NF Acous has been quite productive lately with their releases from the RA05, NM20 and the release of their single dynamic custom IEM that caters a wide range of usage from casual to professional audio all the way up to musicians. They are serious when it comes to making high performance products and they mostly focus on their single dynamic tuning prowess with a price that doesn’t break the bank. Recently we have covered their budget professional audio IEM, the NM20 and it has one of the best transparency in their price range but a rather niche tuning that is mainly for professional usage. This time around they have listened and concocted a new, upgraded from the NA2 music series to the all new NA20. They have brought all the innovations present in the NM20 but with better bass response and a more relaxed treble.
Eileen from NF Acous has been a good sport by sending us a pair of the all new NF Acous NA20 for a review and we are grateful for the opportunity. How will they fare with the price tag of 119 USD/ RM500 with the saturation of today’s market? We shall find out here.
Functions & Specifications
Before we start the review, here are the specifications of the NF Acous NA20 taken from their site;
- Driver: 10 mm Beryllium Plated Dynamic Driver (MC2L-100M)
- Cable: 0.78mm dual pin 6N OFC
- Sensitivity: 109 dB / mW
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Sound Insulation: 25dB
- Frequency Response: 9-40kHz
- Distortion: < 1%
- Max SPL: 125dB
- Connector: 3.5mm
The NF Acous NA20 can be purchased directly from their website as well as other platforms worldwide.
https://nfacous.com/products/na20
They will be available soon in Starspicker Audio for Malaysian audiophiles, stay tuned
https://starspickeraudio.net/?srsltid=AfmBOorJqIDgRdqjadV4Vn2JmYrY4uKhH0sObEA3afgNa7CAcmC53atX#
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging here is similar to the NM20 with a medium sized box that opens like a CD case. They are packaged in a professional manner and everything is neatly packed. Upon opening the outer box, we are greeted with the IEM head within a CD like background alongside 8 pairs of MS42 silicone eartips, a hard zippered case, a 6N OFC 3.5mm cable, a booklet and a high quality 3.5mm to 6.35mm converter. The NA20 also comes with a pack of funky, cool NF Acous stickers which is a nice touch from them.
Design
The design here is pretty normal but I do prefer the retro brown and gold theme than the blue or grey colourway of the NM20. They have a rose gold colored aluminum metal inlay that surrounds the is more robust than usual plastic while being lighter. Build quality here is good with good ergonomics and a good isolation.
Driving the NA20 is the newly self developed MC2L-100M Dynamic Driver that has a new magnetic structure plus upgraded beryllium plated diaphragm that will be lighter than other material and the vibration is smaller with better performance versus traditional diaphragms.
The nozzle here is metal built with a medium sized diameter with 5.5 mm maximum width and they have a good length that isn’t too long or short. There is a metal mesh fixed to prevent dust or sweat from entering.
The cavity inside is optimized with their own patented mechanical structure named SRA or Selective Reflection Adjustment to reduce sound reflections and by implementing 5 air pressure damping nets alongside 2 tuning sponges to further adjust the air pressure from the back to front all to give a more referenced tuning. There are 2 visible vents near the 2 pins and near the nozzle. No driver flex is present which shows the well vented system of the NA20.
They also implemented a designed Integrated Electronic Tuning PCB which they claimed to greatly improve the IEMs’ listening durability and adaptability in sound.
The IEM has the usual QDC style inverted 0.78mm connections and personally I would prefer the normal 0.78mm or MMCX but it is fine as long as a replaceable cable system.
Cable here is pretty basic with 4 cores of 6N oxygen free copper twisted and they are on the thinner side with only 3.5mm single ended termination available . A better braided cable with a balanced option is highly welcomed in this price range as many audiophiles do prefer the 4.4mm interface or having the option is better.
Gears Used for Comparisons
FiiO Q7
Hiby FC6
FiiO BTR7
Hidizs S8 Pro Robin
Intime Sho DD
NF Acous NM20
BQEYZ BQ10
KZ EDC Pro
Hidizs ST2 Nebula
Rose Technics Star City 5 Pro
TangZu YuXuan Ji
Truthear Zero
Songs list
Tone and Presentation
The tone here is a neutral bright presentation with a highly energetic V shaped sound with their elevated bass and boosted highs but they are still very well controlled. They sound just as advertised as they are highly musical and very fun to listen to albeit not as accurate as the professional line. Midrange here is well presented without any major recessiveness and they do indeed have a great energetic tuning. Technicalities here are actually pretty good and do share similarities with the NM20 professional sound with their transparency and superb overall detail retrieving capabilities.
