Noble Audio’s new flagship Katana in-ear monitors start at £1200

By Max Langridge
published

Katana is the latest pair of IEMs from the Californian manufacturer. They are the first to use proprietary Noble drive units and can be ordered in universal or custom-fit versions.

Each earpiece has been fitted with nine custom Noble drive units, housed within a two-part precision-machined aluminium chassis. Noble Audio says the new chassis is smaller and lighter than the previous flagship IEM, the Kaiser 10U.

The Katana name is inspired by the Katana Samurai sword, because of its “perfect combination of balance, artistic beauty and sharpness in its cutting edge”.

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Noble says the Katanas deliver “tremendous speed and versatility” and claim that the top-end is capable of “generating considerable airiness and outstanding imaging”. They are also said to be sensitive enough to use with smartphones and portable music players.

Like some previous IEM models from Noble Audio, the Katana can be ordered with a custom-fit and in a range of materials including aluminium, Noble’s Prestige range of exotic woods or an SLA 3D-printed version. They also come with a detachable two-pin cable and a Pelican 1010 “crush-proof” carry case, 12 pairs of ear tips and a cleaning tool.

The Noble Audio Katana is available now, with prices starting at £1200 for an SLA 3D-printed fit, £1350 for universal- or custom-fit and £2000 for a Prestige custom-fit.

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Max Langridge

Max is a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?'s sister site, TechRadar, in Australia. But being the wonderful English guy he is, he helps out with content across a number of Future sites, including What Hi-Fi?. It wouldn't be his first exposure to the world of all things hi-fi and home cinema, as his first role in technology journalism was with What Hi-Fi? in the UK. Clearly he pined to return after making the move to Australia and the team have welcomed him back with arms wide open.