Tom’s Guide Verdict
The Noble Fokus Apollo are so close to being perfect.
Theyre super comfortable and filled with some of the finest audio hardware put into a pair of wireless cans.
But if youre after some of the best-sounding headphones money can buy, youre in the right place.
Lets take a deep dive into these impressive headphones.
In the U.S., youll pay $649 thats $100 more than the already extremely expensiveAirPods Max.
Theyre slightly cheaper in different locales, like the U.K., where potential buyers pay 589.
That leaves us with a costly pair of cans, whether you get your moneys worth or not.
Availability is a tricky one as well.
The issue arrives with stock.
There are other options around the same price, but they each offer different things.
They have more refined packages than the Apollo, but they dont sound as good.
If, of course, you’re able to find them.
Their build is excellent as well.
The metal outers of the earcups make them feel expensive and give them a reassuring heft in the hand.
Whats even better is that the heft doesnt become too heavy.
While their 11.5-ounce weight isnt insignificant, once youve got them on your head, you wont notice it.
The headphones sit neatly inside and theres a slot for the cables, but thats it.
Do I adore it?
Does it fit in my bag?
Also yes, although I do have to leave one of my books behind.
There are four buttons on the right earcup, and theyre all obvious in their function.
There are three placed together for volume up, skipping tracks, and play/pause.
That last button is slightly raised to make it easier to find.
Further around the earcup, theres the ANC button, which cycles through the ANC modes.
The left earcup houses a mic switch, which mutes and activates the microphones in the headphones.
No more accidental volume or track changes for me!
Is it enough to make me all that annoyed?
The features that are here work very well.
Nobles app is very good, packing in all the extras you actually need.
Ilovea decent 10-band EQ, and whats on offer here is loads of fun.
Dont want to mess around with the EQ, and what some presets?
There are five different options for different genres, and they all sound great.
Then theres the little velvet bag that Noble has hidden in the headphone case.
Inside, you find the standard double-prong AirPlane adaptor, along with some audiophile-focused options.
Theres a quarter-inch jack adapter, and then a 4.4mm 4-pole right-angle adaptor for balanced connections.
The latter is really cool for audiophiles, and a great addition to an already packed package.
Finally in the bag is a microphone.
A proper, wire boom, manipulatable mic.
It’s a lovely, unexpected addition to a great feature set.
Noble Fokus Apollo review: ANC
Usually, ANC is a weakness on more premium headsets.
In the case of the Fokus Apollo, were looking somewhere in the middle.
They block out a decent amount of noise, enough that youll not be bothered by the outside world.
They dont quite reach the heady heights of Sony or Bose, but they get deliciously close.
Theres a very good transparency mode that sweetens the deal, though.
And thats just fine by me.
Theres Bluetooth 5.3 as you might hope, and then a 3.5mm adapter for wired use.
Theres barely even a drop in sound quality with battery-less use, which is an impressive achievement.
Of course, they can be physically connected while turned on for the full hi-res sound experience.
The boom mic was also useful for video calls for work and other applications.
It switches immediately from the internal mics to the boom mic in my testing, which is impressive.
It works wonders, and I adore the results.
The Apollo make no secret of their bassy sound signature.
But when its this clean, controlled, and smooth, you wont mind at all.
Theres stunning bass extension on offer thanks to that dynamic driver, which hits in all the right ways.
Its detailed, clear, wide, and loads and loads of fun.
Spinning up Devin Townsend’s latestPowerNerd,and youre gifted with an engaging, exciting musical experience.
The drums are clear, impactful, and driving while the cymbals crash and ride.
For a pair of closed-back headphones, the soundstage is wide and spacious as well.
Stereo imaging is great, with each element of the ensemble easy to place amongst the rest.
Fire up FocussHocus Pocus, and youre treated to a delightful, ’70s slab of guitar-fueled fun.
What on earth happened to those wonderful stereo mixes?
They were everywhere and none more spectacular than youll find here.
Akkermans guitar dances over the complex drum line, with some of the quickest bass responses around.
The bass drum kicks are impactful, all intertwined with Van Leer’s bizarre crooning.
Even the breaths on Van Leers flute are clear as day, almost like he were next to me.
Want to really get a taste of that brain-shaking bass?
Charlotte De Witte andFormulaare more than happy to oblige.
The thumping sub-bass is felt throughout your body, all while the hi-hats chime.
The Revs of the F1 car are quick and impactful, as the synth line pulsates and moves.
Noble Fokus Apollo review: Battery life
Noble has packed someincrediblebattery life into the Fokus Apollo.
Its not quite as impressive as the Marshall Monitor IIIs 70 hours, but it is tantalizingly close.
Noble Fokus Apollo review: Verdict
Look, I cant tell you that theyre not expensive.
However, they are easily worth that high price.
The very best bit is that all-conquering sound.