The Noble Audio FoKus Mystique is the most expensive pair of TWS earbuds I’ve tested in my practice. Previously, I mainly had the opportunity to test products from lesser-known audio brands, although among them, there were some very worthy models. I’m also quite familiar with wireless earbuds and headsets from well-known manufacturers in the consumer electronics segment, such as Samsung, Huawei, Panasonic, Sony, and others, including realme and oppo. But today is a special case. Because Noble Audio, as “knowledgeable people” told me, is one of the most authoritative brands that produce in-ear headphones for audiophiles.
Yes, this name may not ring a bell for average consumers, but it’s highly recognized among enthusiasts who appreciate quality sound. Accordingly, the task of this review is to find out whether the sound of the FoKus Mystique earbuds, priced at $400, justifies paying extra for this niche model and whether the buyer will gain any additional benefits compared to mass-market products.
Specifications and features of Noble Audio FoKus Mystique
- Driver: Hybrid type – dynamic 8.2 mm + 2 balanced Knowles armature drivers in each earphone
- Frequency range: 20-24000 Hz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Wireless interface: Bluetooth 5.2, range up to 10 m
- SoC: Qualcomm QCC3040 chip
- Codec support: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
- Microphones: ×4
- Additional microphone functions: Qualcomm cVc noise reduction during conversations, sound background transparency mode, without active noise reduction
- Battery in the headphones: 7.5 hours of battery life at 50% volume
- Charging case: 500 mAh battery, provides 4 additional charges
- Setting up via mobile application for Android and iOS
Read also: HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 flagship headphones review
What’s in the box
The Noble Audio FoKus Mystique comes in a medium-sized cardboard box. On top, there is a colorful blue cover with an image of the product and key information on the front side, and specifications on the sides and back.
Inside, in foam polymer holders, there are 2 inserts, the charging case, a USB-A/USB-C charging cable, 6 pairs of interchangeable ear tips (one pair already fitted on the earbuds and 5 pairs in a separate plastic case), a felt pouch, and a paper user manual.
Read also: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review: Most Affordable TWS Earbuds from Company
Positioning and price
In the TWS lineup of Noble Audio, the earbuds hold a middle position, priced at $360-400, trailing behind the FoKus Prestige at $600. There are cheaper options – FoKus H-ANC or FALCON ANC at an approximate cost of $190. The FoKus Mystique replaces the previous 2021 model, the FoKus Pro, which is still available for purchase. This product is $50 more expensive, but the specifications of the earbuds are identical. There might be some differences, but they are not explicitly stated.
Overall, when compared to mass-market products, considering the specifications and features, the price of the FoKus Mystique may seem high. However, delving into the audiophile realm reveals a significant layer of brands offering more expensive earbuds of a similar class. It’s important to understand that the FoKus Mystique doesn’t aim to be a popular bestseller, but it stands as a confident candidate for the most balanced TWS solution of 2023, especially concerning the sound quality you get for a relatively modest cost. So, let’s further examine this claim.
Design, materials, build quality
The design of the Noble Audio FoKus Mystique is typical for the in-ear monitor (IEM) industry. They feature relatively large, ergonomically shaped ear tips that follow the anatomy of the human ear shell. The outer part has a triangular shape and resembles a guitar pick.
The earbud construction material is a combination. The inner part is 3D-printed from black hypoallergenic plastic and polished to a shine. The housing incorporates 2 gold contacts for charging the earbuds in the case, and it ends with a nozzle for attaching silicone in-ear tips. The opening is covered with a standard black nylon mesh.
The outer panel is cast from dark blue, almost black, medical-grade polyether resin with light and silvery particles, creating a voluminous wave-like pattern. Additionally, each earbud features a silver logo of the manufacturer, next to which there is a microphone opening. Above, there are LED status indicators that glow in blue or white.
The charging case is pleasantly heavy, as it is made of noble metal. Therefore, it feels very nice to the touch – cool with a silky coating. The bottom part is matte black. The cover is metallic blue with the manufacturer’s white logo on top.
At the bottom, there is glossy black labeling on a matte black background. At the back, there is a USB Type-C port for charging the case. On the front, there are 4 blue status and charge indicators.
