Early NVA power amps had a DIN socket that provided power to the phono stage in the pre-amps, an external PSU was an optional upgrade. The covered hole looks to be where that socket would have been placed.

My A40 stereo amp still has the same DIN socket and I got the PSU to run my P80 preamp.

Could be your setup is now so transparent you hear the weaknesses in the original recording.

Very clear, Doc, thankyou. So it comes back to personal taste / budget / room acoustics / rest of audio system.
Every installation is different and unique.

How is the Pi hooked up to the DAC. USB? Are you hearing jitter, a sort of veil in the signal.
24 bit uses considerably more digital bandwidth than 16, maybe the processor is having to work harder.

So that would make electrostatics & magnaplanars the 'ideal' loudspeaker??

My Magnepan MMG speakers are actually a 'giveaway' product produced by the maker as a no-profit taster for the bigger models. Despite their low price (and the fact that they are American) they sound incredible; natural,fast, precise, with an amazing 3D soundstage. And they work just fine with an NVA...

If anyone's interested, here is one of the best bits from the film. An improvisation where Pat lays down several layered loops and then transfers them to the percussion-bots via MIDI, then directly programs a bass line on the Piano. And keeps it building . [BBvideo 425,350]http://www.youtube.com/wat...

Ta for the goodwill. Luckily we can spread the move and do most of it with the Doblo (so pleased now I got it) only need a big van for the big stuff. Being a probate the house has needed a complete rebuild inside, we are up to nearly £20k with that but it puts at least £30k on the value of the hous...

Good luck - hope that everything goes as easily as possible for you.

Thankyou for sharing this. (Deep bow)