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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want an audiophile upgrade cable that reconnects your Audio-Technica Live Sound in-ears with cleaner signal path and a grippier, resonance-tamed build for DJ and stage work, choose Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2; if you need a complete wired in-ear monitor with a dynamic driver, adapters and a full accessory kit for critical listening and mixing, choose NFACOUS NA20.
• Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2 biggest strength: A dedicated audiophile replacement cable for ATH-LS400iS, LS300iS, LS200iS, LS70iS and LS50iS, built around silver-plated annealed copper wire and A2DC coaxial connectors.
• Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2 biggest trade-off: It is a cable only — no drivers, no ear tips, no case. You must already own one of the compatible Audio-Technica models for it to do anything.
• NFACOUS NA20 biggest strength: A self-contained wired in-ear monitor with a single MC2L-100M dynamic driver, beryllium-plated diaphragm, 9–40 kHz response and a full kit of tips, case and a 3.5–6.35 mm adapter.
• NFACOUS NA20 biggest trade-off: It is a complete new earphone, so it replaces rather than upgrades what you already own, and it stays wired by design.
• Who Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2 is for: Existing Audio-Technica Live Sound Series owners who want a better-feeling, better-shielded cable for rotation-heavy DJ and monitoring use.
• Who NFACOUS NA20 is for: Audiophiles and DJs who want one box that delivers the whole in-ear monitoring setup, from driver to tips to adapter.
The HDC323A/1.2 is a specialist tool, and I mean that as a compliment. It is a 1.2 m (3.9') straight Y-type detachable headphone cable that terminates in a 3.5 mm gold-plated L-shaped stereo mini-plug. The conductor is silver-plated annealed copper — listed as AgA+ OFC — which Audio-Technica positions as a precise signal path for the compatible Live Sound Series in-ears.
The parts that matter for real use are the connectors and the housing. The headphone ends use Audio Designed Detachable Coaxial (A2DC) connectors, chosen for noise resistance and easy maintenance. The plug housing is a high-rigidity aluminum sleeve with knurling, which gives you something to grip when you are pulling cables out in a hurry and, per the spec sheet, helps reduce unwanted resonance. The sheath is flexible PVC, and the whole cable weighs 2.88 ounces.
So who should buy it? Anyone who already owns an ATH-LS400iS, LS300iS, LS200iS, LS70iS or LS50iS and wants a spare or an upgrade path without replacing the earphones. If you rotate gear between a controller, a mixer and a phone, a detachable cable is your insurance policy — one bad yank doesn't end the night. That is exactly the DJ scenario I would buy this for: the L-shaped plug sits flat against a device, the knurled aluminum sleeve is easy to grab mid-set, and the coaxial connector design is built around maintenance rather than disposability.
Who should skip it? If you don't own one of those five Audio-Technica models, this cable is inert. It also doesn't add drivers, tuning or isolation — it just connects what you already have, better. And if you want a complete earphone out of the box, this is the wrong product entirely.
The NA20 is the opposite kind of purchase: a complete wired in-ear monitor. NF ACOUS has been building stage-customized in-ears since 2014, and the NA20 reads as a refinement of that lineage — the cavity and casing mechanics are optimized for stability and durability, and the tuning is aimed at a wider range of music styles.
The headline spec is the MC2L-100M dynamic driver with a beryllium-plated diaphragm, which the sheet describes as lighter than traditional diaphragm materials and paired with a new magnetic structure. Frequency response runs from 9 Hz to 40 kHz, impedance is 32 ohm, sensitivity is 108 dB, and the connection is a standard 3.5 mm wired jack. There is also a patented SRA (Selective Reflection Adjustment) system — five air-pressure-controlling damping nets and two tuning sponges — intended to cut reflected sound and make the output purer. Passive noise cancellation comes from the sealed in-ear fit.