Inside, the case is made of matte plastic. Between the compartments, you can see a button for resetting the earbuds’ settings. The cover is equipped with a magnetic lock, and the inserts are also secured in the compartments magnetically.
Overall, the construction of the earbuds looks solid and reliable, but the impression is marred by the hinge of the case cover, or more precisely, the fact that the closed cover has noticeable play and simply indecently wobbles when open. Such a thing is simply unexpected from a generally premium product. As for the earbud inserts, I have no complaints at all; they are assembled excellently.
Read also: Defunc True ANC TWS in-ear headphones review
Control
To control functions during the use of the earbuds, touch panels on the external surface of each insert are utilized. Single, double, triple taps, as well as holding for 2 and 3 seconds, are supported. The key thing is that the control is comprehensive – play and pause music, switch tracks, adjust volume, answer and end calls, activate ambient sound, and trigger the voice assistant. However, due to this comprehensive functionality, the control scheme might seem a bit intricate, and it will take some time to get used to and memorize all the actions.
Noble FoKus mobile application
For adjusting settings and customizing sound, a simple mobile application called Noble FoKus is used, available for both Android and iOS:
The main functions of the app include switching between ready-made equalizer presets and creating a custom profile based on an analysis of your hearing. The procedure is straightforward: you initiate the step-by-step setup wizard, listen to sounds of different frequencies and volumes, mark how many times the signal rings, press the final button if you don’t hear anything. In the end, you get a personalized preset that takes into account the characteristics and condition of your hearing.
Additionally, through the app, you can update the firmware of the earbuds or configure the touch panel actions. Overall, I can note a simple yet stylish and understandable design of the interface. No issues with the software were observed.
Read also: TOZO Golden X1 review: cool hybrid TWS earbuds for music lovers
Noble Audio FoKus Mystique Sound
In a few words, the main feature of these earbuds is that you don’t need to adjust them to get the best sound. The sound profile is tuned almost perfectly, to my taste. FoKus Mystique delivers a sound similar to studio monitors but with improved, magically deep bass and well-defined mid-frequencies. As for the high frequencies, they are present, but I can’t call them the best as I own headphones that reproduce highs better. However, overall sound quality is top-notch, versatile, and suitable for various music genres. I haven’t heard better sound quality in the TWS segment up to this point.
While my current TWS earbuds (also triple-driver) produce sound not much worse, it only happens after careful manual tuning. FoKus Mystique, on the other hand, sounds excellent on the default profile. I feel that any changes through the equalizer will only distort the perfect sound. However, this is a matter of taste and musical preferences, so I won’t dismiss it—give it a try. Personally, I eventually gave up customizing the sound and tried to listen to music through the earbuds on the default preset, as the creator intended.
However, if you still have the desire to “tweak” something, I want to note that while using Noble FoKus Mystique, you can adjust the sound tone according to your taste through the equalizer over a wide range without a noticeable loss of quality, as the capabilities of the triple-driver system are very extensive. It is best to fine-tune personalized sound through the proprietary mobile application, but you can also use sound adjustment tools on your mobile device.
Read also: Realme Buds Air 5 Pro review: I would have paid more!
Microphones and headset function
Another aspect where FoKus Mystique performs well is the microphone system. You will be heard clearly during phone calls or voice chats, not only indoors but also outdoors, with very satisfactory results.
These earphones feature an ambient sound mode, where microphones blend the sounds from your surroundings into the music, slightly amplifying them. You can activate this function through the app or the touch panel. It’s useful if you want to communicate without removing the earphones, simply by pausing the music. This also enhances safety in busy urban or industrial environments, allowing you to hear voices or sounds from vehicles and machinery around you.
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is not available in these earphones, which is a significant drawback considering their relatively high price and the fact that the Qualcomm QCC3040 chip, while entry-level, has built-in ANC support. The partial absence of noise cancellation is compensated by powerful low frequencies and sub-bass, but not entirely. In loud transportation environments, external noises may still interfere with music playback.
