Review [extra Quality]: Tannoy System 8 Nfm Ii

The result is a single point source. In theory, this eliminates the phase issues and lobing errors inherent in traditional driver arrangements where the sound from the tweeter and woofer arrive at the listener's ear at slightly different times.

On the rear panel, the NFM II (Near Field Monitor) designation becomes clear. You are greeted with professional-grade connectivity: XLR and 1/4-inch jack inputs. Crucially, Tannoy included HF and EQ contour controls. This is not a "set and forget" monitor; it is designed to be tuned to the room.

The HF driver in the NFM II uses a highly doped aluminum alloy diaphragm. The sound is detailed but distinctively "smooth." Some modern monitors (like Focal or Adam) use metal tweeters that can sound hyper-detailed to the point of fatigue. The Tannoy is different. It reveals the detail without biting your ears off. tannoy system 8 nfm ii review

While it lacks the extreme low-end extension found in modern active monitors, it remains a beloved asset for mixing guitar tracks, identifying balance issues, and evaluating phase relationships. Technical Specifications System 8 NFM II

Reviewers from Audiofanzine and Gearspace generally describe the sound as honest and highly accurate, particularly regarding phase and imaging. The result is a single point source

I paired the NFM IIs with a Bryston 3B-ST (120wpc) and a set of custom Kimber Kable 8TC. The source material ranged from Steely Dan’s Aja to modern bass-heavy tracks like Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep .

The System 8 NFM II utilizes this technology, making it part of a lineage that dates back to the studio monitors used to mix some of the most famous albums in history. While models like the massive System 215 DMT II are the stuff of legend, the System 8 brings that philosophy into a compact, near-field format. The HF driver in the NFM II uses

Visually, it is utilitarian. The front baffle is adorned with the massive, exposed 8-inch woofer and a distinctive metal trim ring around the coaxial section. There is a port at the front—bass reflex design—which is crucial for placement flexibility, as these monitors can be pushed flat against a rear wall without choking the bass response.

The "NFM II" improved upon the original NFM by revising the crossover network and bracing the cabinet more aggressively to reduce cabinet resonance.