Introduction: I won’t bore you again with my re-entry into the head-fi process, other than to say that I would have been very, very happy with my first purchase(s) after losing my Klipsch s4ii’s, the wonderful MEE M6 Pro and the fantastic airy Dunu Titan 1’s. Except that once you go down the road of Head-Fi, there really is no turning back…when you plunge into the chasm of choices, it can be as if you have entered that valley of King Kong’s island…what with those man-eating insects the size of REAL VW Beetles, and Dinosaurs that run in packs running from a larger predator, all the while trying to eat you, too….These are the choices that nip at us, that reach out and try to grab us, and bite our head off…You get my point.
I write this dripping in sweat, yes even on the keyboard, after a hard workout of lifting, running and cleaning the house…kind of my trifecta of Olympic workouts…and I listen to twenty one pilots on not my Nova’s, but those wonderful M6 Pro’s. You should try it, even at my age they are really, really good. The whole time, as my heart rate rose (I’m old….), I was thinking of the Nova’s; of their impeccable sound, their deep dark, rich sound (IMHO) their machine/handmade industrial look, and how I arrived at such a lofty purchase (to me)…and the fact that I would never, never dare to wear the Nova while exercising.
The M6 Pro’s would have been enough to satisfy me for a long, long time, they really would have…. Except I kept reading, I kept ingesting, I kept digesting, ruminating over the knowledge one can gain from the Head-Fi site…and this led me down that d…..that darn valley. Along the way, I reached the Pinnacle (see my P1 review for that reference), the peak of what might have been my head experience, except I kept reading, God I hate reading….it leads me to knowledge and incredible products such as the Monk, the RHA’s and finally to the thread bearing quotes, posts and thoughts of the “new” Campfire Audio Andromeda and Nova. I could not justify the Andromeda (some day, he sighs….some day…), but came across the Massdrop on the Nova. Without much thought to my fingers or my bank account I pulled the trigger. This would be it, I made the promise, this would be it…(ummm, no I have added the excellent Fostex T40RP Mk3’s to “complete” my arsenal…sure, he thinks, suuuurrre….). I had to promise myself that.
I thought of all that, and could get a sense of what Ken (@KB) had poured into their products through ALO (http://www.ALOaudio.com) and the Campfire Audio product line of In-Ear Monitors. Now, maybe he poured sweat onto the keyboard, or grease smudges as they labored to create their vision of the perfect headphone line (maybe perfect is a poor choice, but their “vision” gets the point across). The industrial shape makes me think of my father-in-law who opened and closed the old AT&T plant in Lee’s Summit, MO as a Tool and Dye maker (literally the first shift/day it was open and closed for good). The incredible care he took to make the product needed. In his “spare time” at the factory, he created some of the best tools I have ever used and owned…they are impeccable in quality and utility…nothing wasted. Functionally perfect, minimal in material, and crafted with the care of an artisan…The same Ken and his cohorts do for the products which grace our ears. While I have never had the honor of conversing with Ken, others have and he is very receptive to suggestions and thoughts. A quality he shares with my Father-in-law. I consider this a good thing.
Unlike the initial hate with my P1’s, there was no such feeling upon putting the Nova’s in my ears…maybe it was that I have “re-trained” my ears to something new, or maybe the initial sound signature (we will not debate burn in here, suffice to say I will go with “brain burn in”) was quite pleasing to me. I really didn’t care, I liked them…I liked them a lot. Using the enclosed (and mounted) foamies, I did not change the tips for over 12 hours. I wanted an unchanged sound, not muddies by different tips. Those enclosed tips are very good. Mimicking Comply’s, they are slightly tighter of composition, but still pliable. I found a good fit, and just listened. I dealt with the harder-fit, due to the industrial shape, knowing my ears would accept, and accommodate the Nova once an agreement was reached between the two.
It was like I was hearing sounds for the very first time. Not even with my P1’s did I get this kind of clarity (to me). The separation, the individual keystroke, or keynote of instrument was phenomenal. I know my ears have lost a bit (too much loud music as a teenager…), but it was like I was hearing sounds and music for the first time. I can still remember putting my old Sennheiser’s on my nephew’s head when he was a toddler (very careful with the volume), and the look of wonderment on his face was priceless. He would not let me take the phones off for a good bit of time. THAT is the look, the feel I had when I first listened to the Nova’s…that pure, unadulterated joy of just listening, and to hear what was meant to be heard…It was what I will call “Novana”, the pure joy of hearing. I also read a good bit about the differences of the Andromeda v Nova, and refused to taint what I heard by stating “but the Andromeda is that much better”…I refused. The Nova’s were to be judged as stand alones…albeit the comparison with the P1’s and the RHA MA750’s, the only IEM’s I have remotely close to the Nova.
It is with that sweat, that loves driven into the Nova, that I write this review. Are there better? Yes. Are there more expensive? Yes, again. But, to me this is as far as I need to go. Anything beyond this will be compared to the Nova, and it will be tough to surpass them (to me).
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with ALO, nor Campfire Audio. This purchase was of my own, on the aforementioned Massdrop, for a darn good price I might add.
Review
Packaging:
A small uninviting envelope arrived from Massdrop (with which I was a might bit disappointed, due to the cost of the item). Shirking that off, I carefully opened (like heck I did…I tore the damn thing open!!!) the package to find a tiny box. A very tiny box. My packaging fears were alleviated because of the small size (once I got past how small it really was). My daughter did a project in 7th grade where the students were given a single Pringle’s, and maximum dimension for a container of their making. The homemade container would then be mailed to themselves at the school, to see how well the chip survived…I will be honest this thought crossed my mind upon looking at the box. But this isn’t a Pringle, and it was packed very well. Suddenly I was hungry…
The gray Cordura fabric of the case greeted me with the words CAMPFIRE Audio centered almost perfectly on the lower 1/3 of the top. A massive (for this size container) zipper, which was hard to unzip was my next fortune. After carefully opening the zipper (those of you who have older convertibles with zip rear windows, will know exactly what I mean…our 1990 Miata is on it’s 3rd top), I was greeted with the cradle…A cradle in sheepskin of which a Norwegian warrior would be envious in winter. I had seen @ExpatinJapan’s picture of the container, but a picture does not do it justice. Think a cradle lined with the fur of the finest sheep you would happily crawl into on a cold winter’s night, and you will get the idea. Already mounted were the mentioned foam tips. Who was I to judge Ken’s choosing…I left them alone.
Oh that Sheepskin!
Extra Foam tips, and velcro cable straps
Under the zippered pouch is a cardboard “shelf” which shields all from the zip locked bags containing the accessories of tips, a cleaning brush and a CA pin. Pretty nice pin, I might add. Nothing spectacular, but the options are not the point. The site of the IEM was a near-angelic-calling moment for me…after all of the “noise” made on the Head-Fi thread, I can say that the Nova was all that I expected.
Cordura pouch is a really nice case
I plugged the right angle jack into my non-75ohm-adaptor-extender (due to the XDoria Defense case on my iPhone 6+)…its just an extender, and put the IEM into my ears. Queuing Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain, I listened…but you will have to wait.
Translucent plastic allows the ability to see the cable
Technical Specs:
Directly from the Campfire website: https://www.campfireaudio.com/nova/, the specifications are straightforward and simple:
Specifications
10HZ–19 KHZ
Frequency Range
114 DB SPL/MW
Sensitivity
22 OHMS @ 1KHZ
Impedance
DETACHABLE CABLE WITH MMCX
Cable Connection Type
Very good frequency range, highly sensitive, and low in “ohmage”, the Nova is quite easy to drive. In fact, switching between IEM’s, I have forgotten to lower the volume more than once…a painful experience!!! My sources (iPhone 6+, Fiio x3ii) can easily drive the Nova, something I am thankful for, as my excellent Pinnacle P1’s are quite hard to drive.