Soundstage
Soundstage here is decent with a wide and tall sound that is competitive in their price range. They also possess sufficient air on both ends of the spectrum and they have a holographic spatial presentation which makes them suitable even for gaming. The soundstage here is a little intimate partly for their slightly thick overall sound but they are immersive suiting movies as well.
Separation and Timbre
Separation here is superb and being well tuned with great air pressure controlled single dynamic driver IEM, they are able to produce a full cohesive sound with no crosstalk from left to right separation is good giving a great stereo width. Timbre here has an energetic, bright and piercy sound profile and while having good accuracy in their sound reproduction.
Drivability
Rated at 32 ohms with a 109 db sensitivity, they are easy to drive with any source with ample loudness and they scale up well with a cleaner source that gives them more control in the low end and a smoother high range. For their aggressive sound, they match well with a balanced and neutral source which makes them quite picky as most Sabre based source and some Cirrus Logic setup may sound too fatiguing in the long run. The NA20 is quite a revealing set as they do possess a clear overall sound with a high sensitivity and they do show flaws on certain records and are prone to pick up noise but marginally. They aren’t too picky with the file selection and are a great companion for streaming usage.
The Bass (Low)
The bass has a boosted bass that is north of neutral and they are capable when called upon on bass heavy tracks. They are agile, punchy and well textured that has an organic dynamism free of bloat nor bleed. Details here are good with great clarity with a clean and tight slam that is packed with energy. The boosted bass here might not suit purists that wanted a clinical, full transparency bass but they still manage to sound accurate without overpowering issues and they may suit some bassheads out there. Texture on the bass here is great as they do resolve bass notes very well and manage to handle fast, busy tracks with no issues. Sub-bass here has a decent amount with a relatively deep reaching rumble but the mid bass lift does have more presence.
The Mids
Midrange here has a neutral sound with a flat presentation that has a mild thickness alongside a warm tone. They have a good amount of intimacy without sacrificing too much space that will make the overall midrange sound stuffy albeit some vocals may sound a little distant due to the boosted lows and highs. Details here are superb and able to resolve micro details well with clear macro details as well. The overall mids here is clean and clear with a decent transparent sound. They are vividly resolving with some coloration present to provide a sweeter sound but in return, they aren’t as accurate on certain genres like acoustics. Vocals here are lush and intimate with female vocals having decent brilliance while male vocals sounding deep. With these slightly recessed midranges, I do feel that in certain genres such as classicals or live performances, some placements of sound aren’t as accurate but in return, we do get a good amount of air and space.
The Highs
The high range here is where my favourite part is in the NA20 as they are a neutral high range with a lifted 8kz to 10kz that gives a good amount of bite and they are done very well that it manages to sound smooth with a slow roll off. They are bright but aren’t as splashy like the NM20 instead a smoother, less spiky high range that sparkles strongly with a crisp decay. Details here are superb alongside a crystal clear overall high range and they are suitable for treble lovers but not so much for treble sensitive users as they are indeed borderlining a sibilant sound. The pace of the high range here is quick with an extended extension that has a good amount of air and presence. The lifted high range here does sound accurate and natural but transparency here is average with a good resolving high range as they are vividly presented. Treble here has great intensity that gives the NA20 a great overall clarity and energy but on certain bright sources, they tend to sound too aggressive that incurs fatigue. Timbre here is natural and is a typical trait of a well tuned dynamic driver that is free of any plasticky or metallic sheen.
Comparisons
VS NF Acous NM20
The NM20 is what the NA20 is based on and the NM20 is a true professional audio IEM with superb transparency alongside a clinical, cold and sterile sound. The NM20 isn’t for everyone but it does the job of being accurate for monitoring purposes for musicians and engineers. Just as advertised, the NA20 does sound smoother with a more forgiving treble and a bigger bass response. The colourway of the NA20 is subjectively better looking as it looks more classy.
High range on the NM20 does have the bigger amount marginally and they have a sharper and slower roll off that has better air. Sparkle and crispness is the same but the NM20 does sound cleaner and clearer marginally. The NA20 is more forgiving albeit still strong in the treble and they are more enjoyable due to their extra energy on the 10 kHz region alongside a less splashy highs.
