APL-HiFi

[Alex Peychev]

NWO-3.0-GO

One Woman's Opinion of SOTA RedBook CD Playback

Background:

Over the last 3 years we have been looking to replace our digital source. In the course of this effort we demo'd the following equipment in our system at home: Audio Aero Prestige and Classic, Nagra CDP, Wadia 581i, Audio Research CD7, AMR CD-77, EAR Acute, Pathos Endorphin, Esoteric X-01, T+A D10, Dodson 218 Palladium DAC with Esoteric UX-1 Limited. Other players that were auditioned in showrooms but were not considered further. The outcome of these demo's was twofold: most either delivered in detail, dynamics and impact but fell short in musicality or provided musicality at the expense of detail and full-range frequency response/bass control. Those players that were never considered beyond the showroom tried too hard to clean off their "digital edge" and as a result sacrificed any sense of excitement or magic.


In the final analysis of all of these players the fiscal outlay did not warrant the compromise required, so they were passed over in the hope that something better was just over the horizon (and since new models are always pending it almost always is). Meanwhile we continued to upgrade our system in all other aspects. The failed quest for digital led to a brief investigation of vinyl playback, the SME 20 with upgraded tone arm and Koetsu cartridge were under serious consideration but ultimately did not seem like the optimal choice. After careful consideration and some reliable personal references, we opted to purchase an APL HiFi NWO-3.0-GO as our source. Below is my summary of its performance in our system.


Enter the NWO-3.0-GO...


Other System Equipment:

The system consists of a Krell FPB-700cx amplifier, Wilson Watt Puppy 8 speakers, Reflection Audio OM-1 Quantum Pre-Amp with DC -12 external Battery Power supply, Silversmith Audio Silver Speaker Cables and Palladium or Silver balanced interconnects, Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack, Power Cords are APL HiFi on the NWO source and fixed PC on the Krell (PC shootout details later). Note: after the initial break in period the NWO was connected directly to the amplifier using the Palladium Balanced cables, thus eliminating the pre-amp from the equipment chain.


220 Hours Summary:


The first impression I had of the sound characteristics of the NWO-3.0 was that it was very detailed and presented very large soundstage, seemed tight and controlled, sounded linear and had a "realistic" or "natural" character to voices and instruments. This was a couple of hours out of the shipping box, and would be high praise for most digital players. About 220+ hours later I can say that listening to this player can be a very dramatic experience. The only other experienced I have had that is like listening to complex music played on the NWO is tasting a fine German Eiswein from a top-notch producer. The music with this player can have such density, depth and complexity that it is truly astonishing. The almost overwhelming complexity is provided through the immense detail, soundstaging and dynamics. As I say, almost overwhelming, but really just thrilling. The level of detail is best recognized on well-recorded CDs. What most top-notch players would deliver as micro-detail and dynamics becomes "sub-nano" detail with the NWO-3.0. On Patricia Barber's "Fortnight in France Live" the microphone is evident; the distance she is from the microphone at different points during the tracks is evident, as is the activity of the microphone during applause/spoken recording where there is not music. The impact of the level of detail can really be recognized if a good quality live recording is played A/B on another player followed by the NWO-3.0. Then the difference in level of detail is simply startling.


With the NWO-3.0 the noise level is so low that quiet passages take on new interest due to the level of detail that can be detected, but the most engaging aspect of the quiet is the way dramatic passages truly burst from the silent background. The title track from Elton John's "Madman Across the Water" illustrates this very well. Looking to more ethereal tracks on that disc or other music (David Benoit, Dangerous Beauty, Fleetwood Mac's Landslide and Songbird are some examples) is where the most unique quality of this player shines, that is the way that the lighter notes in the music are so ethereal, extended and dispersed in space that they seem filigreed across the structure of the weightier notes in the music. This is notable across the frequency spectrum, not just in the highs. The first recognition of this is the "WOW" moment where it is impossible to walk away from this player. This quality above all else becomes so addictive, and is unique to this player. It is this elusive quality that gives music from this player its immense beauty and sense of presence and contributes to its lifelike quality.


