Noctua HOME NV-FS1 and NV-FS2 Review

We have been testing coolers and fans from Noctua. This time, we are taking a look at something different from the manufacturer. This category is called HOME. Noctua has leveraged its best fan to provide a ventilation product for your home, office, and multi-purpose ventilation purposes. This got my attention as one of these series products, NV-FS1 is suited for focused air flow towards my open test bench setup, providing some sort of airflow which otherwise is not there.

I am testing NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. What Noctua has done here is take their off-the-shelf products like NF-A12x25 PWM, NA-FC1, and NA-FG1 and incorporated these into NV series accessories to provide HOME series products.

These products have a variety of applications that include:

• Cool Down Electronic Devices
• Quiet Ventilation for DIY Home Projects
• Adding a quiet breeze to your Desk
• Radiator Boosting Fans for better energy efficiency

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. NV-FS1 provides a focused airflow and comes with an airflow amplifier and a metallic stand. The NV-FS2 comes with a thick gasket, allowing you to place it directly over the devices for direct ventilation.

Specifications

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS1.

Above is a specification table for the NV-FS2.

Packing Box and Unboxing

The NV-FS2 comes inside a Noctua chromax-themed packing box. Opening the box, you can see that Noctua is again on the spot when it comes to the presentation. The fan assembly is tucked on one side, the power adapter is placed on its side, and the fan controller is placed along with hidden accessories.

The NV-FS1 also features a chromax-themed box. It has a large-sized shipping box due to the funnel, which is placed on top of the accessory container. The accessories are placed over a compartmental container. I would have preferred a box instead of an open layout container.

What’s in the box?

The following are provided in the NV-FS1 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NA-AA1-12 airflow amplifier
• NV-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)
• Mounting Parts
• 4x fan screws
• 4x zip ties
• 4x wall plugs
• 4x mounting screws

The following are provided in the NV-FS2 box:

• NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black premium fan
• NV-MPG1-12.black multi-purpose gasket
• 4x NV-MPP1.black multi-purpose pads
• NA-FG1-12 120mm fan grill
• NA-FC1 fan controller
• Cables & Adaptors
• NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adaptor cable
• NV-EC4-1m extension cable
• NV-PS1 power supply
• US socket adaptor (Type A)
• EU socket adaptor (Type C)
• UK socket adaptor (Type G)

Closer Look

Let’s start with the NV-FS2.

The idea is simple; use a single 120mm premium fan and provide a tight seal with the level surface using NV-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket. You can use this fan for the ventilation of:

• A/V Receivers
• DVRs
• Consoles
• Stereo Equipment

As long as the device has ventilation holes, you can mount the NV-FS2 below or on top of the device for effective ventilation. This is not all, if you have a level surface, you can use this product in vertical layout for a side-wall blow fan, which otherwise comes in the scope of NV-FS1.

Looking at the front, you can see the fan that has an NA-FG1 grill over the blades. This is for protection in case your hand accidentally touches the fan. Noctua has been paying attention to the details. The multi-purpose pads and gasket are at the core of this product, providing vibration dampening while providing a tight seal and enough lift so that the fan can breathe.

Looking at the backside of the fan, you can see the NA-MPG1-12 multi-purpose gasket providing a sufficient gap between the actual fan above the level surface.

I am showing the NA-MPG1 multi-purpose gasket after disassembling the product. I would caution the user who is disassembling the product for any reason to record the steps in which the disassembling is done so that they can reverse track the steps when assembling the product; otherwise, it could be challenging. This gasket sits on one side of the fan using tabs on the mounting corners, and it wraps around the fan frame. This gasket provides a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface, hence effectively reducing the influx of turbulence. The gasket is made from thick, soft silicone rubber and features thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations. This gasket has a dimension of 135 x 135 x 16 mm and weighs 80 g.

The NV-MPP1 multiple-purpose pads are also used in this product. They sit on top of the fan. Their thickness provides a sufficient gap to the top side of the fan. The gap on both sides of the fan is necessary to provide sufficient breathing space and ventilation area at the same time. These pads also provide a 10mm offset to the fan from the level surface. The pads are made from thick, soft silicone rubber and feature thin ribs on the device side, which create a smaller contact area and therefore further reduce the transmission of vibrations.

