NVA Reviews

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NVA pre-amplifier reviews

P50 WITH MERIDIAN POWER AMP
I have received my pre-amp and it works very well with little volume required on my 556 power amp. More importantly it functions well in my set up, stunningly so. To think I could thrown a massive amount of money at “top end” pre-amps and not heard any improvement. The whole set up gives a proper sound stage enabling each performer to be heard, and if you close your eyes you can position them on stage as at a live performance. In conclusion I must say a big thank you to you in helping me choose the P50. Best regards, Howard

P50SA UPGRADE
Just picked up my upgraded p50sa. I am really pleased with the quick service you offer. Sounds wise, its the NVA sound but just more of it, if that makes sense. I will add more when I have got it run in. The new volume control is silent which will keep my other half happy. Thanks once again.

P50SA
Well I have listened to the new NVA P50sa and have to say I was very impressed! I have the original NVA P50sa to compare it with and no doubt about it the improved model has more than the edge on the original which is already very good indeed. I would never have thought this in a passive design which is nearly identical, but you live and learn. For me there was more immediacy and it sounded more open - with improved treble.

P50SA / A40 / LS6
Detail. Not plastic, studio monitor detail. Just, perhaps, more information retrieval. In live recordings of solo piano I can hear the creak of the piano stool and the intangible mass of the instrument on a concert stage, and a sense of the occasion and atmosphere unique to a/that live event. Details I'd not heard before on recordings well known to me: Shura Cherkassky live at the Salzburg Festival in 1968; Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau and Gerald Moore at the same festival during seasons spanning 1956 - 1965. These were supreme, God-like artists. And now I can really hear just how great they were. A large depth of sound, front to back, side to side, top to bottom. It's the space around instruments, there is an acoustic dimension, be it the venue of recording or how an engineer has staged things at the desk. The timbre of instruments is more apparent. Acoustic instruments do not simply present the tones of a scale or the harmonies of chords, but instead they sound like they should: analogue and with physicality, as if they are in the room. It's far more natural. It sounds and feels real. There is more musical impact. Bad recordings have variably sounded better or worse than I have heard. This has been a very difficult thing to pinpoint. But the revelation of detail, as mentioned, has been enlightening and maybe there lies the problem with bad recordings: things are laid bare. My perspective is that this is an overall improvement - more of the good with more of the bad.

P50SA
I received my P50sa yesterday. This is the second NVA item that I have with a stepped attenuator, I already own an AP70 which I sent back to Doc to have the attenuator fitted. It was difficult with that one to assess the improvements in sound quality due to the time between sending the amp to Doc and getting it back but the sa is better. Even if improvements hadn’t been apparent was worthwhile for me though because it resolved an issue with channel imbalance at low levels that bothered me with the standard pot. With the P50sa replacing the P20 and feeding the A20x that I recently bought from eagwok the difference was immediately noticeable. Even with only a few hours listening to the music it was immediately apparent that it was more vibrant and enjoyable. Cymbals are clearer with improved decay. After further listening over a few hours reed instruments sounded closer to the real thing. I’ve not heard a lot of string instruments in my time but they sounded closer to what I hear through the AP70sa than they did before using the P50sa. I also own an AP20 that is currently doing duty as my headphone amp, when it was used to drive speakers I remember it sounded a lot closer to the P20/A20x combo than the P50sa/A20x, for me this underlines the benefit of the stepped attenuator. I don’t think the sa is an option with the AP20 which is a shame as it would make a nice upgrade for it.

P50SA
Step by step. I have now added a P50sa to replace my P20. With each step I find an improvement to the SQ has followed which in many ways I didn’t expect to be so obvious. Although the P50sa needs a little higher adjustment to the volume control to reach a realistic level an immediate bass boost was evident through my Cubettes along with a smoothness of delivery which is just great! As the doc suggests this pathway is addictive and when will it stop - LS1 to ? when funds allow!

P50SA
I've been running p50sa everyday since Friday. Moving from my active pre to the p50sa made for a few changes. Things acquired a certain weight and solidity, making the sound through the active pre seem a bit thin and ethereal in comparison. My initial impression was one of losing some high frequency detail, but listening more I came to realise that this was more a case of lower frequencies having greater presence than of the high frequencies being absent. Overall the presentation seems more natural now - less hi-fi - and, listening to familiar tracks, I've heard details that I've not heard before; particular in very densely layered music, individual layers are coming through more distinctly now. The imaging is also a little different, not obviously better or worse, just different. The experience with the p50sa has left me even more intrigued to try NVA amplification, which I'm now very much looking forward to doing.

P90SA
I have only had the P90 upgrade to SA running a short while now and can say it is impressive. I will admit I was a tad skeptical as to how much better it might be but I can honestly say I heard an improvement straight away , the original sounded good but this is like another veil has been lifted ( Yes cliche I know, But !) its the best description I can give , listening is easier if that makes any sense . I am very pleasantly surprised indeed . Also its not fully run in yet as the resistors will take a little time to burn in. I must say Paul and the team at NVA have been excellent with communication both quick and informative I can't fault them at all.

P50SA
My original P50SA with stepped attenuator had become very noisy when changing the volume and one channel was dropping out at some volumes when wiggling the knob (which was easy to do without intention because it was quite heavy/stiff in operation). An email to Paul and his quick phone call back gave me my options of either being talked through opening the case and where to apply contact cleaner which they obviously couldn’t guarantee how long it would last or sending the amp to them and the new, better more reliable stepped attenuator fitted. I went with the latter and the communications and turn around in less than a week were superb. Putting the pre back into my system and sparking it up amazed me as it was straight out of the box. The sound stage was much wider with greater depth than the original. Which was no slouch. I can’t wait to see how it develops with more use. Well done lads!

P90SA 
As the crackling of the right side knob was annoying, the offer of the modification, coupled with an improvement in sound quality, was very timely. By the time I was able to take it up some very favourable comments had been posted which I can now fully concur with. The operation of the volume controls is now smooth, completely silent and the improvement in sound quality is more than subtle. A very noticeable increased sense of separation and space, particularly in respect of depth, is apparent on favourite albums I have streamed on high resolution Qobuz. The multi layered guitars on Led Zeppelin’s “Ten years gone” is a prime example of this increased sense of depth with instrumentation coming into and going out of the mix with a greater sense of clarity and coherence. A contrasting track which springs to mind is “Tears” by Rush. The acoustic guitars in the forefront sound further removed from the backing strings adding to the overall sense of emotion conveyed by the vocal. The upgrade is worthwhile, good value and I am pleased.

P50SA
Silver wire upgraded P50 arrived late evening thank you. In a little test of my own I hooked up my second system speakers via my A20. (Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelves). Well all I can say is an immediate noticeable difference, you are correct in your description of more transparency and definition. I used Tool's latest album as a 'test' (although I don't really test listen anymore, sometimes it's a habit) and I can identify a good amount of separation in the recording now...and well, just more detail, what I like about NVA gear is the honest presentation of recordings. Saving Friday evening for the main speakers (Rega RX3). So personal subjective review aside, well worth the cost of the upgrade. Looking forward to seeing (hearing really) what your phono stages and speaker design for next year.

