HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Looking back at 40 years of NVA

In this 40th year of NVA, I was recently asked to sum up what NVA is all about, and who NVA is for. I came up with (what has become) the title of this blog post: https://nvahifi.co.uk/a/blog/40-years-o ... the-purist

I hate to say this, but I don't like the knobs. They look "cheap" to me, especially with the little pointer that seems to not quite fit. I'm not a fan of not marking the individual inputs either, but conversely, I love the minimalist look. So probably just ignore me.

slinger wrote: ↑Fri Sep 09, 2022 3:24 pm I hate to say this, but I don't like the knobs. They look "cheap" to me, especially with the little pointer that seems to not quite fit. I'm not a fan of not marking the individual inputs either, but conversely, I love the minimalist look. So probably just ignore me.

You don't like my knob? A man could get a complex, lol.

Definitely not f*cking cheap.

The pointer is there so that you can quickly see, from your listening seat, what input / volume level is currently selected.

Whatever we produce, some will love it, some will hate it. That's NVA.

All credit to NVA for new products but I'm inclined to agree with Slinger - why have knobs with pointers when they don't point at anything.

Minimalistic as possible for me so this is “looking good”. The pointer does actually work, a bit like a clock with no markers or numbers but you still know the time.

If only I had the cash.

DaveyTed wrote: ↑Fri Sep 09, 2022 7:14 pm All credit to NVA for new products but I'm inclined to agree with Slinger - why have knobs with pointers when they don't point at anything.

There are (and always have been) lots of amps that have volume controls with some form of position indicator (most usually a recessed line, dimple or hole - remember the Nait 2?) without the case bearing markings for what they are pointing to. If there isn't an indicator then I have to reduce the volume to zero and start from scratch, rather than make a simple adjustment. And, when I'm in my listening seat, I like to be able to see whereabouts the volume control is, but maybe I'm the only person in the world who does, lol.

Feedback from dealers, who have seen the amp in the flesh, has been very positive, and they all preferred the pointer version of the knob to the plain version (we trialled several versions, including one with a gold pointer - yuk), but if the pointer proves to be a sticking point (pun intended) with potential customers, then we will replace it with a plain version (or offer the option).

Anyone coming to the UK Audio Show in October? You can come and run your hands over our knobs, if that's the bag you're into
And, knobs aside, the amp sounds genuinely superb - better than any integrated that NVA has produced before, including the Statement.- which is down to better component quality (boards, transformers, capacitors, volume pots) and increased VA.

The amp will be available both direct and via selected dealers. We've made some assumptions about percentage of sales through each channel to come up with a price that is lower than it would be if it were only sold through dealers, and slightly higher than it would be if we only sold it direct - there just aren't enough people, willing to put out that sort of money up-front, to only sell direct. The Model Worker range - P50 / S80 / P1 etc - stays direct.

Try a knob with sexier lighting

I think it looks great, once you get used to using it you will know which input setting you are, would bother me since I only use one input.