NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

All reviews of NVA here.
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Mini review Ls3 cables.
Post by Ordinaryman » Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:24 pm

Recently purchased a set of used Ls3 direct from nva. For the last year or two I have been using Ls1 and been have been very, very happy whatever they were connected too. All I can say is these are more , much more. More space , detail but most important more MUSIC. I guess all you long time users of nva understand that. Trouble is if these are that good, I have started to think what next?
If you are thinking about speaker cables then start here, after all what have you got to loose, possibly only the music ?

View NVA LS3 speaker cables on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/nva-ls3- ... us-lengths
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by Bencat57 »

Bencat57 wrote: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:15 pm This is a review but probably for a very unique system so might not be that useful for many . Apologies but I think it does how the way in which NVA Amps can be used .

I recently had an NVA 20 upgraded and bought a newly upgrade NVA 20 from another on the forum . Being something of a disaster area I had blown up two NVA 20 units one was able to be repaired and upgraded the other was a nice box of parts. This all happened just a covid came in and when Tomasz went back to Poland . So only by the middle of September was I able to get my 20 repaired and I bought another upgrade unit .

In my spare bedroom and playing as I write this (Soul on Ice by Me'shell Ndegeocello for thos interested) I have my DIY (well sort of) Active system it is a Raspberry PI with HiFiBerry Digi + hat feeding a MiniDSP DDRC 24 unit which acts as Digital Crossover / DAC / Pre and DSP unit using DIRAC Live 3.0 . The signal for each speaker unit was then fed to a pair of Fidele Audio modified and matched Quad 405 power amps one each side (Left/Right) powering a stacked pair of KEF 103 Reference speakers from 1973/4 . These sit one on top of the other on a granite board on spikes . The top pair are fully connected with both bass and treble units . The lower pair are connected by the bass units only to add additional low end power .

The two NVA 20 power amps have today been installed in place of the Quads this is a pair of 20 watt units replacing a pair of 100 watt units so on the face of it not the best idea . I will be honest after playing three or four tunes early today I thought I had made a big mistake the sound was narrow and thin and no bass . Voices sounded synthetic and there was no sound stage . After making a cup of tea to calm down and then going through all the connections and settings (this is a long job) I found that I had not made any errors. Two NVA amps were about to be ripped out and sent to the stack for storage .

Then I had a think these were effectively two brand new amps and really had not had any running in except for the testing done at NVA . So I went and had breakfast and took a short walk leaving the music playing at decent volume . A return some hour and half later and things were much improved . Bass was there but not over played it also now had texture I could tell how the string was being played plucked , hammered etc . Voices were now real people and they had also gained texture and emotion . To my surprise the sound that illustrated the most difference was hand claps you now were very easily aware of when they were real and made by people or digital synthetic claps as a backing .

The NVA now sound superb with real natural sound and a very surprising ability to drive the system to very loud levels . The Quads had been excellent but this is sound better in every way , more control more width and depth and a nice ability to hear in to the recording . You can hear the differences in quality of each recording and you are certainly aware when the quality is not of the best but most important the music shines through and you get the enjoyment of that without the faults being highlighted so much that it makes it unlistenable and i have experienced this before . The NVA Amps will be staying put I will just have to find another project for the Quad 405's . Thanks to NVA for all their hard work and if anyoen is interested in hearing what I am hearing this will be my system when the Wam Show returns and anyone is welcome to drop in say hello tell me I am deaf or buy me a drink

Andrew
I have to be fair and update this as the system has now changed the system now is Logitech Media Service Source (on Raspberry Pi 4 8GB as stand alone server) Raspberry Pi 4 2GB + HiFiBerry Digihat + Pro feeding digital stream to miniDSP DDRC 22D DSP unit this handles DIRAC Live room correction - AES/EBU Dirac Filtered stream to miniDSP 10 x 10 HD unit which acts as a digital crossover for an active three way - analogue outs to 1 x NVA 30P acting as the Low Bass amplifier for Left and Right set from 10Hz - 250Hz , then 2 x NVA 20P as above one for each side Left and Right and split with one channel for Mid set from 250Hz - 3000Hz and the other fro Treble from 3000Hz - 16500kHz .

