NF ACOUS NH20 Review: Warm-Leaning, Detailed, and Studio-Ready
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Today’s NF ACOUS NH20 Review will cover build quality, comfort, sound, amplification needs, genre pairing, feasibility for studio use, overall value/price-to-performance ratio, some comparisons to other similar products, and more.
By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know if it’s worth a purchase. If it isn’t, I’ll share something that is.
What is it?/Build & Packaging
Kicking things off, NF ACOUS, founded in 2014, is a professional acoustics brand that started out manufacturing stage-customized in-ear monitors.
Growing into a professional acoustics brand integrating product research and development, creative design, and precision manufacturing, they’ve evolved to include headphones, purportedly collaborating with hundreds of artists, bands, TV shows, and producers.
Their NH20 is a closed-back, circumaural studio headphone featuring an MC2L-400 dual magnetic circuit, dual cavity dynamic driver, patented sound wave reflection & absorption module, dual-axis angled driver alignment, and a 3.5mm single-side detachable cable mechanism.
The 3.5mm 4-pole locking jack allows for connection on either side, and the headphones include 2 6N OFC cables: one shorter 1.2m cord terminating in a 1/4″ (6.35mm) jack, and the other a longer wire ending in a standard 3.5mm jack.
Per their documentation, this connector design also allows for balanced cable upgrades to be released in the future.
Overall build quality is very robust, and the headphones feel weighty in your hands without becoming heavy or overbearing.
Form factor is excellent, and they aren’t overly bulky like, say, a Sennheiser HD280.
Featuring a patented notched headband with 16-step tactile adjustment rod, they combine strong plastics, stainless steel pivot joints, and a steel headband that feels like it’s built for long term reliablity.
The cups rotate around 90 degrees, but they aren’t foldable or collapsible. Given they’re meant for the studio, this is to be expected. Still, they’re compact enough for on-the-go usage and come with a very nice-looking hard-shell zippered carrying case.
Their logo appears on the outside of the cups, and the headphone itself is fairly utilitarian and low profile. Adorned in mostly black, it’s understated and very practical-looking.
Utilizing an ultra-soft suede microfiber, hydrolysis-resistant PU leather, and high-density slow-rebound foam, the NH20 provides stable sealing and a comfortable overall fit.
Speaking of…
Comfort & Sound
Weighing in at 270g, the NH20 is very comfortable and feels great on the head. The headband doesn’t dig into my skull, clamping force is advertised as 4.2N, and the plush pads feel nice to the touch.
NF ACOUS claims they are resistant to peeling, but over time, this remains to be seen. I will update the article accordingly.
Replaceable earpads are available regardless, but how do they sound?
- Playlist(s): Here, Here, Here
- My Music: Here! (more songs coming/please follow)
- Amps & DACs used: Universal Audio Volt 2, FiiO K11, FiiO K7, Fosi Audio DS3, more to come.
- Source(s:): FLAC, Lossless
Overall, I’m really impressed with the sound of these. As advertised, they are neutral, resolving, and almost colorless.
One thing that may immediately jump out at you is their overall resolution. It’s excellent, and reminds me a lot of an IEM.
I think part of this has to do with their angular drivers, which align more closely with the natural plane of the ear. HIFIMAN is famous for this, and I’m not sure if NF ACOUS was inspired by it, but the sound really benefits.
It feels more open, spacious, with superior separation and a more revealing overall character. Certain songs sounded strange to me, because there were aspects I had never noticed previously. At first, I thought something was wrong with the headphones, because everything felt a bit off.
Then I started noticing all sorts of strange artifacts in some familiar tracks, and there’s a very revealing quality about the NH20 that’s extremely conducive to EQ’ing and mixing. This is great news.
Soundstage is also quite good for a closed back, as you’ll get more out of your head moments than you’d expect. This is part of why I kept pausing the song, wondering what it was I kept hearing in some familiar tracks.
