The Ultimate Wireless Companion? Noble FoKus Apollo Review & Verdict

Noble Audio, known for its high-fidelity audiophile in-ear monitors (IEMs), has made an enticing entry into the over-ear headphone market with the FoKus Apollo. According to the company, this is not just another pair of wireless headphones; it is a statement piece designed to redefine the concept of wireless audio excellence. The FoKus Apollo showcases Noble Audio’s dedication to sound quality and innovation, delivering an outstanding listening experience that redefines wireless audio.

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Price

The FoKus Apollo is positioned as a premium product, highlighting its precise engineering and strong commitment to audio excellence. Priced at $649.00, it firmly targets the high-end segment of the wireless headphone market, even though it’s among the cheapest of that higher tier.

This price point partially reflects the unique combination of a 40mm dynamic driver and a 14.5mm planar magnetic hybrid driver, which distinguishes it from competitors. It also has advanced features and an extravagant build, making the Apollo a compelling choice for audiophiles seeking the ultimate in Bluetooth audio performance.

Noble FoKus Apollo Review: Build

The FoKus Apollo emanates a sense of luxury and refinement. The headphones are meticulously crafted with premium components, including an anodized aluminum frame, plush memory foam earpads wrapped in replaceable protein leather, and an Alcantara headband for comfort on top of the head.

The build quality is really good, with a robust and durable construction that should withstand the rigors of everyday use. I would say the build quality is on par with high-end competition like Bowers and Wilkins or Bang and Olufsen.

Attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the design, from the smooth, tactile controls to the sleek, minimalist aesthetic. I appreciate the use of actual buttons as opposed to touch controls, which always seem to take longer to operate than a push button. Additionally, the layout of the controls on the earcups makes operation pretty intuitive, which means you’ll be up and running in minutes.

When it comes to comfort, as usual, it can vary from person to person. For many users, the padded headband and heavily cushioned ear pads offer a comfortable amount of softness, making them suitable for extended wear. However, for individuals like me with larger heads, the clamp may feel tight, making it difficult to wear them for long periods, especially before break-in.

Noble FoKus Apollo Review: Features

The FoKus Apollo headphones come with many features tailored to audiophiles. They support various codecs, including LDAC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and SBC, ensuring high-quality audio transmission over Bluetooth.

Bluetooth 5.3 offers a stable and efficient wireless connection, while hybrid active noise cancellation technology effectively blocks ambient noise, providing an immersive listening experience.

The Noble Fokus Apollo headphones stand out thanks to their advanced hybrid dual-driver system. This design features a 40mm dynamic driver paired with a 14mm planar magnetic driver.

Together, these drivers aim to deliver a rich and captivating audio experience by leveraging the strengths of each type. The planar magnetic driver is recognized for its detail and accuracy in the mid and high frequencies, while the dynamic driver produces a powerful and satisfying bass response. This unique combination strives to offer listeners both clarity and depth in their audio experience.

The Noble Fokus Apollo also boasts impressive battery life, offering up to 80 hours of playtime without Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and around 60 hours with ANC enabled, at a moderate volume level. This extended battery life makes them well-suited for long listening sessions and travel.

The inclusion of a detachable boom microphone with a mute switch increases versatility, making these headphones ideal for office use, calls, and gaming. Furthermore, they are equipped with a 6-microphone system to ensure clear voice communication.

In addition to its wireless capabilities, the Fokus Apollo provides several wired connection options. It features a USB-C port for charging and audio input through a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a 3.5mm auxiliary input for passive listening, and an airplane adapter for compatibility with older in-flight entertainment systems.

To further enhance the user experience, the Noble Fokus Apollo is compatible with the Noble FoKus app. While the app is pretty simple in its functionality, it provides some useful features, like allowing users to customize their audio experience through equalization settings and firmware updates. It even has a feature that lets you create a personal EQ based on the results of a simple hearing test administered via the app.

