Nova analogue output (low to no volume)

In audio settings there is a slider control for volume, balance and headphone volume if you are using the headphone jack. The settings page is accessed by touching the cogwheel in the top right hand corner of the App

Forgot my dealer set the volume at 80%, apparently recommended by Naim.

Thank you Gazza, but that is not the solution, since it does not influence the analogue RCA output to which my headphone amplifier is connected. At least the general max. volume is already set to 85... But though that seems to be appropiate for the speakers the output on the analogue RCA is almost inaudible even when the headphone amp is cranked up fully. That was no problem with the Uniti2s analogue output, where I usually could not go beyond 25% on the headphones amplifier before it tore my ears apart under the headphones...

On the Nova's analogue output the headphones amp is unusable right now....

Sorry to hear that, a call to Dealer, Naim or somebody on the Forum who uses the Nova in this way may be the way forward.

Hi,

The RCA audio output on the Nova is a preamp level output (not a fixed line level) so its output will vary with the volume control. If you want to get a 'line level' output from the preamp out on the Nova for your standalone headphone amplifier then you will need to set the volume to around 85 (with the max volume setting set to 100).

Phil

Phil, so even set at the 85 or 100 level, should the OP then use the Nova App or remote to increase the volume for his headphones, irrespective of his headphone amp settings ?

Phil Harris posted:

Hi,

The RCA audio output on the Nova is a preamp level output (not a fixed line level) so its output will vary with the volume control. If you want to get a 'line level' output from the preamp out on the Nova for your standalone headphone amplifier then you will need to set the volume to around 85 (with the max volume setting set to 100).

Phil

Thank you Phil, so the RCA audio output of the Nova differs from the one on the Uniti2 in that respect? Thats a bit sad, since it makes using an external headphone amp practically impossible in many cases. Could the DIN audio output be used as a fixed line level output instead? Or could the RCA audio output be changed into a fixed line level output?

P.S. alternatively - any recommendations for an additional (little and simple) pre-amplifier that could be used in between RCA output and headphone amplifier?

zikarus posted:

P.S. alternatively - any recommendations for an additional (little and simple) pre-amplifier that could be used in between RCA output and headphone amplifier?

What does the standard headphone output sound like?

Can't tell you yet since I first need to get an 6.3 to 3.5 adaptor for my main headphones...

zikarus posted:

Phil Harris posted:

Hi,

The RCA audio output on the Nova is a preamp level output (not a fixed line level) so its output will vary with the volume control. If you want to get a 'line level' output from the preamp out on the Nova for your standalone headphone amplifier then you will need to set the volume to around 85 (with the max volume setting set to 100).

Phil

Thank you Phil, so the RCA audio output of the Nova differs from the one on the Uniti2 in that respect? Thats a bit sad, since it makes using an external headphone amp practically impossible in many cases. Could the DIN audio output be used as a fixed line level output instead? Or could the RCA audio output be changed into a fixed line level output?

Hi,

The Uniti2 has both a preamp out and a line out whereas the Nova doesn't have a line out - there isn't a line out on either of the DIN inputs either.

It isn't possible to configure either of the "Preamp Outputs" to be a fixed line level output.

Best

Phil

Gazza posted:

Phil, so even set at the 85 or 100 level, should the OP then use the Nova App or remote to increase the volume for his headphones, irrespective of his headphone amp settings ?

Hi Gazza,

Using the preamp output from the Nova into a separate headphone amp should give an output to his headphones that varies depending on the Novas volume control - of course if the "Max_Volume" setting has been limited then the preamp output is also limited but if the Max_Volume is set to 100 then he should get a (roughly) line level output from the preamp outputs at around 85/86 on the Novas volume control.

Of course if he has speakers connected then they'll be fair belting out at that kind of level!

Cheers

Phil

Thanks Phil

Thanks Phil too. Could you advice on what kind of pre-amplifier might help to raise the signal to a fix level line niveau? Would a simple phono preamp do the job? What are the exact specifications of the Novas RCA analogue output? 

zikarus posted:

Thanks Phil too. Could you advice on what kind of pre-amplifier might help to raise the signal to a fix level line niveau? Would a simple phono preamp do the job? What are the exact specifications of the Novas RCA analogue output? 

Hi,

I think you are misunderstanding me - the preamp outputs, whether DIN or RCA will always be level controlled by the Novas volume control. If you have the "Max Volume" setting on the Nova set to 100 and the volume on the Nova set at mid-80's then you will get effectively a line-level output from the preamp output ... there is no need to use any kind of matching amplifier on the preamp outputs.

It's just that the preamp outputs will always be volume controlled and - of course - the speakers will be active unless your headphones are plugged into the front panel headphone output (which mutes them but also mutes the preamp output too).

Best

Phil