The NWO excels beyond other players I have heard (though not head to head), both digital and vinyl, in all the usual areas where audio superlatives are typically applied. The high and low frequency extension is amazing; the bass depth and control are greater than some of those that are famous for their bass. The authority, impact, slam and bass dynamics are unmatched by any player I have evaluated. The best example I know of to illustrate the dynamics and control is the challenging tracks from Jeff Beck's "Who Else", especially the track Space for the Papa. Space for the Papa has very challenging music for players to control and resolve and most tubed players simply don't have the speed and control and the complex passages become smeared. The NWO-3.0 has the speed and detail to work through these tracks better than any other player I have heard and could even take more. The other tracks on this CD are mastered by the NWO as well.


Make no mistake, this player is ruthlessly accurate, it tells the story of all that is near it or fed into it. Well recorded studio recordings sound like studio recordings, and live tracks sound live. Mediocre recordings sound OK, bad recordings can be difficult to listen to. Change a power cord or outlet and you will know it. There is sweetness when there should be, and clarity when the highs are not so sweet. Generally speaking the highs are so pure they have a crystalline etched quality, but again it feels like it is only when they should be crystalline. The transient decays are extended, vocals sound "organic" without being heavy or the slightest bit bloated.


In summary, it is the delicacy and refinement that the NWO-3.0 brings forth simultaneously with power and control that are the most amazing aspects of this player and are unique and beyond the capacity of anything else in musical playback today, including analog. The air, space, detail, decay and three dimensional character that are extracted from any fairly well-recorded Redbook CD are beyond compare, and as indicated the refinement extends across the frequency spectrum into the bass region as well. Like a fine Eiswein, if you haven't experienced it, it is very hard to convey the experience in words. I hope I have done it justice.



Next up...thoughts on SACD and DVD Audio


By K.M. on 2.20.08


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

As a first step I plugged in the NWO3.0GO with the darTZeel amp since that was my previous reference....the differences between the 3.0 and 2.5T are everything you said they would be and more!!!! Hard to believe but the 3.0 just smokes the 2.5T. Congrats Alex! The 3.0 brings through more resolution across the spectrum with decidedly less digital hash/glare...everything is more "filled out" and sounds just so much more like live music. Subtle nuances, textures, ambient cues come through....while I was listening to one track that I am supremely familiar with I was startled....upon playing it back again I realized I was hearing someone whisper in the very back of the recording studio....never heard it before on the 2.5T. You're got a home run here Alex. All I listened to tonight was CD Redbook and it is sounding so close to the very best analog I remember hearing....can't wait to spin some DVD-A tomorrow.


From D.M. on 12.15.07

This customer previously owned Linn CD12 and Linn Unidisk 1.1. The players were both modded by a respected modder.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Alex I got it in good condition, it is working, and the sound is a big surprise not to say a revelation, in my opinion it is the first time when "digital" merged and morphed into analog real life like sound, congratulations !

From D.S. on 11.22.07


This customer's previous favorite was the respected Zanden combo. He also has dCS stack, EMM Labs and few other things at home.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Dear Alex,

Thank you for creating the NWO 3.0!

This by far is the best playback device I have ever heard. As you know I have heard and owned quite a few over the past 25 years + of this Hobby.

The 3.0 has texture, rhythm and drive on par with the best analogue (Teres Direct Drive table with the Formula One cartridge or the Raven AC 3 motor with the new Grandezza arm). It just sounds right !

The sound stage is just huge with precise location of the singers / instruments on that sonic space.

I heard things that I did not hear before .

The decay of high frequency notes are just fantastic, even beating out the Spectral 4000S Pro with the "Long" filter.

Again many thanks !

From W.L. on 11.17.07

Amongst many digital sources, this customer's favorites were EMM Labs Signature CDSD/DCC2 combo and Spectral SDR4000S Pro.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Alex,

With 57 hours so far it sounds so clear, so natural, so lifelike. I love it!


From F.G. on 11.06.07


This customer's reference was the EMM Labs Signature CDSD/DCC2 combo.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Good evening Alex,

Let's be honest about it....you are only competing against yourself. Nothing else is close.

I just left a post on Audiogon. I love John's review of the 2.5T. It is much more analytical than my post, but I just do not feel analytical about the 3.0. Yes, that is all there, but, for example, I have not heard technical descriptions of say the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth, or even better, the fouth movement of the Ninth. No words can convey the excitement and emotion of those symphonies. Academics can study it and describe it but they cannot write it. The 3.0 is so emotionally involving that the usual hi-fi talk blather is just meaningless when applied to the 3.0.