Noble FoKus Apollo Review: ANC & Call Quality

The FoKus Apollo incorporates hybrid active noise cancellation, utilizing three microphones on each side to achieve noise reduction of up to -35db. This advanced system combines feedforward and feedback ANC for faster and more precise noise cancellation, effectively blocking out a wide range of ambient sounds, from the hum of an airplane to the bustle of a busy city street. The earpads also provide a good amount of passive noise cancellation,

The Apollo has some of the best ANC on the market, putting it up there with class leaders like Sony. However, the Noble ANC has a slight hiss in the background, which is not present in the Sony.

The transparency mode is equally impressive, providing a natural and accurate representation of the surrounding environment. It is nice and clear allowing you to stay connected to your surroundings without removing the headphones.

In terms of call quality, it is sufficient. While not the clearest I’ve experienced, I had no difficulty hearing the person on the other end clearly, and they had no trouble hearing me either.

Noble FoKus Apollo Review: Sound

Let me be clear: the FoKus Apollo’s sound quality is outstanding. This wireless headphone provides an impressive audio experience that is nearly flawless technically while also being captivating and emotionally impactful.

Testing the FoKus Apollo with a variety of genres, from classical to electronic, revealed its versatility and ability to handle a wide range of musical styles with finesse. I did most of my testing on a Samsung Ultra Phone using the LDAC codec (on the highest bandwidth setting) which was impressive, but even the lower bandwidth aptX codec had plenty of detail.

That said, the difference in resolution with LDAC was clear, and the headphones capably reproduced intricate details and nuances of complex orchestral pieces while delivering the energy and dynamism of electronic or R&B music with precision and impact.

The FoKus Apollo’s exceptional sound quality is driven by its innovative hybrid driver technology. Each earcup contains a 40mm dynamic driver and a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver, which create a balanced and accurate audio experience. The dynamic driver delivers robust bass response and impactful low-end sounds, while the planar magnetic driver enhances clarity, detail, and a spacious soundstage.

While listening to one of my favorite new songs, “Rammana” by the Thai Afropop and Jazz artist Salin, I was blown away by the sound separation I experienced via the wireless connection. Vocal clarity was next level, to the point that I could pick out individual vocalists, and each instrument had its own sound and character which made the song sound very organic.

The audio quality was unlike anything I had heard before with active noise canceling (ANC) Bluetooth headphones and was very close to the performance of the open-back Hifiman Ananda BT I reviewed some time ago. Although the Hifiman offered slightly better sound separation and a wider soundstage, it wasn’t a closed-back design and lacked ANC functionality, making it less effective for use on the go. In contrast, the Fokus Apollo delivered significantly improved bass response thanks to its dynamic driver.

Speaking of the bass on the Apollo, I found it deep, punchy, and well-defined, with a satisfying level of impact and texture. The midrange was smooth for the most part, and expressive, with excellent vocal clarity and instrument separation.

Initially, I noticed that the upper mids were slightly elevated for my preference, likely because I am sensitive to that part of the audio spectrum. However, after conducting the audio test and adjusting the personal EQ on the Fokus App, I was able to reduce that frequency range significantly. As a result, the sound became more enjoyable, even though it did diminish some of the overall “presence.”

Comparatively, the treble was extended and airy, with a delicate sparkle that added a sense of life and vibrancy to the music. It also did this without the sibilance present in cheaper headphones. In addition, the soundstage was expansive for a closed-back model, creating a sense of space and depth that draws you into the music.

Moreover, the soundstage, resolution, and clarity significantly improved when I switched to wired connections. Both the 3.5mm and USB-C cables offered a deeper and more realistic audio experience compared to the Bluetooth connection, with the USB-C option (when paired with the internal DAC) providing the best sound quality. Additionally, you can use Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with both wired options; however, the USB cable will also charge the headphones during playback. It will also provide a low-latency connection for gaming.

Noble FoKus Apollo Review: Verdict

The Noble FoKus Apollo is an outstanding pair of wireless headphones that push the limits of wireless audio. With its careful engineering, innovative hybrid driver technology, and a strong commitment to sound accuracy, it is an excellent choice for discerning audiophiles.

For a small premium compared to some of the top-rated ANC headphones from Sony, Bose, or Beats, the FoKus Apollo offers exceptional sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC) that is amongst the best on the market, flagship features, and a premium build. This makes it a worthwhile investment for those who prioritize sound performance when searching for noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones.

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