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Post by bencat on Aug 16, 2024 18:16:18 GMT
Well today I drove down to NVA HiFi to collect my completed and upgraded NVA P70 monos . These were old eighties aluminium cases units not working . Paul and Mark agreed to look at them and then to my delight offered me options to get them working or be completely rebuilt . Decided on the rebuild option so they have now got new latest boards , two Tiger Torroids transformers per unit one for the input one for the output , four Vishay Mains Caps per unit new output devices and fully new wiring . So brand new under the bonnet but nicely aged patina cases . Took out my NVA S300 stereo amp and put the monos in had volume really low but once track selected they were making a noise . Edged the volume up and things sounded good but not quite right quick check and the output on my dCS Delius DAD had switched from twin AES to single quick adjustment and then things got better . I think despite them having had four days plus burn in by NVA they are going to need more as each time I left the room for half an hour or so they sounded better when I came back . How do they sound well the heading gives it away magnificent these are best amplifiers I have heard driving Quads ever and certainly in my room. I would include the M600 loan monos I tried in this . They sounded good and better than my S300 but not good enough for me to commit to buying them . Had they sounded like these units I would have bought them . Separation , bass texture , imaging , purity of tone the deception of thinking real people are singing and playing in front of you all of these these units do better than anything else I have heard . I think I have stopped looking for amplifiers this combination is as much as I could have wanted in my imagination . Sorry to gush but this is how I feel . Oh and just remembered that Tony has my LB Clock and is sprinkling his magic on that so this may well raise the bar yet again .
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Post by macca on Aug 16, 2024 18:58:29 GMT
We had one of those old metal case NVA power amps at the NEBO last summer. Gave a good account of itself. With KEF105 - which are very good but not the easiest speaker to run.
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Post by bencat on Aug 16, 2024 22:20:12 GMT
Macca truthfully these are not the same thing at all to the original units . What I have are a very modern mono amplifier with real attitude . The addition of two Torroids and four mains caps stiffen up the power supply to a real high level . I am not the best to offer a relative comparison with current high quality amps as I have not heard too many . But I do love music and currently the music is the best I have have heard to date . Burning in May make this even better so will come back after a month and comment .
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Post by macca on Aug 17, 2024 8:20:31 GMT
Yes the power supply is all the difference in the world.
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Post by bencat on Aug 19, 2024 11:37:38 GMT
Have posted some pictures of the before and after on the Maverick site under two channel and Aurex if any one wants to see how things have changed . Tony got in touch today and he has finished my LB Clock he has also included pictures which will put up in a new thread on the Maverick site as not able to post pictures here . When I got the LB Clock it was around the same time Alan and Oli got improved clicks and added them . With the changes they have gone through not sure if they are still using them but I remember we were all impressed with how their use improved the sound quality . I do not know if adding the upgraded clock will make as much difference but if it does then I suspect my head will explode . Tony is sending it today so should be here around Wednesday or so then just a matter of getting it on and connected . Currently everything is going through my Mutec using the internal clock and the musician just so sweet not sure where it can go from here but only time will tell . As some on here are interested ( not you Dave 😂) will post some thoughts . Tony says that there are some special parts in the upgrade but the current in the LB is so low it could take two or even three weeks for it to burn in so initial impressions may be improved with use .
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
Member is Online
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 19, 2024 12:42:39 GMT
Have posted some pictures of the before and after on the Maverick site under two channel and Aurex if any one wants to see how things have changed . Tony got in touch today and he has finished my LB Clock he has also included pictures which will put up in a new thread on the Maverick site as not able to post pictures here . When I got the LB Clock it was around the same time Alan and Oli got improved clicks and added them . With the changes they have gone through not sure if they are still using them but I remember we were all impressed with how their use improved the sound quality . I do not know if adding the upgraded clock will make as much difference but if it does then I suspect my head will explode . Tony is sending it today so should be here around Wednesday or so then just a matter of getting it on and connected . Currently everything is going through my Mutec using the internal clock and the musician just so sweet not sure where it can go from here but only time will tell . As some on here are interested ( not you Dave 😂) will post some thoughts . Tony says that there are some special parts in the upgrade but the current in the LB is so low it could take two or even three weeks for it to burn in so initial impressions may be improved with use . You can post pictures here, just use IMGBB. Copy the link and post it in your thread, dead easy. |
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Post by bencat on Aug 19, 2024 12:59:30 GMT
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
Member is Online
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Post by Bigman80 on Aug 19, 2024 14:32:51 GMT
You have to set the links as I have circled in the pic 👍🏻  |
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Post by lurch on Aug 19, 2024 14:59:48 GMT
Basically the 2nd set of gobbledegook with ![]() The bracketed text fore and aft make the pics show up. |
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 13:25:41 GMT
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 13:26:26 GMT
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 13:27:01 GMT
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 13:27:31 GMT
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 14:19:21 GMT
Right the LB Clock is back from Tony,s sterling work as evidenced by the above pictures . Now against everything that my brain is screaming at me I am going to resist putting the clock right back in my system . I am going to wait till tomorrow when Graham is comming over and we can listen to the system as it is then add the clock and both see how it sounds . Do not get to do this often so will enjoy hearing different comments and how they either align with mine or are very different .