From J.B. on 12.26.07

This customer's previous reference was the EMM Labs Signature CDSD/DAC6e combo.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Alex,

Last night we listened to many CDs of Christmas music that we have had for years.

With the 3.0 there were all the the little "extras" that make the 3.0 so special. Fullness and nuances of voices and instruments never heard in all those years before. We listened for a long time, and as I predicted on my forum postings months ago, there was absolutely no listening fatigue.

Once again, you have made our lives richer.


By H.C. on 12.23.07

This customer's previous reference was the newest dCS stack (transport, DAC and clock).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Dear Alex,

I am sure that when you embarked on this road 5 years ago that you had no idea that would have such an impact on so many people's lives.

In many ways I'd like to think we are kindred spirits-perfectionists, headstrong and sensitive. I apologize if I am being too presumptuous.

I say this because I feel you also need to know how much of a difference you have made in our life. Music does sooth the savage beast and EVERYDAY when we come home from the office the first thing we do is turn on the NWO 3.0 GO (and then the amps) and listen to music for the next 3 hrs.

I had only owned "best of value" CDP in the past and saved for the 3910 APL after researching and reading about you in the various forums. This incredible player was enough to make you my audio guru.

The NWO 3.0 GO is a gateway and liberates the music from the digital word into our analog universe.

I can not compare to the Meitners, the Remiyos or the Wadias or the AMRs -I haven't A/B d them BUT I go to concerts large and small venues, Classical, Jazz and Vocalists. The NWO 3.0 GO just lets the music flow-the digital medium is no longer the weakest link in the recreation of the event.

Sound stage, harmonics, impact and separation are all "THERE" to both my wife and me the music just sounds right, correct, real, live.

I now listen to the music and no longer the equiptment. My quest now is to bring my other components up to properly complementing your player.

-We love the NWO 3.0 GO and we love you for creating it and your generosity in enabling us to acquire one.

We know your spirit is in each player you build so we know that while you can't be here physically to share our joy of music you are here in spirit.

P.S. I did have a vinyl rig:

Michell SE TT
Origin live arm
MB Ruby cart
ARC PH-5 phono

Sold it - the NWO 3.0 GO is SO much better-better sound stage, greater clarity and resolution, and I don't have to worry about breaking the needle and getting up every 15 mins especially after the 2 nd or 3 rd glass of wine.


From J.B. on 02.15.08


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Alex,

Words simply cannot express my deep felt appreciation for the fruits of your amazing work! Listening to my NWO 3.0 player at your home last night was truly a transformative experience. Having heard the 2.5T version and being thoroughly satisfied with its performance, I knew I would love my 3.0, but I was not prepared for the level of performance delivered by your system, including your new hybrid amplifier, which is simply amazing.

Seriously, I have never heard reproduced cellos and violins sound so close to being REAL, as we compared my 30 year old LP pressing of Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos (L'Oiseau-Lyre 414 588-2) against the same vintage standard Redbook CD. I have compared that LP cut to the CD version over the years, as a quick way to demonstrate to any of my "non-believer" friends why vinyl still sounds more natural than any digital system. The period instruments always sounded far more real in the LP version, even with my modest SOTA + Koetsu Rosewood LP setup. Well, the contest was finally and decisively turned the other direction when we heard the CD on the NWO 3.0. The LP completely paled in comparison, even on your superior LP system!

The thing that has always drawn me in when listening to live stringed instruments of all kinds is the subtle differences in the tonal value of the wood used (along with the gorgeous visual quality of the 300 year old woods, which I am sure helps my feeble brain appreciate the sound even more). With the NWO 3.0 driving your hybrid amp, not only were the differences in the tonal textures of each cello and violin clearly audible, but when I closed my eyes I could easily visualize the different wood bodies of the period instruments, with the beautiful deep hues and patina that only centuries of age can produce. For this accomplishment, all I can say is BRAVO!

Your system has clearly reached a level of musicality that, for the first time in my 40 years of following every new audiophile trend in the industry, I can truly say that I can stop the search and simply sit back and enjoy the music. And, after all, isn't that what the journey is all about?

Bravo, and all the best to you and your family!