P50SA
Absolutely stunned by this new Pre !! I’m not sure what you guys have done (well yes I do because you’ve said ) but it works. Will look to see if funds allow sooner rather than later and will be in touch. This change will happen before the LS7 I’ve decided as there such an improvement that sounds amazing with my LS6.

P50SA
Just an update on the P50sa upgrade, I had my daughter around this afternoon and she noticed what I have noticed this last week, that all the instruments seem to have there own space and everything is a lot more defined i.e. the tone of guitars, studio effects. It is like I can see into the music and pick out more information. The upgrade is really well worth the £260 I paid. Thanks once again.

P50SA
Well I have listened to the new NVA P50sa and have to say I was very impressed! I have the original NVA P50sa to compare it with and no doubt about it the improved model has more than the edge on the original which is already very good indeed. I would never have thought this in a passive design which is nearly identical, but you live and learn. For me there was more immediacy and it sounded more open - with improved treble.

P50SA 
I have only listened to the upgraded P50 SA for one evening but it had me up until midnight, it is a revelation ( a full review will follow in due course) but yesterday evenings session alone has me reaching for the credit card to order the upgrade for my personal P50 SA. I must admit I was sceptical at first that a switch, resistor and wiring upgrade would make such a profound improvement in the experience of listening to music along with of course, the tactile improvement makes it an absolute pleasure to turn up the volume for one is not met with a cacophony via the loudspeakers and a clunking in the case.

P50SA
My P50SA arrived back earlier in the week but only had a chance to check it out yesterday. To say I'm chuffed is an understatement. Upon opening the box it was like unpacking a brand new item which was a really nice touch, as are the gloves. Streaming from my NAS, first up was Kyuss - Blues for the red sun, then Danzig - III How the gods kill, before switching to vinyl and cranking Poison Idea - Feel the Darkness. None of these are audiophile recordings blessed with huge amounts of recording budget thrown at them and listening yesterday was the best I've ever heard them. More clarity and presence in vocals and separation of the players in the band. In use, the new SA is really nice when setting the volume, over the years I'd got use to the old one but have to admit it is nice not to have the crackles.

NVA Power Amplifier Reviews

S80
Amp arrived today, thank you. Could not wait to try, I did not know what to expect which makes the whole experience exciting. Not listened to any of my systems for about 2 week, but I do remember what the main system sounds like when last used. It was using a valve amp and it sounded really terrific. Well, the S80 amp was in place 5 mins after it arrived and boy, I'm in heaven. It does sound very natural and the mids - wow. There is a humongous smile on my face at this moment. Very enjoyable. It will now be left on forever. You do realise I have to go through my collection of vinyl and cd's all over again.

S80
After acquiring an old NVA P80 pre-amp and being astounded by its revealing nature, I decided to pair it up with an S80 as I'd never had a matched system. I was also fascinated by the NVA approach. So how does the S80 compare to my beloved quad and 30kg boutique tube amp? (which is clearly in another league sonically compared to the quad). Giving some time to allow the caps to form to spec before really paying attention I was pretty much blown away with the sound this little amp was making. I felt like all my other components had been upgraded, even my speakers seemed to be in a new league and had come to life. It gives what I can only describe as 'the magic' and the magic is only something I've experienced with tube amps only this was better, the sound is fuller but not bloated, detailed but never harsh or fatiguing. there is a better sense of realism, textures and spatiality... its easy to isolate individual instruments or vocals. Rhythm and timing are also exceptional. The 30 day home trial means you have nothing to lose if you're curious and customer service is brilliant, not to mention the fantastic finance options. I agree with the description that this may be all you ever need if you have sensitive speakers. I have various speakers, some hard to drive so I have made use of NVAs excellent upgrade path and now have an S150 soon to be upgraded to the S300. Highly recommend both company and product!

S80
I thought the P50 or even a direct connection via NVA SSP iii from my Dac to my class d monoblocks was special. The sound quality was good and I enjoyed the experience. However, a number of people on the HFS Subjectivist forum had suggested that class d can’t touch the performance of the current NVA power amps never mind their mono blocks. So when I was offered a chance to trial a S80 over 30 days I took the plunge. Rather sceptically I connected up thinking this better be good! Initially, as I had been warned, things were a little scratchy - that’s a technical term - so I kept the music flowing overnight with the P50 volume at zero to help burn in. Day two was an extended listening session with random music playing from my network player. Gradually things came together and the sound quality is now - day 12 - fantastic. I don’t use that word glibly, but detail, soundstage, vocals, bass, blackness, little details on well known tracks are all evident and even my wife has given the sound her seal of approval! Absolutely gobsmacked as the music has flowed everyday since purchase as I work my way through my extensive library - long may it last! I have no connection with NVA - I just enjoy listening far more than I used to, and I have been dabbling with hi fi for a long time. Both the P50 and the S80 are keepers! Thank you!

S80
The packaging and white glove were a nice touch- the amp is hidden deep in my system fed by P20, ssp mk2 and ls6 to the doc modded drivers in a large cube like enclosure. After a brief chat with Paul today and his enquiry about the A20 prompted me to dig deep for an honest response as honestly it’s has been fit & forget (and now this review from what I said). It’s amazing, never been happier with the music, the bass has especially become richer over time as it’s settled in and is now so musical- I remember being at Ants and listening to his ‘large’ full range and amazed at the delicate bass line / control from such large beasts- well I have that pleasant sensation in my own room- the bass is not forced and is proportionate to the type of music whether it’s AC/DC, Rag n Bone-man or London grammar. I did a back to back ‘test’ one evening with a audiophile friend (pre- Cv-19) and both agreed at that time the initial difference was the tonal richness from vocals- vocal image held the stage better- very positive evening. I love this little amp and honestly as it’s hidden it maybe out of sight but in reality it can’t be forgotten.

S150
I hadn’t appreciated how much bigger and heavier the S150 is compared to the S80, it’s built like a tank. I’ve just unboxed it and put it into the temporary setup I’m running, not bi-amped but just as a straight swap – what a difference, drums have more punch, notes decay for longer, it’s astounding. Looking forward to lots of fun going forward, wishing you and the team all the festive best.

S150
So I ordered and received the new kit and plugged it in earlier this week. I have Royd Minstrel Loudspeakers (a "new" addition which are a massive improvement over my previous EPOS M5s), LS3 cable (I think), and sources being a Rega Planar 6 , and an Onkyo 6130 network player plugged into a Rega DAC. My reaction in the first 10 minutes was that it sounded brighter than I was used to, harsh even. I thought I might have made a mistake. I went to make myself a coffee and let the amp warm up. After an hour or so I came back in. I sat down. I played various different tunes representing all the genres. The harshness I perceived was gone. The sound was fuller, beefier, with much more defined bass than my AP 30. There seemed was more space between the instruments. I felt connected more than I ever had before. I went to bed relieved that I had not made a mistake after all. Over the last week I can't stop listening. It seems to get better and better. I don't know how a couple of simple black boxes can set my spine tingling or make such a difference but they do. Words I would use to describe include transparency, space, engagement, attack, emotion. I am so happy I went with NVA again and am absolutely delighted with my purchase. One day I will tell my wife what the money was spent on...