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Post by antonio on Aug 20, 2024 14:39:01 GMT
Will you be able to sleep tonight Andrew?  |
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 14:50:04 GMT
Probably not Dave but have put the LB settings in and his away powered up did I can not see it but it is getting a little burn in . Out of sight out of mind is the maxim I am applying .
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 14:50:46 GMT
Probably not Dave but have put the LB settings in and his away powered up did I can not see it but it is getting a little burn in . Out of sight out of mind is the maxim I am applying .
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Post by bencat on Aug 21, 2024 14:59:48 GMT
Right today as I had said have myself and Graham the chance to hear my system with just the internal clock of my Mutec and the Coherence upgraded LB Clock . Firstly this was the first time Graham would hear my system with the new NVA upgraded P70 monos . We picked out there tracks John Martyn , Agnes Obel and Malia . All three sounded really good with great control and a much wider sound stage than ever before . Graham commented that he thought the bass was playing deeper which I admit I had not noticed but once mentioned I could see what he meant . Then a quick flick of the Mutec controls to use the external clock and back to the three tracks . Well it had sounded so good before it could not get better surely ! Err yes it could everything became more natural I swear John Martyn had more time to finish his lines . Soundstage was deeper and more layered John,s voice a challenge to any recording engineer was now achingly beautiful every nuance was just there . The Agnes Obel track which was mainly backed by cello and the woodiness of the double tracked cello was easily clear to be heard . Last track by Malia was the one that jumped out as being most improved . With the internal clock it sound great with nice depth but with the LB it can alive with things happening all over the sound stage and that voice now so real you felt you could reach out and touch it . So thank you NVA for all your work and support these are fantastic amplifiers and the best I have ever heard . Thank you to Tony both for doing the work n the LB Clock and talking me through the hiccup I had yesterday . If anyone out there is using the LB Clock do not hesitate talk to Tony get the upgrade it is a revelation . If you have any doubts look at the pictures of the digital age scan in the Leo Bodnar set up thread then look at the same picture on my upgraded clock the difference is not subtle .
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Post by stevew on Aug 21, 2024 15:37:19 GMT
Right today as I had said have myself and Graham the chance to hear my system with just the internal clock of my Mutec and the Coherence upgraded LB Clock . Firstly this was the first time Graham would hear my system with the new NVA upgraded P70 monos . We picked out there tracks John Martyn , Agnes Obel and Malia . All three sounded really good with great control and a much wider sound stage than ever before . Graham commented that he thought the bass was playing deeper which I admit I had not noticed but once mentioned I could see what he meant . Then a quick flick of the Mutec controls to use the external clock and back to the three tracks . Well it had sounded so good before it could not get better surely ! Err yes it could everything became more natural I swear John Martyn had more time to finish his lines . Soundstage was deeper and more layered John,s voice a challenge to any recording engineer was now achingly beautiful every nuance was just there . The Agnes Obel track which was mainly backed by cello and the woodiness of the double tracked cello was easily clear to be heard . Last track by Malia was the one that jumped out as being most improved . With the internal clock it sound great with nice depth but with the LB it can alive with things happening all over the sound stage and that voice now so real you felt you could reach out and touch it . So thank you NVA for all your work and support these are fantastic amplifiers and the best I have ever heard . Thank you to Tony both for doing the work n the LB Clock and talking me through the hiccup I had yesterday . If anyone out there is using the LB Clock do not hesitate talk to Tony get the upgrade it is a revelation . If you have any doubts look at the pictures of the digital age scan in the Leo Bodnar set up thread then look at the same picture on my upgraded clock the difference is not subtle . I’m running out of sofas to look down the back of. |
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Post by bencat on Aug 21, 2024 22:23:41 GMT
Playing more music again tonight and just so delighted with how it is all sounding the addition of the Coherence upgraded LB is nothing short of audio magic . Everything across the spectrum seems improved and you needing to play just one more track . Tony will now go in to Northern skitting mode but I have even played Sultans of Swing and got back the reason I loved it when I first heard it and it sounds so good it has made me forget how many times I have heard it badly reproduced at countless hifi shows . If that is not high praise then nothing is .
