Nova - The next revolutionary DAC

[SolidSqual]

http://www.signalpathint.com/index.php/Nova/Digital-to-Analog-Converter.html

http://www.signalpathint.com/images/stories/nova/nova.jpg

Digital to Analog converter: Maybe the most unique Nova feature is the onboard ESS 9006 Sabre DAC. It’s a 24/192 upsampling D/A converter, which transforms just about any digital source to the performance of a high-end CD player. The ESS Sabre DAC’s patented jitter reduction circuit re-clocks the digital signal to almost 0 jitter before passing it through a high-resolution 24/192 upsampling processor that’s also capable of 122dB s/n ratio. This is unheard of in any D/A converter until now and out-specs anything from any other DAC on the market. But the DAC chip is only part of the story because the surrounding electronics are extremely important. We employ 11 regulated power supplies for the DAC and transformer-couple each digital input stage so noise associated with ground problems and switching power supplies is eliminated. The USB connection is very unique. It is galvanically isolated from the computer connection. This is very important because significant noise generated by the computer’s switching power supply travels down the USB ground and manifests itself as a major source of jitter. We eliminate it before the DAC sees it..

The bottom line is we know of no D/A converter on the market at any price that will better the Nova ESS D/A converter in bench tests and to our ears. To match the performance of the D/A alone would be much more expensive than the price of the entire Nova. These are lofty claims, but can be backed up by the technical specifications and listening tests. The gauntlet has been dropped…

Use the Nova as a D/A converter in your current system. If you’re thinking about adding a high-end D/A converter to your current system between $3,500-$10,000, you would serve yourself well to audition the Nova first. The Nova features a fixed line out so it can be used as a “remote switchable D/A converter” that can be added to any local or whole-house audio system to handle and improve any digital source. It’s also a great way to add a PC or Mac Mini to your existing system.

[GV#27]

Having integral upsampling/reclocking that ESS Sabre dac chip is unique.It's fairly new but I suspect several companies will introduce products with it.
According to the blurb it looks like a lot of attention has been paid to the power supply which is a good thing .More important is the analog stage which they don't say anything about, but in the pic I see a little glass bottle thingy.

[SolidSqual]

The DAC in the Nova will actually be sold separately for under 1K. Walter of Underwood HiFi explained to me earlier this year that the DAC is actually technology licensed by McIntosh in their upcoming gear. Evidently the engineer at at Peachtree has an insider with Mac that hooked him up. I can't wait to see what this things can do.

The claim that it could make ANY transport a hifi device by completely reducing jitter is a bold claim. I called Walter out on this ASAP, but he says they're no BSing. We'll see. . .

Also, the DAC will be tube based. Something I will definitely be keeping an eye on.

[GV#27]

The DAC in the Nova will actually be sold separately for under 1K. The Nova shown in the pic sells for less than 1k?I have read that individual dac chips sell for about $60 ea.Walter of Underwood HiFi explained to me earlier this year that the DAC is actually technology licensed by McIntosh in their upcoming gear. Yes apparently Mac are using the Sabre chip in their MCD500 CD/SACD player. This chip is also being used in some nice DIY designs.

The claim that it could make ANY transport a hifi device by completely reducing jitter is a bold claim. I called Walter out on this ASAP, but he says they're no BSing. We'll see. . . Any DAC that uses a sample rate converter (ie.Benchmark DAC1,Bryston BDA1) can rightly claim that it will make the transport less import.

Something I will definitely be keeping an eye on.It does look interesting.

[GV#27]

The DAC in the Nova will actually be sold separately for under 1K. OK I see now the NOVA is a complete DAC/Integated amp combo, I thought it was just a DAC with headphone amp. I just followed your link to the manufacturers site and saw the complete description.

[SolidSqual]

Yeah, I've heard the Decco, the smaller "Nova", and was really impressed. This is a promising company.

[F1nut]

It's my understanding that jitter is inaudible at 150 ps, so I'm not sure that their jitter rating amounts to much, if anything.