S150
I recently purchased the above items which have replaced a JVC AX441 amp and Van Damme speaker cable. The source, a Project RS Box cdt, Calyx 192 dac running into NVA Cube 3 speakers. Firstly let me say I normally don't like to dissect the music and tend to listen to the music as a whole. I have listened to rock, jazz, female vocal and guitar oriented music and on everything the music has been detailed in a non fatiguing way. Small details at the back of the mix seem more prominent, this was very evident on Acoustic Alchemy - Back on the Case, with tiny percussion strikes being heard far more clearly. Vocals on Mary Black - Babes in the Wood were so expressive and the piano on the title track really sounding like a piano. Listening to Yes - Keys to Ascension, on Awaken, Steve Howe's guitar although forward in the mix just came through clearer than I remember, this track is possibly my favourite Yes song but made far more enjoyable now. To finish, the best way I can describe how this system sounds, the music just flows.

S150
I thought it was about time I gave my impressions of the NVA kit I have. I bought the NVA Phono1 first, which started me on this great journey. Next came the NVA P50sa and NVA A60 Mk2, before these I had used amps from Naim, Arcam and Primare, nothing comes close to touching the N.V.A kit for all round musicality, it just seems sooooo right. I then upgraded the speaker cable from Chord Epic to NVA LS3 which was a step up in sound quality, I also changed all my interconnect cables to SSC which made a really big difference to the quality of sound and the size of the sound stage. 

S300
When I made the step up to the S300 amp after first treading down the NVA path with the starter bundle, I couldn’t quite bring myself to part with the little S80 amp even though I had no immediate use for it. Well, the NVA blog on bi-amping soon changed that. Turns out there was an avenue I’d not considered travelling before - and that keeping the S80 had been an unintentionally inspired move. Using LS5 to connect the S300 to the woofers and LS3 to link the S80 to the tweeters has transformed my Rega RS5 speakers. I’d expected a subtle lift in performance but the difference has verged on the transformative. The bass has gained several layers of depth and presence, while the treble is revealing details I’d simply not heard before in much-loved recordings. Both amps were superb on their own terms - but working in tandem takes them both to another level entirely.

S300
It all started when the curiosity to try something new combined with the temptation presented by the P50/S80 starter system. I owed it to myself, I thought, to give it a try. And hey, I could always get my money back if it wasn’t a serious improvement on the old amplifier. Little did I know what a revelation those two acrylic boxes would be. An order for the Phono 1 followed pretty soon - I needed to hear what I’d been missing from the vinyl collection. A lot, it turned out. I was happy. But the thought started to grow - if the S80 sounded so good, what would the S300 be like? No, I couldn’t - the extra power would be overkill. But the seed had been planted. I needed to know so succumbed to curiosity again and placed the order. It arrived. Blimey, weighs a ton. What does it sound like? The S80 but so much more. More weight, more heft, more presence, more detail. What a fantastic amplifier. I’m very happy once again.

M300
My expensive valve integrated went pop so decided to buy a temporary replacement and plumped for NVA P50SA, M300's, SSP mkII, LS5. The rest of my system is a Kuzma Stabi R, Viv Labs Rigid Float 9 ", Ortofon SPU ROYAL N, Thomas Mayer D3A partial silver phono stage and Tannoy Arden Legacys. I am not going to spout off, but all I can say in my opinion it sounds fantastic, musically engaging, detailed, dynamic, bass is weighty and detailed, and when my integrated is repaired it will be sold. To add further credence to the above, a friend came round who is not into hifi but loves music, said he thought it sounded better than my integrated. I have just acquired a P50SA Mk2 and another pair of M300's for bi-amping. I will try the pre tonight and report back, and when I have sorted the extra sockets and a pair of LSTS speaker cables I have ordered for the power amps I will give a further update.

M600
I'm very happy to report that the M600s are sounding great and a big step-up from the A80 Mk1s. I must admit I was surprised by how much of an improvement I'm hearing, having always assumed that the A80s would never need replacing. I'm delighted with the new amps and amazed at the enhanced detail, separation, dynamics, presence, etc. They are clearly allowing the system to perform at its highest level so far, perhaps with more to come as they settle in. They also look great side by side in the rack, better than stacking the A80s for lack of shelf space. Thank you for a fantastic new product. I look forward to future developments with interest!

M600
I had a windfall from the tax man and managed to acquire a P50 second hand for upgrading. This gave me a top of the range NVA system as shown above and I declared it as my 2020 ambition in one of the threads here (I've quite forgotten which one). These are initial impressions as the kit arrived at lunch time today. My expectation varied from "this is going to start out excruciating until it settles down" to "it's not going to be any better than my kW550". Well, wrong on both counts. Music all the way - yes the definition is there, the stereo image to die for, the big, well defined bass when called for. But it is a simply a pleasure to listen to it either intently or as background. I couldn't be happier. Audio Nirvana. It's simply a joy to listen to. Expensive? - yes. Value? - priceless. If it improves more it's going to be orgasmic!! Watch this space. :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: Blusound Vault 2, P50SA, A80's, BMU, TIS, LS7, MA PL200.

M600
With the BMU and LS6 in place and transforming the sound of my system, NVA amplification was the next step. The differences are not subtle. Familiar tracks which start slowly and build up have gained a new lease of life. Bowie’s “Rock n’ roll suicide” is a prime example, from the single acoustic guitar accompaniment at the start to the frenzy at the end. This effect was similar on his more mellow “Hunky Dory” album. When electric guitars came in, and acoustic guitars are strummed harder, things livened up, the effect was very pronounced. The clarity and separation on backing vocals have also taken on a new dimension. This was very evident on “Dark side of the moon”. I had not been aware that so much was going on. Heavier material also sounds a lot better. On Led Zeppelin’s “Physical Graffiti”, the simple riffs many of the tracks are based upon remain solid and stable as other guitars and keyboards enter the mix. In addition the power, as well as subtlety, of John Bonham’s drumming came across as never before. The Rush album “A Farewell to Kings” was also a revelation and increased my appreciation of Geddy Lee’s bass playing. His screaming vocal at the end of “Cygnus x1” (some of the lyrics in my signature) was handled with ease. The NVA kit revealed subtleties in Iron Maiden’s “seventh son of a seventh son” album which I was not previously aware of, beneath the layers of power chords. My only regret is that I was not aware of NVA sooner.

M600
I first noticed the NVA P50SA / M600 monoblocks in the review by A British Audiophile. A friend of mine had been telling me for years to go for monoblocks and this review did it for me. I have been enjoying my Sugden A21SE line amplifier for a couple of years but I yearned for more clarity. I am a choral/orchestral conductor and wanted the sounds of my system to match what I hear in real life. When it all arrived, the amps took a little while to settle but this had been drawn to my attention already by Paul at NVA. After a couple of days the sounds were stunning - the fog had cleared and the pin sharp clarity of everything came so clearly into focus. What in the past had sounded 'like a piano' now was 'a piano' and Paul's promise of wanting to listen to music into the wee small hours was true. I immediately fished out my favourite recordings and listened to them afresh. It is almost like monoblocks are the equivalent of our two eyes, working independently but allowing the brain to sort out the image. An integrated amplifier is like seeing everything with our eyes crossed. I urge anyone who is serious about sound to order this combination asap! DAVID TEMPLE MBE www.davidtemple.co.uk

M600
Steve. T. on Dec 08, 2023
I originally purchased an NVA S150 amplifier with a view to eventually having it upgraded to an S300. However, after some thought and a hankering after a pair of Mono Blocks, I got in touch with Paul with regards to the upgrade scheme. A price for my S150 was agreed and I put in an order for a pair of M600’s. My thinking was that the S150 was a very capable amplifier but M600’s would be at least a moderate improvement both in detail and weight. Well, I was wrong on both counts, the improvement was huge, the bass is deep and controlled not rumbling but sharp, detail has enhanced clarity in rise and decay of notes, and very natural sounding. My speakers really come to life now even at moderate listening levels, so pleased I made the jump.