Build-wise you get a Maillard-style frosted polycarbonate shell with CNC-carved anodized aluminum parts, in Millard Brown, with an ergonomic hook-shaped earpiece designed for long listening or mixing sessions. The cable is a 6N OFC two-pin. In the box: a storage case, four pairs of MS42 ear tips (XS, S, M, L), a 6.35 mm–3.5 mm adapter, and a user guide, with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it? The audiophile who wants one wired IEM that covers critical listening and mixing, and the DJ who wants an in-ear that will survive a long session without ear fatigue. The 6.35 mm adapter is the tell — that is a studio and mixer-friendly inclusion, not a phone accessory afterthought. The four tip sizes matter too, because seal drives both bass and isolation in any in-ear.
Who should skip it? Anyone committed to wireless, and anyone who already loves their current in-ears and only wants to change the cable — that person is better served by the Audio-Technica option above.
• Best for existing Audio-Technica LS-series owners → Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2. It only fits ATH-LS400iS, LS300iS, LS200iS, LS70iS and LS50iS, but for those five it is a direct, purpose-built replacement.
• Best for a complete setup out of the box → NFACOUS NA20. Driver, cable, four tip sizes, case and adapter all arrive together.
• Best for cable durability and maintenance → Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2. A2DC detachable coaxial connectors plus a knurled aluminum sleeve are designed for grip, noise resistance and serviceability.
• Best for sound-tuning ambition → NFACOUS NA20. The MC2L-100M driver, beryllium-plated diaphragm and SRA damping system are actual acoustic engineering, not just a cable.
• Best for studio and mixer hookups → NFACOUS NA20. The included 6.35 mm–3.5 mm adapter and 6N OFC two-pin cable make it the more flexible connection story.
• Best for DJ rotation and quick swaps → Audio Technica HDC323A/1.2. The 1.2 m Y-type cable with an L-shaped plug is shaped for gear that gets plugged and unplugged constantly.
• Best for long-session comfort → NFACOUS NA20. The ergonomic hook-shaped earpiece and frosted polycarbonate shell are explicitly designed for extended listening and mixing.
• Best for buyers who don't already own compatible Audio-Technica IEMs → NFACOUS NA20, because the HDC323A/1.2 has nothing to attach to in that case.
If I were spending my own money and I already owned a pair of Audio-Technica LS-series in-ears, I would buy the HDC323A/1.2 without hesitation — it is the cheapest way to protect and improve a set I already like, and for DJ work the knurled aluminum sleeve and L-shaped plug are genuinely practical. But if I were starting from nothing, I would buy the NFACOUS NA20. It gives me a driver, a tuning philosophy, four tip sizes, a case and a studio adapter in one purchase, and that is a far more complete answer to "headphones for DJ and listening duty" than a cable can ever be. In my opinion, the NA20 is the better first buy for most people; the HDC323A/1.2 is the better second buy for a specific owner.
FAQ
what is the best headphones for audiophiles
what are the best headphones for audiophiles
For critical listening, I would point to the NA20: its MC2L-100M dynamic driver, beryllium-plated diaphragm and SRA selective reflection adjustment are all aimed at a cleaner, more detailed presentation. It also ships with four ear tip sizes, which matters because a proper seal drives both bass and passive isolation. If you already own compatible Audio-Technica in-ears, the HDC323A/1.2 is the audiophile-minded upgrade instead.
what are the best wireless headphones for audiophiles
Neither product here is wireless. The NFACOUS NA20 connects through a standard 3.5 mm wired jack with a 6N OFC two-pin cable, and the Audio-Technica HDC323A/1.2 is a 1.2 m wired cable ending in a 3.5 mm gold-plated L-shaped plug. If wireless is a hard requirement, both of these are the wrong category.
what are the best bluetooth headphones for audiophiles
Again, neither fits. Neither the NA20 nor the HDC323A/1.2 lists Bluetooth, a battery, or any wireless connectivity in its specifications. Both are wired solutions — one a complete in-ear monitor, the other a detachable cable — so shoppers wanting Bluetooth should look at a different product type entirely.
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