Noble FoKus Kama Reivew

I’ve reviewed open-ear true wireless earbuds before like the Beyerdynamic Verio 200, and now Noble is adding one to its lineup. We just saw Noble release the Apollo over-ear Bluetooth headphones as part of their FoKus line, and now the Kama joins it. The Kama is a much less expensive product from the brand, sitting at just $129. Considering their selection, this is one of Noble’s most inexpensive products, but is it still worth it?

What You Get

• Kama open-ear earphones
• Charging case
• USB-C charging cable
• Instruction manual

Look & Feel

The Kama appears as one of the fanciest open-ear earphones on the market. From its charging case to the main structure of the earphones, the Kama has a sleek design. Instead of having flexible parts for the earloops, the Kama is one solid piece. I don’t find any problem with this design, as the earphones maintain a good hold when worn. You shouldn’t feel their presence when spending a few hours listening to music with them.

Design & Functionality

The Kama’s driver configuration consists of 15mm x 10mm dynamic drivers. As a result, this gives the earphones a ton of output power. They can get loud while making it possible to have a significant amount of headroom. With its open-ear design, the sound gets so loud they act like a set of speakers. It works with Noble’s FoKus app as well, giving you access to EQ and customizable controls. I like that the Kama has physical buttons as well as a touch sensor. Both ways are very responsive. The touch sensors have a good balance of sensitivity but are not so sensitive that they activate without you meaning to.

Bluetooth

You can expect fast pairing and a stable connection with Bluetooth 5.3. You don’t get many CODEC options with the Kama though, with the best option being standard aptX. If you use iPhone this won’t matter as much.

Battery Life

While volume level determines how rapidly the battery of the Kama depletes, a single charge should still last you around 8 and a half hours. This is very good for the price and should last you a few day’s worth of commutes without needing to charge the case.

Soundstage

With the Kama’s open-ear design, the soundstage will feel more open than most in-ear true wireless earbuds in this price range. It not only sounds wider, but the spatial imaging can make itself part of the open air. This feels like a more natural way of experiencing the soundstage over wireless earbuds. Channel separation is more noticeable, and the stereo field has more distinct qualities as a result. Everything is still very linear, and the layering is not very intricate, but it lays solid groundwork for surface-level spatial accuracy.

Low End

I find that a lack of bass impact is just a characteristic of open-ear earphones. It makes sense to me, but the Kama doesn’t completely dissolve any bass presence it has. With EQ, you can get some solid punch from the Kama, but it’s not the same kind of punch you’d find with in-ear models. It’s a softer response that’s still pleasant but missing significant heft. It should satisfy those looking for a balanced listen, but this is not a sound signature bass head will enjoy.

Mids

While the timbre of instruments is thin, the midrange showcases instruments well enough. There’s no warmth to it, but sound elements provide enough clarity to feel distinctive and localized. The upper-mids receive a lot of gains, and it persists into the mid-treble for some nice detail at times, but its sting isn’t for everybody.

Highs

A lot of potential high-end detail from the Kama gets bathed in a cutting brightness that isn’t always the easiest to consume. For the most part, the treble is well-textured and presents itself with an array of striking qualities that complement real instruments more than they do synths. However, it sometimes reaches a peak that some listeners will not favor. I don’t consider it harsh, but the resonance sometimes obstructs the performance.

Summary

Despite some shortcomings in low-end depth and treble sharpness, the Kama performs well within its price range, especially with its strong battery life (8.5 hours per charge) and customizable EQ options via the Noble FoKus app. It’s a solid choice for users seeking an affordable, open-ear listening experience.

The Noble FoKus Kama is available at Audio46.