Owner’s Reference
NuWave Phono Converter
4826 Sterling Drive, Boulder, CO 80301
PH: 720.406.8946 [email protected] www.psaudio.com
Introduction v
©2013 PS Audio International Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction
®
Thank you for your purchase of the PS Audio
®
NuWave
®
Phono Converter (NPC).
The NPC is a no-compromise approach to vinyl and analog reproduction in a high end audio
system. Recordists and archivists will also enjoy the performance quality of the NPC.
The NPC accepts inputs from any analog source such as a turntable, tuner, tape recorder, iPod,
recording console, DVD audio outs or even the audio outputs of a VCR (does anyone own a VCR
anymore?).
Once connected you can play vinyl discs, or any analog source, either directly into your preamplifier,
through the NPC’s analog outputs, or DAC, mixing console, DSP, or digital pro music gear through
the NPC’s multiple asynchronous digital outputs. You can also connect the NPC to your computer
and RIP (record) content in single or double DSD as well as 44.1kHz/16 up to 192kHz/24 PCM
through its asynchronous USB output.
The NPC produces both DSD and PCM from its digital outputs and high resolution fully balanced
analog from its audio outputs. Use the NPC as the vinyl heart of your purely analog setup or digital
setup.
The NPC combines a state-of-the-art Analog to Digital Converter along with an analog phono
preamplifier. The two systems built into the NPC can be run independently of each other or in
combination.
The Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) is based on the Burr Brown PCM4222 Delta Sigma Analog
to Digital Converter.
This architecture runs as a core DSD converter, sampling at a constant rate of 352,800Hz
(5.6MHz), for any analog input signal. The ADC’s digital output can be either DSD (Direct Stream
Digital) or PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) chosen through the front panel UI. Because the ADC is
fundamentally a multi-bit DSD based ADC, conversion to PCM is handled post digital. This means
that the NPC is always running at the highest speed and greatest bit depth, regardless of what the
user selects on the front panel as the output.
The analog phono preamplifier is a passive EQ 3-stage architecture based on a THAT 1532
programmable input stage The 1532 is a major breakthrough in performance with 60dB of
programmable gain and noise specified at an incredibly low 1.9nV/√Hz and wide bandwidth to
well over 1mHz. Cartridges can range from several hundred millivolts to just 0.3mv with little
increase in noise. Following the passive RIAA EQ stage is a fully discrete, balanced, analog all
FET output stage.
The PS NuWave Phono Converters should provide years of trouble free performance for your
connected equipment with the peace of mind it will always sound its best.
The NPC is proudly designed and Built in Boulder Colorado by hand.
Thank you
Analog inputs
DSD and PCM
Built to the
highest standards
Output digital or
analog
Theory of
operation
Always
converting to
DSD
Pure analog path