Read also: HUAWEI FreeBuds SE 2 Wireless Headphones Review
Comfort of use
First, I’ll note some points about the charging case. It’s not as good as one might hope. While the case itself is pleasant, finding the recess to open the lid quickly, for example, in the dark, is almost impossible. Also, the case is quite bulky in height, so it’s inconvenient to carry it in tight clothing pockets – it will protrude significantly. It’s best to transport the earphones in a pouch or backpack.
Secondly, taking the earphones out of the case is also not very convenient. If you have large or slightly damp fingers, the earpieces can slip out of your hands when trying to retrieve them because they protrude from the body just a bit, providing nothing to grip onto.
But once in the ears, the earpieces fit very securely thanks to a well-thought-out ergonomic design. They cause minimal discomfort, although after extended use (more than 4 hours), some painful sensations may arise in the upper part of the earlobe, where the earphones are held by the protruding part of the body.
It’s also worth noting that the earpieces are quite heavy, and if you make sudden movements or actively shake your head, it may feel like they are gradually coming out of their proper place. However, throughout my use, the earphones never actually fell out of my ears.
Connectivity, connection reliability and latency
It seems to me that connection issues are no longer very relevant for modern Bluetooth devices, so this section can confidently be excluded from reviews of wireless headsets. After the introduction of the industrial Bluetooth 5.0 standard and newer protocol iterations, I no longer observe typical problems of old headphones, such as streaming interruptions or noticeable stream quality reduction in places with saturated radio frequency signals. Therefore, with the Noble FoKus Mystique, everything is standard in this regard – reliable connection within 10 meters, support for communication up to 15 meters in open spaces, and the ability to connect even through several layers of obstacles, such as internal concrete walls in an apartment.
There is no specific gaming mode in the headphones, but I didn’t notice significant audio delays when watching videos or playing mobile games, for example. In general, this is also very typical for modern devices.
As for simultaneous operation with multiple devices, the FoKus Mystique can work concurrently with a smartphone and a Windows 11 laptop, but they don’t automatically connect to the second source; this needs to be done manually each time. Upon each subsequent activation, the headphones will automatically connect to the last manually connected device – which is not very convenient as the primary device changes every time.
Read also: OneOdio OpenRock S TWS headset review
Battery life
The Noble FoKus Mystique turned out to be quite long-lasting earphones. Getting 7 hours of continuous autonomous music playback with them is entirely realistic. Currently, I can’t recall any instances of the battery running out during headphone use. Because listening to music or engaging in chats continuously throughout the day – not many can manage that, agree?
Yes, the lack of active noise cancellation significantly contributes to the enhanced “pure” battery life of the earbuds, but still…
Considering that the case can fully recharge the earbuds up to 4 times, we get about 35 hours of total autonomy for the Noble FoKus Mystique, which is quite impressive for devices of this compact format.
Read also: Kiwi Ears Quintet Headphones Review: Symphony of Balanced Sound
Conclusions
Noble Audio FoKus Mystique is a very impressive yet somewhat polarizing true wireless earbud. The key question the product poses to potential buyers is: how much compromise are you willing to make for the sake of exceptional audio quality?
It’s worth noting that this product lacks some typical features found in cheaper, mass-market earbuds that have flooded the consumer electronics market. However, the primary strength of these earbuds lies in providing a prolonged and comfortable enjoyment of high-quality music. The sound quality is truly remarkable. Additionally, when needed, you can handle voice calls effectively, ensuring clear communication on the other end. Perhaps this basic set of features will suffice for you. If you’re willing to invest $400 in TWS earbuds with top-notch sound, then the Noble Audio FoKus Mystique is the choice for you. I highly recommend this product; it’s genuinely fantastic.
Advantages of FoKus Mystique:
- Design, materials, build quality
- Possibly the best music sound quality in the TWS headset class
- Good voice transmission, transparency mode
- Comfortable placement of earbuds in the ears
- High battery life
Disadvantages of FoKus Mystique:
- Inconvenient case, loose lid, challenging to retrieve earbuds
- No wireless charging for the case
- Lack of active noise cancellation
- Absence of proximity sensor in earbuds and auto-pause function
- No automatic connection to two devices.