Noble Audio has unveiled two new universal in-ear monitors this week, and they couldn’t be more different in philosophy. The new Vanguard builds on the success of the company’s best-selling Knight with a new three-driver hybrid design, while the Iris goes in the opposite direction, embracing the simplicity of a single dynamic driver.

Both models are available now, with Vanguard priced at $325 and Iris coming in at $699.

Noble Vanguard

Anyone who’s followed Noble over the last year probably isn’t surprised to see a successor to the Knight. It ended up becoming the company’s highest-selling IEM, introducing plenty of new listeners to the brand without asking flagship money.

Rather than simply refreshing the formula, Noble has given Vanguard a completely new driver configuration. It uses a three-driver hybrid setup consisting of a 10mm Polyether Ketone (PEK) dynamic driver for the bass, alongside two custom balanced armatures handling the upper frequencies.

The company says the tuning focuses on balance, clarity and control, while still delivering the impact that many people expect from a hybrid design.

The shell has also been redesigned, with a precision-machined aluminium housing replacing the resin construction found on many IEMs in this price range. Each unit is hand-assembled and matched, with an integrated stainless steel wax guard for a bit of extra durability.

One thing that stands out is how portable-friendly Vanguard is supposed to be. With an impedance of 23 ohms and sensitivity rated at 112dB/mW, it should have no trouble running from smartphones, portable DACs or dedicated digital audio players.

Noble is also including a generous accessory package. Buyers get an 8-core silver-plated OFC cable terminated in 4.4mm balanced, along with a 4.4mm-to-USB-C adaptor, making it easy to connect directly to modern phones and tablets straight out of the box.

Vanguard is priced at $325 / £299 / €349.

Noble Iris

While Vanguard embraces multiple driver technologies, Iris takes a much simpler route.

Built around the idea of “One Driver. One Vision.”, Iris uses a single custom 10.2mm dynamic driver instead of combining different driver types. Single dynamic driver fans often argue that this approach delivers a more coherent and natural presentation, and Noble appears to be leaning heavily into that philosophy here.

The driver itself is more sophisticated than the simple driver count might suggest. It features a three-layer PU and PEEK diaphragm, a dual neodymium iron boron magnet system and a triple sound chamber architecture that’s designed to improve airflow and overall acoustic performance.

According to Noble, the result should be focused imaging, natural vocals and a spacious presentation without sacrificing the coherence that makes single dynamic driver earphones so appealing.

Visually, Iris might be one of Noble’s most distinctive recent releases. The blue CNC-machined Micarta shells are inspired by the iris flower, giving the earphones a finish that’s quite different from the aluminium and acrylic designs we’re used to seeing.

Unlike Vanguard, Iris includes an 8-core OCC cable with interchangeable 3.5mm and 4.4mm plugs, making it easy to switch between single-ended and balanced sources.

Iris carries an MSRP of $699 / £649 / €749 and will also make its public debut at Potafes 2026 Summer Akihabara in Japan on 11-12 July.

It’s interesting to see Noble launch two IEMs that approach sound reproduction from completely different angles. Hybrid designs continue to dominate much of the market, but there’s also been renewed interest in well-executed single dynamic driver earphones over the past few years. Whether you prefer one philosophy over the other, Noble now has a fresh option in both camps.