Why Do Different Novas Sound, Well, 'Different'?

I have found  devices can sound different within a certain range.. it effectively comes down to component tolerances... however the key thing is to ensure sample variation is within an acceptable range... and your experiences are showing it’s not acceptable to you. This is not specific to Naim either.. that other company that is mentioned on this forum, Chord Electronics, has sample variation... Sometimes I have only bought specific products I have home auditioned, as I clearly know how they sound.

???? ENGLISHROGUE,....For us "Attention To Detail Maniacs" this has been well known for a long time,..also within as Simon writes the tolerances.

◾ Example: When I drove active Linn Isobarik with Linn Electronics around 1990,..then I had three LK280-amplifiers and three LK Spark power supply...that is to say a total of six boxes only in the final power-stage.

I sat and compared and matched these against each other,it was always a difference..albeit sometimes small.
The combination that played the best, I obviously put on the tweeter,then the midrange and last the bass.

I also compared Linn Kairn pre (6 pieces),and chose out the best.
Yes..I did so with all the electronics.
Note,..this takes time..Don't Rush.

From memory,..the worst Linn Kairn,played much less engaging than the best of the 6 I compared against each other.
Not everyone has the opportunity to do this,but if you have the opportunity,..it is well worth the effort.

The more optimally installed your music-system is,..the more important to keep track of what you put into your music-system.

/Peder ????

Naim's older pre amps could sound quite different from one another two 102's or two 42.5's could differ in sound quality. I believe I have an exceptional 102 at the moment it's down to a bit of luck I suppose which you truly deserve ENGLISHROGUE after 3 dodgy Novas.

I've had I think 5 Nova all very different, which is worrying amount of variation.

Add to that every power cycle a slight difference.

Obsydian posted:

I've had I think 5 Nova all very different, which is worrying amount of variation.

Add to that every power cycle a slight difference.

You've had 5 and they all sound different? That is worrying!

1st (original firmware) and 4th (signed off by Roy) where the best, current one I just lost the will same issues continue, but it's pretty close to the 4th.

Each to me was quite different, this was a new surprise to me after decades of olive upgrades.

It’s Naim’s new upgrade path: just keep re-buying the same box! 

My second one which was returned sounded noticeably good just out of the box with no run in time, current is fine but not as good, maybe over time they all flatten out to sounding similar. 

???? MERCKY,OBSYDIAN,....A small difference is it always,as I referred to in my previous post.
This can be due to many reasons….

◾ Soldering.
◾ Direction of internal cabling.
◾ Direction of the fuse.
◾ Torque Draw of the audioboards etc.
◾ Components tolerances.
◾ Etc,etc.....

But it still feels like,..when you read these posts that,.. Naim may increase quality control before delivery to the customer.

/Peder ????

Different I'd different plain and simple, otherwise it should be called a lucky dip purchase.

I never recall this with any of the olive series always found them to be close, but the Uniti are not even close quite a wide gap.