NF Acous NA20 Review
Hello music lovers, I’m back for a review, and this time with the nice-sounding NF Acous NA20. It’s a single DD configured, in-ear monitor IEM that is bubbling with energy and details.
Disclaimer
This was sent to me by NF Acous in exchange for a review, but as always, everything I say here is my thoughts and opinion. No money exchanged hands in the process.
Price $119-
Introduction
NF Acous is back with a tamer and more relaxed-sounding IEM.
NF Acous has been making in-ear monitor earphones that are catered towards the professional and stage performance market, where the clarity of sound is of the utmost importance. The new NA20 is a departure from their usual sound style.
I will be comparing this with other IEMs in my possession that are in its price range, to see how it fares in the tough environment and the current condition of the market. I will also compare this with its older sibling, the NM20.
Will the new NA20 dethrone the older NM20 as my favorite V-shape IEM in its price range? Find out in my review below.
Features
It uses their 10mm beryllium-plated diaphragm MC2L-100M Dynamic Driver.
A strong mechanical structure that is shaped for optimized acoustics.
A patented technology - SRA (Selective Reflection Adjustment). Reduces the reflected sound, making the sound cleaner by five air pressure controlling damping nets and two tuning sponges.
It has 32-ohm impedance and 109 dB per milliwatt of sensitivity.
It has a beautifully designed, lightweight polycarbonate shell with integrated aluminum parts that are CNC-machined to integrate seamlessly with the faceplate, with a frosted finish.
The mid-sized shells fit perfectly on my ears without any snags, which become uncomfortable during long listening sessions, a very well-optimized design and shape.
It has an average size nozzle of 5.6mm, which is great as it can use the majority of ear tips in the market.
It has an excellent pressure release system, and I didn’t feel any pressure build up or sudden pressure changes while walking and running.
Cable
QDC style connector is used, but wired in the same polarity as a 2-pin connector, so it can take advantage of the vast availability of 3rd party 2-pin terminated cables without inverting the polarity.
I didn’t love the stock cable, it is thin, tangles quite easily, and is only available in 3.5mm plug. I was hoping for a thicker cable with the option to choose between 3.5mm and 4.4mm plug, or better yet, a modular cable system where you can change the plug by yourself, akin to that of the competition.
There is no microphone or any remote control on the cable.
Packaging & Accessories
I like the exterior design of the box, it has a satin finish and excellent quality of printing, which adds to its high quality. The same can be said of the packaging itself, which is cleverly and artfully designed, yet efficient in its use of materials.
Inside the packaging are the user guide, four pairs of ear tips, a carrying case, a cable, a 3.5mm to 6.25mm adapter, and a pair of earphones.
I wish they made the carrying case bigger. At least 30 percent longer on the side dimension, so that a bigger dongle DAC/amplifier and a thicker cable can fit.
I used various dongle DAC/amplifiers and digital audio players in my possession, and on no occasion did it present any difficulty. It was driven by all of them easily.
I noticed that the NA20 shines when paired with technically capable sources with great sound staging, like the iBasso DC Elite, rather than analog and less technically sounding sources like the Sony NW-A45 digital audio player.
For these sound impressions, I used the iBasso DC Elite and TRN Black Pearl for amplification, a third-party 4.4mm balance cable, and the stock ear tips.
Sound Impressions
It’s undeniably V-shaped in sound signature and a very good one at that.
There is an obvious boost in the bass, which adds weight, bass punch, and excitement to almost any song, yet doesn’t sound slow and muddy; it is fast and articulate.
Very clear sounding, despite its V-shaped sound signature, the midrange isn’t too laid back, it has very good presence, and is smooth and detailed, presenting a clear window to the music. Neither too thick nor too thin, the note weight is presented accurately.
Excellent upper treble extension for a single DD was the first thing I muttered when I first heard the NA20. The overall treble presentation is forward and detailed, yet never in your face. It sounds relatively smooth as far as V-shaped tuned IEMs go. It favors the macro details rather than the micro details, but it is never devoid of the latter.
Overall, I find the sound signature of the NA20 to be very satisfying, non-fatiguing, and musically engaging. This is not a dry-sounding IEM, there is a good bass presence, a good amount of decay length in the midrange, and sparkle and air in the treble.
Technicalities
A spacious soundscape is heard, especially when listened to at medium to high volume levels, due to its excellent sound staging performance, which is roughly equal in length, height, and width.
Because of the sound stage size mentioned above, it allows the images to have their own imaginary acoustic spaces, which helps in the instrument separation, layering, and holography.
On a side note, it may not be the biggest sound stage size nor the most defined imaging performance, but it is definitely above average and rivals many IEMs, regardless of price.
Selected Comparisons
Compared to Dunu Titan S2 ($79.99 when it came out)
It is less expensive but has more accessories included, plus it has a modular cable that has interchangeable plugs of 3.5mm and 4.4mm.
It sounds like an IEM with a Harman style of tuning where the bass, lower midrange, and the upper treble are neutral in intensity but elevated around the upper midrange. This will give the listener good amounts of details and imaging performance, but could sound fatiguing, boring, and dry. In comparison, the NA20 sounds more exciting and musically engaging, with more elevated bass and treble, but slightly laid-back midrange.
They are about equal in technical performance, like separation, layering, and imaging, but the NA20 has a bigger soundstage and cleaner background decay.
Compared to Moondrop Starfield 2 ($129.99)
They are about equal in terms of the included accessories, but the Starfield 2 has a thicker cable.
They are equally exciting sounding, with good bass presence, dynamic energy, and similar technical performance, but the Starfield 2 has more elevated lower treble and less upper treble extension.
Compared to NF Acous NM20 ($119)
It is the older sibling of the NA20, and aside from the color difference, they have similar design, build quality, accessories, and packaging.
The NM20 was tuned for professional and stage use, where clarity and intelligibility are the priority, while the NA20 is tuned to be more relaxed, with less treble elevation and more bass boosting.
Technically, the NM20 has the bigger sound stage, better imaging, more instrument separation and layering, and has more resolving power overall. At the expense of a higher potential for listeners’ fatigue, especially for treble-sensitive listeners, not me, though.
Now, to answer the question whether the new NA20 dethrones the NM20 as my most used V-shape IEM in the $100 price range. Well. I’m sorry to tell you, it doesn’t. The NM20 is still my favorite. It’s a personal choice, as I like more spice and excitement in almost everything in life.
Pros
+ Exciting V-shape sound signature with clear midrange sound.
+ Very good technical performance.
+ Musically engaging.
Cons
- The carrying case is too small.
- The cable is thin and only available in a 3.5mm connector plug.
My Verdict
One thing that can be said for sure is that NF Acous listens to their customers by releasing the NA20 with its HiFi or domestic-oriented sound tuning, as people have been longing for a milder version of their NM20, but I wish they hadn’t stopped there and included better accessories, perhaps next time. But accessories are not the most important aspect of an IEM, it’s sound quality.
Having a sound quality that is nothing short of amazing for its price category, the combination of good tonality and a technical performance that rivals much more expensive sets made the NF Acous NA20 quite a stand-out among its competitors, and thus, it earns an easy high recommendation.
Happy listening!
