NVA - Audio Chews: the hi-fi and music community

Amplifiers

NVA

TimJ February 2012
Member

Might be worth relating my
experiences over the past two months or so, as I've set out on PFM. Short version: Had a bit of a
Damascene conversion from Naim just before Xmas, when I popped an NVA AP50 back
into my system for giggles. My main amp at the time was a 72/Hi/140 with Neil
James boards. The Naim set up sounded congested and clunky in comparison to the
NVA.

So off went the Naims, and I bought an NVA P50 stepped attenuator
passive pre and a pair of A80 monoblocks. After some teething troubles, and some
excellent service from a combination of NVA and Infidelity, I've spent this
weekend doing some serious listening (wife has been up north ). As
the NVAs have warmed up they've gone from being a bit bass heavy to being a bit
mid/top heavy, to now seriously opening up.

I owned a much bigger Naim
system in the past (252/SCap/135s) and had nothing like as much fun, involvement
and jaw-dropping moments as I've had this weekend. The A80s are the equal of the
135s in terms of sheer grunt, but as they warm up are beginning to deliver a
level of insight into recordings that I don't really think I've ever heard
before - while the boogie factor is very, very high. And this is with speakers
(Rega RS3s) which are probably quite a serious limiting factor on the amps.

It's not always been a comfortable change. In particular, I think my
Hutter racks are gonna have to go. They're fine for fit and forget solutions,
but the NVAs aren't quite like that and would probably benefit from some more
careful cable dressing. They are quite purist things, and you do have to
exercise a bit more care and consideration when setting them up.

But
these quibbles aside, what I've got was bought for (quite a bit) less than the
price of a Nait XS. In terms of VFM, the sheer physics of this are worthy of
comparison. The XS is a nice, sophisticated sounding integrated. It's a very
convenient (and remote controlled) solution. But the NVAs have an SA volume
control, with four hefty transformers - one for voltage and another for current
gain in each A80. The purism that's gone into their design is well reflected in
the sounds they're now making.
I won't pretend to have heard every kind of mplifier under the sun, and would love (for example) to have heard DNMs, But the NVAs have two distinct advantages as compared
to Naim. First there is a far greater degree of instrumental and spatial separation going on, and second
there is some genuine timbre happening here - without sacrificing, and perhaps
adding to, the tune playing and prat that Naim users are used to..

Example: I know Brubeck's 'Take
Five' better than most recordings (and it's a great recording in the first
place), but it was only with the AP50 that I could tell the bass was doubling up
on the left hand piano part.

But in a way I'm also interested in the
kind of brand loyalty that has taken over from good sense.

Example: I
recently advertised both my NVA AP50 and my CB Nait 2 here. The NVA was priced
at £100 less than the Nait. Predictably, the Nait sold in days. In a blind A/B
test, the NVA would have thrashed it.

As someone who's made the leap from Naim,
at this stage, I'm extremely pleased to have done so - and would recommend it.

Docfoster February 2012
Moderator

Mr. Dunn does make exceedingly good amplifiers...

Pioneer PL-71 (Decca SG), NVA Phono 2, NVA TFS, NVA P90SA pre-, NVA TSS mk3 power-, NVA Cube 1. (Also an NVA AP30 powering the 12inch bass units of a pair Goodmans Goodwoods. Just for some extra slam.)
TechniSat HD Freeview into Musical Fidelity A3 24 192k DAC and InFocus X9 720p DLP projector.
Power Inspired AG1500 mains regenerator.
Mainly NVA cables, but with TQ Ultra Black speaker cables.
quickie February 2012
Member

back to transitor radios for me im afaid

had enough

Modded Arcam Alpha 5 CD/Young Dac with DIY Power Supply (Avondale TPR2/Hackercap)Inca Tech FMT Tuner.Inca Designs ID1P Pre-amp.TOCA SECA 20W Power Amp.Audio Physic Virgo 3's with TelluriumQ Ultra Black Speaker Cable & Interconnects.
Alan February 2012
Moderator

'Lo Tim.

They are seriously good, aren't they? Glad you're enjoying yourself, that is the main thing. AFAIAC, the fact that I still run my NVA shows how good it must be...! I can't find anything I prefer.

Life: Trek it or Wreck it.

Main: [ Qnap TS 110 NAS ] > Modified Apple MACmini (Mountain Lion, Audirvana +) > M2Tech Young DAC > LightSpeed Attenuator (LDR) > XIV 10W SECA Amplifier > Royd Revelation RR3 Speakers
Belkin PF40 Mains filter for all digital gubbins
Cables by Tellurium Q and DIY.

Office: FooBar2000 > HRT Music Streamer 2 > NVA AP20 > JPW Sonata
Brain_Dead February 2012
Member

quickie said:
back to transitor radios for me im afaid

had enough

Why you have only just got started. I want to try the monsters on your system hang in there Paul.

I just love the way Acrylic burns and the fumes are to just die for!
Alan February 2012
Moderator

Brain_Dead said:

quickie said:
back to transitor radios for me im afaid

had enough

Why you have only just got started. I want to try the monsters on your system hang in there Paul.

I thought you were joking Paul. You were, weren't you? I hope you're not feeling jaded, mate.
>:D<

Life: Trek it or Wreck it.

Main: [ Qnap TS 110 NAS ] > Modified Apple MACmini (Mountain Lion, Audirvana +) > M2Tech Young DAC > LightSpeed Attenuator (LDR) > XIV 10W SECA Amplifier > Royd Revelation RR3 Speakers
Belkin PF40 Mains filter for all digital gubbins
Cables by Tellurium Q and DIY.

Office: FooBar2000 > HRT Music Streamer 2 > NVA AP20 > JPW Sonata
quickie February 2012
Member

Very Jaded Alen.Hopefully it will pass.....lol.

Best.........

Paul.

Modded Arcam Alpha 5 CD/Young Dac with DIY Power Supply (Avondale TPR2/Hackercap)Inca Tech FMT Tuner.Inca Designs ID1P Pre-amp.TOCA SECA 20W Power Amp.Audio Physic Virgo 3's with TelluriumQ Ultra Black Speaker Cable & Interconnects.
Alan February 2012
Moderator

Hang in there buddy, hope it all brightens up soon! :)

Many of us have been there...

Life: Trek it or Wreck it.

Main: [ Qnap TS 110 NAS ] > Modified Apple MACmini (Mountain Lion, Audirvana +) > M2Tech Young DAC > LightSpeed Attenuator (LDR) > XIV 10W SECA Amplifier > Royd Revelation RR3 Speakers
Belkin PF40 Mains filter for all digital gubbins
Cables by Tellurium Q and DIY.

Office: FooBar2000 > HRT Music Streamer 2 > NVA AP20 > JPW Sonata
Brain_Dead December 2012
Member

At long last I managed to be accepted on the NVA forum site, but it would not accept me in my name or TQ or Tellurium Q odd, or from my normal IP address odd this will need to be fixed.
Posted my first post already in my new name I will be good honest I will.

I just love the way Acrylic burns and the fumes are to just die for!