A big thanks to Matt on this forum for selling a superb condition NVA 30P which completes the amplier set up nicely . Now I have real problems saying this but the sound now as a full three way active is just so much better than the two way . The ease of sound and natural feel is just amazing . Bass is so much more defined and nuanced now you can hear what type of instrument is being played and how it is being played (plucked , strummed , slapped) . The imaging is a whole world away being spread across a wide sound stage that has sounds outside the speakers . I love what this has ended up as and i am sure that the NVA amplification has a great deal to do with why it sounds so good .

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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Ed, by email:

I am very impressed with the SSP Mk2 digital coaxial cable. Its much better than a Chord Signature coaxial cable I tried which was about 4 times the cost used!

I will likely look into buying the SSP Mk2 analogue cables and maybe speaker cable from you in due course but have decided not to buy any more hifi until the BMU has arrived and I hopefully establish a proper baseline.

View the NVA SSP digital interconnect cable on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/nva-ssp- ... us-lengths
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

From Chris (by email)

Short Review NVA M600’s

One week in – sounding beautiful, musical, sweet, powerful, no regrets worth every penny.

Longer Review

NVA M600 Power amps

Early lockdown I reacquainted myself with NVA. Back in the day I had had a metal cased pre-power set up – I think it was P60 – A40, and I was feeding analogue from a Townsend Rock II. Anyhow thirty years later and I have a starter system P50 – A20 and love it.

On the Saturday night before the M600’s arrived I had been talking with a friend about how I might never need to upgrade the starter system, as it is that good. Just so musical

But then a pair of M600’s on E-bay – advertised as B-grade from the manufacturer. Apparently a small mark on the casework, otherwise new. Too good to miss

So day two into owning TOTL NVA amplification connected up with sound pipes and LS3 cables how does it sound ?

Well the first thing to notice is that music just flows from these lovely amps - it seems an NVA family tradition. But there is more than that

Day 1 listening out of the box a twinge of buyer’s remorse, maybe they were not so much better than the A20 amp they replace. But day 2, and they have started to open up.

Sat here listening to OK Computer, an album I like on vinyl but never could quite relax into the digital version, but now I am back in time and finally my digital front end is singing.

Click through albums and Its probably been thirty years since I have heard Wish You Were Here as I loved and remembered - after RD (RIP) left me a pair of LS1 cables to chew on after his new TT was baked out by the Townsend Rock II.

So - this is just sublime, I usually just about tolerate Sledgehammer, but with the inner detail all revealed it’s awesome ……… listening through a selection

Click . Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day ……….

Click . Christine , Strawberry Girl ………

Click, Hear I stand head in hand…--

Click Click ,Click …….

5 hours later, what can be said ? Speechless, no listener fatigue, first impression’s beyond reproach. Bass lines clear, vocals clean, snares crisp, no sense of harshness, heaven.

B Grade M600’s ? - Not at all (If Paul says minor flaw – believe him - cant really see much out of the box - nor anything at all when they are in the rack)

The NVA starter system is amazing value for money, but these amps are a helicopter ride to the top of the mountain. Pretty much my end game complete. (for now)

View the NVA M600 monoblock power amplifiers on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/nva-arti ... amplifiers
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Dear Paul,

Thanks to all at NVA for turning my A60 Mk2 upgrade around so quickly; only a week door to door, which is just one more example of your superb customer service.

I thought I would drop you a short note to share my impressions of the new S300 configuration. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a leap in performance – the A60 is a lovely amplifier – but a significant improvement there certainly is. My sound system has acquired a beautiful silkiness through the mid and top, and I wonder whether this may be due in part to the new power supply taking better control of the ribbon HF units in my Quad Z1 speakers.

I can best describe the overall change as ‘less’ rather than ‘more’, in the sense that something has been taken away that was producing a subtle degree of impurity across the audio spectrum. New sounds in the back of the mix are discovered, distinct in placement, timbre and clarity. This amplifier is extremely revealing, as opposed to being ‘analytical’, if that makes sense. The old adage that “the wider the window, the more muck flies in” certainly applies, but this amplifier does not deal cruelly with less-than-perfect recordings; instead the open window lets the dust blow away.

As an unexpected bonus, before the upgrade the A60 was prone to interference from the TV in the room below, which was cured by running the amp via a mains purifier unit. Now this sensitivity is gone and the purifier is redundant.

I couldn’t be happier with the upgrade. Thanks for all you are doing to keep the NVA ethos alive and well.