M600
After 30 years of audio enjoyment, a mixture of curiosity and equipment failure suggested a change was in order. Faced with a wealth of choice, I couldn't help but think about NVA as I'd long been captivated by their looks and intrigued by their ethos. Needless to say, the 30 day trial was an appetizing entryway and the selected items soon arrived (P50SA pre, M600 monos and P1 phono). Communication with Paul and team was first rate as too initial impressions of sound. Minus the usual hi-fi parlance, I can just say it sounded detailed, captivating and highly enjoyable. This sentiment has been shared by all who've listened to date. No matter the genre, the system shines and this has only developed as further NVA items have been added (Cube 1s, upgrade in cables and power supply). So here we are, 30 years in with both vinyl and CD sounding fabulous and shedding new light on many a recording.

M600
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

M300 TO M600
Just had a pair of M300's upgraded to M600's and let's just say I am a happy bunny. The M600's builds on the strengths of the M300's but with greater scale, dynamics, tighter bass, more detail and all this adds to the musicality. In conclusion if you are using M300's and have £500 to spare get them upgraded. If you don't use NVA even if you are using more so called 'exotic' kit and are wondering, then don't hesitate give it a try and you may be pleasantly surprised, I was, I did and I am.

A60 TO S300
Thanks for turning my A60 upgrade around so quickly; 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.

A80 TO M600
I took advantage of the offer earlier this year to upgrade my A80s to MkIII spec and after a short wait for Tomasz to return to the UK a received them about four weeks ago. I really liked the A80s in their MkII but they where never silent to the extent that I had put them on isolating pads to reduce the hum being transmitted through the wooden shelf they were on, not a particular issue when listening but just an annoyance. The first thing was the total lack of hum in either the 'new' amps or the BMU, so much so that I wouldn't know they were on if not for the red LEDs. First listen was Rovo and System 7 Pheonix Rising, it sounded a bit constrained but I expected it to take a while to bed in so was not concerned. What was it really impressive was the space in the mix and also more texture to some elements. This has become a bit of a theme with more listening over the last few weeks as the tightness went but many tracks shone with coherence and again that extra texture which really pulls you in. I also noticed that there was seemingly more grunt, this may be just better resolution of bass lines but I am generally listening at slightly lower volume levels. This comes on the back of upgrading my P50 SA to the new spec last year and I have to say it is a real pleasure doing business with Paul and Tomasz, and the products are just great.

A80S TO M600
The upgrade to MKIII spec is not at all subtle. It's not easy to describe what's special about NVA amps, but for me it comes down to the way the sound fills space - it has a distinctive kind of presence, that's very natural and very addictive. It goes without saying that the amps have retained this quality, and so the NVA magic is still there. But otherwise it's like having a new set of amps - increased detail, better separation, better imaging, deeper and more controlled bass, higher and more detailed highs. The MKIIs were certainly no slouch in any of these areas, but still the jump to MKIII is significant and not at all subtle. And importantly, even with the more detailed highs, the sound is still as natural and unfatiguing as ever - I could (and will!) listen for hours. A couple of small points: The MKIIs emitted a quiet, but still noticeable hum. Likewse, the speakers when connected to the MKIIs would emit a quiet hum, noticeable when no music was playing. The amps and the speakers are now completely silent. Tomasz and Paul are clearly onto something with the MKIII component changes. I sent the amps in the new boxes, which worked very well, and the turnaround was speedy. Tomasz had clearly given the amps a good clean as well - they came back looking better than they went out. To sum up, the upgrade to MKIII spec is money well spent. Thanks guys! :grin:

A80 TO M600
Have played a lot of albums since the now completely silent mono blocks arrived back. After a few hours they were sounding very good and the improvement is far from subtle. Most noticeable was a greater sense of separation and space in respect of everything I played. This stands out when electric guitars and other lead instruments are accompanied by acoustic guitars providing rhythm, as on Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album. It was also very noticeable with piano on the 70s Queen albums I played. When the power chords enter the mix the increased separation allows the piano to remain distinct more so than before, examples being “We are the champions” and “Spread your wings”. The improvement also applies to the acoustic guitar on the latter. There is a similar improved separation effect with lead and backing vocals exemplified on tracks such as “Long away” where Freddie Mercury’s prominent backing vocal to Brian May’s lead vocal contributes so much to the mood, emotion and dynamics of the song. Over more time it became apparent that there was an improvement in dynamics. I found myself reducing the volume by one or two notches with no decrease in the sound level on peaks. The A80s look the same but the components inside are obviously superior and the music has never sounded so good. On the basis of what I am hearing I highly recommend the Mk 3 upgrade.

NVA phono stage reviews

P2
Ordered via their website simply enough, emailed NVA to ask if needed configuration for my cart, no it didn’t. excellent. Both boxes come in good sturdy boxes, and the internal packaging is very good. 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, 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 P50sa pre-amp, it was an immediate improvement over the GSP 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 individual twangs of his cat gut strings. Previous reviews have reported a hum, I do not experience any of this, however I’ve positioned as per the guidance that comes with the units. I’m looking forward to playing a lot more of my collection, I am very satisfied not only with the units, but each experience with NVA in the terms of straight forward no fuss customer service.

P2
Now what can I say about the quality of sound, well, if I close my eyes it feels like I’m in the same room as Jeremy Tuplin and band (oh, how I’m missing live gigs). My Vinyl was sounding very good with my fairly new Pro-ject Classic turntable going through my fairly old NVA AP30. Then a horrible sound started coming out of the speakers, every time I turned the amp to phono. So the amp was sent to NVA, in the hope it could be repaired. To cut a longer story, the phono part of the amp was too old to be repaired, so now I have 2 extra boxes attached my AP30 - phono2 plus PSU, and the difference in the sound quality is absolutely stunning

NVA headphone amplifier Reviews

AP10H
Upgrade from Rega EAR. I am really thrilled with the NVA Headphone Amplifier which just oozes quality in addition to the weight being reassuring. I connected it to my Marantz CD63 KI Signature CD player and used my Sennheiser HD700 headphones and the sound is superb. I played some of “The Planets” as recorded by Charles Dutoit with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and “Mars” was exhilarating. This recording won the Gramophone Magazine Award in 1987 for “Best Engineered recording”. I have attached the article from the October 1987 edition of Gramophone. It really is an exceptional recording. If only all progressive rock albums of the 70s were recorded to that level of audio magnificence!

AP10H
I got my AP10P about four months ago and it is very good indeed. I have ATH-A900X headphones and with my previous headphone amp they sounded soft and bit dark. Now with AP10P sound is muc more controlled detailed and refined. My overall listening experience ia now much more enjoying than it was before. Very good sound per pound ratio indeed!

