NF AUDIO RA15 REVIEW

>>I am brazilian and I speak portuguese, so forgive my english, I’ll use translation tools to help<<

INTRO:

Another great company is joining to our project: the NF Audio. I have already reviewed one of their IEMs, the NF Audio NA3, but it was sent to me by a store. Now, we are directly in contact with the NF Audio! Our first collab will be with the NF Audio RA15.

PS: From what I have heard, the company will be changing its name soon… it has already changed, but the official announcement will be made later.

Price: $89 USD
Color: Matte silver
Cable: Without Mic

NF Audio reviews: NA3 (only in portuguese)

NF AUDIO LINKS:

https://amzn.to/4m7wYLP

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_opLi2Jx

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oECduFd

SPECIFICATIONS:

Single DD:

• (1) Dynamic Driver (DD) MC2L-10M

– Frequency: 10Hz – 40kHz
– Effective frequency: 20Hz – 20kHz
– Impedance: 32Ω
– Sensitivity: 108dB/mW
– THD: <1%
– SPL max: 125dB
– Filters: detachable nozzles
– Termination plug: 3.5mm (straight design)
– Connectors: 2pin 0.78mm QDC (detachable)
– Cable size: 1.2m
– Cable: Silver-Plated Copper 5N OFC
– Shell: All-Metal
– IEM weight: 9.1g (one side)(without eartips)
– Cable weight: 15.9g
– Total weight (packaging, iems, etc): 154.3g
– Packaging size: 14.8cm [H] x 13cm [W] x 5cm [D]

UNBOXING:

PHYSICAL ASPECTS:

Construction: Just by looking at the images, we already know that the RA15 is an IEM made entirely of metal. I found it to be a very robust IEM, with a very resistant construction quality, so I think it is an ideal IEM for you to carry around or use on a daily basis without needing to be too careful… of course, I’m not saying you should drop the IEM on the floor, but you don’t need to worry too much either because it’s not a glass IEM.

Metal IEMs always have the weight issue, they are usually twice the weight of resin IEMs. Before the RA15, I evaluated the Dunu Titan S2, and I also mentioned this weight issue, both have practically the same weight. So, in the ear, this issue doesn’t really appear, but I always prefer lighter IEMs, resin ones, for example. I think the less weight, the better.

The RA15 seems to be a large IEM, but it’s not, on the contrary, it’s quite small. Maybe the photos and videos of it on the internet make it seem a little bigger. When I inserted the earphones into my ears, I noticed that they were quite compact. I think this is a very positive point because they will be compatible with more types of ears (small, large, etc.).

Filters: The RA15 comes with detachable nozzles that act as filters. There are two nozzles: one made of stainless steel and the other of brass. I found it very easy to change the nozzles, they are screw-on and very secure. Both nozzles are very similar in construction, both are the same length and also have foam inside the tube. The only difference I noticed was the internal diameter of the brass one, which is a little narrower.

Eartips: Here’s a pleasant surprise… Although there was only one type of eartip in the kit, I found the ones that were made available to me to be very interesting, they are the NF AUDIO MS42. Great eartips, the silicone is very soft and the tube is thin (generating more comfort). Another interesting detail is that they are a kind of middle ground between the eartips that exist on the market, that is, the hole is neither too closed nor too open (wide bore), which makes them have a better balance between bass and treble. I admit that they aren’t that cheap (especially for Brazilians), but they are a little more affordable than the Final E eartips or the Divinus Velvet, for example.

One not-so-good part is that there are not many stores selling these eartips… I only found them in one store on AliExpress, and they don’t sell the pack with all sizes, only the pack for individual sizes (so it’s only good if the person already knows which size is right for them). Here at RA15, the pack came complete with 4 sizes: XS/S/M/L. In my tests, I usually use size M, and the M of the MS42 fit me well. I used the size M to review the IEM.

Cable: Excellent cable! I really liked it, very thin, light, and aesthetically beautiful. Easy to roll up for storage, doesn’t create memory (waves), has good malleability, and doesn’t have microphonics. The only observation I would make is that the connectors are of the “QDC” type… The QDC is even safer than the “normal” 2-pin, the problem is that it’s a little harder to find a replacement cable (if necessary) with the QDC. The earhooks are smooth and have a good curvature, which is a positive point. The chin slider works 100%, it even takes a little force to move the piece.

