The Magical Sound of Noble Audio
Noble Audio is rightly considered one of the leaders in the in-ear monitor (IEM) segment. The company's success is closely tied to the personality of John Moulton, known in audiophile circles as the "Wizard."
John's interest in high-quality sound began at the age of eight when his father purchased a home stereo system from Fisher and a Toshiba turntable. Since Moulton Sr. worked as an otolaryngologist, he was very particular about the sound quality. When their television broke down, the stereo system became the family's main source of entertainment for a while. John recalls that he not only enjoyed listening to music but also loved to touch the beautifully lacquered veneer on the speakers. It was at that moment that he first realized the emotions that sound and design could evoke.
Headphones:
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 15
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 10
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 8
Brand: Noble Audio
Headphone type: wired
The lowest frequency, Hz: 20
As John grew older, his passion for audio only intensified. He even worked for free in stereo system stores when permitted by the management and was fascinated by car audio design long before he learned to drive.
With such interests, it seemed that John's path would lead straight into electronics, but he chose to follow in his father's footsteps and focused on diagnosing and treating hearing, eventually specializing in audiology. He earned a Doctor of Audiology degree from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Simultaneously, John also obtained a bachelor's degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, which later proved invaluable when working on the design of his products.
Moulton claims that his interest in headphone design arose by accident. One day, his wife stepped on her phone's Bluetooth device. John took it to his hearing aid lab, and as he examined the construction, he thought, "This isn't that complicated. I could probably do even better..."
Noble Audio was officially founded on April 15, 2013. However, John Moulton traces its history back to 2008 when he started working at a hearing aid company in Thailand while simultaneously trying to create his custom in-ear monitors. It was a time of trial and error, John recalls: he would assemble, disassemble, even break, and then rework and improve his designs. At that time, he didn't have special equipment for creating metal or plastic housings, but he discovered that Thailand had a lot of beautiful hardwoods—so why not use them? Later, using precious woods for device finishes became one of the company's trademarks.
The word "Noble" translates from English as "noble, aristocratic"—hence the crown symbol on the brand's logo. When asked what he personally means by this term, John says he relies on his feelings and subjective taste, creating what he would personally like to hear. If the sound pleases him, the design undergoes further refinement, and if the final result satisfies all team members, the model goes into production.
John Moulton acquired his signature nickname "Wizard" in a rather unexpected way. While working on his CIEM (Custom IEM) headphones in Thailand, he posted a report about one of his models on a well-known audiophile forum. A debate ensued, with some doubting that a single person could have accomplished such a feat. However, one reader defended John, saying that he had long been "practicing his wizardry with CIEM." Since then, the title "Wizard" has accompanied John throughout his life.
Noble Audio's first model was the Kaiser 10 (K-10) headphones, introduced in 2014. It was a groundbreaking design at the time, featuring ten balanced armature drivers and four crossovers per earphone, all housed in a two-tone anodized aluminum body. This model quickly became a cult favorite among portable High-End enthusiasts and likely won the most awards from media outlets and experts in the company's history.
In 2017, the brand repeated its success by releasing the Encore model, which became the successor to the "Kaisers." While maintaining the same number of drivers and crossovers, the sound of these headphones gained more refined mids and a wider soundstage. At the same time, another model, the Katana, also found success, earning the title of "Headphones of the Year" from several leading audiophile websites. Its name was inspired by the unusual texture on the surface of the housing, reminiscent of patterns on katana sword handles. It featured nine balanced armature drivers per earphone, housed in an aluminum body. Despite having the same price as the Encore model, Katana offered an engaging, emotional sound with unique nuances in the mid-frequency range.
Another technological breakthrough came with the excellent Hi-End model Noble Khan. Each unit boasts a unique design: the housing is handcrafted and equipped with a composite faceplate featuring a distinctive pattern. Inside, there is a dynamic driver for rich, full bass, four balanced armature drivers, and a rare piezoelectric driver—a rarity in the audio world. In 2018, the model won the prestigious "Headphones of the Year" award from the authoritative website Headphone.Guru, and it was also recognized as the "Best Hi-End In-Ear Monitor" by TheMasterSwitch. These awards were just the first in a series of accolades.