I have removed the fan from the assembly and shown the prime and might of Noctua fans. This is NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. I am not going into the details of this fan, as we have given extensive coverage of these fans and are still using them as standard fans to be used for custom loop setup testing, including their performance in individual fan testing.

The fan is PWM regulated. This now raises a question on how to power this fan if it is to be used outside of the PC? Let’s address this.

Noctua has provided an NA-AC10 barrel to a 4-pin adapter cable. This cable is a must-have so that you can power the fan using the NV-PS1 power supply adapter that is also provided with the product. In case you want to use this fan with a PC, an NV-EC4 extension cable having a length of 1m is also provided.

Noctua has provided its NA-FC1 fan controller. We have done a dedicated review of this controller in the past. You can regulate the speed of the fan in steps using this controller. This controller can control up to 3 fans at a time.

Noctua has provided an NV-PS1 power supply, which enables you to power the fan from the wall socket.  The NV-PS1 is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its idle power consumption is listed at 0.075W, providing maximum efficiency. You can see a modular design whereby you can swap the socket connectors.

Ncotua has provided modular connectors for EU, US, and UK type socketss meaning you can use this product anywhere in the world with peace of mind.

I am showing the prepared NV-PS1 using the NA-AC10 barrel to 4-pin adapter cable. Connect the fan to this assembly and install the plug to the wall socket using the required socket connector, and you are good to go.

The beauty of this design is its modularity and expandability. The NV-FS2 set can be easily expanded. You can use additional fans and fan mounts that can be powered from the same power supply and controlled using the same NA-FC1 controller using splitter cables (NA-SYC1) or fan hubs (NA-FH1/NV-FH2). It’s also possible to add additional NA-SEC3 extension cables.

 A look at the NV-FS1

Now, let’s shift our focus to the NV-FS1. NV-FS1 is a real deal. It is a multi-purpose fan set that you can use for various ventilation tasks, including but not limited to desk fan, device cooling, in our case, for airflow towards the open test bench setup, room fan applications, etc.

This set comprises three main components: NF-A12x25 PWM chromax. black fan, NA-FM1 multi-purpose fan mount, and NV-AA1, which is an airflow amplifier or funnel through which the focused airflow is provided. The fan assembly is installed on the NA-FM1, and NV-AA1 is installed on the rest of the assembly, providing a flexible solution providing flexibility to adjust the angle of the amplifier as per the need. The only thing lacking is the height adjustment of the stand, in my opinion.

You can see that the NV-AA1 amplifier is attached to the fan using fan mounting holes and standard Philips screws.

The above picture illustrates the three-way airflow amplification concept of NV-FS1.

Looking at the rear of the fan set, you can see that fan intake air from this end, hencethe blades (non-reversed) front side is on this end. Noctua has again focused on protection and installed the NA-FG1 grill using push pins. If you look carefully, these push pins are attached to the fan’s mounting holes.

I am showing a close-up of the NF-AA1 amplifier. As you can see, it has a hollow in the center, and the ducts on the sides are the only passage through which air comes out, hence you will get a directed or focused airflow. Noctua Home can be seen printed in the center.

The amplifier is made of ABS material. I am showing the side that attaches to the fan. It has standard 105mm mounting hole spacing.

NV-FM1 is at the core of this fan set. This part is made of steel. It supports 120mm and 140mm fans. You can not only place it over a surface, but can also install it on the wall, for which the necessary hardware is provided in the box.

Two anti-slip pads can be seen on the base. This base also has 4x magnets for magnetic attachment, making it quite a versatile bracket frame, catering to almost all possible installation requirements. Zip tie mounts are also provided. It has quite some weight to it, which makes sense since it has to hold the fan and the amplifier, and also supports the angle adjustment.

The complete bracket is secured to the rest of the assembly using side thumb screws. The side arms can also be removed by undoing the 4x screws shown in the above picture.

