Noble Audio Sultan Review

Comparisons:

In the past year we have seen a lot of introductions in the high end market. It seemed that all companies were eager to jump on board of the e-stat/electet driver race. For some I think it was too early to jump out with their products. Noble has taken a step back and has kept working on their e-stat monitor for another year. Until they reached the point were they have been satisfied.

This section is here, to give you a better understanding of how the Sultan copes with other flagship IEMs from their competition. We will also take a look at how the previous flagship – the Khan – fares up against the Sultan. From the competition we will check out the JH Audio Layla, an industry icon, the hot off the wheels new Empire Ears Odin and the A18s by 64 Audio.

I can and will only compare the Sultan to other IEMs that I have direct access to. I will never give comparisons based on memory or short term listening experiences. Show conditions and dealer visits are not credible in my book.

All comparisons were done using their respective stock cables. This is what you’ll get in the end when you buy them. So it only makes sense to compare stock products to me. Mentioned prices are in USD for the universal versions, except for the A18s, which is only available as CIEM. My source of trust has been the Lotoo PAW Gold Touch – as it serves as my own reference portable player.

Noble Audio – Khan (1DD/4BA/1Piezo – 2,399$)

The Khan has served as Noble’s previous flagship IEM, which, unlike the Sultan, is also available as CIEM. Both of these monitors do share some similarities of course, but there are distinctive characteristics.

Sultan’s bass is more sub-bass focused than the lows of Khan. Khan has bigger body in the lows, but appears slower and less agile. The Sultan reaches further down low into the sub regions and places them more forward. The Khan on the other hand, gives mid and upper bass segments a fuller and rounder sound in comparison. The Sultan punches harder and faster than the Khan in my opinion. It creates a more thunderous low end than the Khan as well.

The mids of the Sultan sound a bit smoother and softer to me. There is more richness in them compared to the Khan’s. The Khan sounds more precise to the point, whereas the Sultan does smooth over some things. The Sultan on the other hand puts more air around the instruments and gives them more space to walk around in. The Khan and the Sultan both have stages of similar width and height, but the depth is where the Sultan puts the Khan in its rear-view mirror.

Noble’s new flagship has better texturing and rendering in my opinion. It tickles out finer micro-details and comes with better imaging abilities. Both have a similar dark background, but the contrast is a little higher on the Sultan.

Treble on the Khan is harder edged than on the Sultan, although both have a more forward tuning in that regard. The Sultan is softer, richer and cleaner sounding in the top segment than Khan. Khan is a bit more brittle in direct comparison to me. The Sultan does also extend wider into the highest registers than its stable mate.

JH Audio – Layla (12BA – 2,750$)

Layla has been JH Audio’s flagship for a very long time, and even if there were signs popping up that it will be replaced, it still keeps a strong position in the industry. JH Audio is a brand that has a clear focus on the professional audio market, while the audiophile market is a bit more neglected. Still, Jerry Harvey’s Layla is one of the finest flagships to this day. One of its unique features is the variable bass pod, which lets you tune the lows to your preference. I pretty much use mine at setting 1 – 2 o’clock all the time.

The Sultan and Layla are two quite different monitors. Layla is fuller, richer and thicker sounding than the Sultan. The Noble delivers more authority in the lows. It punches harder and goes into the sub-regions more effortlessly. The Layla gives a weightier presentation throughout but doesn’t create the same technical finesse as the Sultan.

In the mids, Sultan sounds more open and clearer. Layla is fuller, darker and thicker overall in its mid-range. It also sounds richer and more organic than the Sultan to me. Layla is a monitor that I can fully enjoy and kick back with, the Sultan on the other hand takes some of that enjoyment and trades it off for technical excitement. Which is something Layla lacks to me. The Sultan not only makes me enjoy my favorite tracks, but it also keeps my attention on the details.

The Sultan to me also has the upper-hand when it comes to sound stage dimensions and resolution. Noble’s new flagship offers a wider and deeper stage than the Layla. It also provides more air around the instruments for a more open stage. Musicians stand out on a darker background on the Sultan as well. Imaging, instrumental placement and control are all things both monitors achieve on similar levels.

When we look at the top-end, it’s Layla that has a higher tendency to sibilance and sharpness. Although the treble on Layla appears more laid-back, the lower treble region is harder edged and harsher in comparison to the Sultan. The Noble sounds cleaner and purer, it also extends noticeably wider into the top, ultimately providing a higher dynamic range.

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