NF Audio NA2

disclaimer: NF Audio approached me about reviewing their current lineup recently and I agreed.   They sent me the NA2 and NM2+ models for review.   I have no financial interest in NF Audio, nor have I received any directions or guidance for this review.   I have received no compensation beyond the product for this review.    If you have an interest in NF Audio, check out their website and Facebook Page.  To purchase NF Audio products, see Aoshida Audio

 

Unboxing / Packaging:

The packaging on the NF Audio models is well laid out with the outer box having the picture and name on the front and specs on the reverse.  When the inner box is pulled out it is a bookfold design with the manual and case on one side and the earpieces, tips, and cable on the other all neatly tucked into compartments that prevent things from falling out when opened.   The provided kit is fairly complete with earpieces, cable, 6.3mm adapter, case, and six (6) sets of silicone eartips.  Tips are two (2) styles in three (3) different sizes S,M,L.    The cable does have a velcro tie as well as the clamshell case having a second compartment for tips and adapters.   The case is large enough to hold the earpieces with cable attached but not large enough to also carry very many accessories so diligence is needed when selecting what else to carry with the earphones.   Including at least a single set of foams would be appreciated at this price point, but overall not a bad kit.

 

 

Build/Fit:

The NA2 has a very familiar shape with its inverted teardrop style and uses a translucent resin shell in either clear, green or purple.  Face plates are made of the same material as the inner shell and while the seam is visible, it is well fitted with no excess glue or gaps and is difficult to feel with a fingernail as a result.   Size is small to mid, but nozzles are fairly pronounced to allow for deeper seating.   Nozzles are part of the inner shell rather than being a separate component like many budget models and do have a lip molded in for tip retention.   A vent on the inner surface is centered over the middle of the dynamic driver and sits at about the 2 o’clock position behind the nozzle and a second vent sits immediatley in front of the QDC connector.  Connectors are the raised bi-pin with rounded housing and are the one piece that uses a clear resin instead of the purple or green.   Comfort was good for extended wear due to the moderate size and isolation is average or slightly better due to the fit of the body of the iem in the ear and the depth of the nozzles.

 

Internals:

The NM Series all are based on dual magnet dynamic drivers with dual cavity design.  In the NA2, the driver is listed as the MC2L-10 and seems to be revision 1 of the driver as the NM2+ uses an MC2L-10ii driver version.     NF appears to have an advantage in that either they manufacture the driver in-house or have a very tight relationship with the supplier as generation time is short and they have continually improved the original design.  The NA2 for example has the tuning elements (cap/resistors) built into the housing on the driver rather than a separate board as in earlier models.  This combined with the dual cavity design and venting matches damping pressure on the driver to the shell cavity design to reduce reflections and improve sound quality.      Magnets are neodymium iron boron and provide over 1 Tesla of flux while the diaphragm is a 5 micrometer polymer composite for lightweight and speed.   polymer composite is not as rigid as Be, Ti coated, or even carbon nano-tubes, but it is lighter weight and potentially faster than all of them.  NF chose the material to improve transient response beyond what is possible with the super still coatings.  The end result is a driver with a nominal impedance of 18Ω and a sensitivity of 108 dB/mW making it easy to drive well with most sources.

 

Cable:

The provided cable is listed as silver coated OFC in a black rubberized sleeve.   The jack is a 3.5mm in a straight metal housing with one flat side for gripping.    The NF Audio name is printed in the flat in white on the brushed silver background.  A matching 6.3mm adapter is also provided which is a nice touch as many will be used with desktop sources.  The cable itself is a 4 wire double twist from jack to coin-sytle splitter.  The splitter is black plastic and matches the cable while the chin slider is brushed aluminum and matches the jack.  Above the split, wires are 2 wire braids with pre-formed hooks and QDC style hooded bi-pin .78mm connectors.   The earhooks are a bit tight and benefit from a bit of heat from a heat gun and re-shaping to be a bit more relaxed. (If you do this remove the earpieces first to avoid heat damage to the components).

 

 

Sound:

Bass:

Sub-bass is emphasized with the center of that emphasis falling at roughly 60Hz and the roll-off not becoming evident below that peak until the lower 20Hz range.   The NA2 can rumble when called upon, but it doesn’t get too far in front and bury the areas above it.   Bass texture is fairly good with good note weight and just slightly slower decay than attack which keeps it from sounding thin or unnatural.  Mid bass steps back as you move up the range but retains good slam when called upon and good detail and texture.   Overall bass is the star here, but not so much as to overshadow the rest of the players on the field.    I prefer a bit of sub-bass elevation with mid-bass more closely aligned to the mids so this signature fits well with my preferences.

 

Mids:

Mids while not emphasized don’t come across as recessed either and have good detail and texture throughout.  Lower voices are a small step behind their female counterparts but do have good note weight and cut through the mix enough to be noticed.    Guitar growl is respectably good with sharp edges, and strings have enough energy to be sound near realistic as well.   The push of the upper mids and lower treble does move higher voices to the front but not so much as to seem separated from the instrumentation.   The mids are deceptive in that they sound smooth and relaxed but do have good detail when one looks for it.  This again is a nice tuning as it allows you to be drawn in to the music rather than paying attention to the technicalities.

 

Treble: 

The upper-mid emphasis is continued into the lower treble range before dropping back above about 4kHz.  This gives the treble enough energy to make snare rattle reasonably good although not quite as crisp as a balanced armature tends to be, but cymbals fall a little short of realistic as they lack energy in the true treble needed to really deliver.   Once above the lower plateau, the true treble drops enough below the level of the mids that it causes a bit of unevenness to the treble but prevents any hint of stridency or harshness from creeping in.   A peak at between 10kHz and 12kHz before final roll-off adds some air back to the mix and keeps it from feeling closed off.   Overall, the treble tuning is my least favorite part of the NA2, but I understand why it was done and it certainly stands in stark comparison to many of the current crop of treble lasers on the market.   Its polite and very well mannered if a bit less energetic than I would prefer.

 

Soundstage / Imaging:

Stage is wider than deep and has limited height giving it a somewhat ovoid form.   Seating the orchestra is fairly straight forward as instrument separation is quite good and layering is as well with compression only becoming evident on extremely complex tracks with lots of bass overlap.  There are a few places where stage shape limits imaging as movements on the periphery can be tracked but pinpoint positions are hard to determine.  Movements in the central area are easier to track with greater precision.

 

Thoughts / Conclusion:

The market at the $100 USD market is quite crowded so it is always with some trepidation that I agree to review another new product at the price point because more often than not they share an awful lot with the mass of what has already come before them and don’t do enough to find their own unique space.    The NA2 looks a lot like a lot of other in-ears at the price point so that doesn’t help.  Nor does the fact that the translucent shells look more fragile than they actually are.   The shells have no flex when pinched as hard as possible and while I stopped short of doing drop tests, I have no concern with their survival from a chair or desk height fall to the floor.   Where they do stand out is in signature.   The NA2 is well balanced with emphasis in sub-bass and to a smaller degree upper-mids.   The NA2 delivers good detail level for its price point and does very little to offend as the tuning is definitely aimed at a smooth, polite delivery.    Those who are treble sensitive will appreciate a tuning that does enough to keep treble from becoming piercing without feeling closed in in the process.   Those looking for a bit more assertive treble may prefer the original NA1 or the newer NM2+.