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NVA P50SA MKII

Preamplifier

Relative price

well below typical

Among the 29 preamplifiers in the catalogue, this one is well 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

The NVA passive most often paired with M600 monoblocks in owner systems (P50SA + M600 is the reference NVA chain). Same passive-aware treatment as the P50.

Competition record

Assessed against 7 rivals across the sixty systems: 10 head-to-heads won, 27 lost.

Where it gives ground

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

  • vocal presence ×4
  • midrange truth ×3
  • low-level clarity ×2
  • quietness at rest ×2
  • depth of bass ×1
  • tonal body ×1

Where it holds its ground

  • quietness at rest ×9
  • low-level clarity ×1

Who it comes up against

Music First Audio Baby Reference V2

10 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Music First Audio Baby Reference V2 keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

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

NVA P50 MKII

9 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50 MKII keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the preamplifier position.

Leema Neutron

3 lost· 1 won · Cavity-Native, Characterful, Romantic

Against the Cavity-Native brief, the Leema Neutron keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

With the Leema Hydra II, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)

Audiolab 9000Q

2 lost· 7 won · Anchored, Artisan, Characterful, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path

Against the Anchored brief, the NVA P50SA MKII takes the slot by a whisker.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units) gains quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.

With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)

EAR Yoshino 868L (Line)

2 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the EAR Yoshino 868L (Line) keeps the slot clearly.

With the EAR Yoshino 890, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

With the Rega Aura Reference MC, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

Audio Note M2 Phono

1 lost · Intimate

Against the Intimate brief, the Audio Note M2 Phono keeps the slot by a whisker.

With the Audio Note P1 SE, the pairing gives up most on midrange truth.

With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gains most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier for that brief.

Exposure 3510 Preamplifier

0 lost· 2 won · Artisan, Reference

Against the Artisan brief, the NVA P50SA MKII takes the slot clearly.

With the Naim NVC TT MM/MC, the pairing gains most on quietness at rest.

With the Exposure XM9 Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.

On its own merits the NVA P50SA MKII is the weaker preamplifier — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Naim NVC TT MM/MC gains quietness at rest under the Artisan weighting.

pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)
pin sharp clarityNVA owner consensus (P50SA)

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

pin sharp clarity NVA owner consensus (P50SA)· Electrical noise floor

How it scores

Clarity

  • Electrical noise floor 72 from listening evidence
  • Spatial resolution 74 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Presence & articulation 70 from listening evidence
  • Harmonic texture 74 from listening evidence

Specifications

is balanced internalFalse
rca inputs4
xlr inputs0
line input impedance kohm10.0
rca outputs1
output impedance ohm600
has pre supplied psuFalse
gain db0.0
notes