NF Audio NA2+ HIFI IEMs – Balance In Emergence
Nf Audio Na2+ is a $169 USD Entry-Level IEM with a MC2L-10M Dynamic Driver at its heart, designed for a balanced user experience. Today we will review the new Na2 Plus and compare them to other entry-level IEMs, including iBasso 3T-154 (149 USD), HIDIZS MP145 (159 USD), and Simgot EA1000 Fermat (219 USD).
Introduction
Nf Audio is stepping up as a professional IEM producer, and although they are still available for purchase through the traditional Chifi channels including HIFIGO, Linsoul and Aliexpress, the company now focuses on producing a more professiona sounding producer, better package, and an experience that would classify the new NA2+ as well as the other earphones we will be reviewing from them as proper Hifi IEMs. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Nf Audio has provided the sample for this review, in exchange for my honest opinion.
PROs – Extreme detail and clarity of the price, excellent instrument separation, and a colorful, pleasing midrange. Shells are sturdy and made of aluminum, with a good attention to detail. The cable coils tightly around your ears and offers a secure fitting, while the IUEMs offer strong passive noise isolation. Good performance at all volume levels, and the neutral – sharp – clean – detailed tuning works really well with metal, rock and technical music, but has a colorful midrange for pop and electronic songs.
Cons – Tangle Prone Cable, no Balanced Cable option, somewhat hard to drive, neutral bass.
Product Link
You can grab one here – https://amzn.to/3yMzDIa
Build Quality/Aesthetics/Fit/Comfort
When writing about a product, it is often easy to lose focus, especially when the price range is full of many options, each one more appealing than the other, but NA2+ scorers big tie with the quality of the shells, made of Aluminum Alloy, in a 5-Axis CNC machined shells. Both the inner part of the shells, as well as the outer part is made of aluminum alloy, and this leads to a rigid and sturdy IEM.
The cable is one of the stealthy looking ones, with a 0.78mm 2-Pin connector at the earphone side, and a 3.5mm Single Ended connector for the source. As the impedance is 32 OHMs, you will need a decent source to make them play, and with a SPL of 107dB, you will not have a hard time powering the NA2+. It is good to keep in mind that the THD is 1%, but we will come back to this in the sound quality part of the review.
At the heard of the sound, we have a single dynamic driver, newly developed by NF Audio, and this is a MC2L-10M Dynamic driver. This dynamic driver has a theoretical signal response ranging between 9 Hz and 40 kHz, and it promises to offer a Musical, Natural and stage monitoring sound profile. The company even showcases a frequency response graph on most websites, which looks extremely neutral, with a strong midrange and upper midrange, and a recessed bass and treble. As we don’t know the measurement conditions, we will put this to the test, and the FR offered looks like it follows the Harman Adjusted Target but falls below with the bass below 80 Hz by about 8dB.
Inside the case you will receive a hard transport case made of textile material, and multiple pairs of tips, including three pairs of balanced silicone tips, and three pairs of bass silicone tips, which will change the sound. I love the artistic images NF Audio uses on their website, which look super colorful and cheerful and as we can see there is no AI used, and instead the company uses 3D modeling and artistic rendering of their products on both their website and on the package.
The passive noise isolation is quoted to be 25dB by the company, and that is about what I am getting too, although I am willing to say that I’m getting a fairly clean 25 dB across all ranges, as NA2+ offers a fairly even passive noise isolation. In my subjective experience, the cable is tangle prone and will easily tangle, but it is soft and cancels microphonic noise easily. We have a medium – Deep fit with the IEMs, and the IEM shells are on the large side for this kind of fit, with a strong passive noise isolation, and a fairly good overall comfort in the end. NF Audio NA2+ has one of the lightest cables on the market at the moment, and that stealthy design surely makes them easy to wear.
