Block 013 Design Guide: Build Your Own Prestige IEM
By Artisanal In Ear Monitors | Noble Audio | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to ordering Block 013, from judging the raw block to planning for build failures, final sales, and the 6-8 week timeline.
Quick answer
Order Block 013 only if you like the pictured block as it looks now, not as you hope it might look later. The build is a request, not a guarantee: some blocks fail, sales are otherwise final, and the typical build takes 6-8 weeks.
Why Block 013 rewards a conservative read
Block 013 is a one-of-one material choice, so the pictured block is your main reference. Noble builds using the block pictured, which means your decision should rest on that image rather than on a imagined colorway. Lacquer will make colors more vibrant, so treat the raw look as the floor and the finished look as a richer version of the same palette.
That cuts both ways. A block you already find attractive is a safe pick; a block you find dull in the hope that lacquer will transform it is a gamble. Because the block is fixed, this guide focuses on process and risk rather than on shell options you can swap in and out.
The failure clause changes how you should order
Noble states plainly that some blocks fail during the building process. If yours does, you will be notified and can choose another block or cancel your order. That is a real safety valve, but it is not a reason to order casually: all sales are otherwise final, so a successful build is not returnable if the finished look is not what you pictured.
The practical takeaway is to order when you would be content with either outcome: a finished Block 013 build, or a notification and a second choice. If only one of those outcomes is acceptable to you, wait for a block you feel that strongly about.
How to order Block 013 step by step
- Study the pictured block before anything else: Open the Block 013 listing and decide whether you would be happy with that exact block, allowing only for the richer color that lacquer adds. Common mistake: imagining a different pattern or shade than the one shown. If you would not want the pictured block as-is, stop here and look at another block.
- Pick a backup block now: Before you order, note one or two other blocks you would accept if Block 013 fails during the build. Common mistake: assuming the pictured block will always build successfully. Keep your backup choice written down so you can respond quickly if Noble notifies you of a failure.
- Confirm you accept the final-sale terms: Read the listing terms and make sure you are comfortable that sales are otherwise final. Common mistake: ordering while expecting a normal return window on a custom build. If you are unsure about the finished look, resolve that before paying rather than after delivery.
- Place the order and plan around 6-8 weeks: Submit your Block 013 order and treat the typical 6-8 week build time as your working timeline. Common mistake: scheduling around a faster delivery than the stated build window. Block out the build period before you order so the wait does not catch you off guard.
- Respond promptly if a failure notice arrives: If Noble tells you Block 013 failed, choose your backup block or cancel the order. Common mistake: delaying the decision and losing momentum on the build. A failure notice is a normal part of the process, not a sign you did something wrong.
Product facts
- Build Your Own Prestige - Block 013: Build Your Own Prestige - Block 013 is built using the block pictured, and colors will be more vibrant with lacquer. Judge the pictured block as your baseline and expect a richer, not different, finished look.
Build Your Own Prestige - Block 013 - Build Your Own Prestige - Block 013: Some blocks fail during the building process; if Block 013 fails, Noble will notify you and you can choose another block or cancel. Plan a backup block choice before ordering so a failure notification does not force a rushed decision.
- Build Your Own Prestige - Block 013: All sales are otherwise final, and typical build time is 6-8 weeks. Treat the order as a commitment and schedule around a build window of roughly two months.
