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NVA P1 Phono (MC)

Phono stage

Relative price

below typical

Among the 44 phono stages in the catalogue, this one is below typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

NVA P1 phono (MC) — the affordable NVA phono seen in the M600 owner systems. MC build; pair with the NVA chain.

Competition record

Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: it takes the slot in none of its 55 head-to-heads.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • quietness at rest ×26
  • midrange truth ×24
  • low-level clarity ×11
  • tonal body ×7
  • depth of bass ×6
  • rhythmic grip ×4
  • bass weight ×2

Who it comes up against

Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC

14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the NVA P50SA MKII, the pairing gives up most on depth of bass.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

detailed, captivatingNVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)

Naim NVC TT MM/MC

14 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic

Against the Intimate brief, the Naim NVC TT MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

music just flowsNVA house DNA (simplest possible circuit)

Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl

8 lost · Anchored, Characterful, PRaT, Romantic

Against the Anchored brief, the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Frog, the pairing gives up most on bass weight.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

detailed, captivatingNVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)

Rega Aura Reference MC

7 lost · BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Intimate, Reference

Against the Intimate brief, the Rega Aura Reference MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Crimson, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

With the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

music just flowsNVA house DNA (simplest possible circuit)

Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII

3 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Tom Evans Groove+ SRX MkII keeps the slot decisively.

With the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

music just flowsNVA house DNA (simplest possible circuit)

EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC

3 lost · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the EAR Yoshino 88PB MM/MC keeps the slot decisively.

With the van den Hul The Colibri, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

detailed, captivatingNVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)
detailed, captivatingNVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)

Whest Audio 60Se Pro

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio 60Se Pro keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Cyrus Classic PHONO

2 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Cyrus Classic PHONO keeps the slot decisively.

With the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

music just flowsNVA house DNA (simplest possible circuit)

Whest Audio TITAN Pro II

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Whest Audio TITAN Pro II keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the phono stage position.

Michell Apollo + Muse PSU

1 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Michell Apollo + Muse PSU keeps the slot decisively.

With the Goldring Eroica HX MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

With the Audiolab 9000Q, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P1 Phono (MC) is the weaker phono stage for that brief.

detailed, captivatingNVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)

What the reviewers said

detailed, captivating NVA owner record (P1/P2 phono; see the M600 system reviews)· Electrical noise floor
music just flows NVA house DNA (simplest possible circuit)· Harmonic texture
natural NVA house DNA· Tonal consistency
wide, deep stage PROXY: NVA P2/Phono house· Spatial resolution
dynamic PROXY: NVA phono house· Micro-dynamic resolution
hum unless carefully sited PROXY: NVA phono house· Electrical noise floor

How it scores

Clarity

  • Electrical noise floor 69 from listening evidence
  • Spatial resolution 72 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Harmonic texture 71 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 72 from listening evidence
  • Tonal consistency 71 from listening evidence

Specifications

mm capableFalse
mc capableTrue
mc gain db60
output impedance ohm600
notes