AP10P
Thanks for the wonderful amplifier - I didn’t know such clarity and detail was possible at the price.

AP10P
Having recently swapped out the AP10P for an AP10H with external PSU my next plan was to reuse the AP10P in my office rig. This was always going to be interesting as I've never tried NVA amplification with speakers only headphones. The office rig was previously: PI base Squeezebox / Arcam AV9 / NVA MK1 SSC / Rotel 970BX Power Amp / NVA LS5 / NVA Cubettes. I've always really liked the Rotel so swapping in the AP10P was not something I expected to do a lot. Holy cow, I've heard and used the expression like removing a veil, like pulling back a curtain. Well this was like knocking down a wall in those terms. I am truly amazed at the difference.

NVA balanced mains unit reviews

BMU
Paul kindly delivered my new NVA BMU unit yesterday, and I spent the latter part of the afternoon re-arranging equipment and socketry to suit the new arrival. This 'review' is based on listening to one vinyl album and three CDs, so it is only a snapshot view, but there is a noticeable uplift in sound quality. Apologies for any hifi w*nk words that follow...The first thing I noticed I'd call 'presence': the soundstage seems to have moved forward and is sharply defined. Bass quality has improved immeasurably, being less 'woolly'. Albums I know well seem to have been 'turbo charged': they feel 'faster', & previously hidden details brought into focus. It feels far more dynamic. I'm normally not one to make early comment, wanting to live with a new piece of equipment for some time before commenting, but this was a real surprise for me. I had assumed that my mains supply was good enough (between 236 and 244V, no extraneous noises), but it certainly benefits from the BMU. It's still early days, but all I want to do is get back home and play some music.

BMU
The BMU just arrived, I've already unboxed it and set it up and everything is running great! The info from the DAC on the input voltage suggests that we shouldn't have any more problems. Thanks so much for your work in sorting this. The BMU has really transformed things. I've undertaken various tweaks and upgrades of my core system over the past several years, and nothing has had such an obviously improving effect as the installation of the BMU. The most easily discernible effects were that the soundstage is now markedly wider - the sound now seems to be coming from well beyond the boundaries of the speakers - and that the bass has deepened and become more prominent, balancing out what was a disproportionately prominent midrange (which I'd previously assumed was just the character of my speakers). This is very obvious when listening to jazz LPs - the double bass, with it's place and contribution in the ensemble, is now much easier to discern, making performances that I'm already very familiar with sound fresh and exciting. Finally, the sound now seems to occupy more of the space in between me and the speakers, filling out more of the room, rather than just being at the speakers. I wouldn't be surprised if there we more subtle changes that I've not picked up on yet, but these were the most obvious ones. Needless to say, I'm delighted with the purchase and there's no question I am keeping the BMU.

BMU
Balanced Mains Unit. The idea is logical - normal AC runs in a sine-wave from 0 volts to 240 volts, 50 times a second. The BMU has a transformer that alters the voltage from +120V to -120V. Still having the 240V difference to power equipment but the plus and minus voltage is now 'balanced', in harmony, equal, whatever. It is a mysterious black box. A single mains lead out and four mains sockets on the top, somehow bigger - and more imposing - than expected. The effect is silence. Not just any silence but an empty silent void waiting to be filled. Sounds come, music, instruments, effects. I firstly went through a selection of tracks just to get an idea of what was going on. It's the room that everything gets. And this is most noticeable on acoustic instruments. I put on Michael Hedges 'Aerial Boundaries' and instead of being blown away I was sucked inside. There is a liquid serenity that just holds you gently in the music and you simply don't want to leave. It took me three tracks to realise that the one I had wanted to hear had long finished. Then onto Rachel Podger's magnificent recording of Biber's 'Rosary Sonatas'. Not just am I hearing far more in the sense of nuance and inflection. The whole recording is a natural, living entity that you can literally walk into. Some equipment doesn't like the BMU - specifically a Schiit headphone amp. But for the rest running CD players, DAC's Pi streamers and amplifiers - they all sound so much more refined and in control.

BMU
Thought I'd send you a photo of the NVA BMU unit purchased from you. It has rejuvenated my old Quad 909 and Artera Play and fitted into my Quad racking system perfectly. A significant improvement in sound quality for a modest outlay. All my old CD's have come out and am hearing things not heard before. Thanks for the fast delivery. I look forward to many years of use.

BMU
The BMU arrived about 10 days ago and, unusually, Doc gave the opinion that it would need about a week to run in. Uncannily accurate. It seems to have just come on song and I might aspire to greater improvement with time? It is neat and heavy with a long lead. I prefer the black sockets provided to the gold ones shown on the e-bay illustration - but let's face it, who is going to see the sockets? I parked mine behind the rack (no comments please) where it sits and buzzes gently at about 100Hz (I assume). I simply love what it does and I trust it will also solve my "bad mains" afternoons (none so far). You can read the effects in the other reviews in this thread and they are all true. Another recommended product.

NVA interconnect cable reviews

TIS
The TIS interconnects were to replace a pair of SSP MkII’s between DAC and NVA M600 monoblocks. The SSP’s were sounding nice, so when the TIS’ were dropped in for the first time I wasn't sure what to expect. First impressions were interesting - by comparison the SSP’s were more laid back and recessed, but I had grown used to this sound. So initially whilst TIS were more up front with greater detail, a bigger soundstage and more bass, they were a tad overwhelming, and for a while I was swapping back and forth not sure which I preferred. But this has changed with time and the longer I have had TIS in the system the more I have come to appreciate them. The detail, soundstage and increased bass has evolved to include a much more relaxed feel. To my ears they took about 200 to 300 hours of play for them to fully break in. Now when I swap back to SSP MkII the SSP’s still sound great but TIS are definitely more musical and revealing. Since this purchase I now need a further pair of interconnects, so TIS it is..

TIS
Just picked up my TIS 0.5 interconnect cable and all I can say is, Oh my god the BASS is amazing this is without any run in time. Will post more in a week or so. All I can say is that I am really impressed. Cheers & Merry Crimbo.

TIS
I posted my initial experiences in October and they stand. In the meantime the cable has continued to improve. The level of detail is amazing and even better, it plays music. There is a down side however. Poor recordings still sound poor - even worse in some cases. There is also music which I am accustomed to hearing as a "wall of sound" e.g. Fleetwood Mac, Clannad. The increased level of detail doesn't suit all of them. That's not the cable's fault but changes the enjoyment quotient. Conversely there is some music that sounds sublime - Elbow, The Doves and Opeth's Damnation. However, there is still a trace of upper mid range hardness. I can live with it for the other benefits I get (even at the price - yes I bought it) and it does seem to be diminishing slowly. That's consistent with my experience with other high quality cables (or maybe it's my ears?). Yes I would recommend this cable to anyone with a reasonable system. It brings out the best the system can do and it doesn't smother the unpleasant bits. You have been warned. Enjoy!

TIS
This TIS cable is exceedingly good and probably even better than that. I was not prepared for the jump in the musical ability of my system when adding this cable. I use a super sound cord in my other other system and knew that was good but this cable is so much in a different league it could almost be from another planet.