An extremely flat response curve lend to a neutral sound. Neither harsh of treble, nor boomy of bass, the sound to me is warm, inviting and fairly neutral across the three ranges, as evidenced by the frequency response graph provided on the same page:
Near flat frequency response curve
A roll off at approximately 6kHz can be heard, with a further drop between 9-10kHz lends to clear, but not harsh trebles (to me). I do have high-end hearing loss, so others who still have their hearing might hear differently. To me, the overall sound is even, warm, wide, with nothing trying to outcompete the other sounds. I really appreciate this as when needed, the song provides the details meant by the singer/group. True of sound I would call the signature.
Commentary:
As I stated, I was lucky enough to get in on the Massdrop…it pretty much was an impulse purchase for me. But one, I was confident in after reading the whole Head-Fi thread (http://www.head-fi.org/t/805107/campfire-audio-introducing-2-new-models-hello-andromeda-and-nova ), as well as reviews of the other models in the CA range. I longingly looked over the excellent pictures of @ExpatinJapan even though the pictures were of the Andromeda. The photography really did the green marvels justice. His pictures of the Nova (when he received them) further justified my purchase. I was not disappointed.
I do not have much experience (ok, VERY little) in high end IEM’s. My Pinnacle P1’s up until now were my highest priced IEM. Hard to drive, but excellent of sound they really are a gem in the sea of headphones. With the arrival of the Nova, I have seriously upped my game. Foraying into the “mid-fi” experience is not to be taken lightly, not without consternation, either. A purchase of several hundred dollars cannot be toyed with (even though mine was an impulse…) and the expectations run high. Research allowed me to pass the time until arrival, and the musings of others along with my experience upon opening did not disappoint me. I was happy.
Design/Build:
Industrial, is the first word, which comes to mind. As stated, my father-in-law was a tool and dye maker allowing me to appreciate the finer points of handcrafted tools. The CA Nova didn’t disappoint me, either. One of the first things I do upon arrival of a new piece of kit, is go over the fit-and-finish and build quality of said item. I learned from my P1, that others gushed at the impeccable quality of build. I really liked the build, but was not over the top either due to what I will call “functional fitting”…the ability to marry both halves of a bud with no imperfections. As was my review of the P1, I unfortunately had the same functional fitting issues with the Nova. Marrying the two halves should be perfect, each angle matched seamlessly to the other. One line matching the other without break. The tight unit is darn near perfect. Seam lined up to seam. No overlap of top to bottom, bottom to top or mismatched seam.
Worn Comply tip, but excellent machining, cannot see "misfit" halves here
They are really nice looking IEM's
Right IEM, still excellent machining
The left is not as clean, with mismatched seams. Upon very close inspection, the mismatch to me looks to be simply the way the two were put together and finished with the Torx screws. Sometimes (like MAYBE when you have a large order…) seams tend to drift slightly when screws are tightened. This slight mismatch in no way hinders the sound quality (based upon my ears, subjectively). I will write this off as a SMALL anomaly due to the large order, and torqueing of the mentioned Torx screws. I do not have a bit that small, nor do I want to chance that the halves are sealed in order to fix the mismatch. Again, this is upon close inspection, and I am not worried about it. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this, though.
I liken the look of the bud to the character Kryten in the BBC series Red Dwarf. Not a bad thing at all in my book, as he is my favorite character in the excellent series!
There IS a strong resemblance...
I also like the look of the bud, for the fact it IS industrial in design. A “fresh” looking IEM (yes, the CA line has been out for a bit), going against the organic look of other quality IEM’s. With all that said, fit can be a serious issue. Someone on the above thread mentioned how in their conversations with Ken he wished for more rounded edges, to limit to pressure within the ear. I was hoping that this would be part of the MD Nova’s, but it wasn’t. My first few days, I did limit myself to 1-3 hours at a time due to the pressure of the unit itself on my ear. Combined with a shorter nozzle, this pressure can be a limiting agent. Thankfully, my smaller ears have adjusted, and can confidently state that those with small ears need not worry. Your ears will accommodate the bud, nicely.
Finish is another matter all together. I would claim the finish to be darn near perfect…Granted it is aluminum, but when you start working small pieces of aluminum such as these, imperfections in finish can result due to the manufacturing process of the IEM without care being taken. I can happily state there isn’t one issue with the Nova, it is immaculately finished.
The "warm-organic" sound belies the industrial shape
Something I do notice is that when I push the bud into my ear further, there is, even to me, a noticeable increase in the mids and trebles. I have not investigated whether this is due to the actual nozzle placement, or that by pushing the nozzle in further, it is overcoming to longish enclosed and Comply foam tips. The are quite hefty, and when the excellent T-500 (earwax version) Comply does give up, I will take an Exacto to the tip, cutting off as much of the “front” as I dare. I will report changes accordingly.
My thought is that the latter is the case, and by shortening the actual tip, I will overcome the issue. The change does not bother me, but it may others. I do know that others report the silicon tips help with the highs, so this could be an option. I personally DO NOT like the silicon tips. I lose the bass, and the mids/treble becomes overwhelming TO ME after a very short time. I think this is due to my treble sensitivity. YMMV.
Features:
9 sets of tips (3 each of Silicon, Comply’s and furnished foam) of small, medium and large size are included along with the cleaning brush and the CA pin. The cable is the now not-so-new Litz cable, which alone sells for $150. Not knowing quality cables other than the enclosed P1 cables, I did draw upon the expertise on the Head-Fi thread, which stated the Litz was a step up from the older Tinsel cable. Whatever Ken and Company did, I wholeheartedly approve!
The cable is simply fantastic. It does not tangle (I am extremely careful when wrapping), and opens nicely. Quite often cables such as these are overly stiff and unwieldy. This is not the case, in fact upon my first trial; I thought it was very “soft” and took extra caution. Compared to the P1 cable, this is like a satin pillow with top class workmanship. The braiding is impeccable. No flaws at all. Since I use an extender on my phone, the right angle jack works quite nicely. I really have no preference in jack, whether it is right angle or straight. It doesn’t bother me. What I will say is that without the extender, the cable sits closer to the source, which can protect the jack and cable. I neither dislike nor like the memory portion of the cable. It is much better than some, worse than other. No complaints here.
Just world-class quality on the cable and the unit overall, regardless of the small fit issue I mentioned.
The cable is simply put, beautiful and excellent of sound
Use:
My main usage for the Nova will be every chance I get! I will not use these for mowing/exercising, due to the cost, but I will use these pretty much everywhere else. This is now my go-to pair for everything. Isolation is excellent, and this unit can be used for commuting, without problem. My thought though (maybe unfounded) would be that the Nova is quite large, and can draw attention to it. My hope was that the color would be the gray hinted at in some stock photos on the website. I do believe this was due to the angle in which the photo was shot. The green of the Andromeda will most definitely draw attention, like a fine emerald necklace. Just something to be aware of for those commuting with the Nova/CA-brand. But the sound….oh the sound…
The Sound
Sources:
All listening was done on either my iPhone 6+, or my Fiio x3ii, using the Fiio A3 and E6 amps. Auditioning was done with and without amps, as well as the “line out” on the Fiio x3ii so the A3 could be isolated for impressions.
