EarphonesMid PriceReview

NF AUDIO NM2+ Review II – Too Hot Too Handle

NF Audio NM2+: $169 single DD from relative newcomer NF, whose prior releases (unheard by me) seem to have garnered nice reviews. 

Aluminum shells aren’t especially aesthetic, but are very ergonomic and comfortable; isolation is only fair and considerable outside noise will intrude.  The NM2+ are very efficient and easily driven with a mobile; I didn’t sense a great improvement with amping.

The NF Audio NM2+ is marketed as a “professional series monitor,” which implies that it will produce a highly revealing, relatively flat signature, with minimal emphasis on particular frequencies. The NF Audio NM2+ partly achieves this end, in the sense that it presents a lot of detail, an unaugmented (though well-sculpted) low end and no smearing of notes. However, upper mids are artificially boosted, bright and forward, which renders vocals, horns and strings clear but exhausting. Soundstage is narrowish though quite holographic and rounded; vocalists seem placed excessively stage-forward, although instruments are otherwise well-separated and accurately placed.  Notes are well-defined, though very lean in texture and timbre sounds pixilated; the overall effect is to make these sound over-analytical and over-equalized.

In general, the NF Audio NM2+ reminded me of Japanese makers like Ocharaku and Final, which seem to favor this revealing bright, midcentric tuning, as opposed to a bassier V-shaped Chi-fi signature. I can see where these would appeal to a certain class of listener, who crave a high level of resolution and/or don’t like a lot of bas. I could not get past the overheated mids, and especially at this price point cannot recommend.

Check Jürgen’s review for graphs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Drivers: Double Cavity Dynamic
Impedance: 18 Ω
Sensitivity: 108 dB/mW
Frequency Range: 10 – 40,000 Hz
Cable/Connector: 5N oxygen-free copper silver-plated Litz cable, 2-pin, 0.78mm
Sound Insulation: 25 dB
Tested at: $169
Product Page/Purchase Link: Shenzhenaudio

audioreviews.org

DISCLAIMER

The NF Audio NM2+ was provided unsolicited Jürgen by SHENZHENAUDIO, who forwarded it to me following his review. We both thank them for that.

Get THE NF AUDIO NM2+ from SHENZHENAUDIO

Our generic standard disclaimer.

About my measurements.

You find an INDEX of our most relevant technical articles HERE.

www.audioreviews.org

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Author

  • Loomis T. Johnson (Chicago, USA)

    Head-Fier since 2014. Based in Chicago, Loomis T. Johnson is a practicing attorney, failed musician, and lifelong music fanatic and record collector. He has frequently contributed to such review sites as Headfi, Sound Advocate, and Asian Provocative Ear (as well as many other far less interesting non-musical periodicals). A former two-channel and vintage gear obsessive, he has sheepishly succumbed to current trends in home theater and portable audio. He’s a firm believer that the equipment should serve the music and that good sound is attainable at any budget level.

Loomis T. Johnson (Chicago, USA)

Head-Fier since 2014. Based in Chicago, Loomis T. Johnson is a practicing attorney, failed musician, and lifelong music fanatic and record collector. He has frequently contributed to such review sites as Headfi, Sound Advocate, and Asian Provocative Ear (as well as many other far less interesting non-musical periodicals). A former two-channel and vintage gear obsessive, he has sheepishly succumbed to current trends in home theater and portable audio. He’s a firm believer that the equipment should serve the music and that good sound is attainable at any budget level.

3 thoughts on “NF AUDIO NM2+ Review II – Too Hot Too Handle

  • “In general, the NF Audio NM2+ reminded me of Japanese makers like Ocharaku and Final, which seem to favor this revealing bright, midcentric tuning” – would like to disagree a bit here. FInal’s B and E series IEMs, latter of which are there most popular IEMs ever, are mostly tuned to be warm, soothing and relaxed listen. The E5000 is one of the warmest and, for the lack of a better word, “gooiest” IEM I’ve ever listened.

    But yes, these brands indeed cater to a specific niche, which is why they have both vocal fans and vocal detractors.

    Reply
    • We all have different reviewing styles – which is a good thing. I wrote mine less from a personal perspective addressing the general public. And I made it clear it will be too hot for some.

      Reply
  • warbling j laskitude

    I’ve yet to have it explained to me how something can be “narrow” but “holographic” all at the same time

    Reply

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