TIS
Listened to a few albums whilst warming the system up to listening temp (ouch audiophile bollocks spoke already :) but for crucial comparison between my old cable (Mark Grant GH1500HD) and the very smart looking NVA 70cm TIS connector, I chose the rather fantastic Laura Marling - Semper Femina (released October 2017) Vinyl LP. In particular the first three tracks…. Soothing / The Valley / Wild Fire. The TIS doesn't take long to show it's differences between my usual cable, there's a sense of the music being slightly louder (I check the volume) but I'm certain I haven't messed with the volume? (I haven't) But on the second and then third track I can hear that its certain elements of the track(s) that are easier to perceive. Vocals are a little more forward in the presentation, not overpowering or bright just better, I can hear the lyrics with more clarity (ever had that "Ohh that's what she's been Singing" moment) one or two words really pop out as new to me. Musically there's little different in its overall presentation than my usual Mark Grant but I'm finding with more listening that the rhythm track (background) is also easier to pick up and follow. Violins or acoustic guitar….. the pluck of a double bass also comes in with a sharper front edge (Transient?) which I like. Altogether a more focused listen, I do like being able to see 'behind' the singer to instruments being played and the extra information in the vocals is quite welcome.

TIS
The improvement brought about by the additional length of TIS is considerably more than that by the first length and is not subtle. It mainly concerns the higher frequencies where there has been a transformation. To optimise the sound I have needed to change the filter setting on the Qutest from white (Incisive neutral) to green (Incisive neutral HF roll-off). My understanding, though I am non tech and could be wrong, is that the TIS is able to transfer frequencies beyond the range of human hearing which have an effect on those we can hear. Cymbals now have a presence and clarity which was not there before. With regard to the impact of crashes this is very apparent on tracks such as Queen’s “Tie your mother down”. However the improvement brought about by more subtle cymbal work is even more pleasing. I am fully appreciating the contribution of the high-hat for the first time, very noticeable on favourite tracks such as Neil Young’s “Like a hurricane” and a lot of Def Leppard material. To sum up, TIS all the way from DAC to mono blocks, has vastly improved high frequency performance and increased the amount of what is classed as low level detail coming out of the speakers. Having one length was a worthwhile upgrade, but two is the equivalent of a major component improvement in the context of my digitally fronted system.

TIS
I have been using NVA interconnect for many years starting with Soundcord and ending up with the TIS, at the moment I am using an AP20 with headphone output and a SONY x555es with Sennheiser 650. Every time you upgrade with NVA you seem to get quite a marked improvement particularly with SSC to SSP however nothing prepared me for the the shock of moving from SSP to TIS. SSP is a really excellent cable but TIS is just in a different class. Sound stage is massive, vocals are so real you could actually be in the same room. I wont go on about more detail or better bass and treble but just let me say that a veil has has been lifted that I was unaware of. Everything is just so natural and musical. I have never been a great one for lyrics but that has changed as they seem to communicate so much better. I think really that is what this cable is all about, communication of the emotion that is in the music along with amazing clarity detail and smoothness. By the way something no other review has mentioned is these things really boogie they have had me up and dancing quite a few times which at 70 is probably a bit unedifying but I cant help it.

TIS
Hope my limited English is enough for short impressions. Bought a pair TIS MKII interconnects for connection between phono2 and P50sa. I already had 2 pairs TIS MKI, so the whole way from turntable to power amps is now a mix of old and new TIS. The TIS MKII replaced an SSP MKII. I immediately noticed a big improvement in sound and musicality when TIS MKII was in place. I had to move my Cube1 20cm away from the wall, there was more bass with TIS and more dynamics, detail, space, better highs and more insight into the music etc...I like to use TIS the whole signal way, as it is much better as when mixed with other interconnects (my experience). Now I enjoy phono very much. The next step will be TIS in the digital section. Thank you for making such a good interconnect. Not cheap but worth every penny.

TIS
Been using a 1m pair of TIS for a few months now. I wanted to try the top interconnect and have now come to some conclusions about its performance. The cable is providing the signal to a P90SA and second statement amp. Sources are PL71/Denon 103/NVA phono 2 with a single BBPSU for records and a Mac mini with a Teddy Pardo dac for digital. When I listen to music, I want to hear musical instruments sounding like musical instruments and ensembles/bands playing like ensembles/bands. It sounds like a simple requirement but I have lost count of the number of systems I have heard which fail the test. The TIS is certainly an improvement over SSC on both of my criteria. What did surprise me was the leap with the digital replay. I have no idea why this is so and not really interested in knowing why. I can’t find the words to describe what the cable does other than to say that I have been changing between SSC and TIS on both analogue and digital and it’s quite clear that there is an improvement with the TIS. It’s not more bass or higher highs but a fundamental sense that the music is more “correct”. I wouldn’t mind comparing some so called high end cables with eye watering price tags against the TIS.

SSP
I recently purchased some LS5 speaker cables and an SSP MK2 RCA interconnect. Wow!!! These cables are stunning. I have owned numerous top quality Chord cables in the past, this NVA stuff is in a different league, they are beautiful sounding cables that let your gear breathe, nothing added or taken away. I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, you will definitely notice the difference. I own early Farlowe Exposure amplification and boy do these cables compliment, just couldn’t believe the difference, top notch.

SSP
I have been a fan of these cables since my first NVA system was delivered and set up by “the Doc” back in 2015. I stupidly sold off most of it thinking the grass was greener elsewhere. I was re introduced via this purchase and I have to ask myself what I have been playing at over the past few years! So using the SSP with my P20 pre amp or direct from my Dac to my monoblocks has brought back the ‘fizz’ to my one source system. Difficult to quantify, but continuous foot tapping has been the order of the day and far more listening to random tracks from my collection. Fair to say it has just made things more musical to my ears - any other insightful technical comments are meaningless to me as I don’t understand the concepts of many comments made by so called experts. This cable does the business for me and that is what is important! Long may it continue!

SSP
Recently got a pair of ssp mk2. I’ve not been able to really tell the effects as I have been in a constant state of change trying to get everything positioned etc and wanted it in my vinyl input- my turntable is always the last to be set up. Anyway the recent changes allowed me to use a single cable as coaxial from cd to dac- to which I have been listening to a lot lately- well- I was already happy with the performance, adding the mk2 had me in awe- it was surreal- control, timing and Foot tappingly engaged- The only way to describe it is as if there was a conductor now controlling each song, placing instruments, vocals, space etc. Big thumbs up from me...

SSP
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 balanced power unit has arrived and I hopefully establish a proper baseline.

SSC
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.

SSC
This is the fourth time I have bought a pair of these outstanding cables, a short run from the Well Tempered to the Trigon, another from the Trigon to the (NVA) passive pre, another from the Cyrus CD7Q to the pre, and now a longer run out to the Meridians. Each one has been a breath of fresh air. No hype, no hyperbole, these just get out of the way, they do literally vanish acoustically, leaving you wondering how you ever put up with the now obvious colouration from other cables. A true hifi bargain, I simply love them.

SSC
So, I bought SSC digital lead sometime ago and have listened few CDs after putting it between my Teac CD player and cheap "Docdac". SSC replaced basic origin live cable with good result. SSC makes music more enjoyable and music just flows to my ears in away that previous cable just couldn't do. Fine cable with fine price, what more could you want.