A partial list of testing songs include:
Adele- Set Fire to the Rain (female vocals, clarity)
Adele- He Won’t Go (vocals)
Adele- One And Only (electric piano/SENSUOUS vocals/drums)
twenty one pilots- Hometown (male vocals/beat/overall sound)
twenty one pilots- Fall Away (vocals/beat/soundstage)
twenty one pilots- Taxi Cab (piano/vocals)
twenty one pilots- Isle of Flightless Birds (harpsichord?, beat, vocals, instrument separation)
Los Lonely Boys-Senorita (guitar, vocals, instrumentation, placement of instruments)
Los Lonely Boys- Staying with Me (live) (acoustic guitar, vocals)
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (separation, clarity)
Coldplay- Clocks (separation, sound stage)
Coldplay- A Message (acoustic guitar/male vocals, instrument separation)
Coldplay-A Sky Full of Stars (passion, sensual vocal, overall MUSIC)
More by Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lyle Lovett, Junior Brown, Coldplay, Dave Matthews
Initial:
Unlike my P1’s, which I really had a hate/love relationship with; there was no such anxiety from the Nova. From the first song by Adele, Set Fire to the Rain, I was in love…no not with her even though she is fantastic, with the NOVA. If I had to describe the sound in one word initially, it would be purity. A pure sound can be the death of some headphones, because there is nowhere to hide. You either make it or you don’t. The Nova made it. I wont say it was a “chorus of angels” (that will come) moment, but it was absolutely everything I was looking for from the purchase. Tight bass (not overwhelming, just right), mids, which didn’t shout at me (I would agree with @Expatinjapan that they are slightly recessed), but complemented the overall sound wonderfully, to the trebles which just said “hello”, I’m here.
MMCX connection with "memory wire"
My first listen was a pleasure, nothing taking the front row, nothing shouting for attention. I liken this to the win by Coastal Carolina in this years NCAA baseball College World Series…something the manager stated just stuck with me; “We are just a bunch of boys who like to play baseball. We don’t have any stars, we all pull together.” And they did, much the way the Nova does. The presentation lays all out there for your pleasure. Nothing to hide, take it or leave it. Many people on the Head-Fi thread stated that while the Nova was good, once they compared it to the Andromeda, the Andromeda was THAT MUCH BETTER. Well…I would hope so for twice the price and over twice the number of BA drivers. I respectfully ask that the Nova be given a chance ALONE. Do not compare it to the flagship of the line up. You may show the heritage, which comes “down to the Nova,” but don’t compare them. That to me would be like comparing a Mustang GT to the Fiesta ST simply because they have shared parts. It is a disservice to how really good the Fiesta ST really is. The Nova is that good.
Overall:
I really, really love the Nova. Maybe someday I will purchase the Andromeda, and I debated during the MD wait, but I can say that I am unequivocally satisfied with the Nova. They are good, really, really good. If you can afford only one “mid-fi” which comes from a manufacturer of high-end too, you cannot go wrong with the Nova. Yes, I know YMMV, but even with that gushing reward I just stated, I mean it. These are the best IEM I have ever heard (limited, yes…). The clarity of sound coming from these makes me tear up, when the right song comes on, it really is an emotional high, which the Nova produces in me. I don’t say this lightly, as there has been huge debate about the sound qualities of not only IEM’s but also ear buds on the Head-Fi site lately. When someone speaks out against a phone with which we are passionate about, some take it as a personal affront. I would NOT take it that way. Our sound spectrum is different, as are our tastes.
Subtle CA logo highlights the back
A case in point: I am listening to the Coldplay song A Sky Full of Stars at this moment. I teared up, knowing what this song means to me…that my sons college soccer game is nearing the end again, and we must make the long travel back home away from the sport we love, and our son. THAT SONG can only convey the passion involved and listening to it through the Nova’s is an emotional moment to me. It really is. THAT describes how the Nova sounds. If the instrument of our listening can instill that kind of passion, it has won. It has won me over forever.
Sharp edges do take getting used to, but it is worth it!
Bass:
Some hint that this is the Achilles of the Nova. I would somewhat agree…while this is not a basshead, the bass really does show itself when needed. In the just mentioned song by Coldplay, the bass is perfect. I am not left wanting more; otherwise it would overwhelm the complete sound. Bass is there when needed; it is tight, fast and present down to the near sub-bass level. I think this is due to the overall flat response of the sound-curve. Just the right amount when needed. The bass aides in the overall sound nicely, not drowning out any of the other signature sounds. Too often on the web, a lack of bass is taken as a sign of weakness in the IEM. I would disagree completely. One need simply look at the excellent Dunu Titan 1 and that argument is settled. The Nova gets the bass just right, not thumping, not weak. It’s there when called upon by the artist, backseat when not needed. A good EQ can draw more bass out if needed or desired. Sometimes, I do this when the feeling arises.
Mids:
As I stated earlier, the mids are probably the furthest from the front sound-wise. I have some very forward mid-sounding IEM’s in the excellent RHA ma750’s. The draw of those is that the forward mids enhance the overall listening pleasure of the 750, and I would agree. I like that signature in them. If the Nova were to follow that path, the signature would be destroyed in my mind. The mids don’t necessarily “prop up” the sound, but support the sound quality. Again, when called upon, there when needed, highlighting the excellent vocals of Tyler Joseph (twenty one pilots) exceptionally. He has a fantastic voice, and it quite often comes through in the mids. A good IEM will take the voice and let it be heard, naked no hiding, no muffling, no muddiness. The Nova lets the voice come through, even the imperfections that come through the voice in the recording (I’m talking about ½ missed notes, or beats). I’ve never had an IEM, which can allow the highlights to shine through, and have the MISTAKES come through as positives…allowing the reality of the voice to show. We are in fact humans (duh), but often we are subjected to “perfection in sound”, which bugs me even though I have used it in the review. The real highlight of the mids for me is the ability to show the flaws and get away with them…showing that mistakes are good; mistakes can enhance and DO enhance the overall sound. Hearing a voice fluctuate, or a missed note (subtle it might be) make the Nova REAL. Some liken it to an “organic sound”…I’m not sure I fully understand what that is, but if it means a real sound, then yes, quite organic of sound.
Treble:
I have a well-documented deficiency in the treble sound. Too much loud music on my teenage car stereo (excellent though it was…) has led me to a loss of the high’s hearing in “middle age.” Something I still have though, is the ability to hear sounds, which are different from the background sounds…When I used to do songbird surveys, I had the ability to pick out new bird songs quite quickly. In fact my peers accused me of making up the sound, until they could isolate it…and they had MUCH better hearing than me. This can be a curse trust me, but a blessing when reviewing headphones.
There is simply no hiding bad treble. They can be course, grating, sibilant, and piercing all at the same time, or separately; but equally bad to me they can be. The Nova doesn’t necessarily “lay bare” bad treble, but highlight it almost like a butler saying, “Excuse me sir, but it is time to go,” quite politely. The song Princess of China by Coldplay highlights this politeness. Rihanna’s voice is impeccable, but can be harsh when highlighted in the treble range. In fact, on some of my IEM’s, this song is intolerable. I can’t listen. The Nova’s change this. “Taming” the treble with that drop off at 6kHtz, then again at 9-10kHtz. This is just my personal taste, but if the IEM helps me listen to a song which I really like, then I am all for it.
Los Lonely Boy’s Heaven highlights this again. The Nova allows (bad choice of word…) the treble to shine through in the excellent guitar of Henry Garza. MAN, he can play! From the beginning chord, you simply appreciate what the Nova brings; again that ability to let the musician decide what we hear, what we are listening to…no covering up, just unadulterated bliss. Then the explosion of sound warms up all over the stage. I can actually “see” Henry slightly stage right, while Jojo ply’s his bass slightly stage left, leaving Ringo (great name for a drummer!) to support from the center, and behind. Just phenomenal to picture and hear this.
Soundstage/ Separation:
This was tougher, until a couple of nights ago. No really, it was. Initially my thought on the Nova was that the soundstage was somewhat limited. Then a song, which defines the soundstage as very wide came on, and my opinion changed (somewhat). I cannot remember the song, but the width of stage was quite large. The Nova does have a wide soundstage. That said, on Adele’s evocative He Won’t Go, there is a sense of intimacy, which belies my claim. It is almost as if the Nova is trying to mess with me. But of course, it isn’t. The Adele song has a small soundstage to begin with, instruments placed where they need to be, but smaller than other songs I have mentioned. To further mess with my mind, Hello provides both (!), close when Adele sings to us, further, much further when the Chorus is sung. Just plain awesome.
