Noble Audio Fokus Apollo: Audiophile Bliss or Just More Hype in a Headset?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Eurogamer's review of the Noble Audio Fokus Apollo headphones paints a picture of audiophile-grade sound quality, exceptional comfort, and killer battery life, but the hefty price tag might make your bank account weep.
Right, so Eurogamer's Reece Bithrey has been fiddling with the Noble Audio Fokus Apollo headphones, and fair dinkum, they sound pretty special. But are they worth the hefty price tag?
Noble Audio, not exactly a household name in gaming circles just yet, has decided to jump into the premium headphone game with the Fokus Apollo – a £589 / $649 set of noise-cancelling cans. What makes these things tick? Well, they've gone for a hybrid approach, cramming both dynamic and planar magnetic drivers into each earcup. Think of it like putting a V8 engine *and* a fancy electric motor in your car – theoretically, you get the best of both worlds.
Dynamic drivers, the old faithfuls, handle the bass like a champ. Planar magnetic drivers, the sleek newcomers, are all about precision in the mids and highs. The Fokus Apollo has a 40mm dynamic driver for the low end and a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver for everything else. The result? Apparently, audio nirvana.
Bithrey reckons the sound quality is sublime across the board. Crisp highs, rich mids, and a low end that packs a proper punch. He throws a load of fancy song titles at us (Ralph MacDonald, Steely Dan – this guy's got taste!) to show off how well these headphones handle everything from delicate percussion to gritty basslines. Apparently mobile gaming is also enhanced by these headphones! Who knew!
The comfort factor seems to be on point too. Plush earpads, adjustable headband – all the good stuff you'd expect from a premium headset. And the battery life? A stonking 60 hours with noise-cancelling on, or 80 hours with it off. That blows competitors like the Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 out of the water.
The active noise cancellation (ANC) is also top-notch, supposedly even better than the Focal Bathys. It blocks out most unwanted noise, making it ideal for travel. And the transparency mode sounds pretty natural, which is always a bonus. You also get a decent app with a 10-band EQ to tinker with the sound.
So, the verdict? Bithrey is mightily impressed. He calls the Noble Audio Fokus Apollo a "sublime set of premium cans" that seemingly have it all. If you've got deep pockets and are looking for a top-tier listening experience, these should be on your radar. Just don't blame me if your wallet starts crying. I wouldn't anticipate any deep Web3 integration here, but you never know what the future holds!
Tags: headphones, audiophile, gaming audio, noise cancelling, premium headphones
Original article: Eurogamer