SC
This is very good. Give it some time. Money well spent. Even on very good stuff.

SC
I've been using Sound Cord Interconnect cables, on my humble headphone listening rig (since 2014). As for their sound. At first, I found the Sound Cord slightly lean and brightly lit. But not in any intimidating way! After listening for a while, I came to the realisation that they sound decent, and can equal cables costing £150-200. For beer money your getting a decent cable, that gives you a good ''live'' raw sound. I also like Sound Cords for their fit and forget style. No silly thrills happening here, just simple average Joe!

NVA speaker cable reviews

LST
After receiving and installing LS1 speaker cable this morning, which has replaced the LS2, a listening session is ongoing. I usually listen to music at a very low volume. The knob usually sits at half past eight on the P20. There's more detail coming through with this cable. More of the music.

LST
I’ve had these for a short while now, and whilst it would seem obvious that these would trump the basic LS2 speaker cables included in the insanely good value for money P20/A20 combo, they not only trumped them but opened up a whole new window into my music! I’ll be honest by saying i swapped them (at my risk) for my Van Damme black series four and just for a laugh some QED silver anniversary cables and there is no contest, not even worth the admission fee. Quite possibly the most pointless exercise ever. However...I did some back to backs with Dire Straights remastered “Telegraph Road” with the different speaker cables and the LS1 just portrayed what was meant to be on the original recording whilst the others presented a more muffled and strangled sound. It’s fair to say that they have no fancy overpriced plugs fitted, so if that’s what turns you on then maybe look elsewhere. But, what they do so well is to add nothing and take nothing away from what is being played at the time. So, for the price of a half decent meal and a few pints, the LS1 is quite frankly a absolute bargain. I’d love to know what this cable would cost with a “dealer” margin on top :o

LS3
In my journey for audio heaven I have bought, borrowed and listened to a dozen or so loudspeaker cables, I think my journey has nearly ended. I say this because the only direction I can go from here is it go up the range within NVA’s cabling. I have just brought the so called entry level LS3, the build is superb, and most importantly the sound is brilliantly transparent through the mid and, with a light delicate top end, and palpably layered bass. I care about beauty, and the LS3 cable delivers that every time!

LS3
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 lose, possibly only the music ?

LS3
I’m really impressed by the effect they have. I replaced the non stock silver jumper cables with the ls3 and the sound was open, articulated, detailed it’s just amazing. With these jumpers speakers are able to perform as intended by Samy penttila. Thanks, a very happy customer.

LS3
I decided to try the above to replace LS1 and a DNM interconnect. I ordered speaker cable and a single run of SSP for digital duties but Doc sent me a stereo set in error, needless to say I ended up keeping both! Short answer is that for the price, this is one of the biggest upgrades I have tried, which surprised me. All of the NVA musical qualities are retained but there is more space around the individual performers and it is possible to listen in to strands within the music. The soundstage seems to have gained more depth and I can hear much more detail. I don't have golden ears, and I am not going to lapse into reviewer speak about 'inky black silences' or noise floors but the changes are not subtle, even to me.

LS3
Being fully aware of the improvements NVA cables make from my experience with the main system, I took advantage of the trade in to upgrade from LS2. The immediate impression was an improvement in the frequency extremes, all the more important as the system is mainly played at low volume where treble and bass can appear lacking. When turned up the depth of bass the Cubettes produce for their size became very apparent. After a few days, probably taking account of run in, there was clearly more music coming through. This took the form of a greater sense of ease and a more dynamic presentation. Although not the dramatic improvement resulting from the upgrade to TSCS from LS6 on the main system, a very worthwhile and cost effective improvement.

LS5
Bryston 4BSST and a pair of Tannoy System 12 DMT’s straight from my sound-card , through a passive-attenuator. I chose Direct Wave signal-cables , since the rapport was good , and he knocked me up a pair of pre-production prototypes of his “plus” Derivatives , which are silver-composites. This enabled me to lessen the Tannoy’s treble-energy down to -1.5dB. This removed the x-over hump of the Tannoys , and left me with a very flat-response , which is exactly what I wanted. The transparency is superb , the image massive , and the depth is staggering.
But all that effort would be for nothing , had I not got the NVA LS5’s. The Bryston loves them , and the bass-slam and overall clarity is very evident. Quite stunning actually. In the interests of treble-timing , I decided to fully bi-wire with a set of LS1’s for the tweeters. This was a good move , as coherence was now fantastic across the spectrum - a step-up from just LS5’s with Tannoy jumpers for sure. With the speakers now at -1.5dB treble-energy , all vocals now sit properly in the mix and image - which makes me a very happy bunny indeed. They might not be cheap , but you will struggle to get something else this good that synergises so readily with a high-current transistor amp into studio-monitors. Overall , my LS5 and LS1 cables took about 2 weeks to “burn-in” , and I heard all sorts of phasing and things going on as they did so. But the end result is simply fantastic. Well recommended.

LS5
I recently purchased some LS5 speaker cables and an SSP MK2 RCA interconnect. Wow!!! These cables are stunning. I have owned numerous top quality Chord cables in the past, this NVA stuff is in a different league, they are beautiful sounding cables that let your gear breathe, nothing added or taken away. I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone, you will definitely notice the difference. I own early Farlowe Exposure amplification and boy do these cables compliment, just couldn’t believe the difference, top notch.

LS5
I now have a pair of SSC interconnects and LS5 speaker cable in place (replacing the 'free' but very capable SC and LS2 - both of which I am keeping for my second system !) and again the sound has moved up another notch ---- it is clean without being dry or overly bright ---- there are just more instruments on each track it seems (Ha ha) I'm playing some Paul Weller tracks I know very very well and it's like he's slipped a couple of extra players into the band --- very impressed in short ---- and the 'core' of my system is still the very cheapest amp Doc does, the A20/P20 combo ....... I've had a LOT more expensive gear in the past from the likes of Audio Note (Meishu and an expensive DAC straight into a pair of P2SE monos) Living Voice speakers with TQ cables etc etc ...... I am not saying my current set up is 'better' but it is every bit as enjoyable and involving (I've changed home meantime so it's not fair to compare directly and this is not a side by side blind comparison, so I am relying on memory --- but the feeling is genuine) and I have to say NVA works very well with Kudos C2 floorstanders.

LS3 TO LS6
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 ?

LS6
WOW! The difference is not subtle from LS5 upgrade. Tweeters of the Alon (Nola) Petites wired with LS5, with the upgrade to the mid/bass units. More space, intelligibility, foot tapping pace. Sweeter with sibilance reduced. Feel the spades for the speaker end makes a difference as well. System: A70 mono/AP20 Power/P50/MDac+/Audiomeca Kreatura.

LS6
I've been listening today, comparing the LS6 with my own Tellurium Black. The Blacks, in fact all of the Tellurium cables, have been getting some rave reviews on some of the forums and magazines, and they are very good. Similar price to the LS6, the LS6 being a bit more expensive. The LS6 wins by a fairly easy margin. Better rez, better focus, more powerful and better defined bass. It's a bit brighter, which may help with the rez, or maybe the Tellurium is a bit darker. Same thing! The LS6 are easily worth the slight price premium, imo. A very fine cable ... hmm, I wonder what the LS7 sounds like ... :?

