Review: Noble Audio Katana – Neutrality is king

Comparisons

A very good number of flagship custom in ear monitors have recently been launched and are available now. We certainly are spoiled in that regard. Today we will look at a number of customs and universals.

We’ll start with Noble’s very own co-flagship, the Kaiser Encore.

Noble Audio – Kaiser Encore (10BA – 1850$ universal/2099$ custom)
The Kaiser goes for the exact same price as Katana, yet sports one extra balanced armature driver for bass reproduction. Encore and Katana share some similarities, such as the great sound stage and precision, yet they are tuned to complement each other. Encore also is a rather balanced monitor, with emphasis on low end notes as well as upper-mids and treble. High notes on Katana seem softer and fuller, while Encore’s are a tad richer. Katana’s extension also goes a little further. Encore’s bass has a harder hitting punch and overall the signature is a bit darker compared to Katana, this slight darkness gives it also the upper-hand when it comes to forgiving poor records. Encore is the one that will most likely hide small blemishes better. Both Katana and Encore have great pin-point imaging and instrumental separation.

Noble Audio – Kaiser 10 (10BA – 1650$) discontinued

The former Noble flagship has a very different approach to sound than Katana. It is darker sounding with fuller mids like good red wine. Katana’s sound stage is bigger by quite a margin, it separates instruments with more air between them, extends further into treble and gives them also more blood. K10 is the more fun one, that is good for any type of music and recording. It’s a lot more forgiving and relaxing. Katana’s speed is superior to K10’s. Kaiser’s bass is mightier with a heavier punch and sub bass rumble. Both Noble’s have their respective key strengths, Katana’s being its incredible precision, Kaiser 10’s are it’s impressive low end and lush mids.

AAW – W900 (1DD, 8BA – ~2100$)

Advanced Acoustic Werkes have made quite an impression with their W900 around the globe. Like Katana it is also a nine-driver iem, but instead of a bass BA it uses a 9mm dynamic driver. The AAW and Katana do have a similar signature in regards to neutrality. Katana’s low end response goes deeper and is more in control, whereas W900’s dynamic bass has more air. Both models have great resolution and staging. But Katana’s detail retrieval, especially micro-detailing, is a tad in front of the Singaporean’s offering. I also have difficulties to adjust to the rather harsh and hard treble on W900, though it is also very well extended, upper treble sometimes comes across as piercing and unnaturally bright.

JH Audio – Lola (2DD, 6BA – 1599$ universal/1749$ custom)

Jerry Harvey’s latest creation is very different to Noble’s Katana. Not just because it uses an unconventional dual dynamic driver for mids, but also because it has a very different signature overall. Where Katana is all about hyper-precision and neutrality, Lola is going for a softer sound with lots of emotions. They are both looking at different directions. Katana comes out on top on sound stage, imaging, separation, speed and precision as well as treble extension and resolution, but Lola has the upper hand when it comes to body and emotion. The newest JH creates very impressive mids, perfectly suited for Jazz or Rock records. Slash says that his guitar never sounded so good, and while I can relate to that statement in regards to raw power and body, the precision and neutrality of Katana still impresses me more though. Katana is the more versatile offering, being suited for all possible genres and this is a part I am missing with Lola. Lola does not do very well with electronic music for example, the speed is just not there where I’d need it.

64 Audio – A18 (18BA – 2999$)

Now that is an interesting fight. 64 Audio’s custom flagship (Tia Fourté only comes as universal) sports double the drivers found in Katana, an insane 18 driver configuration per ear is what’s under the hood of A18. 64 Audio uses two of their technologies which also can’t be found in Katana. Their own TIA drivers and their APEX technology for reduced pneumatic pressure. The last is said to enhance stage, air and imaging by a good margin. These models share a lot of similarities though in their sound, beginning with the soft and well extended bass, the natural mids and clean and precise top end. Both have incredible sound stages, but 64’s A18 is still a tad bigger in terms of width and depth. Both model’s treble is unique, the A18 uses two TIA (basically hat-less BAs) high drivers per side. While A18’s treble is airier and maybe a bit more extended, Katana’s is softer and a bit warmer, giving it a more fatigue free touch. Bass on Katana is a hint warmer and harder hitting than A18’s, while bass-speed is a bit faster on the 64. It is remarkable how Noble has managed to get such a similar signature while using only half the drivers 64 does.

Campfire Audio – Andromeda (5BA, 1099$)

The Campfire’s are only included for comparison as a universal model.

Andromeda sports five balanced armature drivers and their TAEC technology, it is to this date my favourite Campfire product because of its extension, musicality and precision. In comparison to the Noble Katana it can’t really compete, though they sport a similar sound. It appears veiled and dull next to the nine-driver. Katana is more precise, has superior imaging and sound stage, better low and top end extension. Katana sounds more organic and natural, while Andromeda sounds congested and thin.

Campfire Audio – Vega (1DD, 1299$)

Vega has a very unique bass presentation for an in ear monitor. Lots of air and a hard punch is what makes it shine, but unfortunately it also shines over mid frequencies and covers some clarity and resolution. It does indeed form a relaxing and fun signature, but is simply not on par with Katana’s instrumental separation, precision and sound stage. Treble on Vega can become sibilant on times. On top, Katana does not need an amplifier to sound its best.

Conclusion

When Noble announced Katana as their Co-flagship I was intrigued by their idea of two top of the line models for two different tastes. I think it is a wonderful thought to give your customers the choice to pick between a more fun and forgiving (Encore) monitor and one that sports highest precision coupled with tremendous speed and versatility (Katana). In their price range both Noble flagships stand out from the crowd and are the ones to beat right now.

Katana has shown me how beautiful a balanced signature can get when there are no compromises made, for that it goes on the recommended list of both universal and custom IEM!