Peachtree Audio nova - Help w/setup

[Gunblade]

Hey Head-Fi,

I recently got a great deal on a peachtree audio nova. I currently have my PC plugged in via USB, PS3 plugged in via RCA and my Audioengine A5's plugged into the 'line out'.

I am curious whether or not I should be using the line out or the pre out. The manual states:

"Preamp output: to connect the Nova to an external amplifier or to a subwoofer. The Nova amplifier is still active when the preamp output is used"

"Line level output: This fixed output will allow the user to feed the Nova's sources in to another preamp input."

There are more scenarios explained when to use the preamp output, but they seem to apply for only when using a subwoofer.

Outside of that, I was wondering if I should be using an optical cable over the RCA with my PS3? And lastly, on the computer side anything else I need to configure?

 

[muad]

Does the volume control work out of both outputs?

The line out should be if you only want to use the dac. This would be used if you want to run into another preamp or don't want the analogue signal to be touched after the d/a conversion. The preamp will allow volume control and also use the output stage (tube in your case). Since the a5's technically have a preamp and volume control it could be up for discussion but I would guess the preamp out from the nova sounds better (tube) and you can still use your remote to change the volume.

 

[koven]

1. It's plug-n-play so your PC should automatically detect the DAC, nothing to configure.

2. Definitely use Optical (digital). RCA (analog) input does not go through the DAC, which happens to be the "gem" in the Nova.

3. I agree with Muad regarding the line/pre-out.

4. How much did you pay for yours? Was it the one on Audiogon recently?

 

[Gunblade]

Thanks for the help. I got everything squared a way and did some serious listening for the past few days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koven /img/forum/go_quote.gif 4. How much did you pay for yours? Was it the one on Audiogon recently?

Apologies about the late reply. I got it for $850 from a local retailer.

However I returned it despite the deal. The marginal improvement to the Audioengines and to my headphones were not worth the price. It was a big piece of equipment for my desk as well and I didn't see myself taking advantage of the speaker outputs in the future.

My major con for the Nova is that the tube seemed like nothing more than a blue led turning on and off.

 

[Ahzari]

Quote:

Thanks for the help. I got everything squared a way and did some serious listening for the past few days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by koven /img/forum/go_quote.gif 4. How much did you pay for yours? Was it the one on Audiogon recently?

Apologies about the late reply. I got it for $850 from a local retailer.

However I returned it despite the deal. The marginal improvement to the Audioengines and to my headphones were not worth the price. It was a big piece of equipment for my desk as well and I didn't see myself taking advantage of the speaker outputs in the future.

My major con for the Nova is that the tube seemed like nothing more than a blue led turning on and off.

I got this feeling with my decco2 as well... the tube output seems like a gimmick.. there is no difference to the sound when its on or off (for example when I'm listening with my headphones) and I tried changing out the tube with some other ones I had lying around, no sound difference at all...

 

[newtophones07]

im rather torn on getting one of these
 
I like the all in one unit, but it seems the essence one has the far better internals, dac and headphone amp wise
 
I wish the grand pre, was closer to the $1000 range, since the amp is class D and all
 
sucks they didnt keep the cool wood enclosure too
 
decisions decisions

 

[Ahzari]

Quote:

im rather torn on getting one of these
 
I like the all in one unit, but it seems the essence one has the far better internals, dac and headphone amp wise
 
I wish the grand pre, was closer to the $1000 range, since the amp is class D and all
 
sucks they didnt keep the cool wood enclosure too
 
decisions decisions

The dac in the peachtree decco lineup is actually really good... I'm going to be bypassing the the headphone amp though with a Woo Audio WA6, the amp is really nice with the peachtree speakers though sounds amazing... For the price though I think getting avoiding the all in one type set-ups would be cost effective in the long run.