Fit and comfort: Another very positive point of the RA15. As I said in the construction paragraph, it’s a very small IEM, and this made it easy to fit and feel comfortable. The IEM fits well in my earcup, there are no protruding parts, looking at it from the front you can’t even notice that I’m wearing IEMs. Because it’s also small, I didn’t have any pressure points. The shell is very smooth and rounded, the internal part is a very good size, shortened. The insertion is average, and the isolation is good. I consider the RA15 to be a good pair of IEM for those who spend a lot of time listening to music. The weight issue didn’t really come up here, but as I said, for me, the lighter the better.

Accessories: As for the accessories included, the RA15 came with a bag made of synthetic leather (outside) and velvet (inside). I think that for the price of the product, it would have been a good idea for the company to include a hard or semi-hard case. I don’t think this type of case they included is a good way to store IEMs (in my opinion).

SOUND ASPECTS:

I understood the sound of the NF Audio RA15 as being a Neutral with a mild bassboost. The IEM has a very pleasant sound, and at the same time it’s quite technical, because the presentation is very clean and defined. It has a slight emphasis on the mid-bass region, a pinna gain with emphasis but without excess, and very linear treble without losing detail.

I was surprised by the RA15, I didn’t expect the sound to be so good. I confess that this is not my favorite sound, but I will say that among the last 3 single DDs I listened to (Tanchjim 4U, Dunu Titan S2, and NF Audio RA15), the RA15 was the one I liked the most in terms of sound, and the one I found most comfortable for my ears (physical and sound). I tested the IEM with the stainless steel filter/nozzle.

Bass:

Quantitative: The bass is moderate, or we can say that the RA15 is neutral. It isn’t bass for bassheads. Not even changing the filters/nozzles made the bass jump to the bassheadism side. The bass is mostly emphasized in the mid-bass region. The sub-bass is present but doesn’t dominate the presentation. The difference between the two regions isn’t very big, although the mid-bass is more audible. I didn’t feel any roll-off, the extension is good. I think this bass will go well with genres in which the bass doesn’t need to be the star of the show, for example, instrumental music, Bossa Nova, MPB, some Rock, Hard Rock, and older Pop.

Qualitative: The RA15’s bass is very clean, defined, fast, and controlled. In terms of texture and physicality, the RA15 doesn’t stand out, but make no mistake, the bass isn’t thin, there’s a good dose of substance there. This question is certainly due to the IEM not focusing on sub-bass. The impact is very firm and tight, the impact is audible and not exaggerated. The bass doesn’t invade the mids, nor is it bloated or muddy. The resolution is a very positive point, very similar to the bass of some planar magnetic IEMs. Here in the RA15, percussion instruments such as a drum, for example, you feel that the sound becomes firmer and more delineated during the beats.

Mids:

Quantitative and qualitative: I really liked the RA15’s mids, they are indeed “forward”, but compared to the Dunu Titan S2, I think the RA15 is a little more recessed. The difference is small, in fact, but this small difference already makes me feel more comfortable. It’s not that the Titan S2 was uncomfortable for me, the point is that thinking in the long time, a softer sound will be more pleasant to me (it’s subjective). It’s true, this difference in the Titan S2’s pinna gain made it more airy, but I didn’t think there was any technical detriment in the RA15’s mids, for me, they sounded transparent and very detailed.

Voices: If on the Titan S2 I thought the victory went to female/high-pitched voices, here on the RA15 it was a tie, because both high-pitched and low-pitched voices sounded good. But the following is true: it can balance the vocal range, but it cannot excel with either type of vocal. In other words, it won’t be the best IEM to extract the maximum potential from a specific type of vocal, because it will be good for both. It’s difficult to understand this, but you can better visualize this issue when, for example, you get a pair of IEMs that have a lot of sub-bass, and then it leaves the bass vocals with a lot of texture and warmth.

Treble:

Quantitative: I think the RA15’s treble is at a moderate level. I should say right away that this isn’t an IEM for trebleheads, perhaps the Tanchjim 4U would please those people more. I think the RA15 is on the list of IEMs that don’t cause hearing fatigue due to the treble. If you are very sensitive, you may be able to change the eartip for a more closed one, which can slightly reduce the treble. I recommend the Sony EP-EX11 or the SpinFit CP100 for this issue (if necessary, but I don’t think it will). I didn’t notice any roll-off, and the extension is good. I think that more acoustic genres will be more suited to the RA15, but of course, this is subjective, you can listen to whatever you want with the IEM.

