Excellent Product that could surely use a few updates current owners.

Sound quality, picture quality, upgradeability

1 sub output

The Casanova is the most satisfying purchase I have made for my system in years! The flexibility, functionality and most important, sound quality are superb. The MC-1 had more music surround modes, the AVP had a subwoofer level limiter and the TAG had an easy to use setup menu, but none of them compared to the Casanova in sound quality on either movies or music! They offer no real upgradeability unless you count software downloads. The Circle Surround is a great music surround circuit that is not exaggerated and cheesy-sounding like most DSP modes. The clarity of music in 2 channel mode stomps the others and really shows the Theta D/A converter heritage. It is also good to support an American, independently owned company-not part of some conglomeration.

Similar Products Used:

Proceed AVP, Lexicaon MC-1, TAG AV32R

Beautiful sound! After break-in this piece is very detailed and warm sounding. Crossovers! Modularity!

Not a true Balanced output! :(

Although my Theta is not completely broken in I will say the difference in sound is vast.

I was impressed when I first bought this unit but know I am also blown away. The price may be a little steep but if you look at the tremendous upgrade offered to Casablanca owners at around 1700 you will realize the unit is never ending.

Now there are a few things consumers should know about the Casa Nova!

1. When listening in stereo make sure the balance is all the way up. If the sound is to forward back the balance off untill it is where you like it.

2. Beware of a unit that is not broken in because it is a poor representation of the true capability of the unit.

3. Try all three crossovers! I prefer the phase perfect at 40 hz with a slope of 12 and positive phase.

4. Inspect the unit and realize that an upgrade is as easy as the switch of a card.


This only scratches the surface there are an infinant number of possibilities for a Theta.

If I was forced to describe the sound I would call it customized.
If you are looking at less exspensive processors save your money or buy a processor that you can turn around your money on.

Another Proud Theta Owner!

I love my Casa Nova and would only trade for the Casablanca!

Nathan

Similar Products Used:

None!

Clarity and Musical

Badly written manuel

After getting this unit about a month ago and being "BLOW-AWAY", the dust has now settled and I can write a better review. On the main menu; the 7th button to the left from the 6 INPUT buttons I was writing about in my past review is called the "A-D" button, which toggels different INPUTS from the same SORCE. In other words, one can hear either Toslink, Coxial, or Analog INPUTS from the same SORCE by pushing the "A-D" button. Out of the box the Casa Nova is easy to use and after a few experiments one can easly find their way to make any SORCE play thru with great sound, BUT...once one reads the manuel with its double talk (who writes these things any way?)...one can get confused. Thank God for Digital Ear in Tustin CA, where I would go down to their store and say "Show me what the manuel is talking about" and to SEE how it works is alot faster than READING on how it works. The Casa Nova is designed to MAP each INPUT to a SORCE and each INPUT and SORCE can be custom NAMED both LSD (on the unit itself) and OSD (on any viedo screen). For Example, I have a Laser Disc/DVD player which I NAMED LDVD on the LSD (4 letter limit on the LSD display) and "Laser Disc / DVD" on the OSD (I believe it has a 15 letter limit). I NAMED the sound INPUTS; Coxial-D:LDVD (for Dolby DVD), RF:Laser Disc (for Dolby RF Laser Discs) and Analog:LDVD (Laser Disc or DVD analog play back). The Viedo I NAMED S-Viedo:LDVD and Coxial:LDVD. It took me 3 days, at a half hour to hour each day to write and map out what I wanted the Casa Nova to do. This included all other programing: how many and what type of speakers, what type of cross-overs, what distances are the speakers from listening spot...etc...Way more than what my Acurus ACT3 could do (may it rest in peace). After I was all done...another big "WOW". Wish I could write more but my coffe breck is over...JD3

Similar Products Used:

Acurus ACT3 & Aragon Soundstage

Customization, Complexity of Setup, Ergonomics, Modular design.

Complexity of Setup (One just has to read the manual. This can still be difficult to understand.)

