Nihal reviews the Noble Audio AGIS II, a high-end hybrid 6 BA and dual bone conduction driver universal IEM, and the successor to the Spartacus. It is currently priced at $1799.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank Noble Audio for their support.
Click here to read more about the Noble Audio products previously featured on Headfonics.
This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
I’ve always quietly admired Noble Audio from a distance. Quietly, because their catalogue is so varied that dipping a toe in can feel like falling down a rabbit hole.
From budget-friendly models to ultra-flagships, Noble Audio has a tuning for every pocket and taste. The variety of tunings, along with the sophisticated designs, is something that wins you over if you have closely followed them.
I have not tried a lot of their IEMs, but the two that are really close to my heart are the Kublai Khan and the Viking Ragnar. These two have become my mental reference points.
This year, they released a bunch of IEMs, from which I tried a few, such as the Shogun and the Chronicle, at CanJam in Singapore.
Today, I am reviewing the $1799 AGIS II, one of the IEMs I have been excited about since its release in April this year. Noble Audio bills it as the true successor to the Spartacus, an IEM they released a couple of years ago.
The AGIS II packs more drivers than the Spartacus, making it an exciting release, and that was one of the reasons I really wanted to try it out.
In this review, I will compare it to Kublai Khan, THIEAUDIO Valhalla, and the LETSHUOER Cadenza 12 (2024). All of these heavy hitters are from the same pricing neighborhood, so let’s see whether Noble’s latest middleweight can land a big enough punch.
Features
Noble Audio AGIS II features a high-quality 8-driver hybrid architecture with four Sonion balanced armature drivers, two Sonion bone-conduction drivers, and two Knowles balanced armature drivers.
The two Sonion BA drivers cater to the high and ultra-high frequency ranges, two Sonion bone conductors are employed for the midrange, the other two Sonion BA drivers cater to the mid-bass regions, and the final two Knowles drivers handle the bass and ultra-bass regions.
So, in total, we have four drivers helping with the low-end delivery. The bone conduction drivers also help tweak the ambience and depth of the AGIS II soundstage.
There is not much known about the internal architecture of AGIS II, except that it is rated at < 35 Ω impedance and is fairly easy to drive. It hardly needs any extra amplification. We will cover this in the ‘Synergy’ section on page 2 of this review.
Design
The AGIS II has a sleek, glossy black shell with a soft, flowing shape. Built in resin, the shells carry one of those minimal but very thoughtful designs.
The faceplates are the star of the show. Inside, Noble has used irregular shards of ultra-fine metallic mesh arranged like abstract patches of fabric, sitting under a clear, domed layer so you can see the texture and a light shimmer from different angles.
You can clearly see these meshes are arranged randomly, so each faceplate looks a little different, giving the design a unique touch. Each piece is cut, crumpled, and placed by hand, making the design one of its kind – no flash, just pure artistry.
The rest of the faceplate is transparent, so the internals are visible through the smoky body. You can catch glimpses of the drivers and wiring inside, which gives the whole IEM a more technical, handcrafted vibe.
The rest of the shells are black. The design is an ergonomic one, with the inner part of the shells a bit spread out and having a few deliberate angular creases.
The nozzle is on the smaller side but has a regular width, so picking ear tips should not be an issue. A stainless-steel grille is placed over the nozzles to keep dirt and debris from getting inside.
There are two vents on the shells, both near the point where the cable connects to the shells. Just beside, there are small brand logos on the shells. The AGIS II uses standard 0.78mm 2-pin connectors.
Comfort & Isolation
The AGIS II has a very lightweight shell. It is so light that when you hold the IEMs by the cable, it sometimes feels like the shells are not even there, as if the wire ends in nothing but air.
With such lightweight shells, you hardly feel anything when they are in your ears. The size of the shells is a notch above the average.
The outer contour flares into a gentle wing that, in my ear, lands squarely on the antihelix and exerts a mild, lingering pressure. It is never sharp enough to force a timeout, but after some time, I do feel that pressure point.
I also found out that an ear tip with long stems helped me with the situation. For other ear shapes, I am sure fit will not even be a problem.
Because the nozzle is short, insertion stays politely shallow, but a tip with a slightly wider bore and longer stem locks the shell in place without coaxing.