Sound Quality
Overall Signature – We have to start with the neutral, clean and tight bass that reproduces details and resolution far exceeding the price point. Even in the bass, I can hear in Rammstein songs the bass guitar clearly defined from the lead guitars, synths and voices, while the voices and guitars are colorful, brilliant, detailed, somewhat cold in tuning, and the treble is sharp, crisp and detailed. You can expect a fast driver response across all frequency ranges, and you can expect a natural soundstage with strong contrast, a high dynamic range, and exceptional technical performance. Pianos are crisp, detailed and clean, while voices are always natural and pleasing.
Bass – The tight and neutral bass is a double edged sword, as you either like this kind of lean and precise presentation or you seek warmer, bloomier tunings. I personally find the bass of the NA2+ to be enough for rock and metal, and one of the highest quality bass I’ve heard in the price range, but it is not very large or filling. You can hear the bass staying neutral, as a straight line, below 1 kHz. This being said, even in rock songs, you will hear a well defined, clear and controlled bass guitar, and while most IEMS will drown out the bass guitar, NA2+ brings it forard, gives it color and life, the experience being really close to a live one.
Midrange – With a neutral bass, we typically get a forward midrange, and looking at the graphs I was expecting those 10 dB of extra mids to hit hard and heavy, but it is likely a compensated graph, because the midrange is neutral, kept in line relative to the bass, and not very forward. At best, it is a neutral mid, dynamic, colorful, detailed and punchy, with a non-fatiguing presentation, clean texture, and a crisp resolution. I have to confess that NF Audio Na2+ made me listen mostly to rock and metal, as the thing best works for it, but female voices are sweet and well defined.
Treble – A sharp treble completes the image, but it is a well defined, detailed and fatigue-free treble. It can sound metallic at times, but this only seems to aid in reproducing rock and metal music well, it is not intrusive in how metallic and sharp it is. Grain-free and smooth in texture, the sound of NA2+ is pleasing all across the range, with a saturated and thick treble. If this sounds alien, it is because usually we find this more specialized and fun sounding treble in a much higher price bracket.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – NA2+ sounds dynamic, punchy, detailed and clean, having a natural texture, which doesn’t add or emphasize grain, but shows enough texture and sharpness to stay revealing and highly resolving. The tuning can be on the colder side, and with the strong dynamics NA2+ has, the sound can best be described as a cold rainy morning where you’re wide awake and hear everything sharp, well defined, but nothing really bothers you.
Volume Control – With a single dynamic driver, I’d expect a fairly linear volume control, but with the THD being around 1%, you can hear the THD at higher volumes, where the midrange has a higher distortion and a bit glare to it, but otherwise, I can enjoy the Na2+ up to 110 dB just fine. The best sound can be had at medium and low listening volumes, the already strong detail, high contrast and excellent revealing ability allows you to enjoy it quietly, especially as the sound has plenty of air and sharpness even at whisper levels, and Na2+ is not prone to background noise or hissing.
Soundstage – Natural, well rounded, and well defined, Na2+ has a high instrument separation, while the soundstage stays within the bounds of your head. While instruments have a good directionality, they are not projected from far away, although the separation is great between the foreground and the background layers. It is a natural experience, and just like the midrange has an exceptionally natural timber and voicing, the soundstage feels natural too, not too wide, but not too narrow either, just enough to keep things separated.
Comparisons
Nf Audio NA2+ vs Simgot EA1000 Fermat (169 USD vs 219 USD)
Build – We have a fun situation here, as I only picked IEMS with a metallic shell for this comparison, and Fermat is the one to start, with a far heavier shell, but more beautiful shine to it. The comfort of the EA1000 Fermat is a bit better, as they have a better default cable, and more ergonomic shells, but NA2+ wins big time for its strong passive noise isolation, and tighter fitting, whereas EA1000 Fermat is fully open and does not isolate, plus leaks everything to the outside. Ea1000 Fermat is not super sensitive to noise, and it is similar to NA2+ in its relation with the sources it can be paired with.