View NVA power amplifier upgrades on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/upgrade- ... cification
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karatestu (Mon May 24, 2021 1:57 pm)
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

BECOME AN NVA REVIEWER!

You know it! NVA is different! We don't need distributors, dealers, editors or bullsh*tters. What we do need, is real feedback. From real people, with real systems, in real rooms, listening to real music. That's you!

Is NVA making it happen for you? Help us do that for others, too. By contributing your experience, you'll be spreading the word...and, you'll be helping to keep NVA prices typically 40% lower than the 'mainstream' competition!

Post your review, good, bad or indifferent, in this thread, or email your review to mail@hfsaudio.co.uk. Thank you, in advance, for becoming an NVA reviewer.
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CycleCoach (Tue May 25, 2021 1:38 pm)
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Graeme, by email...

NVA Phono 2 (MM) – A Review.

Ordered via their website simply enough, emailed NVA to ask if needed configuration for my cart, no it didn’t. excellent.

Both the Stage and the PSU were delivered this morning (3/6/21) by my friend at DHL… (he is actually my friend who drives for DHL).

Both boxes come in good sturdy boxes, and the internal packaging is very good, you could probably drop it from the height of Mick Fleetwood, with hat on, and no damage would occur.

Mick has not been consulted on this review.

You get the nice pair of cotton gloves as well, those who have shiny things typically like to keep them that way.

Simple enough to set up, keep the Stage away from arm and your WIFI, Bluetooth devices etc… so sorry Brian from the 1970s/80s you can’t have your CB radio rig running close it.

The PSU is happy sitting 1m away on the floor resting on a hardback copy of a William Gibson novel… it’s not audiophile grade paper, but its thick and heavy.

So, on goes an electronic piece of vinyl from Future Beats Alliance (this has many stringed harmonies, deep bass and some tunes have that nice punchy crisp electro rhythm to them.

Set at point 1 on my P50se pre-amp, it was an immediate improvement over the Graham Slee Reflex M with PSU1 I’ve been using for the last 12 months, not that the Slee isn’t and excellent MM stage, it is…. something has been added with the NVA Phono 2 – more music, that’s what has been added.

I don’t really want to use Marketing blah blah blah, nor would I class myself as even an Audiophile, but I do love music and most of all that “can’t put my finger on it” moment…. the bass is tighter, wider, fuller…. I can pick out Bert Jansch (not literally of course, but I do try) individual twangs of his cat gut strings.

Little bit of seriousness now, bear with me.

The Phono 2 has now been running constantly for 3 hours of listening, the following records have been played at max setting 2 on the P50se pre-amp:

Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
Radiohead – OKNOTOK new Release
Future Beat Alliance – Beginner’s Mind
Godflesh – Post Self
Bert Jansch – 1st album self-titled.


Previous reviews have reported a hum, I do not experience any of this, however I’ve positioned as per the handy guidance that comes with the units.

I’m looking forward to playing a lot more of my collection today, I am very satisfied not only with the units, but each experience with NVA in the terms of straight forward no fuss customer service.

The Set Up I’ve using is:
Technics SL1200-G, Kab Damper, funk firm 5mm mat, AT-VM760SML, 13g AT-MG13 Shell
NVA SSP MKKII from TT to Stage
BlueJeans Cable from Stage to p50se
SSP MKII Pre to 2 x M300 Monoblocks
Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary – with stands.

View the NVA Phono 2 (MM) on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/copy-of- ... pre-amp-mm
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Gmanuk101 (Fri Jun 04, 2021 5:00 am) • Latteman (Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:12 pm)
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by Gmanuk101 »

savvypaul wrote: Thu Jun 03, 2021 4:50 pm Graeme, by email...

NVA Phono 2 (MM) – A Review.

Ordered via their website simply enough, emailed NVA to ask if needed configuration for my cart, no it didn’t. excellent.

Both the Stage and the PSU were delivered this morning (3/6/21) by my friend at DHL… (he is actually my friend who drives for DHL).

Both boxes come in good sturdy boxes, and the internal packaging is very good, you could probably drop it from the height of Mick Fleetwood, with hat on, and no damage would occur.

Mick has not been consulted on this review.

You get the nice pair of cotton gloves as well, those who have shiny things typically like to keep them that way.

Simple enough to set up, keep the Stage away from arm and your WIFI, Bluetooth devices etc… so sorry Brian from the 1970s/80s you can’t have your CB radio rig running close it.

