MarkAudio NC7_MAOP Nature Collection Speakers (Pair)

A flagship direct sister model inheriting the technology of the NC11

NC7_MAOP is a new bookshelf speaker from the Nature Collection, developed with the same philosophy as MarkAudio's flagship model, the NC11. The MAOP7_v2 driver featured features a wide bandwidth that extends flat up to 34kHz (±6dB) and an ultra-lightweight drive system weighing only 3.3g (MMS 3.8g), earning high praise as a premium driver that balances delicacy and dynamics.
The resonant frequency (Fb) is expected to be 50Hz, delivering a sense of quantity and natural bass that would be unimaginable from its size. The foundation of the mid-low frequencies, which are fundamental elements of music, is solid, and its musical balance is appealing regardless of genre.

Two models crafted by instrument artisans using selected solid wood

The NC7_MAOP comes in two cabinet specifications.

New Specifications with Mahogany and Hard Maple
Replacing the previous walnut specification, the enclosure uses rare African mahogany, carefully selected for instrumental use. It draws out rich overtones and natural aftertaste, beautifully reproducing even the spaciousness of the performance space.
The front baffle uses hard maple with excellent transmission properties. It combines a clear rise and core sound with the lustrous resonance unique to mahogany. Due to limited material availability, this is a limited specification.
NC7_MAOP_MW (Hard Maple/Walnut Solid Wood Combination)
The baffle surface uses hard hard maple. Fast transmission speed, sharp rise, and clear positioning.
By combining walnut on the sides, the strength of the contours is balanced with the softness of the space. The matte urethane finish harmonizes well with modern Nordic furniture.
The Nature Collection series is made from carefully selected solid wood that is carefully processed by craftsmen and features a beautiful finish that feels like a single piece of wood. It is so complete that it will take your breath away the moment you unpack it.

“Quiet and silky smoothness” created by MAOP (Micro-Arc Oxidation Process)

MAOP treatment is MarkAudio's proprietary process in which an aluminum-magnesium alloy cone is oxidized at voltages as high as 700V for long periods of time to create a fine crystal structure.
The "fine resonance that propagates through the surface" that conventional metal cones suffer from is effectively damped by this crystal layer, achieving natural damping characteristics similar to those of pulp cones.
As a result, the ``extremely flat frequency response'', ``quietness'' and ``silky smoothness'' unique to the MAOP driver are created, and the delicateholographic soundstageFrom powerful attacks to energetic attacks, everything is reproduced with a natural look.

High efficiency and high resolution midrange with rectangular copper wire voice coil

The voice coil uses rectangular copper wire, which is approximately 30% more efficient than round wire.
By suppressing mid-range eddy currents and reducing folded parts, the surface area increases, greatly contributing to the transparency, resolution, and information content of MAOP7_v2.
The combination of a long stroke structure with an amplitude of 4.5 mm and an ultra-thin alloy cone of 100 μm achieves both low distortion, high purity low range, and delicate and vivid mid-high range.

Oval bass reflex port – combines smooth sealing with bass reflex brightness

Aiming for the best of both worlds: a bass reflex type that produces a bright and lively sound, and a closed type that gently extends the low range, we have adopted an oval bass reflex port formed by layering solid wood.
It suppresses excessive peaks and achieves a smooth and natural low range.

Differences from NC11 – Clear separation of sound direction

NC7_MAOP specializes in more delicate nuances and dense mid-range expression compared to the grand spatial expression of hall recording and large-scale formations, which is the specialty of NC11.
Ideal for listeners who value delicate expression such as string instruments, chamber music, and vocals.
MarkAudio's speakers are designed so that you can enjoy good sound not only from a position directly in front but also when moving sideways, offering practical usability that can't be understood just from the specifications.

Transparency with MAOP Unit and Point Source

• The first thing I felt when playing the MAOP unit was how incredibly quiet the background is.
  The noise floor is extremely low, and even small sounds like the decay of reverb or the 'disappearance' of an instrument naturally come forward. It has a level of transparency as if listening in a room with clear air. Moreover, the excellent localization unique to a point source stands out.
  
• With the ideal point-source characteristics due to the 70mm small diameter and the high resolution of the MAOP unit combined, the sound image is astonishingly clear. Vocals and instruments seem to appear right in front, and I was captivated by the sense of three-dimensionality and realism.
  

Contribution of Enclosure Design

• The enclosure of the NC7 creates an open sound field that is hard to believe comes from a small speaker. The sound does not feel trapped inside the box and naturally spreads into the space, so much so that you might forget the speaker size. The sound field does not feel narrow, and rather, has a sense of light expansiveness.
  
• The high reproduction of the midrange is also appealing, with a natural tone without muddiness that remains comfortable throughout.
  Despite its high resolution, there is nothing harsh on the ears, and listening for long periods at close distance does not cause fatigue. I felt it is a speaker that can be confidently used even in small, near-field listening environments.