Sound – Sonically, EA1000 Fermat is wide, wooly and somewhat warm, and even vague at times, compared to the ultra-technical, precise and neutral sound of the NA2+. If you seek resolution and detail, NA2+ serves you with each micro detail right in your face, including the bass guitar in rock and metal, but it shows only the sound of the bass guitar, without the wooly impact, as EA1000 Fermat does, and EA1000 Fermat truly gives all music more bloom and body. The midrange of NA2+ is more precise, neutral, and has a more natural timbre, while Ea1000 Fermat sounds wide, airy and a bit vague in the instrument separation. Both IEMs are sharp and clean in the treble, EA1000 Femrat is smoother, both are grain-free, but EA1000 Fermat achieves a truly smooth treble, while NA2+ has a more detailed and colder sounding treble.
Nf Audio NA2+ vs HIDIZS MP145 (169 USD vs 159 USD)
Build – MP145 is much larger, much heavier and it has a semi open design, so you can expect far less passive noise isolation, and a lower degree of passive noise isolation. NA2+ isolates better from the outside noise, is much more comfortable, and has a more nimbler cable that’s much easier to use, but which also is far more tangle-prone. The cable of the MP145 is nicer, but both IEMs have a nice package. MP145 is more sensitive to noise, and will show hissing and background noise more, while NA2+ shows much less source noise and sounds more crisp with most sources, thanks to its higher impedance and lower spl.
Sound – Sonically, MP145 has more bass and a bloomier sound with more weight and substance, a much wider soundstage that expands more laterally and which is more impressionistic, but technically NA2+ is more refined and better defined as well. NA2+ has a crisp sound with strong resolution and details, while MP145 focuses less on resolution and detail, and more on offering a sound that is big and impactful. Dynamics are a strong point for both, but NA2+ is neutral, detailed and sharp, while MP145 is V-Shaped, engaging and juicy, great for ACG and EDM, commercial music, and doesn’t work well with smooth music. NA2+ works really well with smooth music, even jazz and classical.
Nf Audio NA2+ vs iBasso 3T-154 (169 USD vs 149 USD)
Build – Na2+ is a bity smaller than 3T, it also has a more flexible, tangle-prone cable, and has a stronger passive noise isolation. The cable of 3T is also fairly thin and flexible, but it is not as prone to tangling, and the comfort of 3T is a bit better, as the IEM bore sits more naturally in my ears, although I hear more noise from the outside with 3T. If you have a noisy source, Na2+ is quite a bit less sensitive to source noise, while 3T reveals it more, but NA2+ has a tiger coiling around the ear, which both offers a more secure fitting, but also a less comfortable wearing experience for long hours of wear.
Sound – Both IEMs have a natural midrange, with excellent detail, resolution and contrast, but 3T has a very strong bass, with lots of impact, a full low-end and a strong power to each musical note, while NA2+ sounds thinner, more neutral, leaner and is much tighter in the bass. The treble is sharp and bright, well defined for both, but 3T sounds better at higher volumes, and has a wider soundstage, while NA2+ has a more natural soundstage, and sounds better at low and medium volumes. 3T is for the impressionistic listener who likes a strong bass and a wide soundstage, while NA2+ is best for those who enjoy a neutral, tight and precise tuning.
Value and Conclusion
While I did not receive a balanced cable, which would have been super nice, I have to give it to NF Audio, the NA2+ is an IEM with a price / performance ratio I can only consider perfect. As most IEMS in this price range are competitive, and the sub 200 USD usually yields strong performance, NA2+ offers a much stronger technical performance, resolution, clarity and dynamic range than their competition, being easy to recommend for the revealing tuning enjoyer, but having a neutral bass that typically comes with this kind of sound.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a neutral, clean and sharp sound with low distortion, good impact and strong contrast between instruments, good instrument separation and a natural soundstage, NF Audio NA2+ is a super effective IEM with excellent tuning and clarity, and a pair I can say I am happy to listen to.
Product Link
You can grab one here – https://amzn.to/3yMzDIa
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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