Disclaimer: I thank Nf-Acous for generously providing me with the NE4 in exchange for an honest review. On behalf of the team at the Headphone List, we thank Nf-Acous for their generosity and trust in THL.
TLDR:
Nf-Acous may be a low-key namesake in a swelling sea of product releases, but the NE4 represents genuine innovation and expressive performance.
The NE4’s swappable faceplates (crossovers) significantly alter the base qualities of the NE4 driver array, empowering listeners to experiment with the pairing that appeals to them. More importantly, the NE4’s default signature is technically impressive, emphasising neutral-warm harmonics and a shimmery treble.
Pros:
+ Authentic innovation and patented crossover/faceplate swappeability
+ Full-metal jacket construction boasts a spotless and durable exterior for lifelong usage
+ Positively impressionable package and marketing collateral
+ Technically proficient performance commensurate with the near-kilo buck price
+ Deft and responsive PRAT displaying excellent speed and low distortion
+ Good dynamic bass-slam and sub-bass heft/rumble
Cons:
– Heavy shells significantly contravene long-term wearability and comfort
– Custom-threaded screws difficult to install and uninstall: exercise caution due to its diminutive footprint
– Upper-treble garishness across all included faceplates, sabotaging timbral accuracy and realism
– Metallic, artificial BA-timbre is a persistent challenge across all faceplate pairings.
Introduction
Founded in 2014 by Shenzhen Ningfan Acoustics, Nf-Acous (formerly known as NF Audio) is renowned for its high-end earphones that push the boundaries of audio technology. The brand excels in creating universal and custom in-ear monitors with cutting-edge driver setups, including dynamic and balanced armature drivers.
Having operated for a full decade, Nf-Acous’ pedigree for audio engineering and design cannot be understated. However, in a rapidly expanding market promulgated through ‘hype boom and busts’, Nf-Acous has seemingly been left behind as reputable pundits orbit other popular namesake brands from Thieaudio to Moondrop. The rate at which the audiophile market travels is hard to keep up with.
Today, the NE4 Evolution is a bold and brave challenger with a secret weapon: patented, swappable faceplates, equipped with various resistors and crossovers, allowing users to hone in on their preferred target frequency response.
There’s no denying Nf-Acous’ trademark ingenuity and unashamedly innovative approach to challenging the IEM status quo, but does this translate into a performance-driven and highly adaptive IEM, or is this a carelessly slapped-together gimmick to attract more eyes and ears? The Nf-Acous’ NE4 Evolution can be purchased directly on Linsoul Audio or Hifigo for 749 USD.
Technology
Interchangeable Faceplates for an Interchangeable Sound
The NE4 Evolution comes with three switchable faceplates, empowering listeners to find the synergistic pairing that works best for them:
- The Red faceplate boosts the bass response, offering a dynamic and engaging profile ideal for genres like EDM and Pop. It features a three-way driver setup: one balanced armature (BA) driver for lows, one for mids, and two for highs.
- The Black (stock) faceplate is tuned for a neutral-flat sound with its three-way configuration: one BA driver for deep lows, one for a balanced full-frequency response, and two for high frequencies.
- The Blue faceplate delivers a transparent sound with a two-way setup, using one driver for a full-frequency range and two for high frequencies. This filter employs a total of three drivers for a balanced and clear audio experience.
Four-Driver Configuration
Utilizing a four-balanced armature driver array, the Knowles-powered NE4 promises to deliver excellent sound quality and timbre in an expansive sonic field.
CNC-Machined Construction
The NE4 is fully fabricated from aviation-grade aluminium via 5-axis CNC machining, boasting a hardy and steely exterior resistant to whatever life throws at it.
Unboxing
Nf-Acous certainly went all-out when it comes to the NE4’s sizeable box. The NF-Audio comes shipped in a cardboard sleeve, replete with NE4 iconography and imagery, surrounded by a maximalist assemblage of newspaper-style clippings and pop art. I dig the artsy and playful collateral.