Midrange on the NA20 has a better body and sounded warmer versus the clinically cold sound of the NM20. The NM20 does have a brighter tone with better transparency as they are colourless and slightly better resolution. Details and clarity is mostly the same but due to the boosted lows of the NA20, they sounded fuller.
Bass quantity on the NA20 is bigger with a more apparent mid bass lift alongside a deeper sub-bass with a better rumble but bass on the NM20 does sound cleaner and clearer with better accuracy.
Soundstage on both are similar but the clinical style of NM20 does makes it sounds airier.
My pick: NF Acous NA20
Vs Kiwi Ears Airoso
The Airoso is one the latest release from Kiwi Ears China and they are a hybrid of 1 dynamic alongside 4 balanced armatures. They have a balanced neutral sound that has a warm tone with a smooth overall sound that is highly musical. Price is similar with a slightly better looking package from the NA20 but build does feel better on the Airoso.
The high range of the Airoso has a more relaxed treble and is more suitable for a wider range of genre as it is more forgiving. Amount of sparkle and crispness on the NA20 is livelier along with a clearer high range that has a bigger energy. Details on the NA20 are slightly better with a cleaner high range. The NA20 does sound more transparent with a more natural timbre.
Midrange on the Airoso has a better body with a thicker and forward midrange. Details and clarity does sound better on the NA20 with better transparency but the Airoso is more resolving and has a better presence versus the recessed mids of the NA20.
Bass on the Airoso has a bigger volume with a thicker mid bass lift but the texture and clarity here goes to the NA20 alongside better clarity with a quicker pace. Bass on the NA20 is tighter but Airoso sounded more organic with an airier bass. Sub-bass on both dives quite deep but the rumble on the Airoso is more evident.
Soundstage of the Airoso does sound wider but only marginally and both have a great amount of air.
My pick: Airoso = NA20, both are very unique sounding with a very enjoyable performance and have a great value in this price range.
Synergy
The NM20 aggressive, energetic sound does match a warm and smooth sound signature and doesn’t really match bright sources as it may incur more fatigue in the long run. They are relatively easy to drive but they do scale slightly better on better sources. Sources like Sabre based ones will have the Sabre hump exacerbated hampering their timbre to be metallic sounding.
Good matching: Hiby FC6, 7hz Artemis39, Hidizs S8 Pro, FiiO Q7, Qudelix T71, Moondrop MIAD01, Questyle M15
Not so good matching: FiiO KA5, FiiO Q7, EPZ TP30
Who Is It For?
Suitable usage: Light monitoring, details and clarity lovers, treble heads,bassheads, energetic sound lovers, workouts, movies and gaming.
Suitable genres: Classicals, EDM, modern pop, pop rock, hip-hop, jazz
Not suitable:
Not suitable genres: Metal, acoustics
Final words
NF Acous has created something truly special here indeed as the NA20 is probably the most musical sounding IEM in this price range. They do have an aggressively V shaped sound but it is tuned so well that though it has a recessed midrange, the mids still have the presence alongside great overall technicalities. The older sibling NM20 does have the upper hand of being more clinical and accurate but is a niche tuning meant for professional usage making them lifeless at times and the NA20 here address these shortcomings with a lusher, energetic, smoother sound that is highly enjoyable. The setbacks here are minor like the now rarely used QDC style pins, the slightly distant midrange and it can be overly energetic but given their asking price, I do think that it is a solid contender for their alluring V shaped tuning that possesses great technicalities.
I would rate this product a 4 and half stars over 5 stars.
Pros
- Great overall technicalities
- Great fit and solidly built
- Good packaging with MS42 eartips
- Decent, airy soundstage
- Highly musical with superb energy
- Organic, piercy timbre
- Great clarity and detail retrieval capabilities
- Good resolution, decent transparency
- Hard hitting, tight, fast bass with accurate sub-bass
- Great sparkly, crisp highs that is well controlled
- Treble extension is great with good intensity
- Easy to drive
Cons
- Average cable quality with only 3.5mm choice
- Not for monitoring
- Can cause fatigue on loud volume due to the aggressive sound
- Shell and design do feel a little cheap (nitpick)
- Inverted 2 pin style pins
- Midrange a little distant and thin
- High range borderlining sibilance
