Looking to expand their hi-fi reach through an entry-level price point, Noble returns to wireless earbuds with the Osprey. In approaching this objective of making flagship standards more affordable, the Osprey flexes its quality sound, smart features, and connection capabilities to form a package appealing for consumers interested in both sound and savings.
Breaking into the entry-level audience without the cushion of smartphone-specific branding demands the Osprey offers a more appetizing alternative in audio and feature capabilities. Do Noble’s newest earbuds meet these expectations?
What You Get
- Noble Audio Osprey True Wireless Earphones
- Aluminum Charging Case
- USB-C Charging Cable
- Ear Tips
- User Documentation
Look and Feel
Noble’s lineup of intricate faceplates certainly continues with the Osprey. Keeping to the standard established by their previous wireless earbuds, the visual design revolves around a single color. The blues chosen for this outing layer into something more meticulous than a standard splatter, but still capture a similar energy. A standard Noble logo appears on the left earbud, and the right receives a new Osprey logo, each in a striking silver finish. Appearing as direct visual and ergonomic continuations of the FoKus Rex5’s, the aluminum case and earbud casing match with a deeper color. The earbuds’ curved angles fit snugly, preventing awkward abrasions that would make a long listening session uncomfortable. Noble’s range of provided tips ensure comfort and security extends to the canal, giving the Osprey appeal as earbuds that match the intensity of any activity. The only area the Osprey’s lower price shows is within its build, which feels light and slightly hollow.
Design
To achieve Noble’s standard for sound, the Osprey pushes through a dual driver setup at a frequency response between 20Hz and 40kHz. Utilizing a 10mm dynamic driver and a custom balanced armature driver, the earbuds construct a hybrid sound signature which takes advantage of each driver’s unique strengths. This setup is further complimented by the Osprey’s spectrum of codec support, including LDAC, AAC, and SBC.
Controlling the earbuds can be done through sensitive touches on the faceplate or through Noble’s FoKus app. Direct earbud controls feel standard in their setup and responsiveness. Beyond its slightly larger 10-band EQ with personalized customization options, FoKus is equally comparable to other earbud apps, providing another way to control features and map their inputs to the earbud faceplates.
Promising flagship features, the Noble Osprey comes with Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, TrueWireless Mirroring, and cVc noise reduction through dual microphones. ANC through the Osprey is good, but higher frequencies tend to push through undetected. For the price it and the Osprey’s other features are attached to, however, the quality satisfies Noble’s objective.
Bluetooth
With the Airoha 1571 chipset and Bluetooth 6.0 support, the Noble Audio Osprey holds a very stable and fast connection. Maintaining this connection between other devices is just as seamless though its multipoint connection capabilities. The aforementioned codec support also guarantees the Osprey has competitive bit-rate streaming.
One thing I will note appeared in my time with this product was a connection error when receiving phone calls. In the instance I was called, the left earbud would deactivate, and only reactivate following resetting the Bluetooth connection. While this might be an unrelated issue, I figured it was something worth noting within this review.
Battery
Using the Osprey with Active Noise Cancelling grants up to five hours of playback, with that time increasing to seven hours when ANC is disabled. This places the earbuds in a similar range to other earbuds in its price range, but the Osprey’s quick charging capabilities push beyond some flagships. The 500mAh aluminum charging case provides approximately two hours of playback per 10 minutes of quick charging. The case’s stellar recharge speed keeps the earbuds consistently ready for any longform use.
Soundstage
I must preface that I have no experience with the rest of Noble’s earbud lineup, so I can not articulate how Noble’s true wireless sound evolves with updated technology or compromises for entry-level cost. That aside, the soundstage of the Osprey is a strong showing. The most significant aspect is its depth, providing the Osprey impressive layering especially noticeable in songs with rich percussion. The horizontal and vertical planes are also sizable, with the vertical being specifically notable. The soundstage of the Osprey feels expansive but not isolating, giving a clear, multidimensional visual of instrument placement that is clear and intentional.
Low End
I personally believe this range is where the hybrid driver system pays off the most. The Osprey’s low ends feel appropriately smooth and thick, sliding naturally into the mix with a substantial presence. Even at its lowest, clarity is not lost, providing meaty hits that still feel whole. Bass instruments are able to be dynamic yet precise, reaping the full richness of the low range.
Mids
Moving up into the midrange, the Osprey takes a natural approach. While not as distinctly impressive as the bass, the mids still feel full and clean. There’s a contained sharpness that keeps big moments emotionally rewarding but not overbearing. As a complete package, the mids work as an anchor of consistency to support the more dynamic lows and highs.
Highs
There’s a crisp precision in the higher ranges of the Osprey. High frequencies have a welcome gloss that never reaches the point of painful brightness. That’s not to say that there’s any restraint, however. Notes are encouraged to be sparkly and realized, giving a nice touch to a song’s highest moments.
Summary
The Noble Osprey is a welcome addition to not only Noble’s direct lineup, but the market of entry-level true wireless earbuds. The earbuds’ distinct sound identity, wide arsenal of flagship-standard features, and high end connection provide a strong listening experience that stands out amongst its peers.
While not offering the operating system-exclusive connectivity that might come with a smartphone-branded earbud, Noble’s reinforces the case for its own entry-level model with universal strengths and connection power. The Noble Osprey has simultaneously placed a stronger benchmark and additional pathway for those interested in obtaining affordable sound.Â
The Noble Osprey is available for $199.00 at Audio46.
