Today, Marcus reviews the Noble Audio Onyx, a new high-end universal fit IEM with a hybrid mix of dynamic, BA, EST, and bone conduction drivers. It is priced at $3200.
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.
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This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
Noble launched the Onyx earlier this year which caught me out a bit since I was focusing more on the Ronin in 2023 and thought the Spartacus was the next big launch for a while.
While it is not their new flagship, that accolade still belongs to the Ronin and the Ragnar, the universal format Onyx IEM still commands a high-end premium tag of $3200.
For that, you will get a mix of four different types of drivers including bone conduction and another unique design that we expect from Noble’s artisanal approach to IEM aesthetics.
It is also quite a departure from their typical in-house tuning, a tone hinted at by the smoother sound of the Ronin in 2023. This is a muscular darker sound signature, chock full of detail, but also much easier on the ear for those sensitive to energetic, forward-sounding highs.
So, price aside, where exactly should this sit in Noble’s line up and how does it compare to Ragnar, Ronin, and Kublai Khan? You can find out how the Onyx performs in more detail in my full review below.
Features
The Noble Audio Onyx is a hybrid multi-driver universal in-ear monitor positioned between the Kublai Khan and the Viking Ragnar from a technical and pricing perspective.
It uses a mix of four different types of drivers, 8 in total, including a single customized 10mm dynamic for the lows, 4 BA split evenly between the mids and highs, dual Sonion ESTs for the ultra-highs, and a PZT Bone Conduction driver for some additional mid and treble texture.
From what I understand using alternative sources the Onyx is rated with an impedance of 14Ω and an SPL of 108 dB/mW @1kHz though this data is not listed on the main Noble website.
If accurate then the Onyx is a fairly easy monitor to drive, a statement we test in more detail on page 2 of this review.
The Onyx also marks the continuation of Noble’s recent partnership with Eletech with the latter’s 4-wire Type 4 Litz OCC Silver Plated Copper ‘Courage’ cable being used as its stock cable.
Design
It is perhaps fitting that the Onyx aesthetics has a bit of a ‘noire’ vibe infused alongside the intricate Raffir-partnered faceplate design.
I mention fitting since the tonal coloration of the sound signature veers more to the darker side of the spectrum compared to their alternative offerings. Hence the black external appearance works quite well.
The camera pictures also do a better job revealing the cool 3-dimensional weave effect from the composite faceplate at certain angles than looking at them with the naked eye.
The form factor is typically Noble sized, meaning larger than average with a very long nozzle designed for a deep penetration or as close as possible to the second bend in the ear canal.
It is not the biggest IEM in Noble’s lineup though. I would say it is closer to the Ragnar size and smaller than the Kublai Khan and the Ronin.
Like the Ragnar, the Onyx’s main shell material is aluminum giving it a dense and sturdy feel in the hand. However, unlike the Ragnar, the shell has no intricate ribbing or rune graphics adorned on the sides. This shell has a plainer but smoother finish with finely finished contouring for an accurate fit.
Comfort & Isolation
If you have ever owned a recent Noble Audio IEM you will know exactly how the Onyx will fit in your ear.
The long plate-to-tip snout makes it a deep penetrating in-ear monitor, a depth I appreciate coming from a daily diet of custom monitors because it makes it so much easier to get a good seal from any supplied tip.
And that is exactly what is happening here with the Onyx. It sits super steady in your ear with a slight bit of body protrusion but not a huge amount with decent passive isolation for a hybrid monitor.
I would say decent but not amazing for isolation because the rigid aluminum shell can leak more than resin alternatives. If you use the supplied stock wide bore silicone tips they will leak more than the stock foam variants.
Ear Tips
Noble has also upgraded the tips presentation though not necessarily the tip selection. It is still a mix of narrow and wide bore foam options with a single set of single flange wide bore silicone tips and one spare set fitted onto the shells out of the box.
The upgrade is the slider box they now come in which is cool and easy to manage with low profile dimensions making it a worthy carry option in cases with good depth. The branded black tray is a nice upgrade from the plain plastic bags they used to come in a few years ago.
Of the foam variants, I preferred the wide-bore grey variant. It sounds slightly less relaxed and spacious but deeper and more powerful than the narrow bore foam tips.
They also isolate better than the silicone tips and generate more weight and warmth. The silicone tips are not as rounded and dark sounding making them a better or more balanced choice for general listening.
Just a final note on the above differences; they are not subtle at all. There are marked changes between each set of tips that will affect your opinion of the sound signature and what music sounds ideal with the Onyx.
Stock Cable
The Onyx stock cable ‘Courage’ is an exclusive design in partnership with Eletech of Singapore and not that far removed from the aesthetics of the earlier ‘Ronin’ stock cable collaboration.
This is a 24AWG 4-wire creation using a high-strand count OCC silver-plated copper and a hybrid type 4 Litz geometry with a Kevlar core. The wires are cryogenically treated inside and finished with Eletech’s FlexiMax insulation and soft translucent PVC outer resulting in a strong silvery tone.
This is a fairly lightweight cable and low on memory retention and microphonics. The deadening from the splitter does a great job here with even the finer two-wire split showing little to no noise during use.
The external aesthetics complement the Onyx’s black shells with a blend of tightly braided silver wiring and finished with black Eletech-themed barrels using highly beveled accents in gold.
There is no memory coating at the base of the Courage connectors but the PVC is supple enough to keep it comfortable when on the top of your ears.
The Onyx cable connectors are 2-pin 0.78mm combined with 4.4mm gold-plated Pentaconn which I presume is the default termination as the website does not offer different terminations on checkout.
Packaging & Accessories
This is the first time in ages I have received a full retail package for review from Noble. I think the last one was the Sultan and its Nanuk weather-sealed case whereas the Onyx setup seems a little more urban or commute-ready.
The monitors come in a fairly large but squat retail box with a professional finish and a blue theme though perhaps a matching black theme would have finished it perfectly.
Inside you get a bulky main carry case with a pocketable alternative case neatly packaged inside on top of the new tips tray. The inside of the lid is mesh-finished for additional storage capability.
The monitors are neatly displayed in a large stack of protective foam with the cable running into the small case to keep everything neat and tidy.
Honestly, the options seem covered here between long-term storage and portability with perhaps a lack of branding on the case my only minor nitpick.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
