Fostex NF-1 User Manual

NF-1Series

Near Field Studio Monitors

PROFESSIONAL

Main features

■

Double spidered 16cm (6.5 inch)
woofer featuring a newly developed
HP diaphragm which delivers a
highly transient sound, wide
directivity and exact sound imaging
with extraordinary low distortion

■

A UDR tangential diaphragm edge
eliminates unwanted anti­resonance. This, combined with the
use of a push-pull damper in the
woofer assembly results in a super­accurate response at even the most
subtlest of audio signals

■

Wide-range UFLC soft dome tweeter
reproduces signals up to 40kHz

■

Highly rigid cast aluminium frames
for both woofer and tweeter units
keep unwanted vibrations and
resonances to a minimum

■

Magnetically shielded - can be used in
close proximity to a video monitor

■

Unique time-aligned enclosure
features a baffle configuration and
HP sound reflectors resulting in a
near-perfect internal enclosure
environment

■

Careful placement of drivers and
innovative enclosure design allows
for a wide optimum listening area

NF-1A

■

Dedicated bi-amplifier (60W
LF + 60W HF) drives both
drivers electrical isolation

PROFESSIONAL

■

A large sized R-core power
transformer ensures stability
of low frequencies - even at
high pressure levels

■

balanced XLR and
unbalanced phone input
connectors

■

3-point (H/H-M/L) audio
adjusting filters &
independent tweeter control

NF-1Series

Near Field Studio Monitors

HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID

DIAPHRAGM

The NF-1series employ the world’s

first implementation of an HP structure

in an near field monitor.
Unlike conventional diaphragms, the
curved surface of the HP diaphragm

offers increased responsiveness and

resonance-free operation.

UFLC DIAPHRAGM

SOFT DOME TWEETER

The utilisation of a UFLC (polyUrethane

Film Laminated Cloth) diaphragm in
the NF-1’s soft dome tweeter allows
for the highest possible fidelity and

sound reproduction - even at

extremely high frequencies.

Something which, until now, has not

been possible with conventional soft

dome technologies.

True and accurate monitoring is the

utopia sought by recording studios,

video post houses, remote broadcast

facilities and project studios the

world over. Monitoring which

truthfully reproduce all aspects of

the program material free from any

sonic coloration and distortion.

Yet this is exactly what the new and

innovative Fostex NF-1 (passive) and

NF-1A (active) Near Field Studio

Monitors do.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And at any volume.

Here are nearfield reference

monitors meticulously designed to

be completely neutral, to offer the

widest frequency range, to minimise

listening fatigue and to allow you to

accurately pinpoint and analyse all

aspects of your creative output.

In short, they set a new standard.

But isn’t this something you have

A BREAKTHROUGH
IN DRIVER TECHNOLOGY

By using an HP diaphragm, the NF-1/NF-1A
set new standards in driver unit design.

heard before? After all, many

manufactures will make the same

sort of claims for their studio

monitors. But few, if any back it up

with hard, scientific facts.

Fostex however can and do, because

they’ve made real advances in

speaker and enclosure design

technology which has resulted in,

what could be, the perfect reference

monitor.

BLANK SHEET OF PAPER

So what makes the NF-1 series so

different? For a start, Fostex started

with a blank sheet of paper when

designing the three crucial

components of the NF-1/NF-1A; the

low frequency woofer unit, the high

frequency tweeter unit and the

speaker enclosure.

Nothing was taken for granted.

Nothing was assumed.

HP DIAPHRAGM

The NF-1/NF-1A employ a

completely new type of low

frequency unit featuring a newly

developed HP (Hyperbolic

paraboloid) diaphragm.

The 3rd-order curved surface

structure of this technology results

in the ability to reproduce faster-

rising sounds more responsively, the

minimisation of self-resonating

frequencies and the total lack of

sound colorisation characteristics.

