Noble Audio Noble 6 review

They need to be better to justify the wallet-busting price tag Tested at £630

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

They have their talents, but these pricey Noble 6s haven’t blown us away

Pros

  • +

    Excellent detail

  • +

    Spacious and solid sound

Cons

  • -

    Rivals offer greater dynamic subtlety, transparency and refinement

  • -

    Build and fit won’t suit everyone

  • -

    Needs a suitable source

  • -

    Extremely expensive

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Can such tiny things really justify their monumental £600 price tag? The Noble Audio Noble 6 headphones – named for the six drivers housed inside each ear bud – are really good. But ‘really good’ isn’t enough at this price.

Play Regina Spektor’s Blue Lips and you’ll be treated to a sound that’s packed with plenty of detail. Her delicate vocals sound intimate, direct and cleanly delivered.

Instruments have convincing weight and texture, but we’d like more dynamic subtlety at this price. The piano notes aren’t quite as fluid or realistic-sounding as we’d expect from such high-end in-ears.

The jangling, bluesy guitars in Songhoy Blues’ Soubour time well and work cohesively in a spacious soundstage, but there’s a thin edge at every note that stops the Noble 6s from sounding seamless.

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A richer, deeper low end would even out the balance somewhat, but they’d still be missing out on the finer nuances in dynamism and drive.

Plugging the Noble 6s straight into your smartphone or laptop will do them a disservice. They’re very sensitive, so a DAC, such as the excellent £260 Oppo HA-2, is needed to bridge the gap and make the most of these in-ears.

Build

There’s no in-line mic or controls, and they’re not the most comfortable headphones either. The chunky buds stick out and the stiff ear hooks won’t flex to suit everyone’s ear shape.

The twisted cable is a nice touch, though, as this makes them less susceptible to airborne frequencies.

Verdict

Despite their many talents, the Noble 6s haven’t blown us away. They need to be far more faithful and captivating to justify that that wallet-burning price tag.

See all our in-ear headphone reviews

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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