The One

Why True Music Lovers Should Invest in a Pair of In-Ear Monitors

We’re partial to the professional-grade, custom-made listening equipment from Noble Audio.

Noble Audio’s in-ear monitors.

Photographer: Will Anderson for Bloomberg Businessweek

In-ear monitors were developed so performers could hear themselves clearly onstage. But these high-end headphones are no longer reserved for bands on tour. Texas-based Noble Audio’s custom fit, in-ear monitors (from $599) offer a spare-no-expense dedication to sonic fidelity, but the fit is what sets them apart. Based on a mold of your ear canal you’ll have taken by a health professional, they block noise while ensuring that no amount of sweating and bouncing around dislodges them—whether you’re doing a high-intensity training workout or leaping off a drum riser for your screaming fans.

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