[george daniel]

here's something about it on AC

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=48549.10

[SolidSqual]

Got this from Walter earlier this morning:

The Nova will be exceptional when it arrives in January. The unit we spoke about is the Preamp DAC coming in April or May. Very similar without the amp and a little better preamp. Target price is $999.00. The Nova is $1199.00

[george daniel]

I'm dumb and slow,,, help me out,,, can this be used as a "stand alone" DAC,, in other words--connected to a cdp?

[SolidSqual]

Yes, the Nova can be used as a standalone preamp and DAC. But, I would wait for the stand-lone DAC to come out. As indicated by Walter Lierderman above, it will be a preamp and DAC combo. I will be looking hard at this unit in the coming months.

You can see in the system configuration below, that the Decco, a smaller version of the Nova, is being used as a preamp DAC.

SYSTEM EIGHT

* Emerald Physics CS-2 open baffle loudspeakers with digital crossovers are simply superb.
* Wyred 4 Sound custom 4-channel amp with 2 x 250wpc + 2 x 125wpc is perfect for running the CS-2s (the speakers need to be bi-amped).
* Peachtree Audio Decco Preamp DAC/tube preamp with excellent digital to analog converter, quality headphone amp and USB input
* Music Hall CD-25.2 CD player used as a transport only thru the DAC in the Decco

(Lifted from Underwood HiFi (http://www.underwoodhifi.com/systems.html))

[george daniel]

Thabk you sir,, any idea about how much the DAC only will cost?

[SolidSqual]

thabk you sir,, any idea about how much the dac only will cost?

$999

[george daniel]

$999


Thanks,, I even spelled it right this time;)

[bikerboy]

This is the same dac in the Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo kit that I built months ago. It sounds great. The dac kit is about $300 if you can get one.

[doctorcilantro]

There is an assembled kit on Rockhopper audio but he never got back to me.

I ended up buying a Nova. Just listened to the headphone out as I am rebuilding my system. Not sure if I was tired, but a few weeks ago I put an album on, having listened to very little music lately also may have been a factor, but I listened for almost an hour. I took that as a good sign. Sounded really good on my AKG702.

I have 24/96 material that was archived from my vinyl (96kHz really helps when doing digital RIAA and for noise recduction). Anyway, I asked Dave S. at Signal Path about using Toslink or Coax in with a 24/96. My question was, would it be upsampled or tainted in any way. I think he said no ; )...that would only be with the USB input as it can't handle the higher sample rate.

I had a Lavry DA10 which worked differently, it had an LED which displayed the incoming sample rate which it locked/synced to.

DC

[bikerboy]

Twisted Pear Audio guys are now selling the newest dac from ESS. I would love to hear this one but I would need to sell the 9018 Buffalo first. The Sabre 32 is supposed to be better all around.

[bikerboy]

Edit of earlier post. The earlier version is the 9008, the newest is called the 9018. ESS looks like they are developing some good stuff. http://http://twistedpearaudio.com/digital/buffalo.aspx

[zingo]

I heard the Nova the other day powering a pair of 805s and it's a good sounding unit with its tube stage. However, the Decco is also impressive sound and either unit makes a great all-in-one.

[venomclan]

The Nova looks nice with HT bypass and preamp outs, feature I would like to see in other dacs. Does it have a remote?

[SolidSqual]

I use the Nova as a DAC in my system. It blows away my stock Raysonic CD128. In fact AIFF via the computer toslink on my mac is phenomenal sounding. And, yes it does have a remote that controls most every function.

[venomclan]

Does it run hot? I believe that it has a feature to bypass the tube altogether, Did you ever experimnet with that feature?

[SolidSqual]

It's doesn't run hot at all, by tube standards. The bypass results in a more immediate sound, but not by much. I like the tube in the mix because it sounds a little smoother and musical.

[venomclan]

Sounds like a winner, thanks. Seems to be sold out everywhere also.