At a time when the headphone market is mostly focused on evolutionary tweaks, true audio innovation requires being "unreasonable" about what is possible. Apologies to George Bernard Shaw, but it’s fair to say that the personal audio market appears to have stalled when it comes to bold leaps forward.

Enter Noble Audio’s new flagship FoKus Artemis , a pair of wireless headphones that breaks the innovation logjam. Building on the foundation of the award-winning FoKus Apollo, the Artemis design pushes the envelope further by adding a balanced armature driver into the mix. The result is a bold, three-way hybrid wireless architecture designed to deliver impact, precision, and speed.

It is a product that combines style, performance, and everyday usability with the unmistakable design accents that are distinctively Noble Audio. The Artemis headphones are designed for listeners who want the scale and immersion of a full-size headphone, with all the convenience and flexibility of modern wireless technology, using the latest hi-res audio codecs while also offering digital and analog performance over cable.

Visitors to the recent HIGH END Vienna 2026 show were able to try out a near-final version of the FoKus Artemis. Now the headphones are coming off the production line with final tuning, app integration and feature implementation all in place.

Noble Audio built its reputation on high-performance in-ear monitors driven by a sound-first philosophy. With the FoKus Artemis, engineers set out to elevate expectations of what over-ear Bluetooth headphones can achieve.

Each of the earcups on the FoKus Artemis contains three separate drivers. There’s a wide-frequency dynamic driver for the bass and lower mid frequencies. The planar-magnetic driver takes care of the mid and upper-mid ranges, while the addition of a balanced armature driver tops off the upper end to provide focus and direction to the soundstage.

Working in tandem, this hybrid trio is designed to create a spacious, powerful, and refined soundstage that also retains both the character and musicality of the original recording.

Personalized Sound with Audiodo

To complement the physical hardware, Noble partnered with Audiodo Personal Sound and Audiosphere technology. Rather than relying on static EQ presets, a guided hearing assessment within the app creates a custom playback profile based on how your ears perceive sound. The result is a bespoke listening experience that’s tailored specifically to your ears, unlike an off-the-peg pair of headphones.

The Audiodo personalization joins a comprehensive list of other modern features, including Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency Mode, Multipoint Connectivity, and support for high-resolution audio over USB. It gives commuters the convenience of wireless ANC when they are on the go, with the option to plug in at home for lossless streaming on platforms like Tidal or Qobuz. Noble Audio calls this “a more intelligent and adaptive approach to wireless listening.”

Powered by Qualcomm’s QCC3095 SoC running Bluetooth 6.0, the Artemis headphones provide stable, multi-device connectivity. High-resolution codecs like aptX Adaptive and Lossless are supported natively, providing CD-quality sound without wires.

Because iOS devices don’t natively support the aptX family of his-res codecs, I tested the Artemis using Noble’s Sceptre USB-C Bluetooth dongle, which extracts the iPhone’s digital audio stream and transmits it via higher-res codecs. For traditional wired sources, Noble also includes a USB-C to 3.5mm analog adapter cable.

While the FoKus Artemis headphones are designed as an audiophile product, they can be used as a regular pair of wireless headphones thanks to Active Noise Cancellation that effectively blocks external noise. There’s also a Transparency Mode for situations where users need to be aware of their surroundings, such as travel announcements.

A six-microphone array with built-in noise suppression provides clear voice calls, supported by touch controls, proximity sensors for automatically pausing the music, plus deep customization using the Noble FoKus smartphone app.

Noble Audio says battery life was a key part of the Artemis design brief, and the Artemis can play for up to 50 hours with ANC turned off and up to 35 hours with ANC enabled. That’s more than enough for several long-haul flights. The 600mAh battery can be fast-charged in under 1.5 hours using the supplied USB-C cable.

The battery is also designed to be fully self-replaceable, supporting longer-term ownership and making Artemis a more sustainable pair of headphones. Due to environmental legislation and the right to repair being pushed by the European Union, we are going to see many more consumer electronics devices with user-replaceable batteries. About time, too!

Noble Audio says the FoKus Artemis headphones have been designed to combine flagship performance with a user experience that’s meant to feel refined, wearable, and practical. Weighing roughly 350g, these aren’t the lightest headphones, but thanks to their rotating design, replaceable ear cushions, magnetic detachable ear pads, and IP52 water resistance, they distribute the weight evenly.

A combination of premium design, wearing comfort, serviceability, and durability helps to position the FoKus Artemis as headphones that cover all bases, from serious listening to commuting, office use and casual listening.

Pricing and Availability:

The FoKus Artemis are designed to be Noble Audio’s most ambitious wireless headphones to date. They are available now from Noble Audio and retail outlets globally with a price of $899 / £799 / €949.

  • Driver Configuration: Dynamic / Balanced Armature / Planar.
  • Bluetooth & Wired Listening
  • Bluetooth Version: 6.0
  • Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3095.
  • Audio Codecs: aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, SBC, AAC.
  • Multipoint Connectivity: Yes.
  • Microphone Array: 6 x MEMs.
  • USB-C Audio Charging: Yes.
  • 3.5mm Audio Cable Support: Yes.
  • Weight: < 350g
  • Water Resistance: IP52.
  • Replaceable Magnetic Ear Cushions: Yes.
  • Battery Life: Up to 50 hours (ANC Off) / 35 hours (ANC On); Fast Charging (<1.5 hours).
  • User-Replaceable Battery: Yes.
  • Features: Audiodo Personal Sound, ANC, Transparency Mode.
  • Contents: Noble Audio FoKus Artemis Headphones, USB-C cable, 3.5mm audio cable, Documentation.