Massdrop x Noble X

Discussion in 'IEM Measurements' started by purr1n, Nov 21, 2016.

  1. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    Noble makes a cable for $80:
    https://nobleaudio.com/en/shop/accessories/
    But I haven't tried it. It looks good and the build quality is good. (I've seen one in person.)
    I am sure there are lots of other options since the Noble connectors are standard.
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I think I'm going to wait until it arrives, and then get this one for my Android phone from Lunashops. Somebody mentioned seeing it on eBay but I can't find it there. The description says it works for both Droid and iCrap.

     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Did you notice if there's a switch to go back and forth between iOS and Android for full (volume button) functionality? Cable remotes are often described as cross-compatible, but the volume buttons only work with one system or the other.
     
  4. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    There are only three buttons on the cable: vol up, vol down, and play/pause.

    However, I just tried it on a Nexus 6P Android phone, an iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5C. The controls worked on all of them.

    I am not sure what you mean by "full (volume button) functionality" though. But the volume up/down and play/pause buttons all worked on both iOS and Android without the need for a switch.
     
  5. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    That's very interesting, because as far as I knew, volume button functionality wasn't cross-compatible. For example, my Samsung earbud remote volume buttons don't work on my iPad, and my wife's earpod's volume buttons don't work on my Galaxy phones. Maybe someone has figured out how to make a 'smart switch' like the Lunashops description says.

    Just did a quick search for such a switch and got these results, which indicate that they should be hardware incompatible.

    http://lifehacker.com/5911435/modify-any-iphone-headset-remote-to-work-with-android-devices
    http://android.stackexchange.com/qu...ons-on-earphones-headphones-work-with-android
     
  6. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    Those articles are from 2012 and 2013. Maybe OS updates have changed things? I have no idea since I don't use the buttons on the cables.
    But, the Noble cable definitely worked on my Android and iOS devices.
     
  7. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    In case you have not seen yours yet, Massdrop sent an email today:

    "We are working closely with Noble to ensure every aspect of the Noble X is up to their standards. Orders are expected to begin shipping this week with the remainder shipping out the following week."
     
  8. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Has anyone ever made their own over-the-ear stiff loop for their IEM cables using shrink wrap or other materials? I bought the Noble remote control cable for use with smartphones but there's no shrink-wrapped cable guide on them. Hopefully it won't impact their usability for me, but if it does, I may have to get creative with heat applied wrap...
     
  9. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    This was a useful answer that @fraggler gave me:

     
  10. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Well, not only are my Noble-X apparently shipped, but better yet, it looks like the UK leg of the shipping will be Parcelfarce rather than Yodel- so I might actually get them without having to threaten to burn the building down.

    Props to @CEE TEE - as I suspect it's him kicking ass around shipping choices after what happened with the HD6xx that made a difference. Assuming USPS don't screw up, this should make Massdrop a lot less worrying to use again.
     
  11. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Will have limited or no access to big boy rigs for the next month or two and I chose to pack only two headphones: Andromeda and the Noble X.
     
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    If UPS tracking is anything to go by, I'll have the latter in the house to go along with the former early next week.
     
  13. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    They are shipping this week. Mine are scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Will try to post impressions next week. If you've got yours already and want to discuss, fire away.
     
  14. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Just got mine last night. Quickly threw on the smaller silicone (red core) tips for a shallow fit. Clear and open sound. Taylor sounds slightly shouty on "Red". Bass is tight and punchy but a bit light. Will try some other tips for a deeper insertion. The small foam and black double-flange didn't feel right first time around.

    Shone a light into the bore holes. Looks like Knowles-type metal dampers inside, red and green. So I guess as long as you don't smear your ear crud into the screen when cleaning, long term maintenance should be OK.

    Very light and comfortable. Cable is pretty nice and the heatshrink ear hooks work really well.

    Re packing, they should have put some bubble wrap around the smaller case inside the cardboard tube. It wasn't very reassuring picking up the package and hearing it clucking around inside. You're not supposed to subject BA drivers to shock, right?
     
  15. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    I got these today. I 100% agree with gixxerwimp these should have been packed better. So far the only tips that seem to form a decent seal with my ears are the larger foam ones...I tried using my sony tips and they didn't work so well. I have some spinfit tips I will test soon.
     
  16. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The smaller foam tips seem to be too loose on the nozzle. I'd be afraid they'd get stuck in my ear. The silicone tips seem a bit too small, being really tight to get on, but at least they won't come off in your ear!
     
  17. drumline1997

    drumline1997 New

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    Anyone know if massdrop will do a second run of these? Really interested in snagging a pair for myself in the future.
     
  18. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    I thought the foam that came with the package sounded a bit smothered or recessed (and loose, came off in my ear, hah); I may be used to the sound of the comply tips but when I switched to the T500 Comply foams I immediately thought it sounded better than any of the included tips (foam or otherwise). These are pleasantly detailed. No complaints yet given the form factor. They're not as open sounding or immediately engaging as something like a 650M (nor would I expect them to be) but I'm still amazed by how much sound can be squeezed out of tiny IEM enclosures.
     
  19. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @a44100Hz As a quick reply, I generally agree with you on the stock foam tips. I expressed my opinions earlier in the thread on this. The stock foam tips gave it a more of a downward sloping signature and the comply hit the perfect balance for me. My favorites are the Comply, but I generally defer to Comply tips on universal IEMs.
     
  20. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    I'm generally not a fan of foam tips, mostly because of the fact that they need to be replaced.
     

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