Qualitative: The RA15’s treble are linear, controlled, coherent, and versatile. No peaks, no coloration. They have great definition, detail, and airy. The sparkle is very consistent with reality, that is, there are no excesses or absences. The treble aren’t shrill, sharp, or harsh, and there’s no sibilance. Piano, string instruments, acoustic guitar, and violin are presented with great naturalness. Drum cymbals have the right amount of brightness and detail, that is, they perform without sounding harsh or aggressive.

Soundstage: I found the soundstage to be very good. For such a small and compact IEM, the spatiality impressed me. It’s true that it’s not as deep because of the upper-mids, but the upper-mids are less emphasized than with the Titan S2, that is, the RA15 gives a greater sense of depth than with the Titan S2. I really liked the height and width.

Imaging: I found the instrumental separation to be good. The IEM has good detail, the sound as a whole is very clean, and this helps to prevent the sound from getting congested. The stereo image is good. The good soundstage also helps to separate the instruments from each other. It’s worth remembering that this aspect is strongly influenced by the quality of the recordings.

Filters: The result I found was that the bronze nozzle made the sound warmer and increased the bass a little, basically that was it. In my opinion, I think it took away some of the detail and made the IEM “less technical”. I didn’t really like the sound with the nozzle mentioned, so I preferred to do the review with the stainless steel nozzle. As I always say, some companies choose removable filters/nozzles, but for me, most of the time, a different eartip can change (the sound) more.

Driver flex test: I didn’t heard any driver flex sound when inserting the IEMs into my ears.

Amplification: I used the FiiO KA11 dongle connected to my notebook to do this review. The volume was at 20% of the 100% available through Windows. I can say that the NF Audio RA15 is an easy-to-play IEM, and doesn’t require dedicated amplification. The RA15 will play well on smartphones, iPads, and computers. As usual, I recommend that the person at least have a good quality dongle to play the IEMs. Currently, I recommend the FiiO KA11 as a good cost/benefit dongle.

COMPARATIVE: NF Audio RA15 x Dunu Titan S2

The IEM I reviewed before the RA15 were also single DD IEM, the Dunu Titan S2. I imagine that some people are interested in knowing a brief comparison between the two. Well, first, regarding the accessories: There’s nothing to say here, the Titan S2 wins by a good margin over the RA15. The Titan S2 kit, for the price charged, is something incredible for the consumer (the RA15 still costs $10 USD more than the Titan S2). Now, in terms of aesthetics, comfort, and fit, the RA15 is my preference. Not that the Titan S2 is bad in these aspects, it’s just that the RA15 manages to be even better (in my opinion).

In terms of sound, here we enter a very subjective field, mainly because both have similar tuning, but yes, there are differences. The Titan S2 has slightly stronger and more textured bass, the boost in the mid-bass is greater than in the RA15. The RA15, on the other hand, has tight and more defined bass. In the mids, the Titan S2 has a greater emphasis, the pinna gain is clearer and more airy, while the RA15 is softer and more silky. The detail in both is very good, but the Titan S2 gives the sensation of a little more because it has more emphasis on the pinna gain. In the treble, the two IEMs are very similar, both have a very good balance. I still found the RA15 better because the treble are closer to the upper-mids, while in the Titan S2 the upper-mids are a little higher in relation to the treble, that is, I feel more linearity in the sound of the RA15. I think the RA15 wins in terms of soundstage, and in terms of imaging, the Titan S2 wins by a small margin. Both are easy to play, I think the RA15 is even a little easier.

In general terms, I think the RA15 is like “2dBs” less than the Titan S2, so you get a less energetic sound, it’s a smoother, more comfortable sound. I say “comfortable” because if you read my review of the Titan S2, you saw that I made an observation about the issue of the upper-mids of the IEM, there I warn that perhaps people who feel some sensitivity in this region may be bothered in the long times (assumption). Here with the RA15, I think the IEM don’t have this issue, the pinna gain sounded very natural and euphonic to me. The interesting thing is that if we look at the frequency responses (FR) of the IEMs, the result of the comparison would be the opposite, since in the graphs the RA15 seems to be more energetic there in the upper-mids and treble. I listened to both IEMs, and for me, the RA15 manages to be a calmer IEM.

PROS AND CONS:

GRAPHS BY SUPER*REVIEWS:

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