This goes back to my reference of the Nova letting the musician decide, not the IEM. I do have some IEM’s where THEY decide what we are to hear, and those will leave my stable shortly. That is how the Nova has almost redefined how I listen. I very much appreciate the honesty in which the Nova provides me the opportunity listen, neither gearing me towards a certain sound signature, but presenting an honest “opinion” about what we hear. Very appreciated, it is.
On Stevie Ray Vaughan’s fantastic Live at Carnegie Hall album, the song Letter to My Girlfriend defines the separation capability the Nova’s afford. Playing support to SRV’s magical vocals is the timeless horn line from Roomfull of Blues. MAN, they can play, but it is obvious they are support to SRV’s vocals and guitar. A concoction melded perfectly ensues. Stevie’s rifts up front where they should be, supported by Double Trouble and the extra weight provided by the brilliant horn section. Just a perfect definition of the soundstage the Nova delivers.
Isolation:
As mentioned, with the correct tip, isolation is quite good. I can have these at a fairly high volume, without much leakage. Only at ridiculously high volume is there a problem. These would be a very good commuting pair, except for the cautions noted above. With your music off, but the IEM still in, a conversation can be had, minimizing the ingress/egress of the Nova in your ear.
Presentation:
Clarity rules the Nova. But you should already have that figured out by my statements above. There is no muddiness, no over-encumbering of any sound. No veiled sound…its just there for your liking (or dislike if that is not your cup of joe).
Comparisons:
I only have two IEM’s which are remotely close to the Nova, in the MEE Pinnacle P1 and the RHA MA750’s (non-mic). The two cannot compare, but are both worthy of explanation.
Nova v P1: The clear winner is the Nova, but maybe not the way expected. Both provide a warm “fairly” neutral signature, with decent to good bass (Nova wins here, hands down), clear sound, excellent fit and finish (please see my finish issues with the P1 for more), and an overall signature I am quite happy with. Until the Nova came along, the P1 was my “end game.” I was finished, done, no more. Then well….
While the Nova’s are quite easy to drive, the P1 takes a good amount of power. Under certain circumstances, my iPhone 6+ is maxxed out. If you can get by that, the P1 provides an exceptional sound signature. Overall brighter than the Nova, it really is a good first foray into the “high-end” fidelity world by MEE. Fit is much better, and many have stated (I would agree) that the lack of memory wire in the MMCX end of the cable is a godsend. People really appreciate the lack of wire. Where the P1 loses out, is in that bright character. It highlights the trebles too much for my tastes. My MEE M6 Pro’s are the same in that regard, in fact they can be sibilant sometimes. While the P1 is not sibilant at all, the highs can be piercing sometimes. Those who value good trebles would not be wrong in choosing the P1, it is an outstanding unit overall, belying the “relatively” inexpensive cost of $199. I could have quite happily lived with the P1, even with the to me troubled highs.
Bass is less than the Nova, but not lacking at all. It is there, but clearly plays second string to the treble and mids. A good EQ setting is a must if you desire more bass. Or a bass setting on your amp, much like the A3 has. Combined, this brings out the bass quite well, overcoming that deficiency. I keep going back, but it is true, I would have been quite happy with the P1 it is that good.
CA Nova v RHA MA750 v MEE Pinnacle P1
But the mentioned A Sky Full of Stars highlights the limitations. Complex music can be burdensome on the P1, as the mids and treble fight for space, drowning out the bass and hindering the overall signature. This even narrows the soundstage more than it should. It is like a backseat of kids on vacation that cannot decide what movie to watch…You just wish that moment was over.
There is no such fight in the Nova. All have their own devices, or a re reading peacefully as you cruise along the miles. Almost antithesis to this is the A Message song by Coldplay. There is no fight what-so-ever…everything working together as it should. Not as well as the Nova, but quite good. To me, this means the P1 is quite good at acoustic music, but less complicated music. I would be very happy with the P1, in fact my son has taken them over, even though we said we would “discuss it.”
Nova v RHA MA750: The only other IEM I have close is the wonderful sounding MA750 (non-mic). While the Nova lets the musician decide how we hear the music, the RHA (as mentioned in my P1 review) is the kilted Scot who knows better than we do. While sipping his single-malt Scotch, he bellows, “I know better how it should sound!” And you dare not cross him. That may be a harsh assessment, but I do not mean it that way (I’m part Scottish, so…). The RHA announces itself to the party, and it is the one all like at the party. There is not jealousy had by anyone. “He” would be the one that everyone likes, and gets along with just fine; there are no problems with the 750 being loud and boisterous. In fact it is what draws you to the party. This is the set I will keep as my Nova back up, not the P1 (OK, because of the son…sheesh). But even before the “takeover,” I had all but decided the RHA’s would be the back up pair.
The mids are the highlight of the RHA, and they come through quite bold. Not overly boisterous, but announcing their presence in all songs. Isolation is not as good as either the P1 or the Nova, which can mean they are not as good for commuting. But they sound so good, you really wouldn’t care! An honest open sound highlighted by the mids is the story. There is no apologizing for the way they sound (much like you wouldn’t apologize for the Scot at your party). Separation isn’t as good as either the Nova or P1, but the honest sound overcomes that quite well. It could be called a really “fun” signature, but I think that would be an insult. I would call them straightforward and sincere. There is not an untruth or fraudulent bone in their body. There is a small note of sibilance, but it is not hidden. Vocals, which present that sound, are already known to the user, so it is not a lie. While the Scot at the party would be called fun, it is because he is so sincere, much the way the RHA is held by me. I really like their signature, even though it is a might bit bright for my tastes.
Top to Bottom: Nova v MA750 v P1, I really like all three
Bass is there as needed, and quite good, choosing to show only when needed. A sonic character I very much appreciate. Full, and almost robust, it only shows when the song calls.
I hold them in such regard, that while I was taking the pictures, I was listening to the 750’s, a testament to their sound. You cannot go wrong with them.
All that said the Nova tops them in pretty much every category. Open sound, unhindered by any need to show themselves as being there. They would be the intellectual who happily sits at the back of the party, taking it all in smiling, while imbibing on the same single malt Scotch as the RHA. In fact, they would be quite good friends if they were people. An excellent compliment to each other.
To summarize:
Bass:
Nova 7.75
P1 7.25
RHA 7
Mid
Nova 9
P1 8
RHA 10 (but can overwhelming)
Treble
Nova 9
P1 7 (too harsh)
RHA 8
Soundstage
Nova 10
P1 8.5
RHA 8.5
Instrument Separation
Nova 10
P1 8.5
RHA 8.5
Clarity
Nova 10
P1 8.75
RHA 8.25
Overall:
Nova 9.29
P1 8
RHA 8.375
Conclusion:
If you are still reading this by now, I truly appreciate it. When I do a review, it takes me several days to complete. I then go back and digest what has been written, taking a few more days. I listen again to the same and different songs, trying to find something I have missed (it does happen). I have had the pleasure of owning the Nova’s for a little over a month, and my opinion of them just grows. They are my “end game” for the foreseeable future, until I can justify the purchase of the Andromeda. Those who say the Andromeda is that much better than the Nova intrigue my thoughts. Of that, I do not doubt, but it will have to wait.
The Nova is quite tip dependent. I can even hear sound differences between the included foams and the Comply. That said, this is the first pair of included foam tips, which I really like. They are quite good, and are my backup to the Comply’s l when I am out and about. That said, the difference in sound between tips (silicon, foam, Comply) is almost startling. Maybe it is the honest nature of the Nova which leads me to this, but until now I have never had that stark difference between similar tips (the foam and Comply, both quite good, though), nor disliked the included silicon’s that much (I REALLY don’t like the sound).