I wanted to step up to seperates, but I did not want to purchase another pre/pro in five years. I have been playing trade-up on receivers for about four years. I demo'ed :Parasound, Sunfire, Acurus, Proceed, Classe, and Theta. I think the market for pre/pros is very competitive. I found different strengths per price point on all of these. I narrowed my selection to Proceed and Theta. I did enjoy the Classe, but the dealer keep trying to talk me out of it? Dollar for dollar these pre/pros are the best in there class.

I like the simplicity of the Proceed and it sounded slightly better in stereo. The Theta sounded better in DD/DTS than the Proceed and had a visceral impact to it. The stereo sounded excellent. The Theta was intially more difficult to use than the Proceed, but after time it becomes second nature. I like the idea of customizing every input for DD/DTS/DTS Music. The Casanova has many crossovers, but I haven't purchased any subs, yet.

In the future I would like to see:
*Volume governor
*Dolby Pro Logic II
*Two subwoofer outputs (Left&Right)
*Discrete Remote Codes (Shelf Eq, etc.) I know it could be setup on a different input.

I appreciate that updates are performed on EEPROM opposed to software downloads. There is more dealer involvement that way. Also, some things should be saved for the flagship model.

Others have, in great detail, explained functions of the Casanova. It is a remarkable product. Movies truly sound better at home.

Similar Products Used:

None

Upgradable, sound, looks, build, support,& warranty

Upgradability is a strength as well as a weakness because of only four available slots on it thus it is not as well equipped for expansion as the casablanca

I am amazed by this preamp. It is so clear and detailed. Before purchasing, I demoed the ACT-3, Proceed AVP, and the Parasound Av-2500. My ears as well as my wife detected a more life like sound from the Casa Nova, and every dealer I asked agreed that Theta was the best in this price range. Since owning it the thing that impresses me most now is the clarity it gives off at low volume levels. I used to own a Harman/Kardon 2.0 and to pick up all dialogue you really needed to turn up thee volume to theater levels. But with the Theta, I now watch movies late at night with the volume low and everything comes through perfectly. I even detect little nuances at low volume levels that I never picked up with the 2.0. My only concern about this piece is its ability to someday have more speaker outs available and dvd-audio support in terms of upgradability. If I had the money I would have waited and purchased the updated Casablanca just because you have unlimited upgrade options compared to the Casa Nova's four. However I only purchased the digital input card and analog out card leaving me two slots left, so Theta if you read this please just release a new card for more speaker or subwoofer outs and whatever other upgrades are needed someday. Who needs analog inputs on such a great digital product, not me. Anyway I would have to give this product a five star rating even though their still needs to be room for the Casablanca above this. To me the only digital products that even come close to Theta are Meridian and even then the 800 series is really the only thing I would even consider.

Equipment:
Theta Casa Nova preamp(digital input, analog output, dolby digital, and improved casing options)
Bryston 5b-st amp
Haramn/Kardon 2.1 amp
Meridian 500 cd transport
Sony dvd-s7000
Klipsch 10.5 speaker system
Bag End Infrasub-18
Sunfire Truesub MK-II
Klipsch KSW 200
Tara Labs cables

I just wanted to update everyone know that Theta has just released the "6 Shooter"
Multi-channel Analog Throughput Option for Casablanca II and Casa Nova Controllers

Multi-channel Playback of DVD-A and SACD
ensures highest level of performance
from the latest sources.

They will be releasing additional updates for the Casa-Nova later on this year one of which is the 6.1 ES option, I believe it will be an option for those who has circular surround.