From J.W. on 12.24.07


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

The NW0 3.0 continues to impress. I got the Bassface/Stockfisch LP/SACD set for Christmas. I set the SACD so it would lag behind the vinyl by about 5 seconds and use the remote to toggle back and forth. The sound was very close. The NWO had a bit better definition in the lower midrange and better 3D and slightly 'wet' quality. The vinyl was slightly drier and had a bit better definition and more energy with cymbals. Both the NWO and my Walker phono stage have awesome bass. The Walker phono stage has better bass than all the other CD players I have tried.

Alex has done APL customers a great service by including the digital input in the 3.0 mod. I suspect that when offered in the past, as an add-on option, many customers passed on it. I decided to try the NWO's digital input. I had an old Pioneer DV-525 DVD player handy and an interconnect made from Wonder Wire and a Radio Shack BNC adaptor. The Pioneer outputs 96khz. I placed the original of a Chesky Livingston Taylor DAD in the Pioneer. In the NWO, I placed a copy burned from the DAD image. The sound was so close it was very hard to tell apart tonally. The NWO had a bit better focus. This was most noticeable on harmonica where I could hear a slight smearing by the Pioneer. I was surprised that the sound quality was so close from a $200 player. In case someone might interpret this to mean that the NWO only sounds slightly better than a cheap Pioneer player, that would be a faulty conclusion, I have used this same Pioneer player with other DACs and it is nothing special other than its ability to output 96khz. This performance of a cheap transport is a great testimony to the qualities of the NWO DAC section. I suspected that anything plugged into it will benefit.

As much as I would like to give my system my undivided attention in the sweet spot, the realities of domestic life intrude. As a result, a larger percentage of my listening than I would like is often occurring indirectly as I am elsewhere in the house - still very enjoyable. A few months back I auditioned a friend's system. He had the latest modified Squeeze Box 3 and a Burson Buffer to boost the gain. The sound quality was roughly equivalent to my APL modified Philips SACD 1000 that we swapped into the system. Since I knew the sound quality of my NWO 1.0 surpassed the SACD 1000, I did not think I could be satisfied with a music server based system. My experience with the Pioneer player caused me to rethink this. I had Alex perform the transport-only mod to a Transporter and the sound quality is high when driving the NWO 3.0 DAC section. I use this setup to do much of my indirect Redbook listening and will be boxing up many of my CDs when I am done ripping them all. For high intensity listening, I use the NWO's transport. To coordinate all of this, I use a Harmony remote that I programmed to include functions of the UX-1, Transporter, preamp, and the NWO remotes. Life is good...


From R.W. on 02.22.08

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

I recently re-read all of the postings on this site by other happy (or is the word "ecstatic") NWO 3.0 GO owners, and it occurred to me how often I have posted reviews here and on other audio web sites covering Alex's latest and greatest creation. And although I intend to do a formal review on the 3.0 after I have run through the requisite 300 hours each of CD and SACD time, I couldn't resist covering a few preliminary impressions at this time.

As I have reviewed my listening notes from countless prior listening tests, shoot-outs, etc., I was impressed with the unbelievable progress that Alex has made going back to my the APL Denon 3910 (of which I experienced 5 iterations) and Esoteric-based NWO (of which I experienced 3 iterations). And some interesting observations jumped out at me. First, I can't tell you how many times my notes read "It doesn't get any better than this". And then, of course, Alex adds some new technology, improvements and tweaks to develop a new model that leaves the old version in the dust. When Alex brought the NWO 2.5T down to San Diego for our blind shoot-out just about a year ago, everyone in the room agreed that this was the most real-life sounding digital audio any of us had ever heard. And then, a year later when we auditioned my 3.0 for the same group, it clearly blew away the 2.5T. Someone present said it reminded him of the old joke about the highway patrolman on his motorcycle chasing a speeding Farrari. When the Farrari when into overdrive, the patrolman though his bike had stopped, so he got off! It is true that the 2.5T is still far superior to 95% of all players on the market today, but it pales by comparison to the 3.0. And even today when Alex tells me that GO stands for Game Over -- well I can't help but wondering.

The second observation from all my listening notes has to do with the structured criteria I use for comparing one player against another in a listening test. Going all the way back to my APL SACD 1000 and my APL Denon 3910, my criteria have remained essentially the same. But I have long since blown away my measurement range based on a scale of 1 to 10. The NWO series took me up to 12 and 14 on some listening categories and who knows where I will be when my 3.0 gets fully burned-in. These are wonderful problems to have.

