Nova Physics Memory Player -- Digital Revolution?

There's a bit of buzz going around the audio forums about a new digital product called the Nova Physics Memory Player. This $10k CD player claims to squeeze every last bit out of a CD, store it on the internal drive, correct the information and then play it back so it sounds BETTER than the original master. So far the word on the street is this:

"The Nova Physics Memory Player is the best sounding source component that I have ever heard." Arnis Balgalvis, Positive Feedback

"...the Nova Physics Memory Player stands as the standard upon which high-end digital playback will be judged." Clement Perry, StereoTimes

"The MP is fundamentally different, no make that better, no make that much better in that there is not one area of performance that I can compare to anything put forth by a CD player that I have personally heard or owned." Greg Petan, StereoTimes

Everyone who has heard the Nova Memory Player does claim it is one of the very best digital transports they have ever heard. Nova Physic's claimed revolutionary technology is "Read Until Right." RUR performs multiple reads of the CD to make sure every last 1 and 0 is extracted. Then it corrects nasty errors and outputs the signal through buffered memory and a tube output stage.

But the question on everyone's minds is if the Nova is simply a glorified computer with Exact Audio Copy. EAC is a free ripper like iTunes, except that it does multiple reads and corrects any errors and then outputs the signal through your computer's buffered memory. So what is the difference between the Nova Memory Player and a computer with a USB DAC? From the Audio Asylum thread:

"Both reviewers seem so ready to accept that the reason MP sounds so good to them is due to the claims made by MP about ECC and Parity Bits, etc.
What is so PAINFULLY missing from both reviews is the comparison of MP with high-quality PC Audio devices, not run-of-the-mill PC equipped with a generic sound card but ones with better PS, serious parts, BUT without this ECC/Parity Bit business. I would nominate some recent offerings from companies like Empirical Audio, VRS, and various modding outfits." Jon_L

Computer audio is potentially vastly better than any CD transport. No jitter = no digital nastiness. If you're not hip to the whole computer audio revolution, check out the SonicFlare computer audio archives. You'll find coverage of USB DACs between $499 and $1995 from the likes of PS Audio, Bel Canto, Scott Nixon as well as articles about why jitter is the bane of CDs.

So while a number of reviews around the industry are claiming the Nova is the best thing to happen to digital, there's a major following of those that believe a $1000 computer and $2000 DAC will sound just as good, if not better. Harry Pearson is rumored to be in love with the Memory Player, so expect this controversy to go nuclear shortly.

There's more information about digital jitter, RUR and so-forth at the Nova Physics website. But be prepared. As Jake_LA put it:

"Who's the 8 year old who put this site together? I'm going to spend 10 grand from these guys?"

Yeah, it's a stunner. A pic of a robot jumps around a site propagated with pictures of suns, stars and clay figurines. Then there's the product photography that appears to have been taken in the 80s. Is that photoshop trickery or was the Memory Player actually developed in the 80s? And, of course, some will find it hard to take this product seriously when its main technology is named after a robot stage drama called RUR that premiered in 1922.

COMMENTS (8) | Permalink | Disc players $5k to 10k , USB Audio | Posted by Josh Ray on Dec 19 '06

HE2006: Bel Canto

Bel Canto provided the components for the killer Pioneer room. Quickly becoming the frontrunner for reasonably-priced digital products, Bel Canto tamed the Pioneer 2-1EX speakers using the $1995 REF1000 monoblocks, $4995 CD-1 transport and $1995 DAC3. Amps, player, DAC. Amps, player, DAC. Seems like something is missing, no?

If you screamed out "preamplifier!" then you get a shiny gold star. That's right, there is no preamp in this rig. That DAC3 changes the volume in the digital domain, providing the perfect one-box solution in a slim package. Of course, if you're rocking a turntable, you'll need a standard analog preamp. But the DAC3 has a hot-rodded USB input so stack this guy up with their same-sized $1395 S300 amp and you have a killer desktop package under $4000. Someone is thinking about the future of audio. Check it out.

Also, hit up the Bel Canto site to register to win a PRe3/S300 package. One of you will be a happy boy!

COMMENTS (6) | Permalink | Amplifiers $1k to 3k , Disc players $5k to 10k , Shows and Expos , USB Audio | Posted by Josh Ray on Jun 14 '06

HE2006: Music Direct, E.A.R., Valve, Legacy

Online retailer Music Direct demoed an assortment of their equipment, from the giant Legacy 20/20 speakers to a bevy of new components. The new CD player from E.A.R. won big praise at CES and is shaping up to be a killer product. The amplification is by Valve, an import from South Africa. Their Black Widow preamps and amps go for $3500 and $4000 respectively.

