Nova faulty
Posted by: Mercky on 13 August 2018
My Nova threw a major wobbly on Saturday and hasent recovered. I had ripped a few cds to a stick and was listening back when suddenly an almighty digital screech blasted at full tilt through the speakers, I literally dived across the room to power it down and save the speakers, I carefully restarted and it seemed ok, or so I thought, after some listening I thought it dident sound quite right but thought maybe it was my imagination, I was a bit surprised that the cds I’d ripped dident sound better but put it down to the recordings which are mostly oldish. My ears were still ringing so l left it until yesterday and listened again and was still unconvinced so left it again until this evening and listening now with fresh ears it’s definitely knackered and actually getting gradually worse today if anything. It’s lost all its mojo and the upper mids are really screechy and fatiguing. I’ve listened back to some tracks I know well and it’s definitely not right. The radio sounds particularly bad. I’ve obviously done a factory reset to no avail and it seems to stall a little doing the reset as if there’s something amiss. Volume is also down, even turning it up to over 50 it’s still lifeless. Seems something has blown, [@mention:1566878604014936] is this similar to the issue you had with your previous Nova? Seriously pissed off, I’ll bring it back to my dealer tomorrow but who knows how long it’ll take to get a replacement, I don’t particularly want this back after been repaired.
Mine was a bang/plop at power on (off)
Obsydian posted:Mine was a bang/plop at power on (off)
ok thanks, its a real head wreck as you begin to doubt your own hearing and start questioning if you have just convinced yourself its not right, having said that it genuinely sounded dreadful last night and I was only thinking last week how well it was sounding as it had really improved over the last week or so, its only 6 weeks old after all. I'm going to give it another day or two and see does it settle down, if not its going back. Regardless, I have no explanation for the screeching episode on saturday which thankfully dident take out my tweeters as it was incredibly loud. Incidentally, as each unit has an IP you'd wonder if Naim could interrogate it remotely and run diagnostics?
I'd discuss with your dealer and/or Naim Customer Support otherwise you will forever be unsure. At least they would be able to check it side by side with a known good unit once it's been checked over internally. The IP of the Nova at your homeis an Private IP address [192.168.x.x] most likely and this isn't accessible to the internet.
Definitely contact your dealer.
This sound similar (but not the same) as what happened to my Nova when I updated the firmware to 2.6 - I got a lifeless sound which raising the volume didn't really fix, but helped - I also got a sound that was fatiguing, but that's where it ended - no bang or screech and the radio was, if anything, the least affected source.
As Richard says, you should definately contact Naim (via your dealer) who may be able to query it remotely, but by connecting to your PC and hopping off to the Nova (I'm guessing here, but that's how I'd do it) - the software required to do this is blocked by some ISPs as it's one of those that can be used to scam people (The infamous phone call along the lines of "Hello, Microsoft here, your PC has a problem, can I connect to it to fix it...."). Most importantly they will know how to get it right for you again.
TallGuy posted:This sound similar (but not the same) as what happened to my Nova when I updated the firmware to 2.6 - I got a lifeless sound which raising the volume didn't really fix, but helped - I also got a sound that was fatiguing, but that's where it ended - no bang or screech and the radio was, if anything, the least affected source.
As Richard says, you should definately contact Naim (via your dealer) who may be able to query it remotely, but by connecting to your PC and hopping off to the Nova (I'm guessing here, but that's how I'd do it) - the software required to do this is blocked by some ISPs as it's one of those that can be used to scam people (The infamous phone call along the lines of "Hello, Microsoft here, your PC has a problem, can I connect to it to fix it...."). Most importantly they will know how to get it right for you again.
So how did you resolve it?
hi, same problem last sunday with my Star. When playing music suddenly a digital screech blasted about 10 seconds. Volume was around 70 dB at the listening place.
But for the prehistory:
After about 70 hours burn in of the Star, the initially over-emphasized heights were gone and the device sound when warm was satisfactory. After about 150 hours, the sound has deteriorated dramatically, so that a nice listening to music was not possible. After about 300 hours it has improved but it is nowhere near what it should be. Sound is flat and emotionless, voices seem slightly overdriven, the bass is grumpy with too little substance.
So I borrowed the star from the dealer again and compared the two devices. It was a small difference, but the sound of the borrowed star was also not satisfactory. So it could be due to the speakers. Who knows how many times the digital screeching occurred during the break-in period, while I was not at home and driving at a higher altitude.