Finally, Alex committed the last time he was with our San Diego Music & Audio group that he would return some time this year in early spring (as soon as I log 300/300 hours on my 3.0) so that we could orchestrate another digital vs vinyl shootout with even more rigorous conditions (e.g. overnight warm-up, cable dielectrics, etc.). Whether this will happen before of after I can post my next formal review will all depend on timing.

What can I say -- Alex, you're a genius!


From P.W. on 03.01.08

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

The NWO-2.5T was a milestone in digital reproduction and it richly deserved the many praises it received. But the Hall of Fame belongs to the NWO-3.0GO...a major advance that transcends digital. Its nearest competition may come from the cost-no-object vinyl rigs. Alex, the 3.0 is your legacy to the high end community and with this gift you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. But don't sit on your laurels...your next competitor to contend with is live, non-amplified music!

I heard the 3.0's superlative results through two different high end speaker systems in my dedicated listening room (Watt/Puppy/WHOW and Talon Thunderhawk/Thunderbird) and two different amplifiers; tube (Jadis JA80) and solid state (CJ Premier 350). I also heard the same outstanding outcome in my friend's audio system (Aerial 20T plus CJ 140 monoblocks). In all 3 set-ups, the 3.0GO fed the amps directly. Note: At least a 250 hour burn-in is a must for each format before the 3.0 begins to blossom in all its glory.

As much as I loved the 2.5T, my upgrade to the 3.0 took me by surprise; it blew my sonic socks off. Every major musical and sonic element was enhanced: Deeper, tighter, more defined and impactful bass. More extended, sweeter, silkier highs. Greater resolution in the frequency domain, dynamics, and transients; resulting in a finer texture of harmonic tapestry, finer gradation of dynamics, and a more realistic reproduction of micro-transients. With a copious flood of information, the sonic effects of even minor changes in the contents of my Rives' level 2 room can now be easily perceived; the room is alive.

Improved cleanliness and crystalline clarity of the notes. More palpable silence from which each note emerges and into which its decay fades...with your attention wedded with rapture to the fading note, you merge into that silence...one with silence...breathless...pure poetry of sound and silence.

Abundant ambiance like I never heard before. Deeper, wider, and taller sound stage. More pinpointed location of instruments on that sound stage, cleaner space separating them, and more appreciable interplay between the instruments; creating a fuller and more coherent sound field.

Ease and naturalness. Greater refinement, delicacy, and more easily perceived nuances. It is more vibrant and musical; closer to my experience at live concerts. Enhanced envelopment, involvement and enjoyment...seductive smoothness...the toes are tapping...and the heart dances in ecstasy.

From J. L. on 03.18.08

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Difficult for me to write a paragraph on the NWO3.0GO. To summarize impressions I would just say "it sounds right". Sound is natural, very analytical and extremely relaxed at the same time (much more relaxed than the NWO2.5). No aggressiveness at all even during burn-in, whereas the NWO2.5 was opening up only with more than 200 hours of listening. Works very well also as a wandler only (I use it fed by my slim devices transporter). For me it is the end of the journey, I am not missing anything in my system and just spend weekends listening to music.


From J.K. on 03.19.08

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Clarification and Additional Thoughts on SOTA Musical Playback


In my original summary of the NWO 3.0 GO performance in my system that is posted in the customer feedback, I claim that the NWO bests all other options for musical playback available today, including vinyl. While the original intent of this summary was feedback for APL HiFi, I agreed to its being posted knowing full well that this provocative statement could raise eyebrows for many members of the audiophile community who might read it. While my opinion may be biased (since I own an NWO), the fact is that my opinion may also still be valid. Yes, I am extremely enthusiastic about the NWO 3.0, but I do not think this enthusiasm will wane anytime in the near future since I believe the quality of this player is so high that it will remain top of the tier for a very long time (or until Alex builds a new version ). I also think it is clear that I am not afraid to say "non" when a player is very good but not quite "there".


That being said I feel the need to clarify a couple of things that were stated in my original comments:


1. In the first paragraph there is an incorrect title of a CDP. The Audio Aero player I demo'd in my home system was called the Capitole at the time, not the Classic. I also demo'd the Audio Aero Prestige, correctly named. The Classic is a newer version CDP that I cannot speak to. I sincerely apologize for this error of inaccuracy. All of the other titles of the players listed were correct, and most were borrowed from local dealers as demo units.