A great example is Stan Forebee’s “Cold Fire.” The background sounds, bumps, and knocks sound almost identical to those of my neighbor upstairs. I kept rewinding to make sure it was the song, and it was. Awesome. Now I don’t have to gouge my eyes out.
The NH20 does a great job of showcasing how tracks were mixed and mastered, revealing an artist’s panning decisions while also providing excellent overall separation between sounds.
Bass
I’d describe the overall bass response as fairly neutral (ish), providing an almost blank slate for you to work with. This is ideal, as you can carve the low end as you please without worrying about mud, bloat, or overemphasis.
These aren’t as neutral as, say, a K702 in the bass, but the line is similar (if elevated somewhat), coloration is minimal, and thankfully, it doesn’t occur in the bloat regions around 200-300Hz.
- Required Reading: How To EQ Bass And Why It’s So Important
It’s also important to note that the 702 is an open back, so by default airier and lighter. The NH20, overall, sounds warmer and more intimate. Realistically, the bass response on both is very comparable, but the NH20 may have a bit of emphasis around 60-90Hz.
Toonorth’s“Grizzly Peak” is a great example, as both headphones render the bass very similarly. The 702 may roll it off a bit more in the sub areas and doesn’t have that rise in the impact regions, but by and large, it’s a similar response in that the trajectory is smooth, solid, and predictable.
In other words, the NH20 does have more meat on its bass response, but it’s in no way intrusive, out of control, or sloppy. This is a big reason why it works well for both casual listening and studio use.
Texture is also very good on the NH20, and bass notes articulate well without sounding boomy, needly, or artificial.
Mid-Range
Thankfully, the mids can shine without the bass obstructing. As mentioned earlier, resolution is excellent overall, and instruments cut through the mix while sounding tonally correct, present, and accounted for.
This is definitely a warmer tone and sound, but it works because it’s not trying to be or do too much.
Vocals are accurate and sound true, but I will say I think timbre could use some work. It’s satisfactory, but I never get the sense that the music really jumps out at me or has life.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s correct, but lacks that “in-person” flavor and pop that tends to separate good headphones from great ones. Perhaps this is intended, as the headphones are specifically made for studio use, but I think more liveliness would be beneficial.
To me, the NH20 is a good, solid headphone. It’s not amazing, but in my opinion, it doesn’t have to be.
Studio Work & Isolation
It’s meant for a job, and it does it extremely well. Isolation is above average, and they work really well for tracking and recording rap vocals.
Are they as isolating as Adam Audio’s H200 or the Sennheiser HD280? Definitely not, as you’ll notice the H200 clamps harder and does a better job of closing you off from the world. Ditto for the 280.
That said, I think the NH20 actually sounds more open and less clammy than the H200, doing a better job of separating sounds while not feeling boxed in.
As much as I like and recommend the H200, it provides a fairly narrow image and can seem a little closed in.
The NH20, by contrast, has better overall spaciousness and arguably better resolution.
A great example is Miles Davis’“Flamenco Sketches.” You can hear noticeable air on the left side in both, but on the NH20, it’s a lot more immediate and almost screams it’s there.
This comparison only further reinforces the fact that the H200, to me, is always going to work better for tracking and recording over mixing.
If mixing and EQ are a priority, I’d most certainly go with an NH20. And while I like the H200 for tracking, I’d rather use an FT1. This decision ultimately comes down to whether you value isolation over sound quality/air, as, in my mind, the FT1 beats the H200 easily in every category of sound; mostly because of its openness and separation.
The NH20 lies somewhere in the middle. It’s warm-ish like the FT1, but isn’t as open or spacious. And while the NH20 has good Soundstage, the FT1’s, in my opinion, is better.
Openness/Spaciousness/Separation: FT1 > NH20 > H200
Treble
Expect a clean treble, definitely not as bright as a K702, but not overly subdued either. It strikes a nice balance.
Both the NH20 and H200’s treble is darker than that of a K702, but the H200’s is the darkest. The NH20 kind of sits in the middle and strikes a nice balance between crisp vs. overly sibilant. The H200’s treb sounds both more laid back, so again, not as good for mixing/EQ in my eyes.
