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What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:45 pm
by savvypaul
One for the NVA users, here.
What kit did you own before NVA?
How did you hear about NVA?
What tempted you to try NVA?
How does NVA sound in comparison with what you had before?
We'd like to use your comments for an article on the NVA website.
Many thanks, in advance, Paul & Tom
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:52 pm
by CN211276
I had an Acrum integrated amplifier, cant remember the model, and Dynaudio Emit 10 speakers. Thought it sounded good but nowhere near the same league as my system now. My second system comprising P20, A20 and Cubettes sounds better.
I discovered NVA after stumbling on HFS by accident in 2016. A better standard of posts on HFS, compared to other hifi forums, and the 30 day return period tempted me to try NVA.
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 2:00 pm
by savvypaul
CN211276 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:52 pm
I had an
Acrum integrated amplifier, cant remember the model, and Dynaudio Emit 10 speakers. Thought it sounded good but nowhere near the same league as my system now. My second system comprising P20, A20 and Cubettes sounds better.
I discovered NVA after stumbling on HFS by accident in 2016. A better standard of posts on HFS, compared to other hifi forums, and the 30 day return period tempted me to try NVA.
Arcam?
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 2:08 pm
by karatestu
savvypaul wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:45 pm
One for the NVA users, here.
What kit did you own before NVA?
I started with Marantz electronics with Wharfedale speakers then regressed to Naim amplifiers and CD player along with B&W speakers. Amplifiers were replaced with Avondale before using NVA electronics and diy speakers inspired by NVA cubes
How did you hear about NVA?
I first saw adverts in magazines in the 1990's but didn't look any further. I heard about NVA again when i discovered the HFS forum.
What tempted you to try NVA?
I liked the ethos behind the company i.e simple circuitry with the least amount of components used without compromising performance, realistic prices and the refreshing absence of marketing gobbledygook
How does NVA sound in comparison with what you had before?
Sounds more detailed, dynamic and natural whilst being less edgy, not in your face and completely non fatiguing. Musicians sound like they are playing together, having a good time and their talent as a musician is clear as a summers day.
We'd like to use your comments for an article on the NVA website.
Sure thing
Many thanks, in advance, Paul & Tom
You're welcome
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 2:09 pm
by CN211276
savvypaul wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 2:00 pm
CN211276 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:52 pm
I had an
Acrum integrated amplifier, cant remember the model, and Dynaudio Emit 10 speakers. Thought it sounded good but nowhere near the same league as my system now. My second system comprising P20, A20 and Cubettes sounds better.
I discovered NVA after stumbling on HFS by accident in 2016. A better standard of posts on HFS, compared to other hifi forums, and the 30 day return period tempted me to try NVA.
Arcam?
I stand corrected. Seems a long time ago now and I get it mixed up with the cricketer.
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:02 pm
by slinger
I had Arcam amps. I started with an Alpha 2, then there was an Alpha 8 + 8p combo, and an A75 + P75 combo.
I've told the story a few times, but I started with NVA by purchasing an NVA Sound Cord. I wanted a "decent" RCA pair and did my usual due diligence. It came down to a choice of two, one of which was NVA and I just liked the idea of being able to talk with the bloke who made such a well-regarded lead. I joined the forum, got chatting generally, and was happy with my Sound Cord purchase. By the time I got my redundancy payout from BT, it was a no-brainer, and I bought pretty much the system that's in my sig today. The NVA part hasn't changed from that day to this. I'd like to be able to upgrade but I can't justify the outlay. Having said that though, I've never really felt a desperate need to upgrade. Sure, it would probably sound even better, but it sounds bloody good as it is.
In comparison t0 my parade of Arcam amps NVA seems to have more space around the instruments if that makes sense? I don't "do" review-speak, as I've said many times. I hate it. Arcam has a sort of signature sound to me, which I still like (I've got a newer Arcam in my second system in fact) but it's the difference between a Lowry and a Breugel, or a Turner and a Constable. You get the same information, but the NVA sound is less creamy, less polite, and more informative.
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 3:56 pm
by Latteman
I had a lot of musical fidelity amps and was using an American Acurus DIA100 integrated just before Nva p20 A20 arrived
I had tried a lot of amps and speakers that were in my budgets and was never satisfied- could never decide if it was amps or speakers or both then with Nva the sound just clicked and allowed me to focus on sources and speakers- it seems strange to say but the Nva always played well with what ever I partnered it with which allowed me to be choosy
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 4:06 pm
by Fretless
From 1981 to 1986 I lived in the bustling metropolis of Huddersfield, first as a student and then as a wage-earner and my first hard-earned cash went on Hifi and LP's, lots of LP's.
On the edge of the town centre was Huddersfield Hi-Fi, a shop that stocked a wide range of audio apparatus suitable for every taste and budget, run by the friendly and knowledgeable Hugh Chadwick. He must have spotted a potential hifi addict and allowed me to set up systems in a demo room where I could listen to various amps and speakers. Even some Naim gear they had in to appease those who liked it (I didn't).
My first purchase there was a Nytech CA252 amplifier, a futuristic design that had a powerful, weighty sound.
This was followed (rapidly) by Arcam One speakers, a Sugden tuner and the Logic turntable. On one visit, Hugh showed me something new, a mysterious black box set with minimal knobs and a sort of 'anti-everything' appearance. Listening to this I was hooked, the openness and musicality of the sound was totally new to me, as was the name 'Nene Valley Audio'.
As soon as I could I ordered an NVA A40 stereo power amp plus P50 pre/phono, and shortly afterwards the separate PSU for the phono section. This system still forms the basis for my listening to this day. The power amp has been upgraded to A40 monoblocks - but the stereo vintage workhorse is still in use. The speakers and turntable are continuing to give pleasure. Along the way I have heard many different amplifiers, but always returned to the unassuming stark simplicity of NVA - for me it has been, is and will always be about the music, that is the strength of the NVA design. Pure music without fuss, frills or facades.
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 5:22 pm
by Sandman
What kit did you own before NVA?
A&R Cambridge A60 for 12 years
How did you hear about NVA?
I hadn't - went to buy some Naim amps and asked the dealer what else they had that they could demo as an alternative so I could take the whole afternoon over choosing and NVA was brought into the room
What tempted you to try NVA?
I suppose given the above the availability and access - and I guess a willingness to listen too
How does NVA sound in comparison with what you had before?
Open and detailed doesn't feel like listening to a system
We'd like to use your comments for an article on the NVA website.
No problem
Re: What did you use before NVA?
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2022 6:05 pm
by Lindsayt
I tried NVA because I'd been a moderator on this forum for several years, as well as me following Richard Dunn on pfm and one or two other forums before that. And I'd met him at a few hi-fi events, including an amplifier bake-off. And my LDR pre-amp had drifted out of spec whereby the music was too quiet, even at max volume. And I wanted a replacement resistor based passive pre-amp. And I saw an NVA P50SA on ebay for £166. So I bought it.
It was one of those where it did cross my mind that it was a badge of honour on here that I owned no NVA. But then again, it didn't make sense to use that as an excuse not to buy the P50SA.
And then after Richard died, I bought a new NVA A20 in the sale for £133.
