review. I only covered the import taxes and fees. This review reflects my unbiased experience with the product.
Noble Audio
Noble Audio, a distinguished audio manufacturer based in the USA, has long been renowned for producing some of the most aesthetically pleasing and meticulously crafted CIEMs and IEMs on the market. Founded by John Moulton, widely known as ‘The Wizard,’ Noble’s reputation for attention to detail and premium materials has been a hallmark of the brand since its inception. My personal experience with Noble goes back to 2014 when I purchased the K10 and Savant, which were among the best in-ear monitors available at the time.
Noble ventured into the wireless market in 2020, releasing the Falcon as their first wireless IEM (aka TWS), followed by the Falcon Pro. In 2021, they introduced the FoKus Pro TWS. Since then, Noble has continued to expand its wireless lineup with TWS models such as the FoKus H-ANC, Falcon ANC, and, of course, the flagship-worthy Mystique and Triumph. As we enter 2024, Noble offers many wireless TWS IEMs, and very recently, they launched FoKus Apollo, which is Noble’s first over-ear Bluetooth headphone that we’ll review today on Headfonia.
Noble FoKus Apollo Wireless Over-ear Headphones
Noble has built a strong presence in the wireless market with their IEMs, but the Apollo represents several firsts: it’s both the world’s first dual-driver wireless headphone and Noble’s debut in the over-ear category. The Apollo is packed with features, including a hybrid ANC config, a premium-tier Qualcomm QCC3084 Bluetooth chipset, and a removable boom mic for gaming. It also supports wired mode for low-latency gaming. Noble’s new co-axial dual-driver system, which combines dynamic and planar magnetic drivers, seems promising. Noble describes the benefits of the Apollo’s dual driver arrangement as follows:
Since a planar magnetic speaker’s diaphragm is extremely thin, lighter even than the air it moves, planar magnetic speakers are known for their delicacy and accuracy, without the blurring effects of excessive inertia. The drawback to such speakers, however, is that they lack the ability to move sufficient air mass to produce the quality of bass that most listeners prefer. Dynamic drivers provide excellent bass by moving significant amounts of air, but due to their mass, dynamic drivers cannot provide the crystal clear mid and high frequencies that planar magnetic speakers are capable of. By utilizing both a dynamic speaker and a planar magnetic speaker, the Noble FoKus Apollo provides the clarity of a planar magnetic driver while retaining the bass of a dynamic driver.
Here are the specs & highlights of the Noble’s Apollo below.
- Audio Configuration: 1x 40mm dynamic driver + 1x 14.5mm planar magnetic coaxial driver arrangement
- Bluetooth Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3084 – Bluetooth 5.3
- Supported Codecs: LDAC, SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD
- Est. Battery Life: 80h Playtime without ANC – 60h Playtime with ANC – Requires 2.5h to Charge
- Frame Material: Anodized Aluminum Skeleton
- EarPad Material: Replaceable Memory Foam Leather Pads
- Headband Material: Adjustable Suede & Woven Fabric Headband
- Features: FoKus App Support, hybrid ANC with x3 mics per side, Multi Pair + Multi Connection, Onboard 10-Band EQ, Transparency Mode, and more.
Packaging & Accessories
The Apollo arrives in a beautifully designed hard-shell cardboard box with a stylish sleeve on top. The sleeve showcases the Apollo’s design, with a striking blue swirl background and reflective artwork, which stands out immediately. The back of the sleeve details the features and specifications of the Apollo, listing a clear summary of its features.
Once the outer sleeve is removed, you’re greeted by a grey hard-shell box with two flaps that open from the center, revealing a sleek headphone-carrying case decorated with a textured chrome NOBLE logo on the front. The box itself is exceptionally well-made, providing an elegant unboxing experience with its flap-open design and foam-lined inner walls. The carrying case continues this first-class experience; its outer surface is lined with a grainy/grizzled fabric, and its rigid structure provides excellent protection. A handle at the top makes it easy to carry and is a thoughtful touch for portability. When held like that, though, the Noble logo is upside down (=
Opening the carrying case, you’re met with a luxurious velvet-covered honeycomb texture on the top flap, adding an extra layer of protection to the top. The accessories are neatly arranged in a hard, velvet-lined compartment inside the case. This pre-molded hard shell layout piece holds the headphones snugly, preventing them from slipping within the case. Usually, manufacturers make these parts non-removable, so you can only use the carrying case with the original headphones. However, Noble thought that we might enjoy this case with other equipment, such as DACs and AMPs, and they made this pre-molded velvet-lined piece removable. I really liked this nice and thoughtful detail about the carrying case, as it’d comfortably house multiple IEMs and DAC/AMPs. The accessories are inside this beautiful carrying case. You get a USB-C to USB-C charging/data(DAC) cable, a TRRS auxiliary cable for wired mode, a flight adapter, a 3.5mm TRRS female to 4.4mm balanced male adapter, a 3.5mm TRRS to 6.35mm TRS adapter, a detachable boom mic, and a small accessory pouch featuring the Noble logo.
