Noble Audio Agis II Review

If you’re searching for a pair of high-end in-ear monitors that combine audiophile-grade precision with cutting-edge bone conduction technology, the Noble Audio Agis II is a new set of IEMs that should be on your radar. Noble Audio has long been known for crafting some of the most uniquely tuned and visually captivating IEMs on the market. Let’s break down everything from design and comfort to sound signature and staging, so you can decide if the Agis II is the right fit for your high-fidelity collection.

What You Get

• Noble Audio Agis II IEMs
• 2-pin 8-core detachable cable
  • 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm terminations
• Carrying case
• Ear tips
  • 3 pairs of silicone tips
  • 3 pairs of double flange tips
  • 3 pairs of foam tips
• Cleaning tool
• Cleaning cloth

Look & Feel

Noble Audio makes IEMs that are very aesthetically pleasing. The Agis II follows that notion, offering a resin shell and metal mesh faceplate. Its faceplate art is very sleek and glossy, with the shape of the housing being quite slim. Bone conductor IEMs that use many different drivers can be pretty sizable, so it’s nice to see one that doesn’t seem so cumbersome. The way the cavity is shaped makes the fit more ergonomic, so that it feels like it’s molded to your ear. When worn, the Aegis II feels light and unintrosive. I never felt too much pressure in my ear, as the shell sat seccurely for many hours of listening.

Design

The Agis II has an 8 driver configuration, consisting of Sonion and knowls balanced armatures. Two of these drivers are bone conductors, with two more units also dedicatied to low end. The other driver pairs are dedicated to reproducing high-end and midbass frequencies. Using an iFi Go Bar Kensei for my testing, I was able to drive the Agis II without much effort. There’s some significant output power with the Agis II, which the Kensei handled well, but the IEMs were very sensative.

Soundstage

While the stereo imaging features a wide scope, it’s not the most open headspace I’ve heard over IEMs in this price range. The Agis II features good separation and layering, but also appears surprisingly linear in the mix. It keeps itself from being too flat by extending the left and right channels, but everything in between only features small amounts of distinct panning movement. You still get an admirable amount of dimension in some tracks, but the immersion level isn’t as consistent as I’d like it to be. The many balanced armature drivers do a good enough job of stacking each range of frequency within the soundstage, but I thought the response just ended up feeling a bit too closed in.

Low End

With two bone-conductor drivers, I was expecting the Agis II to have a significant bass impact. You certainly get that, but it was a bit more subtle than I was expecting. Other bone conductor IEMs like to slam down with a thunderous tone, but the Agis II has a slower rumble to it. It crawls up from underneath and supplies a hefty amount of sub-bass vibration.

Its presence is usually accentuated, giving bass instruments and effects an exceptional amount of weight. Its tone acts like a sweetener more than it does a physical body, but it almost gives off the same effect in the mix. Where the Agis II surprised me, though, was its more reserved frequency content. This level of sub-bass drive is not persistent through every track you put on. The Agis II knows when to take a step back, which results in a cleaner and more dynamic bass response for an IEM with two bone-conductor drivers.

Mids

Noble Audio makes sure it’s not just the bass that gets all the color from its driver configuration. The midrange features a ton of clarity and detail as well, showcasing a combination of warmth and crispness that properly emphasizes instruments and vocals. It might not be the most realistic response, but individual elements get a spotlight that makes the timbre of the midrange appear very lively. Notes have a definitive strike to them, exhibiting a thrilling edge that energizes the sound signature outside of the bass. The soundstage makes the midrange elements appear a bit tighter than I would like, but everything still has enough room to make the frequencies feel more precise. Drums have great definition, as well as string instruments and vocals. These elements have the most underlined presentation.

Highs

The highs can show some heat in certain areas, but overall, they appear well-controlled and clear. They have a good presence to them, with a sometimes airy timbre that doesn’t feel too artificial. It uses brightness to make it treble content appear a lot fuller, making cymbals and bells feel more physical and whole. I appreciated that these highs weren’t afraid to bite, showing a balanced flavor to the sound signature that makes for a more memorable listening experience.

Summary

The Noble Audio Agis II is a finely tuned set of high-performance IEMs that bring a sophisticated twist to bone conduction technology. While its soundstage might not stretch as far as some might prefer, its dynamic bass, vivid mids, and lively highs more than compensate with musicality and detail. Combined with its comfortable fit and stunning build quality, the Agis II proves itself as a serious contender in the premium IEM space. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile looking for a new sonic flavor or a curious listener exploring bone conductor IEMs for the first time, the Noble Audio Agis II offers a unique listening experience that stands out in both performance and design.

The Noble Audio Agis II is available at Audio46.