Short answer: the Noble Audio XM-1, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #1043 of 1291 in-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $599. The Kinera Skuld ranks #1060, rated 2.7/5, at $550, $49 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 1291 in-ear headphones; for better sound, the Truthear Nova ranks #2 at $169.99.
What the Noble Audio XM-1 does well: Bass is lifted about 5.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight. The tradeoff: A 5.8 dB peak near 7.6 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
What the Kinera Skuld does well: Five balanced armatures and 120 dB sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels easily from a phone. The catch: Hobbyist measurements on squig.link show the presence region about 7.5 dB under target with a 9.7 dB dip near 5.5 kHz, which makes vocals and guitars recessed and dull.
Buy the Noble Audio XM-1. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $49 saving on the Kinera Skuld is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Bass is lifted about 5.1 dB with extension to 20 Hz, giving kick drums and bass lines extra weight.
Bloom Audio $599.00 eBay
Five balanced armatures and 120 dB sensitivity mean it reaches loud levels easily from a phone.
Amazon $550.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Noble Audio XM-1 | Kinera Skuld | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $550.00 |
| Ranked | #1043 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #1060 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Hybrid | Balanced armature |
| Drivers | 1 x 8.3mm dynamic + 1 x xMEMS Cowell MEMS | 5 x balanced armature |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 23 ohms |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 20kHz | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 59 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 58 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.82 dB standard deviation | 3.57 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.03 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.15 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+7.5 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Back | - | Closed |
| Sensitivity | - | 120 dB |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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