Is it worth the regular price? Most definitely, and I would have seriously considered the Nova even without the Massdrop. They are that good. To combine the qualities of excellent fit and finish along with the overall warm, but slightly neutral sound is something to behold. Added bonuses of excellent instrument separation, wide soundstage, and a clarity which belies the price (it does to me) together with an honesty often left behind by other IEM’s brings me back to what I will call “Novana.” I am a truly satisfied customer, and wholeheartedly give my first 5-star rating.
I write this dripping in sweat, yes even on the keyboard, after a hard workout of lifting, running and cleaning the house…kind of my trifecta of Olympic workouts…and I listen to twenty one pilots on not my Nova’s, but those wonderful M6 Pro’s. You should try it, even at my age they are really, really good. The whole time, as my heart rate rose (I’m old….), I was thinking of the Nova’s; of their impeccable sound, their deep dark, rich sound (IMHO) their machine/handmade industrial look, and how I arrived at such a lofty purchase (to me)…and the fact that I would never, never dare to wear the Nova while exercising.
The M6 Pro’s would have been enough to satisfy me for a long, long time, they really would have…. Except I kept reading, I kept ingesting, I kept digesting, ruminating over the knowledge one can gain from the Head-Fi site…and this led me down that d…..that darn valley. Along the way, I reached the Pinnacle (see my P1 review for that reference), the peak of what might have been my head experience, except I kept reading, God I hate reading….it leads me to knowledge and incredible products such as the Monk, the RHA’s and finally to the thread bearing quotes, posts and thoughts of the “new” Campfire Audio Andromeda and Nova. I could not justify the Andromeda (some day, he sighs….some day…), but came across the Massdrop on the Nova. Without much thought to my fingers or my bank account I pulled the trigger. This would be it, I made the promise, this would be it…(ummm, no I have added the excellent Fostex T40RP Mk3’s to “complete” my arsenal…sure, he thinks, suuuurrre….). I had to promise myself that.
I thought of all that, and could get a sense of what Ken (@KB) had poured into their products through ALO (http://www.ALOaudio.com) and the Campfire Audio product line of In-Ear Monitors. Now, maybe he poured sweat onto the keyboard, or grease smudges as they labored to create their vision of the perfect headphone line (maybe perfect is a poor choice, but their “vision” gets the point across). The industrial shape makes me think of my father-in-law who opened and closed the old AT&T plant in Lee’s Summit, MO as a Tool and Dye maker (literally the first shift/day it was open and closed for good). The incredible care he took to make the product needed. In his “spare time” at the factory, he created some of the best tools I have ever used and owned…they are impeccable in quality and utility…nothing wasted. Functionally perfect, minimal in material, and crafted with the care of an artisan…The same Ken and his cohorts do for the products which grace our ears. While I have never had the honor of conversing with Ken, others have and he is very receptive to suggestions and thoughts. A quality he shares with my Father-in-law. I consider this a good thing.
Unlike the initial hate with my P1’s, there was no such feeling upon putting the Nova’s in my ears…maybe it was that I have “re-trained” my ears to something new, or maybe the initial sound signature (we will not debate burn in here, suffice to say I will go with “brain burn in”) was quite pleasing to me. I really didn’t care, I liked them…I liked them a lot. Using the enclosed (and mounted) foamies, I did not change the tips for over 12 hours. I wanted an unchanged sound, not muddies by different tips. Those enclosed tips are very good. Mimicking Comply’s, they are slightly tighter of composition, but still pliable. I found a good fit, and just listened. I dealt with the harder-fit, due to the industrial shape, knowing my ears would accept, and accommodate the Nova once an agreement was reached between the two.
It was like I was hearing sounds for the very first time. Not even with my P1’s did I get this kind of clarity (to me). The separation, the individual keystroke, or keynote of instrument was phenomenal. I know my ears have lost a bit (too much loud music as a teenager…), but it was like I was hearing sounds and music for the first time. I can still remember putting my old Sennheiser’s on my nephew’s head when he was a toddler (very careful with the volume), and the look of wonderment on his face was priceless. He would not let me take the phones off for a good bit of time. THAT is the look, the feel I had when I first listened to the Nova’s…that pure, unadulterated joy of just listening, and to hear what was meant to be heard…It was what I will call “Novana”, the pure joy of hearing. I also read a good bit about the differences of the Andromeda v Nova, and refused to taint what I heard by stating “but the Andromeda is that much better”…I refused. The Nova’s were to be judged as stand alones…albeit the comparison with the P1’s and the RHA MA750’s, the only IEM’s I have remotely close to the Nova.
It is with that sweat, that loves driven into the Nova, that I write this review. Are there better? Yes. Are there more expensive? Yes, again. But, to me this is as far as I need to go. Anything beyond this will be compared to the Nova, and it will be tough to surpass them (to me).
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with ALO, nor Campfire Audio. This purchase was of my own, on the aforementioned Massdrop, for a darn good price I might add.
Review
Packaging:
A small uninviting envelope arrived from Massdrop (with which I was a might bit disappointed, due to the cost of the item). Shirking that off, I carefully opened (like heck I did…I tore the damn thing open!!!) the package to find a tiny box. A very tiny box. My packaging fears were alleviated because of the small size (once I got past how small it really was). My daughter did a project in 7th grade where the students were given a single Pringle’s, and maximum dimension for a container of their making. The homemade container would then be mailed to themselves at the school, to see how well the chip survived…I will be honest this thought crossed my mind upon looking at the box. But this isn’t a Pringle, and it was packed very well. Suddenly I was hungry…
The gray Cordura fabric of the case greeted me with the words CAMPFIRE Audio centered almost perfectly on the lower 1/3 of the top. A massive (for this size container) zipper, which was hard to unzip was my next fortune. After carefully opening the zipper (those of you who have older convertibles with zip rear windows, will know exactly what I mean…our 1990 Miata is on it’s 3rd top), I was greeted with the cradle…A cradle in sheepskin of which a Norwegian warrior would be envious in winter. I had seen @ExpatinJapan’s picture of the container, but a picture does not do it justice. Think a cradle lined with the fur of the finest sheep you would happily crawl into on a cold winter’s night, and you will get the idea. Already mounted were the mentioned foam tips. Who was I to judge Ken’s choosing…I left them alone.
Oh that Sheepskin!
Extra Foam tips, and velcro cable straps
Under the zippered pouch is a cardboard “shelf” which shields all from the zip locked bags containing the accessories of tips, a cleaning brush and a CA pin. Pretty nice pin, I might add. Nothing spectacular, but the options are not the point. The site of the IEM was a near-angelic-calling moment for me…after all of the “noise” made on the Head-Fi thread, I can say that the Nova was all that I expected.
Cordura pouch is a really nice case
I plugged the right angle jack into my non-75ohm-adaptor-extender (due to the XDoria Defense case on my iPhone 6+)…its just an extender, and put the IEM into my ears. Queuing Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain, I listened…but you will have to wait.
Translucent plastic allows the ability to see the cable
Technical Specs:
Directly from the Campfire website: https://www.campfireaudio.com/nova/, the specifications are straightforward and simple:
Specifications
10HZ–19 KHZ
Frequency Range
114 DB SPL/MW
Sensitivity
22 OHMS @ 1KHZ
Impedance
DETACHABLE CABLE WITH MMCX
Cable Connection Type
Very good frequency range, highly sensitive, and low in “ohmage”, the Nova is quite easy to drive. In fact, switching between IEM’s, I have forgotten to lower the volume more than once…a painful experience!!! My sources (iPhone 6+, Fiio x3ii) can easily drive the Nova, something I am thankful for, as my excellent Pinnacle P1’s are quite hard to drive.
An extremely flat response curve lend to a neutral sound. Neither harsh of treble, nor boomy of bass, the sound to me is warm, inviting and fairly neutral across the three ranges, as evidenced by the frequency response graph provided on the same page:
Near flat frequency response curve
A roll off at approximately 6kHz can be heard, with a further drop between 9-10kHz lends to clear, but not harsh trebles (to me). I do have high-end hearing loss, so others who still have their hearing might hear differently. To me, the overall sound is even, warm, wide, with nothing trying to outcompete the other sounds. I really appreciate this as when needed, the song provides the details meant by the singer/group. True of sound I would call the signature.