Sound, Built like a tank, Looks

Remout control is too cheap for a unit, out dated (no six channel pass through for DVD A and SACD)

I was looking for a High End surround processor for 6 month and tryed everything that is possible to try, Proceed AVP, Meridian 561,568,861, Lexicon DC1, Integra Research RDC7, EAD Theater Master and Anthem. They are all graet units, but for my ears nothing toches Theta Casa Nova only Meridian 861 and Cassablanca is better but also 3 times more expensive.
Only problem with Theta Casa Nova is that it's out dated but I hope Theta will come up with some new upgrades like 6 channle pass through for SACD and DVD Audio, and maybe with 192/24 or 384/24 bit D/A convertoers like they did for Casa Nova's big brother Casablanca II.
Integra Research is also great unit with 7.1 and 192/24 DAC and fire wire expencion port, but Nova sounded much better.
It even sound better than more expencive processors like Theater Master Signature.
What can you expect from people who created the most advanced processor like Casablanca II which is used at Skywalker studio who created star wars, Nothing but the Best.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 989, Onkyo 787, Sony 9000ES

Sonically, Casa Nova is easily the best that I have ever heard in a pre/pro. Setting up is an extremely complicated process, because of the fact that there are an incredible number of setup options available. Once set up, it's prettyeasy to use, though I still think that they could improve it's usability a bit. Things like the over-responsive buttons during setup are a tad annoying, and it is a little too easy to crash the machine if you press enough buttons at the same time.

It's amazingly flexible. You can configure it to act like an analog preamp, a
digital preamp, or a DAC; in fact, you can use it as a 2-channel DAC while another person is watching a movie in 5.1 if you configure it with a tape out DAC.

The menu system, although exceedingly deep, is logically laid out. There are some things that are buried a bit deeply, like the late-night settings for Dolby Digital, but since you can configure up to 12 inputs with their own individual preferences, you can fairly easily set up 2 inputs to work with the DVD player, one for late-night, and one for regular viewing.

The modularity is also impressive. Everything in it, including the power supplies, is upgradable. It will never by obsolete for long; Theta is very committed to keeping this machine on the forefront of A/V technology. The upcoming component video switching device is one example.

It has the feel of a version 1 product; there are some places where the fit and
finish don't live up to the rest of the unit's elegance. However, Theta is
standing behind it; their rep has been very responsive, and very forthright
with me, anwering a lot of my questions already.

I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a preamp. The complexity of the setup will be a turn-off for some, but I think that it is worth it.

Well, I demo'd a Theta Casanova yesterday, and decided it was for me. I have nowa Sunfire Theater Grand, which I liked a whole lot. I had thought the Sunfire's stereo
preformance was much better then the Lex DC-2, and the Casanova's stereo performace
was even better then Sunfire's. The main reasons I upgraded were:

1) Theta's daughtercard modularity
This + RS232 software upgrades should make DVD-Audio and any new format
a fairly painless upgrade. Also as of now, I don't need video switching, so I
was able to get the Circle Surround option instead (didn't have to shell out
$$$ for unwanted feature).
2) Casanova's insane amount of configuration options
For some, overkill, for me, it's great. I'm a network engineer, and have used all kinds
of equipment with funky menus, so I was not intimidated my the depth of the options
on the Cassanova. I'm in apartment now, with less then ideal room conditions,
but for my future house, I'll be able to really configure in for my room (crossover, slope,
you can even select type of filter, like Butterworth, very cool...) You can set levels per
input, and per format (DTS, DD, Circle, pro-logic, etc.).
3) 2nd zone ability (again, for my future outdoor deck)
4) Music reproduction
Best I've heard on a HT controller. I demo'd also the Proceed AVP, and while they were close, I
like the sound of the Casanova better.
The Circle Surround is awesome. I can't wait to hear my 2-channel stereo CDs in Circle
Surround! Very cool that Theta offers this as an option.

Overall, I just liked the "feel" of the Casanova. I got the base unit with the upgraded alloy casing in all black,
analog input card (has analog tape out and 2nd zone capailities), digital input card, analog output card, Dolby
digital, DTS, and circle surround. I didn't get the video switching card, don't need the on-screen menus either.
Down the road, they'll have a DTV/component switching card, which I'll probably get. I highly recommend anyone
looking for a high end HT/music pre/pro to audition the Casanova. I'll post a full review when I receive it in 2-3
weeks.

-brian