But Fostex didn’t stop there. New

technology also shows itself in the

UDR (Up/Down Roll) tangential edge

structure of the low frequency unit.

This edge is created by joining up-

roll and down-roll at their tangential

surfaces while utilising FEM model

analysis to determined the optimum

bonding points.

PROFESSIONAL NEAR FIELD STUDIO MONITORS

PROFESSIONAL NEAR FIELD STUDIO MONITORS

NEWLY DESIGNED
BASS REFLEX SYSTEM

Although the NF-1/NF-1A uses a bass reflex
enclosure, Fostex have, again,
re-worked the technology to provide real
gains in terms of bass response
characteristics.
This has involved the active utilisation of the
reverberent sound caused by the internal HP
reflectors which exits the enclosure through
the two bass-reflex ports.
(Something which is just not possible with
enclosures which only use conventional
glass fibre for internal damping).
The placement of the exit ports was also
critical in allowing a smooth and natural
blending of the sound coming from the
woofer and tweeter units.

It is this edge which plays a key part

in the overall performance of the

units.

SOFT DOME HF UNIT

Fostex could have opted for a

standard soft dome tweeter for the

NF-1/NF-1A. But as good as these

are in standard form, Fostex felt the

need to develop a new type of soft

dome unit, one which features UFLC

in its construction.

Conventional soft dome units exhibit

minute ‘pinholes’ in the damping

materials resulting in dips in the

frequency response. In using UFLC

materials, Fostex have eliminated

these, made a 30% weight reduction

and widened the frequency response

across the range.

But all this attention to detail would

have counted for nothing if Fostex

had, like others, used plastic or

pressed metal driver frame

assemblies.

This is because these types of

construction do not, unlike the die-

cast aluminium frame used for the

woofer and tweeter units in the NF-

1/NF-1A, offer optimum vibration

suppression.

ENCLOSURES

A monitor enclosure is much more

than just the box in which to house

the driver units. It too must be

acoustically designed to minimise

the vibrations which can colour and

degrade the sound.

The NF-1/NF-1A time-aligned bass-

reflex enclosures features a number

of construction and acoustic

treatment techniques, which

combine to offer an ideal chamber

for suppressing vibration and

unwanted reflections.

These include:

■

A unique internal baffle

configuration (patent applied

for), using HP sound reflectors

to naturally extinguish standing

waves.

■

21mm thick super-rigid MDF

particle board for the main

enclosure construction

widening to 33mm where the

drivers are mounted.

■

Rounded edges on the front

baffle for reduced reflection of

mid-frequency sounds.

■

Two precisely tuned 2"

cylindrical ports for increased

bass response whilst

maintaining a compact

enclosure.

THE TRUTH

Hooking up a pair of Fostex NF-1’s

or NF-1As for the first time is

somewhat of a revelation. You may

be surprised at what you hear. Your

material may sound better. It may

sound worse. But at least it will be a

true representation, free from any

sonic coloration and distortion.

Which is where we came in.

INTERNAL
ARCHITECTURE

The internal architecture of an
NF-1/NF-1A has been
acoustically designed to
minimise resonances and
vibration which can add
unwanted colour to the sound.

HP SOUND
REFLECTORS

The inclusion of HP sound
reflectors prevents the
generation of standing waves in
the enclosure.

Like the HP drivers, the
constantly varying 3rd-order
curved surface of the HP
reflectors, along with their
carbon fibre/PBO construction
minimises self resonance.

NF-1 CONNECTIONS

For optimum performance and
flexibility, the NF-1 features a
4-terminal connection hub.
This allows for bi-wiring and
bi-amping techniques.

NF-1 CROSSOVER
DESIGN

The extremely natural and
ultra-smooth transition
between woofer and tweeter
units is due to another
breakthrough in monitor
design.
While the high frequency UFLC
tweeter unit uses a low loss
6dB crossover, the smooth roll
off of the low frequency
woofer, (afforded by the
unique HP diaphragm
technology), renders the use of
a crossover for this unit
obsolete.