Both darker and brighter can work for mixing, but brighter tends to be better, per my experience. The H200 is pretty much the perfect tracking/recording headphone, while the NH20 may excel in a few areas: general listening/enjoyment, mix/eq, tracking/recording, and even gaming can work.
Amplification
If you’re worried about drivability or an amp, don’t be. At 50Ω Impedance & 125dB Sensitivity, they’re super easy to drive.
Because these are studio headphones and you’re probably a normal, sane person trying to make music, you’ll likely be using some sort of interface like the Volt 2. And that’s fine. Don’t overthink it.
If, for whatever reason, you’re reading this as a weirdo audiophile looking for the best “synergy”, or various other types of bullshit, you can CLICK OFF THIS PAGE RIGHT NOW BUSTER!!!!
No really. Do it. and never come back.
Genre Pairing
Prepare to pair with genres everywhere: from Rap, Hip-Hop, Grunge, Shoegaze, Jazz, Classical, Ambient, Soul, Mo-Town, Gospel, Country, Bluegrass, Indie, Pop, indie-pop, K-Pop, (?) Trance, Metal, Nu-Metal, (are you still reading this), Techno, Electronica, Folk, Trap, Lo-Fi, R&B, Progressive, Post-Progressive, Progressive Metal, Sludge, Thrash, Doom, Space Rock, Acid Rock, Christian Rock, Math Rock, Blues, Easy Listening, Disco, (no really, why are you still reading?), House, Emo, Drum and Bass, Experimental, Funk, Sad-Core, Rap-Core, Punk, Post-Punk, Emo Pop, Screamo, and that’s about all she wrote. Check the free throws.
Potential Caveats
As alluded to earlier, one thing that could use a bit of work is timbre. Everything sounds as it should, but there’s an element of realism that’s missing. And though they’re warm-ish, they still somehow sound a bit dry at times. Good timbre adds that “in person” type of feel, and I think the NH20 is missing it.
Still, the transient response is good, fast, and well controlled, allowing notes to start and stop cleanly without excessive smearing.
This helps preserve clarity and keeps the presentation from feeling overly sluggish or congested, even when the mix gets busy. Attacks are snappy enough to give percussion and plucked instruments some bite, and decay never lingers longer than it should. While improved timbre would add more lifelike texture and body, the solid transient behavior helps maintain overall coherence and prevents the sound from falling apart.
Quality Control
I hate to nitpick, but the headphones, while extremely well constructed, could benefit from a bit better QC. There are a couple of unsightly nicks and dings, and this was upon opening the box. It’s just a tad sloppy for my liking.
Again, you may not even notice, or I may have an outlier, so let me know in the comments how yours is once you buy it. Because you should.
Final Verdict
The NH20 is an incredibly solid, excellently tuned headphone with a warm-ish, slightly V-shaped profile that works very well for an array of tasks.
While not a pitch-perfect black response (mostly due to the elevated bass shelf), its overall splendid resolution works extremely well for mixing and also makes a really exemplary headphone for just listening to tunes. If the K702 is almost completely neutral, the NH20 kicks it up a tasteful notch like Emeril Lagasse.
Pricing/Specs/Box Contents
Price: Check NF ACOUS | eBay | Amazon (Coming Soon)
In The Box
NF ACOUS NH20
1.2m Cable
3m Cable
Instruction Manual
Zippered Hard Shell Carrying Case
Specifications
- Model: NH20
- G.W.: 270g (without cable)
- Sensitivity: 110dB/mW
- Impedance: 50Ω
- Frequency Response: 5-50kHz
- Distortion: <1%
- Maximum SPL: 125dB
- Cable: 6N OFC (1.2m/3m)
- Connector: 3.5mm
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this NF ACOUS NH20 Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please leave them down below or Contact me!!
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Does the NH20 sound like it would be good in the studio? Would you buy it just to listen casually? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ] > Now AudioFiles Anonymous