The first day of the show, the room sounded just bizarre. With those massive 12" woofers, three total (1 down-firing), the room was just bass crazy. More is not better. But Music Direct quickly threw up some curtains on the back wall, adjusted the speakers and, damn, if it didn't sound awesome. The bass was still huge, but now it worked. Goes to show what window treatments and speaker wiggling can do.

Next page, their Mobile Fidelity rig. Speaks go for $2000.

[READ FULL ARTICLE]

COMMENTS (3) | Permalink | Amplifiers $3k to 6k , Disc players $5k to 10k , Pre-Amps $2k to 8k , Shows and Expos | Posted by Josh Ray on Jun 13 '06

HE2006: MBL's Babies

This little MBL system uses mere mortal speaker drivers instead of their omnis. Alas, this was a non playing demo. With the big 101s casting their spell, it's really no surprise. Shown above are the $3250 MBL 311 E speakers, $7480 7008 integrated and $8400 1531 CD player.

Pictured below is the new line of entry-level components: $4700 model 7006 integrated, $3600 4006 preamplifier, $3500 8006 B power amp and the 1431 CD player (no list price). Thoroughly confused by the numbering system yet? Me too.

Permalink | | Posted to Acoustic Treatment | Disc players $2 to $5k | Disc players $5k to 10k | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k | Integrated Amp $6k to 10k | Shows and Expos | Speakers $2k-5k

HE2006: Music Hall Audio, Shanling and Epos

Music Hall Audio, manufacturers of killer turntables and importers of numbers of popular lines, put on this little demo with their Epos ELS303 speakers and Shanling Star Trek worthy components. The big integrated is the Shanling A500 amp at $6499. The CD player is the $5999 CD500. Read the rest of room pics and shots of the entry level Music Hall MMF 2.1 turntable and its big siblings.

Update: Speakers are actually the similar but lower higher priced Epos M22.

[READ FULL ARTICLE]

Permalink | Comments (4) | Posted to Disc players $5k to 10k | Integrated Amp $6k to 10k | Shows and Expos

Ayre Acoustics C-5xe Review

Ayre Acoustics hails from Boulder, Colorado (isn't it surprising how many companies are in Boulder?) and has their C-5xe universal disc player reviewed by Stereophile. Price runs $6000 and takes a stab at the best of the best:

"Is it the best universal player currently available? I can't say. It ranks among the best single-box CD players I've heard, and I have yet to hear an SACD or DVD player that rivals it for pure audio, ummm, purity. I'd buy it for its CD reproduction alone and consider the other formats very welcome extras."

Gotta love it.

Ayre Acoustics C-5xe Review [Stereophile]
Ayre Acoustics Home

Permalink | | Posted to Disc players $5k to 10k

Classe CDP-300 DVD Player

Following up our post on the excellent Classe CP-500 and CA-2200, Classe has released their new CDP-300 DVD (and everything else) player. What makes this sucker unique is the full implementation of all video resolutions - from 480i to 1080p. Pop a DVD in and upscale the sucker to glorious 1080 progressive. If you want to see what your DVDs look like at six times the resolution, be prepared to shell out a cool $6500.

Classe Home [via CineNow]

Permalink | | Posted to Disc players $5k to 10k

Review: Shanling T300 CD Player (Verdict: But it Sure Looks Cool!)

Probably the coolest looking CD player in the history of ridiculously priced audio gear, the Shanling CD-T300 is a special edition (no kidding) unit that, while sounding average, sure looks a million bucks and is priced accordingly: $6,995. Okay, okay, technically not a million, but as Phil Gold of Superior Audio puts it:

"I must to say I preferred the Meridian, which at $3995 US undercuts the Shanling as well as outperforming it on most tracks. But the Meridian looks pedestrian next to this wonder, and you are paying to belong to an exclusive club of 300 T300 owners and to enjoy the fabulous looks."

Indeed. Only 300 of the appropriately named T300s will be made, of which only 30 will find their way into American hands. If you're in the market, you'd better act now before they sell out - you wouldn't want to be the only kid on the block without one, now would you?

Shanling CD-T300 Review [Superior Audio]
Shanling Home

Permalink | | Posted to Disc players $5k to 10k