Noble Prestige vs Prestige Encore: How Different Are They?

Noble has just released the newest true wireless in-ear monitor, and it is truly a powerhouse of a device. The Prestige Encore is impressing audiophiles everywhere, and also stirring up many questions. With the original Prestige still making waves as a fantastic IEM, how does this new model compare? Is the Prestige Encore truly an upgrade to the original Prestige? Today, we’re going to delve into all the details of each IEM and compare them at every level. Aesthetics, functionality, features, sound quality: no stone will be left un-turned in this comparison review. 

Looking at the build quality of these IEMs, you can see how much care and attention Noble Audio puts into their products. It’s a testament to why they are the leading brand for true wireless, as just the looks alone show off their high quality build and luxurious style. The original Prestige and the Prestige Encore both have a blue aesthetic, with the regular Prestige being light blue and the other being dark blue with black and grey touches. The lacquered wood housing on each shines in the right light, and makes both the Prestige and Prestige Encore look like the high quality devices they are. 

One of the main differences you’ll find between these two devices is the shape of the housing. They both have fairly large and bulky bodies, but the Prestige Encore is noticeably slimmer and more narrow to be more accommodating for smaller ears. The nozzle on the Prestige Encore is smaller as well, allowing you to use third-party eartips more easily than the original. Both sit at the same comfortable weight and are stable to wear in-ear for long periods of time, especially when paired with the right eartip. 

The Prestige and Prestige Encore have similar specifications when it comes to their features, but also the biggest differences. Their battery life is the same 10 hours, although the Prestige Encore has slightly less when you activate the ANC mode. They both offer true wireless mirroring and multipoint pairing for seamless connection between devices. 

The original Prestige doesn’t tack on a lot of features, save from some EQ abilities and ambient aware mode. Apart from passive noise isolation, there is no active noise cancellation in the original Prestige. This is a fact that sometimes deters people from these IEMs, but since the in-ear seal is very secure, it doesn’t feel like you need it. Instead, the Prestige gives you noise cancelling for phone calls specifically. 

The Prestige Encore, on the other hand, takes those features to the next level. They have the active noise cancelling technology you may miss in the original Prestige, as well as more exact customization with the Audiodo Personalized Sound feature. The Prestige Encore makes sure every element of your listening experience can be customized, from the controls you use on the earbud itself and the final sound going into your ear. For the audiophile that likes to tune to certain genres, the Prestige Encore is an ideal choice.

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Onto the main part of our comparison: the sound. How do these two Prestige’s compare against each other? For starters, let’s look at the soundstage. The soundstage on each of these earphones is quite similar, but the Prestige Encore pulls ahead but just a hair in width. They are each very immersive and give good width in the stereo field, so you can easily place instruments in any track. The Encore gives you a flatter response with more precise imaging, while the original Prestige shows off a more dynamic sound signature. The original had more height in its presentation, with a warm depth that comes from a strong bass response. The Encore was not as tall, but it’s midrange was incredibly deep with full detail in each layer. 

The signatures of these IEMs were similar in the way they presented their detail. Each one didn’t shy away from revealing even the tiniest elements in tracks. The original Prestige was excellent at creating a dynamic, immersive signature that thrived in fast-paced genres. The heavy bass added to the depth and warmth of the signature, but still left enough space for the treble to ring out. The Prestige Encore took this in another direction, focusing on neutrality and flatness in the signature. The midrange was very transparent to make elements jump out and have incredible detail throughout. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

When it comes to bass, nothing beats the original Prestige. The Prestige Encore presents a jump controlled bass response with good punch and textural detail, but it doesn’t have the same forwardness as the original. The Encore keeps everything in this range refined and precise. It makes sure you can hear the bass and its attack, but makes sure it doesn’t take up the entire sound signature. It’s slightly filtered behind the main melodies in the midrange, but still holds a lot of character to be a driving and substantial factor in a lot of tracks. 

Meanwhile, the original doesn’t shy away from the power and The original has an added layer of thickness that makes it a step above other IEMs in its class. It is warm, deep, and full of tonal color. EDM and pop show off the power and punch of this range in the Prestige the best. The layers in this range are noticeable and felt just as much as heard, and the tonality never falters. If you’re not a fan of bass, the Prestige likely won’t be on your list of IEMs to get. The rumble and sub-bass tonality is part of the immersive experience and makes these true wireless IEMs all the more fun to listen to. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

Midrange presentation on these IEMs is nothing short of exemplary. Both the Prestige and Prestige Encore have a midrange that comes forward to give you excellent detail throughout the signature. The Prestige Encore has a more transparent sound that allows for finer details to come through, as opposed to the original with its thicker reproduction. Vocals shine on both of these earphones, making each vocalist front and center in any track. The textural and tonal detail is equally effective in delivering a higher level of audio quality than your standard earbud.

So is there a difference between the Prestiges in the midrange? To my ears, it is very subtle but makes sense in a larger picture. The original Prestige does a good job of maintaining clarity amongst a very heavy signature. On the other hand, the midrange on the Prestige Encore is sharp in its precision of different instruments, both in placement and sound reproduction. Because the Encore has a more neutral response overall, the midrange becomes a bigger highlight and its precision is appreciated more. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble response in each of these IEMs is light and airy, though you can tell how they differ because of the power put behind it. In the original Prestige, you hear a treble response that exists just to bring a touch of air to everything, but mainly just to balance the super-powerful low end. It stays recessed for the most part, but comes out just enough to highlight those bright instruments and space at the top end. 

In the Prestige Encore, there top end is just as much a key factor in the sound signature as the bass. These two ranges are equal matches, coming in to bringing detail and sharpness that is precise but never overwhelming. I was noticing that this range was great for orchestral pieces, especially ones where you wanted to hear the room just as much as the high strings as well. This range helped the IEM from feeling too compressed or heavy, and was the right burst of airy to keep things entertaining and smooth for long listening sessions. 

At the end of the day, choosing between the two Prestiges will be a difficult choice. On one hand, the original Prestige offers a no-nonsense cheaper alternative to a high-quality in-ear monitor. However, you lose out on fun features of EQ and noise cancellation, and you have to be prepared for a lot of bass. The Prestige Encore, alternatively, gives you balanced precision that works as an analytical tool and a fun listening experience all at once. It does have a higher price point and can risk becoming too analytical, but its detail cannot be understated. 

Using your ears and listening to both yourself will give you the best picture of both. Your ears are the ultimate judge, and it will tell you which Prestige is right for you. In either case, both earphones are masterpieces in the true wireless game and would make any audiophile appreciate the style. 

You can find both the Prestige and the Prestige Encore at Audio46.