Inside the box, you’ll first find the accompanying three faceplates in competing colourways, carefully stowed away in a foldable/collapsible cardboard display case, reminiscent of a jewel-style CD case with multiple slots. The vibrant theming across the entirety of the package leaves an overwhelmingly positive impression.
Dive deeper inside, and you’ll find the following accessories:
- NE4 Evolution itself
- Default NF-Audio Magnetic Flapped Case
- NF-Audio-themed 2-pin (QDC) to 3.5mm unbalanced terminated cable
- Three Faceplates – Red, Black and Blue
- Miniature screwdriver (for swapping faceplates) with spare screwheads
At 749 USD, the Nf-Acous package is brimming with style in terms of its end-to-end theming and conceptual framing. However, the quality and construction of its accessories could be elevated a notch. Doing so would help the NE4 punch much further above its weight class. Nonetheless, the unboxing experience leaves little to be desired.
Design
The Nf-Acous’ chassis is sizeable compared to the generic stylings of your run-of-the-mill acrylic shell. Because of its 5-axis, CNC-machined aluminium finish, the NE4 is a hefty earphone. The surface finish of the NE4’s exterior is powder-coated and sanitised, with a pebble-stone finish. The rim alongside the circumference of the faceplate boasts a contrasting, high-polished glow. The fit and finish of the NE4 are remarkable, and reminiscent of Campfire Audio’s mastery of CNC-machining and industrial design.
The real feature to be discussed is the NE4’s swappable faceplates. The NE4 comes pre-installed with the default ‘black’ (neutral) faceplates, fastened securely to the chassis with a springloaded, miniature screwhead.
The screwhead can be unfastened using the provided proprietary screwdriver. I highly encourage performing this manoeuvre in a well-lit setting: the extra-tiny screwhead is particularly difficult to locate once dropped onto the floor. There is a designated notch between the seam of the chassis and the faceplate acting as a visual and physical guide for situating the faceplate in the correct/flush position.
The configuration of the NE4 is gorgeous as it is practical. However, how the faceplates are swapped out is a delicate process and one in which users should exercise extreme caution, lest a screw is lost in the process.
Comfort & Ergonomics
Comfort-wise, there are a few teething issues with the NE-4. The NE4’s oversized shells mitigate its ability to sit comfortably, tightly pressing against my counter helix. This is a problem when it comes to long-term wearability and extensive listening sessions. Soreness and discomfort build up after the 2-hour mark.
Thankfully, the noticeably stout nozzle sits tightly and snugly in my ears with the designated medium-sized tips. However, the rest of the shell does protrude awkwardly from the outer ear onwards.
Because the NE4 utilizes an exclusively BA driver architecture, there are no visible vents on the NE4’s shells. This should come as no surprise: the NE4 isolates extraneous noise ingress well for an undisturbed and immersive listening session.
While comfort isn’t the NE4’s strong suit, noise isolation is exceptional and is well-suited for noisier settings.
Cable Quality
The NE4 comes shipped and equipped with Nf-Acous default go-to cable, a 3.5mm unbalanced cable with QDC 2-pin style connectors, strewn and annealed from four 5N Silver-plated Copper cores. The cable features machine-twisted braiding in a transculent sheathing, showing off its silver-plated core.
The cables themselves are fairly malleable and flexible, contouring and bending organically with little force. There is a bit of memory exhibited, but it does little to complicate its storability after use. Wearability in outdoor settings exhibits little to no cable noise, nor does it tangle into a discombobulated mess when spooled or unspooled.
There is a combination of plastic and metal hardware being used on this cable. The minuscule, metal termination cap has a standard cylindrical shape with flattened ends for easy grip-ability (a larger footprint would have been appreciated).
The Y-split consists of a large, rounded rubber piece. Speaking from experience, vulcanized rubber tends to degrade into a crumbling mess over time in scorching humid climates. This is something worth considering if you’re planning to purchase the NE4 and are domiciled in an equatorial country/state.
The NE4’s cable ticks almost all the right boxes, albeit with some peculiar material choices.
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