LS6
I have lived with the LS5 for about 5 years and been really happy with the end result, A upgrade from Royd Apex to Cube 1s put a big smile on my face a few months back and I felt I was close to as good as it gets (for an MP3 based system). There were times when it seemed as if the performers were in my bedroom next door and someone had opened a window into the lounge. Then I chopped the LS5 for LS6. No argument - the improvement was immediate and obvious. Difficult to explain without employing the usual cliches but I will try. Music is more involving - it sounds live - er. I find myself constantly picking out hidden nuances in vocal phrasing that didn't strike me before. Treble sounds ring out without being shrill. Welcome to Acousticville is a live Janis Ian track from Hunger. Janis is now in the room performing a few feet in front of me. It's very much a story with acoustic guitar accompaniment. Although I could hear every word before I now seem to get a better sense of what the lyrics mean and how the story unfolds. There is so much more clarity. The song is no longer just a pleasant ramble. So in conclusion, in my opinion LS6 is a well worthwhile improvement on LS5 and I can't wait to get my turntable set up again and listen to some real music.

LS6
Having moved from LS2 to LS3 previously, I took advantage of a cable sale to try LS6. I have previously been fairly agnostic about cable, LS3 was clearly an upgrade on LS2 but I can honestly say that hand on heart, the move to SSP, and LS6 in particular was a revelation for me in terms of their importance. They are genuinely the biggest single ‘bang for buck’ improvement I have experienced and made me re-think the way I looked at hi-fi – in the context of my system of course, I have not tried SSP or LS6 with other amps or speakers. I would urge anyone with a modest NVA (or other) system to try these cables first before buying a new box. It is a cliché but LS6 opened the window wide and allowed my little system to really shine. Everything just seemed to relax and you could listen in to each musical element individually, without spoiling the event as a whole. Give them a try, the 30-day trial period makes it a no brainier and you may never know how good your system is if you don’t. Not sure what sort of fairy dust is inside but they work!!

LS6
LS6 speaker cable replacing chord odyssey. Wow is all I can say. Greater resolution and detail and has really opened up the mid range and top end. Very happy

LS7
I posted my 1st review quite a while ago and I was impressed with this cable. Now it's run for a time, I'm even more impressed. Whether that's because I've learned how to get the best out of my system or a real improvement I'm not certain. The most obvious improvement is in the bass response. It is even more articulate and has greater weight than ever - it was never lacking anyway. The top seems smoother and more articulate as well. Imaging is to die for on the right recording. It's the old cry "removing veils". It's difficult to express how surprised I am. I have spent years and lots of £ on cables but nothing has come close to TIS / LS7 - and I've had some really expensive and unusual cables in my time. Looks like I've found system synergy and I trust the P50, A80 change will only improve this. KW550, MA PL200, BMU, LS7, Blusound Vault, TIS.

LS7
I had been using Atlas Mavros bi-wire and it was the best I'd ever come across - and I've had a few through my system. The LS7 immediately improved the bass. It seemed to stretch down about another half octave and it gained a little weight. There are a slight improvement in the high treble (or at least as high as I can hear at my ancient age). I thought to myself, this stuff doesn't need running it. How odd. Well, this simply shows how wrong you can be. It has been in my system for just over a month and it is still improving. The stereo image is to die for. I can hear stuff I've ever heard before e.g. two voices singing in unison now sound like two voices not a single voice double tracked. It is also much clearer how the music was recorded - work through the Fleetwood Mac catalogue and you can clearly hear the step changes. Notes now have greater shape as well as pitch and volume. Overall a very pleasant musical experience. I now play stuff I have passed over for ages and I enjoy rediscovering these old pieces. One niggle. The Mavros is fitted with right angle plugs which means that expensive cable doesn't need to go round in a curve twice to reach between the amp and the speakers and so less is needed. Fortunately, the straight plugged LS7 is a little over stated length otherwise it would have had to go back. Is it worth the high cost? I think so but I am in the fortunate position that I can afford it. Anyone want to buy a 2.5m bi-wire Atlas Mavros speaker cable set?

LS7
Right from the start, I realized that the TSCS delivers more of everything in my system in comparison to the excellent and musical LS6. The strong point of the LS6 in my system definitely is the mid-range. The mid-range is slightly on the warmer side compared to the not burned-in TSCS, and this warmth makes music reproduction in my near field listening to my 3-way horn system especially pleasing. It’s like you are “bathing” in pure mid-range joy with the LS6! :). From the start, the TSCS conveyed a more transparent reproduction of music, with more detail plus more stage width and depth, which in my system - to my ears - is the result of its exceptional resolution and fine detail in the treble region. In this area, the TSCS is definitely exceptional! After now three weeks with listening one to four hours a day, I can report that the TSCS has improved further (the listening for the last two weeks has been without my NVA phono 2 as it is currently being converted by Richard to the MC version; so, the only NVA product in my current chain is the ls cables). The TSCS is by all means a fantastic cable. :clap:

LS7
Firstly, they look like a top of the range product. A very elegant silver braid finish and a bit thicker than my LS6. There’s really not much else to say. Just plug them in and listen. Listening is where it gets interesting. The cables are not a night-and-day change. I think that my system has become too sophisticated for any change to make a significant improvement. What the cables manage is to make recorded instruments sound a bit more like real ones. I’m currently having something of a telecaster fixation (I won’t bore you with the details) and have found myself listening to some status quo during their transition from psychedelia to boogie. The cables just make that telecaster sound that bit more realistic. To be honest, this applies to all instruments and for me that’s good enough. Vocals are rather good as well. Listening to Billie Holiday as I’m typing this and you can hear her voice on the edge of falling apart on Lady in Satin. One of the things I have noticed is that a good system makes some singers sound worse as you can clearly hear how badly they are singing ! I’ll let Ms Holiday off on that one. However, it can become quite engaging and enhances the “performance”. If you are considering an upgrade then a pair of TSCS are worth considering and might be a better purchase than a bigger amp.

LS7
For a brand new cable, first impressions were very positive. Music was immediately more dynamic, bass and treble more prominent and the flow of the music noticeably easier to follow. The sound just seemed to fill the room more, as if the 156 cores had opened the floodgates. LS7 is very revealing of whatever it's presented with. I had been making adjustments to my PL-71 and at first vinyl sounded bright and harsh. It turned out that LS7 was highlighting the effects of misalignment in the arm and cartridge. Differences in recording and pressing quality are also more apparent. I never knew just how much detail was hidden in the grooves of some of my old LP's. Again, presentation was vibrant and involving. As impressive as LS7 is at resolving detail, it's the ability to convey the spirit and emotion in a recording that draws me in. This was already apparent with my NVA setup, so I imagine that LS7 is allowing more of these characteristics to come through. The usual NVA qualities of space, dynamics and realism were enhanced with LS7. Any initial brightness was short-lived with the sound becoming smoother as the cables were run in. LS7 will not hide any deficiencies, as I found with the Pioneer, but will be transparent to upgrades and other changes. It will be interesting to see how much and for how long the LS7 continues to improve with use. What I do know is it won't be going back after the 30 day trial.