Review: New Valve Order SPA II Tube preamp


Category: Preamps

A giant killer phono stage is born !
Over the past 25 years , I had been in search of the very best phono preamp.
I think I had finally reached Nirvana.

Before the NVO SPA 2, I had tried the following great phono-stages :

Klyne Audo Arts 3.5,
Vandetta SCP 2T,
Tom Evans Groove + SBX,
Artemis Lab PL1,
Audio Research Ref 2,
Tron Seven Reference ,
Oswald Mills phono stage,
Experience the Music Kahn LCR,

The NVO SPA II tops them all.

This is a 22 tube unit from Greece imported by Steven Klein of Sound of Silence.
Despite being a tube unit, the SPA II is the most quiet phono stage that I ever owned.
Micro-dynamics are the best with great rhythm / pace.
The sound stage is deep and holographic as well.
The highs are extended but not fatiguing like solid state units.
It has the emotional impact of the Kahn LCR unit but without the penalty of hum associated with nickel LCR's.

I cannot wait to try it out on my other system with the Telos armand Ortofon A90 unit.

I hope to report back in a few weeks.

Associated gear
Saskia Turntable,
Durand Talea 2 Tone arm
Dynavector XVs 1 T cartridge
ASR Emittor 2 version blue amp
Genesis 1.1 Speaker system
hifirabbit
I've heard the SPA against the Kondo M-7 phono at the dealers and just wow, what a difference the SPA was. So much more "you are there" quality. The Kondo was dark and no life. And at a fraction of the cost.
Not to go to far off topic, but what did u think of your groove plus SRX compared to this and your other phono stages? I like the sound of my std groove and was thinking of picking up a used plus SRX to get lower noise floor and better cartridge matching.
I am sereously thinking of getting one of these. any folllow ups or advice before i take the plunge?
Be keen to know how it stacks up against the other new giant killer (or so it would seem) the Zesto Andros PS1?