NVA Blog

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Toontrev
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by Toontrev »

Called in to Paul's last Friday and had a listen to both the new integrated and cubes.
Both sounded superb, sure that they will be a great success. The integrated look and finish are top quality. If I were looking for a new amp it would be at the top of the list.
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CycleCoach (Wed May 18, 2022 9:29 am) • Shevans (Wed May 18, 2022 9:32 am) • Betty Boo (Sun May 22, 2022 12:00 am) • savvypaul (Wed May 25, 2022 2:02 pm)

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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by savvypaul »

The prototype made it to the office, today (Jacob Rees-Smug will be delighted!)...

Image
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CycleCoach (Wed May 25, 2022 2:23 pm) • slinger (Wed May 25, 2022 3:06 pm)
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by savvypaul »

I've been using the RME DAC (with it's own volume control) directly into the little S80 with the Cube prototypes, this morning. It sounds bloody marvellous. If I only played digital, then this would be a corker of a system for (relatively) little money...we'll be sure to give it a run out at the North West Audio Show: https://nvahifi.co.uk/a/blog/nva-countd ... audio-show

Image
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slinger (Fri May 27, 2022 1:58 pm) • thebhoyricky (Fri May 27, 2022 2:37 pm) • CycleCoach (Sat May 28, 2022 8:43 am) • CN211276 (Sat May 28, 2022 6:34 pm) • Fretless (Tue May 31, 2022 10:11 am)
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by TheMadMick »

If it's not a rude question - what can you play on a DAC? Surely a "player" with a volume control would be fewer boxes and less to go wrong? I use a Blusoun d Vault.
Blusound Vault 2, P50SA, A80's, BMU, TIS, LS7, MA PL200, Meridian 506 (18 bit).

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savvypaul
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by savvypaul »

TheMadMick wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 10:07 am If it's not a rude question - what can you play on a DAC? Surely a "player" with a volume control would be fewer boxes and less to go wrong? I use a Blusoun d Vault.
What can you play on a DAC?

It does sound a bit like the title of an innuendo laden George Formby song :grin:

Yeah, you could definitely plug a combined streamer / DAC (with volume control) into the S80. I'm less worried about fewer boxes - it's a hobby to me, so I'll always be able to talk myself into more - but having the option is good.

Can you plug a CD player into the Bluesound?

Now everybody’s got a crazy notion of their own
Some like to mix up with a crowd, some like to be alone
It’s no one else’s business as far as I can see
But every time that I go out the people stare at me

With my little ukulele in my hand, of course the people do not understand
Some say why don’t you be a scout, why don’t you read a book?
But I get lots more pleasure when I’m playing with my uke.

Of course I take no notice you can tell
For mother’s sound advice will always stand.
She said "My boy do what I say and you’ll never go astray
If you keep your ukulele in your hand, yes son
Keep your ukulele in your hand."

While walking down the prom last night as peaceful as can be
When some young girl said "what about a stroll down by the sea?"
She said her name was Jane and that she’d just come for the day.
She looked so young and harmless that I couldn’t turn away

So with my little ukulele in my hand, I took a stroll with Jane along the sand.
We walked along for miles without a single care or frown
But when we reached the sand hills she said "Come on let’s sit down."
I felt so shy and bashful sitting there, ‘cause the things I said she didn’t understand
She said "Your love just turns me dizzy, come along big boy get busy"
But I kept my ukulele in my hand, yes sir, I kept my ukulele in my hand.

Made up my mind that I’d get wed some eighteen months ago.
I also bought a book about the things you want to know.
But just about a week ago I got an awful fright,
I had to get dressed quickly in the middle of the night.

And with my little ukulele in my hand, I ran along the road for Dr. Brand
It didn’t take him long to get his little bag of tools.
I held his hat and coat and let him have my book of rules.
Out of the bedroom door he looked and smiled

He said, "Come inside and see your wife and child."
My heart it jumped with joy, I could see it was a boy
For he had a ukulele in his hand, oh baby
He had a ukulele in his hand.
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by CN211276 »

savvypaul wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 1:30 pm I've been using the RME DAC (with it's own volume control) directly into the little S80 with the Cube prototypes, this morning. It sounds bloody marvellous. If I only played digital, then this would be a corker of a system for (relatively) little money...we'll be sure to give it a run out at the North West Audio Show: https://nvahifi.co.uk/a/blog/nva-countd ... audio-show

Image
As the Mojo 2 has a volume control I thought I would give this a go in the second system. There is a noticeable subtle improvement in SQ so the DAC will remain directly connected to the A20 via SSP. Less is more where the analogue chain is concerned. Not an option with the main system as although digital is the only source through Mscaler (hifi and TV) the Qutest does not have a volume control.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

RIP Doc

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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by TheMadMick »

savvypaul wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 11:14 am
TheMadMick wrote: Sat May 28, 2022 10:07 am If it's not a rude question - what can you play on a DAC? Surely a "player" with a volume control would be fewer boxes and less to go wrong? I use a Blusoun d Vault.
What can you play on a DAC?

It does sound a bit like the title of an innuendo laden George Formby song :grin:

Yeah, you could definitely plug a combined streamer / DAC (with volume control) into the S80. I'm less worried about fewer boxes - it's a hobby to me, so I'll always be able to talk myself into more - but having the option is good.

Can you plug a CD player into the Bluesound?
[/i]
Don't need to plug the CD player into the Vault. I simply rip the CDs. The only reason I have a CD player is that my wife insists and never plays it. Such is life! :lol:
Blusound Vault 2, P50SA, A80's, BMU, TIS, LS7, MA PL200, Meridian 506 (18 bit).

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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by Fretless »

I had a Hegel HD12 DAC with adjustible volume and when I tried that directly driving an NVA power-amp I didn't like the sound at all; very brittle and edgy. It also gave nasty earthing-sounds when a headphone was plugged into it.

Putting a P50SA inbetween cleared everything up - and provided the protection that RD always advised as he was suspicious of digital volume controls, thinking that they could 'glitch' to a max setting and blow up amp and/or speakers.


That RME DAC looks really nice though.
If I had more cash than brains I would consider it.

:grin: :guiness;
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savvypaul (Tue May 31, 2022 11:36 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by savvypaul »

It's an interesting one... we like passive pre-amps for simplicity, but we also believe that if you can do without a component, then you should. I suspect that it will boil down to the quality of the digital volume control in the DAC.

The RME is not a daft price, especially given the amount of features. Just sell a few of your turntable mats... :lol:
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Re: NVA Blog

Unread post by Grumpytim »

Fretless wrote: Tue May 31, 2022 10:20 am Putting a P50SA inbetween cleared everything up - and provided the protection that RD always advised as he was suspicious of digital volume controls, thinking that they could 'glitch' to a max setting and blow up amp and/or speakers.


That RME DAC looks really nice though.
If I had more cash than brains I would consider it.

:grin: :guiness;
That is the only reason I don't go 'bare', I had an instance where I did RTFM, but didn't quite understand the software feature involved and inadvertently turned every device in the house up to 100! Given that for some reason Ramones - Leave Home was the test disc the result was loud, but happily no actual damage beyond shredded nerves & neighbors was done.
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