Noble Audio Shogun VS Forte Ears Macbeth

IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side

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Noble Audio Shogun and Forte Ears Macbeth use 1DD+6BA+4EST+2BC and 5BA+4EST+2BC driver setups respectively. Noble Audio Shogun costs $3,900 while Forte Ears Macbeth costs $4,000. Forte Ears Macbeth is $100 more expensive. Forte Ears Macbeth holds a decisive 2.2-point edge in reviewer scores (6.4 vs 8.6). Forte Ears Macbeth has significantly better bass with a 2.8-point edge, Forte Ears Macbeth has significantly better mids with a 2.3-point edge, Forte Ears Macbeth has significantly better treble with a 3-point edge, Forte Ears Macbeth has better dynamics with a 0.8-point edge, Forte Ears Macbeth has significantly better soundstage with a 2-point edge, Forte Ears Macbeth has better details with a 0.8-point edge and Forte Ears Macbeth has significantly better imaging with a 2.5-point edge.

Insights

Metric Noble Audio Shogun Forte Ears Macbeth
Bass 5.5 8.3
Mids 5.8 8
Treble 5.5 8.5
Details 8 8.8
Soundstage 7 9
Imaging 6.3 8.8
Dynamics 7.3 8
Tonality 6.1 8.3
Technicalities 7.9 8.7
Take these comparisons with a grain of salt—we don't have enough Noble Audio Shogun and Forte Ears Macbeth reviews saved yet to provide an unbiased result.

Noble Audio Shogun Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Fox Told Me So
Smirk Audio

Average Reviewer Score:

6.4

Mixed to Positive

Forte Ears Macbeth Aggregated Review Score

Average Reviewer Scores

Shuwa-T Smirk Audio Head-Fi.org

Average Reviewer Score:

8.6

Excellent

Reviews Comparison

Noble Audio Shogun reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 7.5 Reviewer Score
A- Tuning
A Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A- Mids: A Treble: A- Dynamics: A Details: A+ Imaging: A

Forte Ears Macbeth reviewed by Smirk Audio

Smirk Audio 8.3 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
A+ Tech
check links for more info:

Smirk Audio original ranking

Smirk Audio Head-Fi Profile

Bass: A+ Mids: S- Treble: A+ Dynamics: A+ Details: S- Imaging: S-

Noble Audio Shogun (more reviews)

Noble Audio Shogun reviewed by Fox Told Me So

Fox Told Me So 5.2 Reviewer Score
C+ Tuning
A+ Tech
Noble Shogun makes a bold first impression: bass—massive, dominant, and impossible to ignore.

The overall tonality leans dark, with low frequencies taking center stage. Bass gain exceeds JM1’s +8 dB curve and even surpasses Harman, giving it an overwhelming weight. Yet quantity isn’t the issue—quality is. Sub-bass extension is average, slam feels soft, and excess warmth seeps into the mids, adding congestion and fatigue.

Vocals are smooth but veiled, missing air and presence due to the lack of a 3kHz lift. Instruments sound darker than they should, and treble—though decent on graph—rolls off quickly, buried under the dominant bass.

Soundstage spreads wide but stays flat, with limited height and depth. The 5kHz dip further weakens upper-mid energy, collapsing openness.

Verdict: Shogun delivers sheer bass power but sacrifices balance and clarity along the way. A bass-heavy, dark-tilted tuning that may please bassheads, yet struggles to justify its high-end price.

Fox Told Me So original ranking

Fox Told Me So Youtube Channel
Bass: C- Mids: C- Treble: C- Dynamics: A- Soundstage: A- Details: A+ Imaging: C+
YouTube video thumbnail

Forte Ears Macbeth (more reviews)

Forte Ears Macbeth reviewed by Shuwa-T

Shuwa-T 8.7 Reviewer Score
A+ Tuning
S Tech
Feels like a remastered VX in terms of clarity and staging The tonality is too off for regular listening, timbre is also off in general

Shuwa-T original ranking

Shuwa-T Website

Bass: S- Mids: A Treble: S Soundstage: S Details: S Imaging: S

Forte Ears Macbeth reviewed by Head-Fi.org

Head-Fi.org 8.7 * score rescaled + normalized
10 community members have rated the Forte Ears Macbeth at an average of 4.6/5 on Head-Fi. Overall sentiment: Outstanding.

URL to full Review

Head-Fi.org original ranking

Noble Audio Shogun User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Forte Ears Macbeth User Review Score

Average User Scores

Average User Score: n/a

Based on 0 user reviews

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Noble Audio Shogun Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

5.8

Gaming Grade

B-

Forte Ears Macbeth Gaming Score

Gaming Score & Grade

  • The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.

Gaming Score

7

Gaming Grade

A-

Noble Audio Shogun Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

B
  • Expect a friendly tonal balance that could use polish but remains inviting. Great for casual listening, less so for purists.

Average Technical Grade

A
  • Overall technical control is strong, presenting instruments with clarity and sensible staging. Textures are portrayed with satisfying clarity.
Bass B-
The bass offers steady support without stepping into the spotlight. There's just enough punch for everyday playlists.
Mids B-
It presents a stable midrange foundation suitable for everyday listening. Clarity is serviceable without standing out.
Treble B-
Treble feels agreeable overall, bringing sparkle without significant fatigue. You get a polite sense of air.
Dynamics A-
Expect excellent punch and micro-detail that render rhythmic shifts effortlessly. It keeps up with complex rhythmic swings.
Soundstage A-
Excellent spatial presentation that is wide, deep, and tall with precise instrument placement. Width, depth, and height all feel expanded.
Details A+
The tiniest inflections pop into view as if spotlit within the mix. Low-level details feel magnified yet natural.
Imaging B
Instrument boundaries feel well carved, avoiding smear or drift. Instrument outlines feel well-defined.
Gaming B-
Moderate spatial presentation conveys general directionality. Suitable for casual play where precision isn't critical. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Forte Ears Macbeth Scorings

Average Technical & Tuning Grades

Average Tunign Grade

A+
  • You hear a mature integration of lows, mids, and highs that keeps music lifelike. Small tuning tweaks showcase expert restraint.

Average Technical Grade

S-
  • Clarity and detail leap forward, with precise imaging and an expansive stage. Orchestral works feel spacious and layered.
Bass A+
The bass digs deep with authority while staying impeccably textured. No sense of bloom muddies the mids.
Mids A+
Midrange quality is superb, rich with resolving power and transparency. Micro-details leap out effortlessly.
Treble S-
Expect a radiant top end that paints every sparkle with precision. Harmonics soar without turning edgy.
Dynamics A+
You get a masterful mix of slam and finesse across every track. Music breathes with realism.
Soundstage S
Venue reproduction feels transcendent, portraying a limitless hall with absolute positional certainty. Imaging remains rock solid at all times.
Details S-
No subtlety is too small; the presentation exposes it all with composure. Complex tracks remain crystal clear.
Imaging S-
Even dense mixes remain locked in place, reinforcing the illusion of physical performers. The stage remains stable regardless of complexity.
Gaming A-
Good fundamental spatial awareness for most gaming scenarios. Handles basic positioning well but may lack nuance in complex situations. Bad value-to-cost for gaming purpose - not recommended

Noble Audio Shogun User Reviews

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Forte Ears Macbeth User Reviews

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