Commentary:
As I stated, I was lucky enough to get in on the Massdrop…it pretty much was an impulse purchase for me. But one, I was confident in after reading the whole Head-Fi thread (http://www.head-fi.org/t/805107/campfire-audio-introducing-2-new-models-hello-andromeda-and-nova ), as well as reviews of the other models in the CA range. I longingly looked over the excellent pictures of @ExpatinJapan even though the pictures were of the Andromeda. The photography really did the green marvels justice. His pictures of the Nova (when he received them) further justified my purchase. I was not disappointed.
I do not have much experience (ok, VERY little) in high end IEM’s. My Pinnacle P1’s up until now were my highest priced IEM. Hard to drive, but excellent of sound they really are a gem in the sea of headphones. With the arrival of the Nova, I have seriously upped my game. Foraying into the “mid-fi” experience is not to be taken lightly, not without consternation, either. A purchase of several hundred dollars cannot be toyed with (even though mine was an impulse…) and the expectations run high. Research allowed me to pass the time until arrival, and the musings of others along with my experience upon opening did not disappoint me. I was happy.
Design/Build:
Industrial, is the first word, which comes to mind. As stated, my father-in-law was a tool and dye maker allowing me to appreciate the finer points of handcrafted tools. The CA Nova didn’t disappoint me, either. One of the first things I do upon arrival of a new piece of kit, is go over the fit-and-finish and build quality of said item. I learned from my P1, that others gushed at the impeccable quality of build. I really liked the build, but was not over the top either due to what I will call “functional fitting”…the ability to marry both halves of a bud with no imperfections. As was my review of the P1, I unfortunately had the same functional fitting issues with the Nova. Marrying the two halves should be perfect, each angle matched seamlessly to the other. One line matching the other without break. The tight unit is darn near perfect. Seam lined up to seam. No overlap of top to bottom, bottom to top or mismatched seam.
Worn Comply tip, but excellent machining, cannot see "misfit" halves here
They are really nice looking IEM's
Right IEM, still excellent machining
The left is not as clean, with mismatched seams. Upon very close inspection, the mismatch to me looks to be simply the way the two were put together and finished with the Torx screws. Sometimes (like MAYBE when you have a large order…) seams tend to drift slightly when screws are tightened. This slight mismatch in no way hinders the sound quality (based upon my ears, subjectively). I will write this off as a SMALL anomaly due to the large order, and torqueing of the mentioned Torx screws. I do not have a bit that small, nor do I want to chance that the halves are sealed in order to fix the mismatch. Again, this is upon close inspection, and I am not worried about it. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention this, though.
I liken the look of the bud to the character Kryten in the BBC series Red Dwarf. Not a bad thing at all in my book, as he is my favorite character in the excellent series!
There IS a strong resemblance...
I also like the look of the bud, for the fact it IS industrial in design. A “fresh” looking IEM (yes, the CA line has been out for a bit), going against the organic look of other quality IEM’s. With all that said, fit can be a serious issue. Someone on the above thread mentioned how in their conversations with Ken he wished for more rounded edges, to limit to pressure within the ear. I was hoping that this would be part of the MD Nova’s, but it wasn’t. My first few days, I did limit myself to 1-3 hours at a time due to the pressure of the unit itself on my ear. Combined with a shorter nozzle, this pressure can be a limiting agent. Thankfully, my smaller ears have adjusted, and can confidently state that those with small ears need not worry. Your ears will accommodate the bud, nicely.
Finish is another matter all together. I would claim the finish to be darn near perfect…Granted it is aluminum, but when you start working small pieces of aluminum such as these, imperfections in finish can result due to the manufacturing process of the IEM without care being taken. I can happily state there isn’t one issue with the Nova, it is immaculately finished.
The "warm-organic" sound belies the industrial shape
Something I do notice is that when I push the bud into my ear further, there is, even to me, a noticeable increase in the mids and trebles. I have not investigated whether this is due to the actual nozzle placement, or that by pushing the nozzle in further, it is overcoming to longish enclosed and Comply foam tips. The are quite hefty, and when the excellent T-500 (earwax version) Comply does give up, I will take an Exacto to the tip, cutting off as much of the “front” as I dare. I will report changes accordingly.
My thought is that the latter is the case, and by shortening the actual tip, I will overcome the issue. The change does not bother me, but it may others. I do know that others report the silicon tips help with the highs, so this could be an option. I personally DO NOT like the silicon tips. I lose the bass, and the mids/treble becomes overwhelming TO ME after a very short time. I think this is due to my treble sensitivity. YMMV.
Features:
9 sets of tips (3 each of Silicon, Comply’s and furnished foam) of small, medium and large size are included along with the cleaning brush and the CA pin. The cable is the now not-so-new Litz cable, which alone sells for $150. Not knowing quality cables other than the enclosed P1 cables, I did draw upon the expertise on the Head-Fi thread, which stated the Litz was a step up from the older Tinsel cable. Whatever Ken and Company did, I wholeheartedly approve!
The cable is simply fantastic. It does not tangle (I am extremely careful when wrapping), and opens nicely. Quite often cables such as these are overly stiff and unwieldy. This is not the case, in fact upon my first trial; I thought it was very “soft” and took extra caution. Compared to the P1 cable, this is like a satin pillow with top class workmanship. The braiding is impeccable. No flaws at all. Since I use an extender on my phone, the right angle jack works quite nicely. I really have no preference in jack, whether it is right angle or straight. It doesn’t bother me. What I will say is that without the extender, the cable sits closer to the source, which can protect the jack and cable. I neither dislike nor like the memory portion of the cable. It is much better than some, worse than other. No complaints here.
Just world-class quality on the cable and the unit overall, regardless of the small fit issue I mentioned.
The cable is simply put, beautiful and excellent of sound
Use:
My main usage for the Nova will be every chance I get! I will not use these for mowing/exercising, due to the cost, but I will use these pretty much everywhere else. This is now my go-to pair for everything. Isolation is excellent, and this unit can be used for commuting, without problem. My thought though (maybe unfounded) would be that the Nova is quite large, and can draw attention to it. My hope was that the color would be the gray hinted at in some stock photos on the website. I do believe this was due to the angle in which the photo was shot. The green of the Andromeda will most definitely draw attention, like a fine emerald necklace. Just something to be aware of for those commuting with the Nova/CA-brand. But the sound….oh the sound…
The Sound
Sources:
All listening was done on either my iPhone 6+, or my Fiio x3ii, using the Fiio A3 and E6 amps. Auditioning was done with and without amps, as well as the “line out” on the Fiio x3ii so the A3 could be isolated for impressions.
A partial list of testing songs include:
Adele- Set Fire to the Rain (female vocals, clarity)
Adele- He Won’t Go (vocals)
Adele- One And Only (electric piano/SENSUOUS vocals/drums)
twenty one pilots- Hometown (male vocals/beat/overall sound)
twenty one pilots- Fall Away (vocals/beat/soundstage)
twenty one pilots- Taxi Cab (piano/vocals)
twenty one pilots- Isle of Flightless Birds (harpsichord?, beat, vocals, instrument separation)
Los Lonely Boys-Senorita (guitar, vocals, instrumentation, placement of instruments)
Los Lonely Boys- Staying with Me (live) (acoustic guitar, vocals)
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (separation, clarity)
Coldplay- Clocks (separation, sound stage)
Coldplay- A Message (acoustic guitar/male vocals, instrument separation)
Coldplay-A Sky Full of Stars (passion, sensual vocal, overall MUSIC)
More by Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lyle Lovett, Junior Brown, Coldplay, Dave Matthews
Initial:
Unlike my P1’s, which I really had a hate/love relationship with; there was no such anxiety from the Nova. From the first song by Adele, Set Fire to the Rain, I was in love…no not with her even though she is fantastic, with the NOVA. If I had to describe the sound in one word initially, it would be purity. A pure sound can be the death of some headphones, because there is nowhere to hide. You either make it or you don’t. The Nova made it. I wont say it was a “chorus of angels” (that will come) moment, but it was absolutely everything I was looking for from the purchase. Tight bass (not overwhelming, just right), mids, which didn’t shout at me (I would agree with @Expatinjapan that they are slightly recessed), but complemented the overall sound wonderfully, to the trebles which just said “hello”, I’m here.