ps - I blame the final dram before bed for the awful state of the original post . Hope you get what I meant .
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Post by bencat on Aug 23, 2024 10:40:51 GMT
Well as Tony suggested the LB Clock is left on 24/7 and currently each morning there are improvements . Tony has suggested because of the tiny current in the clock that it may take a couple of weeks to fully burn in so who knows what it will sound like then . Very happy with the music at the moment even bad recordings have improved and become easier to listen to . The Stack feet are also becoming tempting as the description of he improvements are close to what I hear when the LB standard was inserted and even more so with the upgraded LB . Issue for me at least is the same as Steve if I like the 50,s then I can sort of cope with that . If on the other hand the 100,s are so much better and I hear them then that is going to require a whole universe of sofas to look in to afford them . So to start I am going to try the 50,s in isolation and take a view after they are fitted and settled .
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Post by bencat on Aug 27, 2024 14:10:37 GMT
Thought I would add an update now all changes both NVA amplifiers and the Coherent upgraded LB Clock have had a few days to settle in . Final result is that all of this including the patient waiting (not one of my best traits) has been well worth it . Everything is just better and I do mean everything . Really so happy . An off shoot of the improvements is that tweaks and changes to settings can be heard very clearly and you can hear any changes both improvements and sadly down grades as well . The Transporter has quite a few things in audio you can change which alter . Firstly changed from SPDIF output to AES/EBU output and in my main system as I use an AES/EBU there is a very small but nice upgrade to the clarity and precision of the sound . Then come the clock changes tried these back and forth a few time and found that asynchronous with External Clock is master seems to give better quality . I changed this on the other Transporter in my active three way and this worked as a positive in that as well also strange is that on this Transport the connection is SPDIF using rca phono cable but if you change this to AES/EBU output as well it sounds better as well . Not at all sure what is going on here and what the switch is doing to the digital signal but if it sounds better and to me it does then I am going to use it like this . So even with the improvements from the Amps and LB Clock there was still more to be gained . Will come back to these changes after a week or so and see if this has been just wishful thinking on my part or if the changes I hear are real and repeatable . LB clock upgrades are very certainly a real boost up from the standard and I suspect make this very small and humble little unit give serious musical quality challenge to some very serious priced external clocks on the market .
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Post by bencat on Sept 1, 2024 11:40:18 GMT
Sometimes things just work out , not often but sometimes . Today I saw an LPSU made by a friend on another site up for sale and he offered to set this supply to any voltage up to 9v . Sent a message to say I will buy that but then noticed another member had already asked so was designed to losing out . Then get a PM saying others had asked but messed about so it was mine . Fantastic asked for it to be set at 8 Volt and this will then become the power supply for my Coherent upgraded LB Clock matched with the sweet spot voltage from Tony,s advice . May well make no difference but it will stop me wondering and the price is excellent for a nicely made and presented supply . Roll on next week .
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Post by bencat on Sept 18, 2024 13:42:22 GMT
Right pain and mobility issues (ie if I get on the floor I am not getting up by myself) have meant that the Auva 50,s have had to stay in their box . Friday is the next planned day to get them in place . In the mean time I have now found the Coherent upgraded LB Clock has settled and is not changing in sound quality any more . I know many on here have heard the difference a better clock makes and I am going to just leave it that this is a much better clock than the standard LB . If you already use and LB then form a queue and ask Tony for a date when he can work on it . You will not be regret it . Tony apologies i know you are massively busy but I have to let other know that this is a very cost for sound upgrade on the side of sound quality hope you get lots more work from this .
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