INTRODUCTION
Thank you for choosing nova! The nova project began as a simple idea with
high expectations: design an integrated amplifier platform that connects
to every popular Hi-Fi source, plays every type of file put into it, drives any
speaker, fills any room, looks great doing it, doesn’t cost a small fortune
and, most importantly, sounds better than anything in its price range. No
easy task, but our team accepted the challenge and set out on a mission
to completely re-imagine nova from the ground up. The team poured their
heart and soul into every detail, no stone was left unturned and we hope
you enjoy using nova as much as we enjoyed creating it!
The nova is several audio components in one. It’s a Digital-to-Analog
Converter (DAC), preamplifier, phono preamplifier, headphone amplifier
and power amplifier all wrapped in an attractive and simple to use
package. Each function has been specifically designed to provide the
ultimate listening enjoyment, regardless of the source or the listening
method. Each individual function provides a listening experience that
compares favorably with dedicated audio components that only perform a
single function but cost more than nova.
The DAC inside nova is a reference 32-bit/384kHz design that is capable
of accepting all of the major file formats currently available today up
to and including 32-bit/384kHz PCM and 5.6MHz DSD. This includes
compressed audio, uncompressed audio, high-resolution audio and ultra-
high resolution audio. The nova accepts them all! Built around the DAC
is an extensive, multi-point, regulated power supply that keeps the DAC
operating optimally and faithful to the input signal, providing the most
natural sounding and musical DAC section we have ever designed! The
nova500 takes the DAC design a step further and utilizes 4 DACs per
channel (8 DACs total) to provide an even lower noise floor and greater
musicality.
The preamplifier in nova is a full analog design with extremely flexible
input and configuration capability. It accepts input from a computer,
digital audio devices, analog audio devices, mobile devices and even has
a built-in phono preamplifier for connecting a turntable. The two analog
inputs are user-switchable so they can be configured 4 different ways: 2
standard analog inputs, 1 Home Theater Bypass (HTB) input + 1 analog
input, 1 analog input + 1 phono input, or 1 HTB input + 1 phono input.
Your system, your choice! The digital inputs include a user selectable
feature called volume control bypass that allows you to control overall
system volume right from your connected source device – essentially
bypassing the preamplifier in the nova to make it work like a stand-alone
power amplifier. This is especially useful if you enjoy using an application
on your computer or mobile device to select your music AND to control
the volume. And last, but not least, there is a loop feature that allows an
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