NVA
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.
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.
Comments
back to transitor radios for me im afaid
had enough
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.
>:D<
Very Jaded Alen.Hopefully it will pass.....lol.
Best.........
Paul.
Many of us have been there...