Despite John Moulton's belief that true audiophile sound can only be achieved with wired models featuring high-quality custom cables, he recognizes the market demand for fully wireless TWS headphones with high sound quality. In the fall of 2019, the company introduced the Falcon TWS, which immediately caught the attention of specialized websites and received numerous awards. For a relatively low price, users received excellent audiophile sound: clear mids, crisp highs, deep lows, and a wide soundstage. The device was equipped with an advanced Qualcomm QCC3020 chip and supported Bluetooth 5.0.
In the same year, the company launched the advanced wired headphones Tux 5, featuring hybrid drivers—a 10mm dynamic driver, four balanced armature drivers per channel, and a glossy acrylic housing. Additionally, Noble Audio released the Prestige Universal model with a stunning design: the housing is made from exotic wood, glass, and composite materials.
Riding the wave of success with their wireless headphones, Noble Audio introduced the improved TWS Falcon Pro model in 2020, equipped with a more advanced Qualcomm QCC3040 chip, a 6mm dynamic driver, and three balanced armature drivers. This model again received numerous awards from audio media as the "Best TWS Headphones."
In the same year, the company released another highly successful model—the wired Sultan headphones (as usual, the top version's name is "aristocratic"). This masterpiece of technology and design combined anodized aluminum with inserts made from precious woods. Each housing contained seven drivers: one 10mm dynamic driver for low frequencies, two balanced armature drivers for the mids, and a dual electrostatic tweeter. The headphones made a splash in the audio market and received numerous awards.
Another bold move by the company was the release of headphones that are both Hi-End audio accessories and luxury items. We're talking about a limited edition of exclusive Sultan models, encrusted with gold and diamonds. These versions, named Gold and Diamond, were priced at $27,500, making them some of the most expensive headphones in the world.
The year 2021 saw the release of one of the company's most successful TWS models—the FoKus Pro TWS. Inside its striking housing are an 8.2mm dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers. Wireless connectivity is powered by a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip supporting Bluetooth 5.2. This truly became a technological, design, and sound breakthrough in the world of TWS headphones. Unsurprisingly, the model immediately received the award from Headfonics as the best TWS of the year, along with a host of other prestigious accolades.
The logical continuation of this model came with the 2023 release of the Focus Prestige version. Structurally, it is quite similar to its predecessor: the same drivers and chip, but the assembly method changed to Surface Mount Device. The battery life at half volume increased to 10 hours. The most significant change was in the housing and case, which are CNC-machined from precious woods and then lacquered. As a result, fans of the brand received a true audiophile and design masterpiece. Among many other awards, the magazine Headphone.Guru immediately recognized it as the best wireless in-ear monitors of the year.
As a work of technology and design, the Viking Ragnar model is undoubtedly worth noting. It features a Damascus stainless steel faceplate crafted by master jeweler Chris Ploof. It is equipped with two 10mm dynamic bass drivers, four balanced armature midrange drivers, and four electrostatic tweeters. The custom audiophile cables offered with this model also deserve special attention. This model won an award from Headphone.Guru and was also recognized by the magazine Headfonics.
Looking ahead, the company has promised its fans to continue developing custom wired models, hinting that more technological innovations are coming soon. Exciting offerings also await fans of uncompromising TWS headphones.
Another distinction of Noble Audio is its truly international team, both in terms of office locations and production. For instance, John "Wizard" Moulton, the founder and owner, is a U.S. citizen living in Thailand. His close relative, Jim Moulton, a lawyer, lives in Texas, as does his son Kai Moulton, who currently serves as the company's marketing director.
The company places orders at production facilities in Southeast Asia and the United States. The brand's products are widely represented in the United States, Canada, Europe, as well as Southeast Asia, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. The company's products are also popular in Australia and New Zealand.
Noble Audio is a unique blend of professional knowledge about human hearing physiology, a meticulous approach to technology, and collaboration with leading designers who turn headphones into true works of art. In the IEM segment, this has indeed become a unique phenomenon, making the Noble Audio brand special and constantly attracting the attention of audiophiles worldwide.
Headphones:
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
Headset type: stereo
Brand: Noble Audio
Type of wireless headphones: True Wireless
