Nova 500
500wpc integrated amp with DAC & phono stage
$3,299.00 in black
Sale $2,999.00 with FREE $1000 Core Power Diamond power cord
$3,549.00 with the Bluesound Node 2i music streamer
Made in North America
The Peachtree Audio Nova 500 is a superb value integrated amplifier with built in DAC... It is destined to become the new industry standard in a high power High performace integrated amplifier. It features very high quality 32 bit/384k asynchronous USB DAC that plays DSD. The DAC is built around the 9028 ESS Sabre chip with a very sophisticated signal path. It is as good as any $1500.00 DAC that we know of. The new 500 watt ICE powered amp is very stable and does 600 watts into 4 ohm loads. It is stable into 2 ohms. The DAC also supports both coaxial and 2 optical digital inputs as well as having a dedicated USB 1 for your iPhone or iPad. It has 2 analog inputs and one can double as a MM phono stage. There is a home thester bypass as well as a preout to support a subwoofer. It has a serious headphone amp and a removable power cord. The design team for the Nova series has done some of the best sounding products made today, at any cost. The fully balanced preamplifier in the Nova 500 is worth the price of the entire unit. It is the only balanced Peachtree product. It outperforms separate preamps selling for double its cost. Peachtree's great-looking retro cosmetics round this amp off with black lacquer or ebony mocha lacquer cabinets. A 3-year warranty is included. At $3,299 in black or Ebony Mocha the Nova 500 is a superb value and our favorite under $6,000 integrated amp. We have not seen any North American made product under $6000.00 that outperforms it. Add a Bluesound Node 2i music streamer for only $549.00
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Highlights
- Built-in, state-of-the-art, power amplifier with an astounding 500 watts per channel @ 8 ohms / 800wpc @ 4 ohms
- 2.5 ohm stable
- ESS 9000 Series PRO Sabre DAC with up to 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and 5.6MHz DSD resolution
- Fully differential (balanced) audio circuitry from the digital inputs to the output
- Exclusive DyNEC iOS input for audio streaming from Apple Lightning devices
- Asynchronous USB, (1) coaxial and (2) optical digital inputs for connection to virtually any source device
- Phono (MM) input for direct connection of a turntable (can also double as a standard line-level input)
- Home Theater Bypass for easy integration with a multi-channel system (also doubles as a standard line-level input) driving the front speakers for listening to stereo music
- Volume Control Bypass feature for use with variable output source devices
- Switchable loop feature for inserting an external EQ or other sound processor into the signal path
- Discrete, high-output, custom-designed headphone amplifier
- Extensive internal grounding
- Optional wireless input streaming module (available 2019)
- Proudly assembled in Charlotte, NC, USA
The DAC
The DAC section in the nova500 includes an amazing new ESS 9000-Series PRO Sabre DAC and utilizes four DACs per stereo channel. In other words, eight DACs in total to provide stunning dynamic range from any source with minimal background noise to distract from the music. All of the specs for the DAC exceed 120dB, generally considered the maximum dynamic range of human hearing! But most importantly, this digital-to-analog-converter provides a level of refinement and musicality that we have found to be simply beyond reproach. Peachtree was the first audiophile company to offer ESS DACs built into its products, and it is only fitting that our latest and greatest integrated amplifier includes their latest and greatest DAC!
The Preamplifier
The preamplifier section in the nova500 was designed from the ground up by the engineers at Peachtree Audio specifically for the nova500. Its architecture is based on the preamplifier section of the nova300 and nova150, but takes it a significant step further by implementing fully differential circuit paths from input to output. This ensures that the ultra-low-noise musical signal provided by the DAC is maintained all the way through the preamplifier, and any external noise or interference that finds its way to the circuit board is cancelled out so it does not negatively affect the sound quality of the music! The ensures that the nova500’s power amplifier section is being driven by the absolutely cleanest possible signal from the preamplifier.
The Amplifier
The amplifier section in the nova500 features the stunning new 1200AS2 from ICEPower. It is, simply stated, the best sounding, most powerful amplifier section we have ever offered in any product - period. The nova500 is capable of driving virtually any speaker with the utmost ease and authority. Chances are, you've never heard how good your speakers can actually sound until you hear them driven by the nova500. The nova500’s ability to reproduce complex music passages at any volume level is simply jaw dropping even if only listening to a modest pair of 2-way speakers. But to truly appreciate the amplifier section in the nova500, connect it to a pair of high-end floorstanders and be prepared to be completely blown away! The power and finesse of the amplifier section in the nova500 is, we believe, a game changer.
The Headphone Amplifier
The headphone amplifier section in the nova500 is a custom-designed power amplifier specifically engineered to get the best sound quality and output capability from any headphone including difficult to drive, high-impedance, high-performance headphones. The headphone amplifier is a fully discrete linear design that does NOT utilize a chip-based amplifier. It is a full power amplifier tailored to the specific needs of headphone listening and can easily drive anything from power hungry 600 Ohm dynamic-drivers to easy to drive planar-magnetics and everything in between. The headphone amplifier in the nova500 makes discreet listening sessions a welcome delight!
The Phono Stage
The phono section in the nova500 is designed to allow direct connection from a moving magnet or high-output moving coil cartridge equipped turntable. It is custom-designed to enable the best sound quality reproduction from your vinyl collection and eliminates the need to add an external phono amplifier product to the nova500. And if you don’t use a turntable, the input doubles as a standard line-level analog audio input with the simple press-and-hold of the input button!
CONVENIENCE and FLEXIBILITY
Optical, Coax and USB Inputs
The nova500's digital inputs provide for connection to virtually any source: one asynchronous USB, one coaxial, two optical.
The Loop
The nova500 includes an extremely useful LOOP (output/input) feature, allowing you to add an equalizer or other processor into the signal path as desired. The LOOP button on the remote control engages and disengages the loop audio path utilizing high-performance relays. Want to experiment with room correction? Easy. Wire your room EQ component into the nova500 and use the LOOP button on the remote control to A-B between correction in/correction out.
Home Theater Bypass
This classic Peachtree feature is included in the nova500. HTB allows for easy integration with a multi-channel preamp/processor or audio/video receiver (AVR) so that the power amplifier in the nova500 always drives your main speakers (front left and right). When listening to two-channel music the nova500 also becomes your control center, ensuring that you enjoy the full benefit of its reference DAC and ultra-low-noise circuitry. If the HTB input isn't needed it can be configured as a standard analog line-level input.
iOS Input - DyNEC (Dynamic Noise Elimination Circuit) for iPhone/iPad
The nova500 includes a dedicated asynchronous USB connection on the rear panel that provides a direct digital wired connection for Apple Lightning-equipped devices. Simply use the cable that came with your iPhone or iPad and experience your music transformed by the nova500's DAC and fully differential preamplifier - whether you're listening via headphones or through your main speaker system.
With DyNEC and an asynchronous connection, Peachtree's dedicated iOS input lets you hear your music with all the clarity, dynamics and emotion the artist intended!
And . . . the metal-faced Peachtree remote controls basic playback functions like FF/RR and pause, so you can just sit back and enjoy!
Volume Control Bypass
The nova500 provides a Volume Control Bypass feature on its digital inputs which puts the nova500 into "power amp" mode. This is useful if you have a connected source with its own volume control. Have a favorite device or app with a volume slider built right into the interface? Simply bypass the nova500 volume control for that input and use the app slider instead. It's VERY convenient!
Easy Subwoofer Connection
The nova500's Pre Out jacks allow easy hookup of a subwoofer. The signal from the Pre Outs is identical to the main signal and is controlled by the nova500's volume control.