In addition, there are still problems with the connection via LAN cable (the cover remains hanging and the star has to be restarted), which the device did not have from the dealer.
With the Naim support, I am in contact all the time and the offered services are very good. I'll talk to the dealer now, but it's hard to understand the problems...
Interesting, well mine is back in the box and going back to the dealer tomorrow, not sure what the outcome will be but I don’t want it back so it’ll either be a replacement or a refund and I’ll buy something else.
phasevier posted:hi, same problem last sunday with my Star. When playing music suddenly a digital screech blasted about 10 seconds. Volume was around 70 dB at the listening place.
But for the prehistory:
After about 70 hours burn in of the Star, the initially over-emphasized heights were gone and the device sound when warm was satisfactory. After about 150 hours, the sound has deteriorated dramatically, so that a nice listening to music was not possible. After about 300 hours it has improved but it is nowhere near what it should be. Sound is flat and emotionless, voices seem slightly overdriven, the bass is grumpy with too little substance.
So I borrowed the star from the dealer again and compared the two devices. It was a small difference, but the sound of the borrowed star was also not satisfactory. So it could be due to the speakers. Who knows how many times the digital screeching occurred during the break-in period, while I was not at home and driving at a higher altitude.
In addition, there are still problems with the connection via LAN cable (the cover remains hanging and the star has to be restarted), which the device did not have from the dealer.
With the Naim support, I am in contact all the time and the offered services are very good. I'll talk to the dealer now, but it's hard to understand the problems...
Did any of these changes coincide with firmware updates - if so contact Naim support.
Alley Cat posted:phasevier posted:With the Naim support, I am in contact all the time and the offered services are very good. I'll talk to the dealer now, but it's hard to understand the problems...
Did any of these changes coincide with firmware updates -if so contact Naim support.
?
.sjb
Left it with my dealer today, helpful as always, it will be replaced but just waiting on an ETA which I'm told should be soon enough.
Hi, demo device from the dealer and my star were already on firmware 2.6 and I have immediately updated to 2.6.1. unfortunately I don't know the sound of the V2.3 firmware . But the star has sounded good with me at least a little time with 2.6.1.
I would like to try the 2.3, but Naim does not provide it anymore ..
Crazy: I have just reset to factory settings and the star sounds a lot better now! I had done that a couple of times at the beginning, because the covers were not loaded properly or only slowly and I always had the feeling that the star suddenly sounded better again.. I will keep watching this on the weekends. Strange device ..
Digital screech again at a party on saturday for about 10 seconds. Volume at about 85 db at my listening position. I'll contact my dealer tomorrow..
I think I’d get that sorted ASAP before it takes out your speakers, or your ears!
I don’t want to open a new topic, but have a Nova related question: it appears that the cover art on the Nova’s has been frozen. I know this has been disussed before and Naim is aware and working on an update.
But has this update been implemented already?
No that I know.....but it does not happen at all since the last update. It used to be a weekly occurrence?
Happens on my Atom quite often. Only a full powercycle brings it back.
I thought it was sorted in last update but could be wrong. Got my replacement Nova delivered and running it in, so far so good and it hasent screamed at me yet which is a relief! Still has that pesky panel gap behind the left side of the display though, I find it really odd that such poor detailing is deemed ok in a high end product at this price point. Sounding good though which is the main thing.
My Nova is runnng on the latest firmware and I saw it just happening, hence my question ...
I find my device more than strange and do not understand how such a high-priced device can have these problems.
My dealer is informed and will contact the sales department..
Since the 2.6.1 update no problems with my Nova.Sounds OK..although my expectations were higher.
Richard,
Why are my posts on the forum moderated?I see no reason why?
Fred47.
What is it that you are not happy about Fred?
Klout,
To clear a misunderstanding: I am very happy with my Nova but only after I installed the latest software. No doubt. But reading some reviews ,who often speak in terms like"heaven, superb, jaw dropping experience,, awsome, magnicicent etc..." My expectations were set higher.
fred47 posted:Klout,
To clear a misunderstanding: I am very happy with my Nova but only after I installed the latest software. No doubt. But reading some reviews ,who often speak in terms like"heaven, superb, jaw dropping experience,, awsome, magnicicent etc..." My expectations were set higher.
yes I'd agree with that, there's no doubt its good but a little over hyped perhaps.