121 effects

PROFESSIONAL NEAR FIELD STUDIO MONITORS

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PROFESSIONAL NEAR FIELD STUDIO MONITORS

Specifications

PROFESSIONAL

NF-1

Impedance 8 Ω
Speaker Units

HF unit 20mm Soft Dome UFLC

LF unit 160mm HP diaphragm woofer
Frequency response 50Hz - 40kHz
Sound Pressure Level 89dB/W (1m)
Power handling 120 watts (program) / 60 watts (RMS)
Crossover frequency 10kHz
Enclosure Type Bass reflex type featuring

Size 240mm x 340mm x 274mm
Input Connections 4mm gold terminals with

Weight Approx 9.1kg

NF-1A

SPEAKER SECTION
Impedance 8 Ω
Speaker Units

HF unit 20mm Soft Dome UFLC

LF unit 160mm HP diaphragm woofer
Frequency response 50Hz - 40kHz
Maximum Sound Pressure Level 106dB/W (Max/rated input)
Enclosure Type Bass reflex type featuring

AMPLIFIER SECTION
Output

(Low frequencies) 60W (typical)

(High frequencies) 60W (typical)
Total Harmonic Distortion 0.05%
Input (Balanced)

Connector XLR-3-2 type (Pin 2:HOT) x 1

Impedance > 20kΩ

Level +4dBu
Input (Unbalanced)

Connector ø 6mm phone jack x 1

Impedance > 20kΩ

Level -10dBV
Crossover frequency 5kHz
Tweeter variable range ±3dB
Filters

(High frequencies) 10kHz, +3 / 0 / -3 (selectable)

(Hi-Mid frequencies) 3kHz, Off:0 / On:-3dB

(Low frequencies) 60Hz, +3 / 0 / -3 (selectable)

GENERAL
Dimensions 240mm x 340mm x 320mm
Weight Approx 11kg
Power Requirements 120V, 60Hz. 230V, 50/60Hz. 230V, 50Hz
Power Consumption 52W

NOTICE: UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES

Patents are pending for the following unique technologies.

• Configuration of HP diaphragm*

• HP diaphragm adapter*

www.fostex.co.jp

Fostex Corporation, 3-2-35 Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo, Japan 196-0021
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

diaphragm tweeter

HP sound reflectors

Bi-wiring option

diaphragm tweeter

HP sound reflectors

• UDR tangential edge*

• UFLC diaphragm material

In accordance with our policy of continuous development, we reserve the right to change specifications without notice. E&OE.

• New bass-reflex system with HP
sound reflectors

* woofer & tweeter

CONNECTIONS

NF-1 - terminals for various bi-amping applications
NF-1A - Balanced XLR and unbalanced phone jack

NF-1A
Amplifier

DEDICATED &
ACOUSTICALLY
ISOLATED
BI-AMPLIFIER

The NF-1A features a fully
independent bi-amplifier with
60W of independent power
available for both the Low and
High frequencies. This ensures
that each unit is driven in perfect
electrical isolation. The amplifier
is also cleverly installed ensuring
that unwanted vibrations are kept
to an absolute minimum.

R-CORE TRANSFORMER

The large sized R-core
transformer supplies more than
enough power to ensure that the
Low frequencies maintain their
integrity - even at high sound
pressure levels.

FLEXIBLE FILTERING

Adjusting filters include LO FREQ
(+3, 0, -3dB @ 60Hz), HI-MID
ATT (0, -3dB) and HI FREQ (+3, 0,

-3dB). An independent tweeter
control (-3dB to +3dB variable)
is also present. Crossover point is
set at 5kHz).

Distributor / Authorised Dealer

NF-1 FREQUENCY RESPONSE 0° 30° 60°

NF-1A FREQUENCY RESPONSE

LO/HI = +3dB

LO/MID/HI = -3dB

0°
30°
60°