MMCX connection with "memory wire"
My first listen was a pleasure, nothing taking the front row, nothing shouting for attention. I liken this to the win by Coastal Carolina in this years NCAA baseball College World Series…something the manager stated just stuck with me; “We are just a bunch of boys who like to play baseball. We don’t have any stars, we all pull together.” And they did, much the way the Nova does. The presentation lays all out there for your pleasure. Nothing to hide, take it or leave it. Many people on the Head-Fi thread stated that while the Nova was good, once they compared it to the Andromeda, the Andromeda was THAT MUCH BETTER. Well…I would hope so for twice the price and over twice the number of BA drivers. I respectfully ask that the Nova be given a chance ALONE. Do not compare it to the flagship of the line up. You may show the heritage, which comes “down to the Nova,” but don’t compare them. That to me would be like comparing a Mustang GT to the Fiesta ST simply because they have shared parts. It is a disservice to how really good the Fiesta ST really is. The Nova is that good.
Overall:
I really, really love the Nova. Maybe someday I will purchase the Andromeda, and I debated during the MD wait, but I can say that I am unequivocally satisfied with the Nova. They are good, really, really good. If you can afford only one “mid-fi” which comes from a manufacturer of high-end too, you cannot go wrong with the Nova. Yes, I know YMMV, but even with that gushing reward I just stated, I mean it. These are the best IEM I have ever heard (limited, yes…). The clarity of sound coming from these makes me tear up, when the right song comes on, it really is an emotional high, which the Nova produces in me. I don’t say this lightly, as there has been huge debate about the sound qualities of not only IEM’s but also ear buds on the Head-Fi site lately. When someone speaks out against a phone with which we are passionate about, some take it as a personal affront. I would NOT take it that way. Our sound spectrum is different, as are our tastes.
Subtle CA logo highlights the back
A case in point: I am listening to the Coldplay song A Sky Full of Stars at this moment. I teared up, knowing what this song means to me…that my sons college soccer game is nearing the end again, and we must make the long travel back home away from the sport we love, and our son. THAT SONG can only convey the passion involved and listening to it through the Nova’s is an emotional moment to me. It really is. THAT describes how the Nova sounds. If the instrument of our listening can instill that kind of passion, it has won. It has won me over forever.
Sharp edges do take getting used to, but it is worth it!
Bass:
Some hint that this is the Achilles of the Nova. I would somewhat agree…while this is not a basshead, the bass really does show itself when needed. In the just mentioned song by Coldplay, the bass is perfect. I am not left wanting more; otherwise it would overwhelm the complete sound. Bass is there when needed; it is tight, fast and present down to the near sub-bass level. I think this is due to the overall flat response of the sound-curve. Just the right amount when needed. The bass aides in the overall sound nicely, not drowning out any of the other signature sounds. Too often on the web, a lack of bass is taken as a sign of weakness in the IEM. I would disagree completely. One need simply look at the excellent Dunu Titan 1 and that argument is settled. The Nova gets the bass just right, not thumping, not weak. It’s there when called upon by the artist, backseat when not needed. A good EQ can draw more bass out if needed or desired. Sometimes, I do this when the feeling arises.
Mids:
As I stated earlier, the mids are probably the furthest from the front sound-wise. I have some very forward mid-sounding IEM’s in the excellent RHA ma750’s. The draw of those is that the forward mids enhance the overall listening pleasure of the 750, and I would agree. I like that signature in them. If the Nova were to follow that path, the signature would be destroyed in my mind. The mids don’t necessarily “prop up” the sound, but support the sound quality. Again, when called upon, there when needed, highlighting the excellent vocals of Tyler Joseph (twenty one pilots) exceptionally. He has a fantastic voice, and it quite often comes through in the mids. A good IEM will take the voice and let it be heard, naked no hiding, no muffling, no muddiness. The Nova lets the voice come through, even the imperfections that come through the voice in the recording (I’m talking about ½ missed notes, or beats). I’ve never had an IEM, which can allow the highlights to shine through, and have the MISTAKES come through as positives…allowing the reality of the voice to show. We are in fact humans (duh), but often we are subjected to “perfection in sound”, which bugs me even though I have used it in the review. The real highlight of the mids for me is the ability to show the flaws and get away with them…showing that mistakes are good; mistakes can enhance and DO enhance the overall sound. Hearing a voice fluctuate, or a missed note (subtle it might be) make the Nova REAL. Some liken it to an “organic sound”…I’m not sure I fully understand what that is, but if it means a real sound, then yes, quite organic of sound.
Treble:
I have a well-documented deficiency in the treble sound. Too much loud music on my teenage car stereo (excellent though it was…) has led me to a loss of the high’s hearing in “middle age.” Something I still have though, is the ability to hear sounds, which are different from the background sounds…When I used to do songbird surveys, I had the ability to pick out new bird songs quite quickly. In fact my peers accused me of making up the sound, until they could isolate it…and they had MUCH better hearing than me. This can be a curse trust me, but a blessing when reviewing headphones.
There is simply no hiding bad treble. They can be course, grating, sibilant, and piercing all at the same time, or separately; but equally bad to me they can be. The Nova doesn’t necessarily “lay bare” bad treble, but highlight it almost like a butler saying, “Excuse me sir, but it is time to go,” quite politely. The song Princess of China by Coldplay highlights this politeness. Rihanna’s voice is impeccable, but can be harsh when highlighted in the treble range. In fact, on some of my IEM’s, this song is intolerable. I can’t listen. The Nova’s change this. “Taming” the treble with that drop off at 6kHtz, then again at 9-10kHtz. This is just my personal taste, but if the IEM helps me listen to a song which I really like, then I am all for it.
Los Lonely Boy’s Heaven highlights this again. The Nova allows (bad choice of word…) the treble to shine through in the excellent guitar of Henry Garza. MAN, he can play! From the beginning chord, you simply appreciate what the Nova brings; again that ability to let the musician decide what we hear, what we are listening to…no covering up, just unadulterated bliss. Then the explosion of sound warms up all over the stage. I can actually “see” Henry slightly stage right, while Jojo ply’s his bass slightly stage left, leaving Ringo (great name for a drummer!) to support from the center, and behind. Just phenomenal to picture and hear this.
Soundstage/ Separation:
This was tougher, until a couple of nights ago. No really, it was. Initially my thought on the Nova was that the soundstage was somewhat limited. Then a song, which defines the soundstage as very wide came on, and my opinion changed (somewhat). I cannot remember the song, but the width of stage was quite large. The Nova does have a wide soundstage. That said, on Adele’s evocative He Won’t Go, there is a sense of intimacy, which belies my claim. It is almost as if the Nova is trying to mess with me. But of course, it isn’t. The Adele song has a small soundstage to begin with, instruments placed where they need to be, but smaller than other songs I have mentioned. To further mess with my mind, Hello provides both (!), close when Adele sings to us, further, much further when the Chorus is sung. Just plain awesome.
This goes back to my reference of the Nova letting the musician decide, not the IEM. I do have some IEM’s where THEY decide what we are to hear, and those will leave my stable shortly. That is how the Nova has almost redefined how I listen. I very much appreciate the honesty in which the Nova provides me the opportunity listen, neither gearing me towards a certain sound signature, but presenting an honest “opinion” about what we hear. Very appreciated, it is.