I have removed the NF-AA1 and NV-FM1 and am showing the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black, which provides excellent airflow at an adequate noise level. The fan is PWM regulated.

Power option

NV-FS1 comes equipped with the same NV-FS1 power supply adapter and NA-FC1, along with other cables that is mentioned above in the NV-FS2, making NV-FS1 a comprehensive solution for your ventilation needs.

I am using NV-FS1 to provide airflow towards the motherboard area on my open test bench setup. This is better than having no airflow.

Conclusion

Noctua Home is a new category of products from Noctua catering to your customized ventilation requirements, including desk-based cooling, room cooling, and device cooling. The two main products in this category are NV-FS1 and NV-FS2. Both products use Noctua’s high-performance NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. By setting a fan set, you get a powerful product for various ventilation needs.

The NV-FS2 uses multi-purpose gaskets and pads surrounding the 120mm fan, providing a 10mm offset on both sides, providing a breathing space for the fan and ventilation space at a time. Any device that has ventilation holes in the housing can be cooled using NV-FS2. The gasket provides a tight seal and effectively reduces the influx of turbulence, providing a consistent, noise-free operation. This fan set can be placed under or over an electronic device, and it can even be placed vertically on a level surface, in which it will act as a side-blowing fan.

The NV-FS1 is a killer deal. It uses the NV-FM1 multi-purpose metallic bracket and the NF-AA1 amplifier cover over the NF-A12x25 PWM chromax.black fan. The bracket with a stand provides a resting platform on which the fan and amplifier are installed. This mechanism also provides an angle of amplifier adjustment. The funnel effect provides a focused airflow towards the target area. You can place NV-FS1 over a surface, install it on a wall, or use a magnetic attachment as well. Zip tie mounts are also provided.

The NV-FS1 and NV-FS2 come with extensive power hardware. Noctua has used an NV-FS1 power supply, which is a compact, premium-grade 24W AC/DC power supply that supports both 230V and 115V input. Its salient feature is 0.075W idling power. Noctua has provided EU, US, and UK socket type connectors, providing you with peace of mind, allowing you to use these products anywhere in the world, conforming to these formats.

NV-PS1 power supply is protected against overvoltage, overcurrent, and short-circuit,s and both the power supply and the fan carry safety certification from UL and TÜV. Unlike many cheap fans and power supplies, they are fully CE/UKCA compliant and meet all applicable standards for EMC and safety.

Noctua has no chill as they have also bundled their premium fan controller, NA-FC1, in each of these products. Noctua NA-FC1 is a handy PWM fan controller designed to control up to 3x 4-pin PWM fans. The controller has a slim outlook, standing at 21x25x48mm in a black color housing. A speed dial knob is used to change the PWM duty cycle. The maximum rated current is 3A and can handle Noctua 12V and 5V fans as well as third-party fans.

Many motherboards provide insufficient options to customize automatic fan control, or simply don’t go below certain duty cycles and speed levels. Using the NA-FC1, the user can lower the motherboard’s PWM control curve in order to achieve silent operation.

In addition to the 135cm cable of the NV-PS1 power supply, the 30cm long NA-AC10 adaptor for fan connection, and the fan’s 20cm primary cable, the NV-FS1 set includes an NV-EC4 1m extension cable that increases the total reach to 2.85m. The NA-FC1 controller can be placed before or after the extension cable for maximum flexibility.

The NV-FS1 in particular suits my requirement of providing some sort of airflow to my open test bench setup. NV-FS2 can also be used as a side-blown fan, but its height can’t be adjusted. NV-FS1 is flexible in terms of angle adjustment, but its height is also not adjustable.

The NV-FS1 has an MSRP of $109.95, whereas the NV-FS2 has an MSRP of $89.95. Noctua offers a 6-year warranty for both products. Yes, this is a steep price, but you are getting a rich experience from these products, and Noctua has gone all out providing everything that one would need for the operations of these products. Noctua has provided an expandable and modular design on these features, enabling you to add more products like fans and control them using a single controller. Both products are recommended by us.