2. I would like to elaborate on my use of the words crystalline and etched to describe the performance of the NWO 3.0 GO in the high frequency range. In the original document I am using the analogy to Eiswein as my base level point to make the review palpable. In the world of fine Eiswein, the use of these terms means that the "high" elements can be distinguished from the rest of the very complex body of the wine. What I was trying to convey with said analogy was that the music had weight, presence but not at the expense of losing what live music brings out in the high frequencies, a senses of "realness" beauty and limitless extension. I have very acute high frequency hearing and am often very disappointed at the "swishy" mushy character that the highs take on with many digital players, specifically bells and cymbals sound dull and are often difficult to distinguish for their true selves. I personally love the sweet sound of a clear ringing bell or high notes of an organ or harp, with the appropriate level of decay, and love it when they can be heard as sounding natural. The NWO 3.0 GO completely delivers here with no sense of edge or "digitalness". In this case the use of the word "etched" may not have been the wisest choice, but the intent was to convey the presence and clarity of the highs (as in the best of Eisweins).



Additional Thoughts on SOTA Musical Playback

I made the claim that the NWO bests vinyl. Why have such outrageous claims of quality been made? In the words of B&W's tagline, listen and you'll see. For my NWO, I took a little time to get the power source and cabling optimized. This may be worth further exploration. I have not investigated every power cord available, but three power cords were compared to the APL power cord including a Transparent Reference and a Shunyata Taipan. With the APL power cord the soundstage, air and transparency improved considerably versus the other power cords. The Valhalla and the Crystal Digital Power Cables have not been tested with the NWO in my system and are some of the best power cords available today (IMO). The tariff for these cords comes in at $2 - 3+K retail and it would be interesting to see how they compare to the APL. (My bet is on the APL but the proof is in the pudding, as they say). The power itself is direct from the wall in a dedicated circuit. Again the NWO is sensitive to its associated power and cabling (as indicated by APL) and the best combination with our set up seems to be a straight copper 20A receptacle for the power amp and an Oyaide 20A R1 receptacle on the NWO (using two R1s did not work as well). Again, possibly some room to tweak in the future with a different set of receptacles, but this combo seems to work well for now.

It is possible that the Silversmith Palladium balanced interconnects that sit between the NWO and Krell amp help (or at least do not hurt) in creating a very "natural" sound in the system. These interconnects are known for their "natural/analog" sound and were certainly an improvement over the Silversmith Silver interconnects, which of course were very good. Again, since the NWO is so new many of these factors have not been thoroughly explored in our system. Is it possible that another interconnect could create additional incremental improvement? Yes, possibly.

To test functionality of the digital input, another source was used as a digital input to the NWO where it then functioned as a DAC. In this configuration some detail was lost from the music. It sounded good, but nothing like the NWO 3.0 stand-alone.

SACD and DVD-Audio output are better than the RedBook playback, but all three formats clearly convey the quality of the recording. Good quality live recorded DVD-A is as exciting as live with the NWO! Plus there is no amplifier hiss in the background like at a concert (note, obviously not applicable to acoustic performances ). An old recording is "fun" to listen to through the NWO (think sixties rock that has not been extensively remastered) but IMO can't compete with a well mastered recording like Bassface's SACD. My Jimi Hendrix CD is not digitally remastered and the mid-range sounded a little flat. Older recordings that are handled well are very enjoyable to listen to and bring just as many surprises as newer ones with the enhanced detail from the NWO.

Will the thrill of listening to the NWO 3.0 GO ever wear off? I hope that I don't see that day. Meanwhile I remain enamored enough that I ended most days of my Paris wanderings last week by stopping off at the Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Elysees to see what rarity I can find to play on the NWO when I got back home...so far the Deutsche Grammophon release of Elvis Costello plays Il Sogno with the London Sympony Orchestra and the EU Rare Live Recordings Dave Brubeck Quartet Complete 1958 Berlin Concert await.


By K.M. on 3.24.08


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com

[Alex Peychev]

Hello all,

This thread is locked for a reason. Please forward all the feedback you'd like to provide on an email to Brent and I will post it here un-edited and anonymous.

Thank you for your cooperation!
_________________
Alex Peychev

APL Hi-Fi
+1 707 320 2367 - USA
+359 899 225 411 - BG
www.aplhifi.com