On Stevie Ray Vaughan’s fantastic Live at Carnegie Hall album, the song Letter to My Girlfriend defines the separation capability the Nova’s afford. Playing support to SRV’s magical vocals is the timeless horn line from Roomfull of Blues. MAN, they can play, but it is obvious they are support to SRV’s vocals and guitar. A concoction melded perfectly ensues. Stevie’s rifts up front where they should be, supported by Double Trouble and the extra weight provided by the brilliant horn section. Just a perfect definition of the soundstage the Nova delivers.
Isolation:
As mentioned, with the correct tip, isolation is quite good. I can have these at a fairly high volume, without much leakage. Only at ridiculously high volume is there a problem. These would be a very good commuting pair, except for the cautions noted above. With your music off, but the IEM still in, a conversation can be had, minimizing the ingress/egress of the Nova in your ear.
Presentation:
Clarity rules the Nova. But you should already have that figured out by my statements above. There is no muddiness, no over-encumbering of any sound. No veiled sound…its just there for your liking (or dislike if that is not your cup of joe).
Comparisons:
I only have two IEM’s which are remotely close to the Nova, in the MEE Pinnacle P1 and the RHA MA750’s (non-mic). The two cannot compare, but are both worthy of explanation.
Nova v P1: The clear winner is the Nova, but maybe not the way expected. Both provide a warm “fairly” neutral signature, with decent to good bass (Nova wins here, hands down), clear sound, excellent fit and finish (please see my finish issues with the P1 for more), and an overall signature I am quite happy with. Until the Nova came along, the P1 was my “end game.” I was finished, done, no more. Then well….
While the Nova’s are quite easy to drive, the P1 takes a good amount of power. Under certain circumstances, my iPhone 6+ is maxxed out. If you can get by that, the P1 provides an exceptional sound signature. Overall brighter than the Nova, it really is a good first foray into the “high-end” fidelity world by MEE. Fit is much better, and many have stated (I would agree) that the lack of memory wire in the MMCX end of the cable is a godsend. People really appreciate the lack of wire. Where the P1 loses out, is in that bright character. It highlights the trebles too much for my tastes. My MEE M6 Pro’s are the same in that regard, in fact they can be sibilant sometimes. While the P1 is not sibilant at all, the highs can be piercing sometimes. Those who value good trebles would not be wrong in choosing the P1, it is an outstanding unit overall, belying the “relatively” inexpensive cost of $199. I could have quite happily lived with the P1, even with the to me troubled highs.
Bass is less than the Nova, but not lacking at all. It is there, but clearly plays second string to the treble and mids. A good EQ setting is a must if you desire more bass. Or a bass setting on your amp, much like the A3 has. Combined, this brings out the bass quite well, overcoming that deficiency. I keep going back, but it is true, I would have been quite happy with the P1 it is that good.
CA Nova v RHA MA750 v MEE Pinnacle P1
But the mentioned A Sky Full of Stars highlights the limitations. Complex music can be burdensome on the P1, as the mids and treble fight for space, drowning out the bass and hindering the overall signature. This even narrows the soundstage more than it should. It is like a backseat of kids on vacation that cannot decide what movie to watch…You just wish that moment was over.
There is no such fight in the Nova. All have their own devices, or a re reading peacefully as you cruise along the miles. Almost antithesis to this is the A Message song by Coldplay. There is no fight what-so-ever…everything working together as it should. Not as well as the Nova, but quite good. To me, this means the P1 is quite good at acoustic music, but less complicated music. I would be very happy with the P1, in fact my son has taken them over, even though we said we would “discuss it.”
Nova v RHA MA750: The only other IEM I have close is the wonderful sounding MA750 (non-mic). While the Nova lets the musician decide how we hear the music, the RHA (as mentioned in my P1 review) is the kilted Scot who knows better than we do. While sipping his single-malt Scotch, he bellows, “I know better how it should sound!” And you dare not cross him. That may be a harsh assessment, but I do not mean it that way (I’m part Scottish, so…). The RHA announces itself to the party, and it is the one all like at the party. There is not jealousy had by anyone. “He” would be the one that everyone likes, and gets along with just fine; there are no problems with the 750 being loud and boisterous. In fact it is what draws you to the party. This is the set I will keep as my Nova back up, not the P1 (OK, because of the son…sheesh). But even before the “takeover,” I had all but decided the RHA’s would be the back up pair.
The mids are the highlight of the RHA, and they come through quite bold. Not overly boisterous, but announcing their presence in all songs. Isolation is not as good as either the P1 or the Nova, which can mean they are not as good for commuting. But they sound so good, you really wouldn’t care! An honest open sound highlighted by the mids is the story. There is no apologizing for the way they sound (much like you wouldn’t apologize for the Scot at your party). Separation isn’t as good as either the Nova or P1, but the honest sound overcomes that quite well. It could be called a really “fun” signature, but I think that would be an insult. I would call them straightforward and sincere. There is not an untruth or fraudulent bone in their body. There is a small note of sibilance, but it is not hidden. Vocals, which present that sound, are already known to the user, so it is not a lie. While the Scot at the party would be called fun, it is because he is so sincere, much the way the RHA is held by me. I really like their signature, even though it is a might bit bright for my tastes.
Top to Bottom: Nova v MA750 v P1, I really like all three
Bass is there as needed, and quite good, choosing to show only when needed. A sonic character I very much appreciate. Full, and almost robust, it only shows when the song calls.
I hold them in such regard, that while I was taking the pictures, I was listening to the 750’s, a testament to their sound. You cannot go wrong with them.
All that said the Nova tops them in pretty much every category. Open sound, unhindered by any need to show themselves as being there. They would be the intellectual who happily sits at the back of the party, taking it all in smiling, while imbibing on the same single malt Scotch as the RHA. In fact, they would be quite good friends if they were people. An excellent compliment to each other.
To summarize:
Bass:
Nova 7.75
P1 7.25
RHA 7
Mid
Nova 9
P1 8
RHA 10 (but can overwhelming)
Treble
Nova 9
P1 7 (too harsh)
RHA 8
Soundstage
Nova 10
P1 8.5
RHA 8.5
Instrument Separation
Nova 10
P1 8.5
RHA 8.5
Clarity
Nova 10
P1 8.75
RHA 8.25
Overall:
Nova 9.29
P1 8
RHA 8.375
Conclusion:
If you are still reading this by now, I truly appreciate it. When I do a review, it takes me several days to complete. I then go back and digest what has been written, taking a few more days. I listen again to the same and different songs, trying to find something I have missed (it does happen). I have had the pleasure of owning the Nova’s for a little over a month, and my opinion of them just grows. They are my “end game” for the foreseeable future, until I can justify the purchase of the Andromeda. Those who say the Andromeda is that much better than the Nova intrigue my thoughts. Of that, I do not doubt, but it will have to wait.
The Nova is quite tip dependent. I can even hear sound differences between the included foams and the Comply. That said, this is the first pair of included foam tips, which I really like. They are quite good, and are my backup to the Comply’s l when I am out and about. That said, the difference in sound between tips (silicon, foam, Comply) is almost startling. Maybe it is the honest nature of the Nova which leads me to this, but until now I have never had that stark difference between similar tips (the foam and Comply, both quite good, though), nor disliked the included silicon’s that much (I REALLY don’t like the sound).
Is it worth the regular price? Most definitely, and I would have seriously considered the Nova even without the Massdrop. They are that good. To combine the qualities of excellent fit and finish along with the overall warm, but slightly neutral sound is something to behold. Added bonuses of excellent instrument separation, wide soundstage, and a clarity which belies the price (it does to me) together with an honesty often left behind by other IEM’s brings me back to what I will call “Novana.” I am a truly satisfied customer, and wholeheartedly give my first 5-star rating.