My favorite of all the accessories is, of course, the TRRS to 4.4mm balanced adapter, as it allows me to connect the Apollo to a DAC/AMP like the Hugo 2 for an improved SQ when I am not mobile.
What struck me most was the overall quality. Everything from the box to the accessories is superbly crafted. The cable jackets feel durable, and even the boom mic’s memory-wire cable duct is built to last. Well done, Noble!
Design, Build Quality & Comfort
Noble has a global reputation for craftsmanship, particularly in the IEM and CIEM space. However, wireless products often lean towards the ‘mainstream’ market, and I had initial concerns about the build quality and design of the Apollo.
Those concerns disappeared the moment I took the Apollo out of the box. The design instantly appealed to me. I was particularly impressed by the overall design and how every material looked great together. The woven fabric used on the headband can be seen on the inner part of the earcups, the aluminum skeleton frame and finish continues on the exterior of the cups, and the headband’s inner side is covered in Alcantara, so the overall build quality and material choice is exceptionally well-done. The 9-step adjustable headband range allows fine-tuning, and Apollo’s weight distribution is surprisingly good.
Small but thoughtful details like the placement of the indicator LED, the distinct shapes and tactile feedback of the buttons, and the physical mute button for the microphone really stand out and show Noble’s attention to detail. The design, especially the single-sided aluminum cup holder and the slimmer headband profile, makes Apollo look sportier yet elegant.
However, the cups are wider than most conventional headphones, which may be a consideration for those with smaller heads. I’d recommend trying them on first to see how they look and feel externally.
The earcups rotate inward and outward so the headphones can lie completely flat. The aluminum skeleton feels solid, and upon closer inspection, you can see neatly routed cables along the arms, running from the left to the right cup. The cables are hidden in plain sight, and I only saw them when adjusting the headband. Aesthetically, the gunmetal finish pairs beautifully with the chosen materials, giving the Apollo a premium look.
As for comfort, I’m not easily satisfied with over-ear headphones, particularly since I wear glasses and have a larger head. I’ve had issues with other models like the Sony XM5s, but the Apollo turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. This could be attributed to the soft protein leather earpads filled with memory foam, which adapt well to my head. The headband’s Alcantara lining, where it contacts the skin, is a nice touch, adding to the overall comfort. The left and right indicators are printed in large, clear fonts inside the earcups, and the dual-cup swivel design means you can place them flat on either side. The vertical swivel is fairly nice, too. It is not extreme, so you don’t have a flappy headphone, and it is not too restricted, so it does not hinder comfort. Overall, I’d say it strikes a nice balance between the two ends of the spectrum.
Apollo is 320g; it is not too heavy, not too light. I was actually surprised to see this number on the spec sheet because it feels lighter, especially on my head. With its soft ear cushions and well-designed headband, it feels quite comfortable to wear. The clamping force strikes a good balance, too; it is secure without being too tight, and the adjustment mechanism functions smoothly with distinct stops/levels. I can wear Apollo for long periods without any fatigue, which is a big win for someone like me who struggles with most over-ear headphones.
Connection Stability & Modes
Testing Conditions: Android 14 & Snapdragon 8gen2 equipped phone, LDAC codec forced 909-990kbps & 24-bit & 96khz manually selected via developer menu + Qobuz Studio.
Noble has equipped the Apollo with Qualcomm’s QCC3084 chipset, offering Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC support for high-quality wireless audio. I received the Apollo 2 weeks ago, and the connection has been stable and responsive across various devices, with no noticeable dropouts or interruptions during hi-res playback or calls. The Apollo also supports multipoint connection, and I connected it to my PC and phone simultaneously. Whichever device sends an audio signal, the Apollo seamlessly switches between sources.
The Apollo’s chipset supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard and is future-proof. Noble’s successful chipset implementation provides excellent range and signal strength, even in environments with heavy interference, such as the subway/metro. The Apollo features transparency mode, ANC mode, USB-C wired, and AUX wired modes. The latency is best with wired usage, so it’s great for gaming both on mobile and via a PC.
The Bluetooth latency is not bad either, but if you are a competitive gamer, you’ll really enjoy the boom mic and analog (AUX) mode combo. As for latency, watching YouTube felt smooth with minimal lag, but gaming still presents noticeable delays, which is typical for Bluetooth. In a nutshell, I can say that while Bluetooth’s audio lag is minimal, it’s best suited for casual gaming and video consumption rather than competitive play.
The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.
Page 1: Noble, FoKus Apollo, Packaging & Accessories, Design, Build Quality & Fit, Connection Stability & Modes
Page 2: Controls & App Support, Call Quality, ANC & Transparency Modes, Battery Life, Sound Impressions, Comparison, Last Words
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