Today, Nihal reviews the Nostalgia Audio NA12, a high-end tri-brid universal IEM consisting of a mix of 12 BA, EST, and bone conduction drivers. It is priced at $2159.00.
Disclaimer: This is a sample sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank the team at Nostalgia Audio for their support.
Click here to read more about Nostalgia Audio products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read here in more detail.
Nostalgia Audio has established itself as a respected IEM brand from Hong Kong. Since its inception in 2020, the brand has built a strong reputation with well-received releases like the Camelot and Tesseract.
Having had the opportunity to try the Camelot on a few occasions, I found it to be a solid performer. In addition to crafting audiophile-grade IEMs, Nostalgia Audio also specializes in professional studio monitors.
From my experience with recent studio monitoring IEMs, I’ve noticed a significant narrowing of the gap between audiophile-grade IEMs and professional monitors. Modern professional monitors now incorporate features that appeal to both segments, making them increasingly versatile.
The NA12, touted as the best studio reference IEM Nostalgia Audio has ever produced, aims to push these boundaries further. Naturally, I couldn’t pass up the chance to review it.
In this review, we’ll delve into the performance of the NA12 and evaluate how it compares to some well-established IEMs.
Features
The driver configuration of the NA12 features a tri-brid design, incorporating 8 proprietary balanced armature drivers, dual electrostatic drivers, and the latest Sonion dual-membrane bone conduction vibrator with a 6-way crossover.
The 8 balanced armature drivers cover the sub-lows, mid-lows, mid-highs, and highs, with two drivers dedicated to each range banding. For the ultra-highs, the NA12 uses a dual Sonion electrostatic driver array
The dual bone conduction drivers are specifically tuned for the midrange frequencies, helping the vocals achieve better clarity and precision.
The NA12 is rated at 116 dB @ 1kHz, 1mW, and an impedance of 18Ω @ 1kHz making it a relatively easy IEM to drive.
Design
The shells of the NA12 are crafted from resin and are larger than average. If you’re familiar with the Camelot, the shape and size are quite similar.
The NA12 features a deep red, single-tone color with a slightly transparent finish. Its design is minimalistic but visually appealing, with darker tones along the edges adding a richer, more sophisticated look.
The faceplates are simple, adorned with the brand’s logo on one side and the model’s name, “NA12,” on the other.
These IEMs use a standard 2-pin 0.78mm connector. The 2-pin connect slot is slightly recessed ensuring that the cable connected to the IEM is tightly secured. The nozzles are larger and longer than typical designs, which may impact fit depending on the user.
Comfort & Isolation
Due to their larger size, these IEMs may not offer the snuggest of fits, but their exceptionally lightweight shells make them comfortable for extended listening sessions.
The smooth edges and rounded corners prevent any unwanted pressure on contact points, enhancing overall comfort.
While the larger shells do protrude slightly outside the ears when worn, they feel secure and stable without any sensation of being pulled out or hanging awkwardly.
With properly fitting ear tips, the IEMs almost disappear in terms of their presence, making them incredibly unobtrusive.
Once inserted, these IEMs stay firmly in place, making them ideal for on-the-go use, with minimal risk of falling out or loosening.
The noise isolation is reasonably effective, blocking out a fair amount of external sound. With well-fitted ear tips, the isolation improves further, creating a more immersive listening experience.
Ear Tips
Nostalgia has done an excellent job with the ear tip selection. The package includes a set of Dekoni Washable Memory Foam tips and two sets of silicone ear tips, each designed to enhance comfort and sound quality.
The silicone tips are available in small, medium, and large sizes, while the Dekoni foam tips are offered in a single size.
Additionally, there is an in-house designed XWB (“Extra Wide Bore”) ear tip. This design features a larger bore specifically crafted to accommodate the wider nozzles of larger IEMs.
In contrast, the included black silicone tips are a narrow bore, offering an alternative sound profile.
Although I’m not a frequent user of foam tips, the Dekoni Bulletz is highly regarded in the audio community, and I can see why.
In my brief experience with them, they provided a snug and comfortable fit. Compared to many other foam ear tips on the market, the Dekoni Bulletz stand out for their superior quality and fit.
The silicone ear tips are also well-crafted, with a soft texture that ensures both comfort and durability. The XWB ear tips deserve special mention for their secure fit and compatibility with larger nozzles, making them an excellent choice.
However, I found the black narrow-bore silicone tips less suitable for the IEM, as their smaller bore diameter seemed to limit the openness of the sound.
As a bonus, the package also included an extra pair of XWB ear tips, which appears to be a complimentary addition—a thoughtful touch from Nostalgia.
Stock Cable
The NA12 comes with two high-quality cables, offering versatility for different use cases. One is a single-ended 3.5mm silver-plated cable, ideal for general listening, while the other is a balanced 4.4mm high-purity silver-plated cable, perfect for enhanced audio performance.
This thoughtful inclusion provides users with flexibility, whether they use the NA12 as everyday earphones or for professional monitoring.
The 3.5mm cable, designed for studio monitoring, features a thin and supple build, ensuring comfort during extended use. While I primarily used the balanced cable, the 3.5mm option proved equally effective in sound quality, maintaining a consistent listening experience.
The balanced cable stands out with its premium construction, crafted from four 26AWG high-purity Litz silver-plated copper wires for ultra-low resistance and superior audio fidelity.
Its soft PVC insulation provides excellent flexibility, and its lightweight design makes it easy and comfortable to carry on the go.
The hardware on the balanced cable is sleek and well-designed. The 4.4mm cylindrical adapter comes in a silver finish with the word “Nostalgia” engraved.