The shells are not quite flush with the ear, and since they are relatively large units, they stick out a tiny bit because of their limited depth. There is nothing about the fit that really bothers you. Even on the go, the fit stays secure.
Isolation on the AGIS II is impressive enough. Once fitted properly, it cuts down a good amount of ambient noise, so it is easy to listen in cafes and lounges without cranking up the volume.
No driver flex during insertion, no vacuum pop on removal, so overall the AGIS II leaves you relaxed with its fit even after a three-hour-long session.
Ear Tips
The ear tips come in a plastic container that slides open to reveal nine tips, three of each type in three sizes: S, M, and L.
There are two different sets of silicone tips: one regular type and another with a double-flange design. I use the regular ones, as the double-flange tips are quite wide and have shorter stems that don’t fit me well.
You also get some foam ear tips along with the two silicone sets. These foam tips aren’t the usual kind; they’re very smooth and don’t compress as much as regular foamies. I couldn’t get along with them, but I’m sure they’ll work for some ears.
Beyond the stock tips, I also tried my go-to options: Divinus Velvets and AZLA SednaEarfit Light, and both worked really well. I prefer ear tips with slightly wider bores so the highs aren’t restricted, and the bass stays balanced.
With its normal nozzle size, you won’t find the AGIS II fussy at all when pairing it with your favorite ear tips.
Stock Cable
The AGIS II’s stock cable is an 8-core OCC cable that terminates in 0.78 mm 2-pin connectors.
The cable comes with a modular system and interchangeable terminations: 2.5mm, 3.5mm single-ended, and 4.4mm balanced, so most of the sources are covered without you needing to swap the cable.
The cable’s braid is a flexible one with a tight and even weave. The outer sleeve carries a dyed dark coffee-bronze color that echoes the IEM’s color scheme. The jacket is clear enough to show the strands underneath and has a soft, slightly grippy feel.
The cable is very comfortable, coils cleanly, and does not spring back much. The hardware stands out with a sleek yet robust design. The Y-split is compact, with black caps on the ends and a brushed silver center carrying the Noble crown logo. It is lightweight but feels solid.
Similarly, the termination plug barrel is black with a matte silver collar carrying the brand logo. At the ear end, the 2-pin connectors are black with clear L and R markings and the logo on each.
It untangles with a single shake, pockets without kinks, and stays silent during movement. Sonically, it mates seamlessly with the AGIS II’s tuning, leaving no itch for aftermarket swaps.
Overall, the cable feels clean and functional rather than flashy. It looks premium, wears easily, and feels built to last.
Packaging & Accessories
Unboxing the AGIS II feels tidy and straightforward. It arrives in a fairly large box, as you would expect from a premium IEM. The outer box has a matte finish with a solid, durable build. This textured blue box has AGIS II artwork on top, echoing the fine meshes in the faceplates.
Opening it up, you find the foams inside cradling a single, leather-textured, hard-shell zip case stamped with Noble Audio’s raised crown logo.
Open that case, and everything is neatly laid out. The IEMs sit in their own shaped inserts with the cable already attached, and the smaller pocket carry case is placed alongside them.
The rest of the accessories are placed under the cutout: the modular cable plugs, an ear tip tray with multiple tips, a cleaning tool, and a soft cloth.
Overall, the presentation is compact and organized, leaning more functional than flashy, but every inclusion feels premium in hand. Personally, I would say it is a practical, balanced unboxing experience that genuinely brought a smile to my face.
Carry Case
Tucked inside the main zippered case is its pocket-sized sibling carry case meant to store the IEMs if you are on the go. This carry case is a compact black pouch with a textured leather finish and the Noble logo embossed on the front flap.
The walls are semi-rigid enough to shrug off scratches when you slide the case into your pockets or bags. The lid snaps shut with a low-profile magnetic dot.
Inside, the plush microsuede lining gives a comfortable wrap to the IEMs. You just get enough breathing space inside, so it could have been a touch roomier for more relaxed storage.
As it is, you have to be a bit careful with how you coil and place the cable. Consider this one a daily-carry minimalism for commutes.
The main, bigger carry case is a much larger hard case with the same pebbled leather texture, and a subtle crown logo pressed into the lid. It is more of a storage box than a daily pocket case.
There is plenty of room inside, and it can easily carry a few IEMs or a DAP and accessories together, which makes it handy as a home base or for longer trips. If you use this one, you will hardly need the smaller case.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