The PSU is happy sitting 1m away on the floor resting on a hardback copy of a William Gibson novel… it’s not audiophile grade paper, but its thick and heavy.

So, on goes an electronic piece of vinyl from Future Beats Alliance (this has many stringed harmonies, deep bass and some tunes have that nice punchy crisp electro rhythm to them.

Set at point 1 on my P50se pre-amp, it was an immediate improvement over the Graham Slee Reflex M with PSU1 I’ve been using for the last 12 months, not that the Slee isn’t and excellent MM stage, it is…. something has been added with the NVA Phono 2 – more music, that’s what has been added.

I don’t really want to use Marketing blah blah blah, nor would I class myself as even an Audiophile, but I do love music and most of all that “can’t put my finger on it” moment…. the bass is tighter, wider, fuller…. I can pick out Bert Jansch (not literally of course, but I do try) individual twangs of his cat gut strings.

Little bit of seriousness now, bear with me.

The Phono 2 has now been running constantly for 3 hours of listening, the following records have been played at max setting 2 on the P50se pre-amp:

Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
Radiohead – OKNOTOK new Release
Future Beat Alliance – Beginner’s Mind
Godflesh – Post Self
Bert Jansch – 1st album self-titled.


Previous reviews have reported a hum, I do not experience any of this, however I’ve positioned as per the handy guidance that comes with the units.

I’m looking forward to playing a lot more of my collection today, I am very satisfied not only with the units, but each experience with NVA in the terms of straight forward no fuss customer service.

The Set Up I’ve using is:
Technics SL1200-G, Kab Damper, funk firm 5mm mat, AT-VM760SML, 13g AT-MG13 Shell
NVA SSP MKKII from TT to Stage
BlueJeans Cable from Stage to p50se
SSP MKII Pre to 2 x M300 Monoblocks
Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary – with stands.
Paul, Ive sent a revised one.. as I didn't stop listening until 830pm... so that's 11hours listening all in all... :) :) :)
Boxes That Make Things Louder: NVA BMU, M300 Monoblocks x 2, P50se passive pre, NVA Phono 2
Fast Digital Abacus: Bluesound Node 2i (transport), Soncoz SG1
Disc Spinning Device: Technics SL1200-G, AT-VML760, AT-13g shell, KAB Damper, 5mm Funk Firm Mat.
Magic RCA Cables: NVA TIS, SSP MKII (digital & stereo), BlueJeans, Rhodium.
The Sound Cables: NVA LS6

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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Chris, by email

After moving from LS3 to LS6 an improvement was immediately obvious, more of the same musicality, smoother highs, more bass and natural midrange. However a bigger plan unfolded. With the LS3 LS6, previous starter system and recent addition of M600’s the possibility of bi-amping became a reality.

So here we have now Mac mini > Icron USB extender > MScaler > 2xSSP MkII > Hugo2 > Phono splitter > ( Sound cord > A20 ) > LS3 > Quad 12L Tweeter, (SSP MkII > 2x M600 ) > LS6 > Quad 12L Bass/Mid

The digital front end has been a lot of effort to get right, however the NVA amplification has just been a slam dunk, as I have previously commented the little power amp is a sweetie, but combined with the M600’s the bi-amp combination has it all. All the usual HiFi superlatives apply …… but one unexpected bonus of bi-amping - you get to try different cables between the amp for the tweeter and the amp for bass/mid, and for me this was an important factor in achieving what my ears tell me is just right. SSP Mk II between Hugo and M600’s to bass/mid and Sound cord between Hugo and A20 to tweeter. Overall this combination is so natural sounding the NVA bi-amp set up is a keeper. I’m glad I read the upgrade path advice notes on the NVA website. I am now listening to and enjoying much more music. Thanks Paul and Tomasz

The next challenge maybe speakers - NVA ?

View the NVA LS6 speaker cable on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/nva-ls6- ... us-lengths
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Latteman (Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:49 am)
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Re: NVA Reviews (THIS THREAD IS ONLY FOR STASHING REVIEWS)

Unread post by savvypaul »

Richard, by email...

After so many years of trying different interconnects, the SSC received yesterday has redefined what I’d ever expect straight out of the box without burn in.

View the NVA SSC interconnect cable on the NVA website: https://nvahifi.co.uk/products/nva-ssc- ... us-lengths
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