The Y-split is equally impressive, featuring a cylindrical shape adorned with the Nostalgia Audio logo, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging of the Nostalgia NA12 delivers a premium experience. The box, sleek and black, is compact yet thoughtfully designed. A stylish outer sleeve, adorned with a red and white design featuring the brand and product names, enhances the aesthetic appeal.
Sliding off the sleeve reveals a neatly arranged interior with a foam cutout that securely holds the contents.
With its decent size, the box offers ample space, ensuring all components are snugly and elegantly positioned. Inside, you’ll find the carry case, a pair of IEMs, and a packet of ear tips, each meticulously placed in their designated slots.
The overall presentation exudes sophistication, complemented by the high-quality accessories included. Every detail reflects a special attention to craftsmanship, elevating the unboxing experience to a new level.
Carry Case
The carry case for the NA12 is made of aluminum, giving it a solid and sturdy feel when held. It is also notably heavy.
The case is cylindrical and features a screw-top mechanism, where the upper part rotates counterclockwise for easy opening. This design offers more secure storage compared to cases that simply slide open.
Engraved in large font at the center of the lid is the “NA12” logo, along with the brand name. The case has a smooth matte black coating that, after weeks of use, shows no signs of chipping, indicating high durability.
Inside, there’s ample space to store both the IEMs and the cable. However, due to its size and weight, it may not fit comfortably in smaller pockets.
Additionally, a mesh pouch is included, providing a convenient option for storing the shells and protecting them from scratches.
Sound Impressions
The following sound impressions of the Nostalgia Audio NA12 were completed using a mixture of my main source, Lotoo’s Paw Gold Touch, and occasionally the Questyle CMA18P and Astell&Kern SP3000. For the review, I paired the IEMs with stock cable and Divinus Velvel ear tips, size L.
Summary
The Nostalgia Audio NA12 is designed primarily as a professional IEM, and it effortlessly strikes a balance between precision monitoring and audiophile-grade tuning.
Its sound signature is very coherent, with no frequency range overstated, resulting in a natural and realistic listening experience.
The NA12 delivers a warm sound profile with a near-neutral tilt, distinguishing it from sharp, treble-forward IEMs. Its smooth, non-fatiguing presentation makes it a highly musical choice, a characteristic typically associated with audiophile tuning.
Bass
Despite being an all-balanced armature driver setup, the NA12 impresses with its bass response. I
n recent months, having reviewed multiple IEMs with balanced armature bass, I’ve found the gap between dynamic and balanced armature drivers to be minimal, though the natural feel of dynamic drivers still holds an edge.
The NA12 offers satisfying bass punch and impact, with a tight, controlled low end that never overwhelms the mix. However, the deep rumbles and sub-bass depth that are characteristic of dynamic drivers are not as pronounced here.
This is a well-textured bass, with solid layering, but it doesn’t slam with the same intensity. The focus seems to be on creating a realistic, well-paced bassline, emphasizing speed and texture rather than raw power.
The mid-bass is slightly boosted, providing a punchy sound, though it could benefit from a more rounded quality, as the lingering impact sometimes dissipates a bit too quickly, giving it a slightly loose character around the edges.
Although the sub-bass is present it doesn’t go particularly deep, offering a subtle presence rather than a visceral impact. Overall, the bass strikes a fine balance between quantity and quality, making it neither overwhelming nor lacking.
Midrange
The midrange of the NA12 is both warm and natural, with a timbre-perfect presentation that accurately reproduces instruments and vocals. While the bone-conducting drivers add some vibrancy to the sound, the effect is subtle and doesn’t drastically alter the overall presentation.
Its lower midrange brings fullness to the sound, adding thickness and weight to vocals and instruments, with a nice sense of depth provided by the weight of the notes.
Vocals have a smooth, textured quality, offering a polished natural feel. However, the vocals are not the focal point; instead, they are well-balanced within the mix, preventing them from overshadowing the other elements. This gives the NA12 a more balanced, rather than midrange-forward, character.
Instruments are clean and clearly defined, with quick attack and decay. For example, the electric guitar’s gritty, distorted texture adds intensity, while the piano’s crisp tone provides a smooth counterpoint.
However, the upper midrange could use a touch more bite, as it lacks some crispness, which affects the overall sense of clarity and excitement in this region.
Treble
The NA12 is not a treble-focused IEM, despite the inclusion of multiple balanced armature and electrostatic drivers in the high frequencies.
Treble enthusiasts may not find it as exciting, but there’s little missing in terms of detail, speed, and accuracy. The treble is smooth and non-fatiguing, though not overly relaxed or energetic.
While it delivers good detail, some high-frequency instruments like cymbals and flutes could benefit from more distinction, as the details can sometimes blend together in treble-heavy passages.
It’s a more refined, laid-back treble presentation that prioritizes smoothness over sparkle, avoiding harshness but lacking a bit of crunch and presence.
Staging & Dynamics
As a professional monitor first and foremost, the NA12 excels in soundstage and imaging.
The soundstage is holographic and spacious without feeling artificially wide, and it has excellent depth, with a noticeable vertical dimension. The front-to-back presentation is well executed, providing a sense of distance between elements in the mix.
Imaging is precise, making it easy to locate instruments within the soundstage. Even in complex, busy tracks, the NA12 maintains clear separation, and there’s no congestion.
While the overall technical performance is impressive, the resolution and precision of the notes could be slightly improved.
Being labeled a professional studio monitor, a bit more clarity and accuracy would elevate the listening experience further, though it’s here that the NA12 leans more towards an audiophile tuning, offering warmth and smoothness at the expense of ultimate precision.
Click on page 2 below for my recommended pairings and selected comparisons.
