High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide 2024: Musical Surroundings Nova III

$2000

The Nova III is the third iteration of Mike Yee’s phono preamplifier and represents a new direction, battery power giving way to a sophisticated “DC-to-DC converter to turn the single-ended wall power supply (+24V) to an isolated split power-supply (to isolate the Nova III further from the power mains).” The result is that the almost peerless neutrality of previous Novas has been retained but with a new impression of body, solidity, and dimensionality, almost as if the reproduction is a bit more grounded, yet without losing any sense of quickness, agility, timing, and detail, plus a real increase in dynamic punch, kick, and drive. Unrivaled in its ability to match impedance or capacitance to any MC or MM pickup on the market, the III is at once intrinsically superb yet also an outstanding value. (222)