IOTAVX NP3

Five devices in a 70 mm-high chassis: the NP3 combines a network player, CD player, DAB+ and FM tuner, digital-to-analog converter, and stereo preamplifier. IOTAVX, a British brand founded in Middlesbrough and known for its amplifiers with an unusual quality/performance ratio, applies the same logic of concentration here. A single device, a single remote control, wiring reduced to the bare minimum.

Streamer, CD player, radio tuner: one chassis, zero excess

The NP3 connects to the home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and provides access to Spotify, Tidal, Napster, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and other streaming services. It also works as a DLNA/UPnP player: a NAS or local media server is enough to browse and play a music library stored on the network. IOTAVX recommends the free WiiM Home app (iOS and Android) to control playback, but any UPnP-compatible app will do. The app detects the NP3 automatically on the network, and initial setup takes just a few seconds.

The slot-loading CD player occupies the central part of the front panel. It plays discs in WAV format as well as MP3 format, and its mechanism operates almost silently, including while the disc is spinning. Streams from the CD player and the network player can be redirected to an external converter via the optical or coaxial digital outputs, offering upgrade potential for those who want to upgrade their conversion section without changing source.

On the radio side, the NP3 receives analog FM and digital DAB+ stations via the supplied antenna. Once connected to the Internet, it also accesses online radio stations, considerably extending the geographic coverage of available stations.

A Cirrus Logic CS4398 converter handling conversion

The digital-to-analog section is based on a Cirrus Logic CS4398 chip, a 24-bit / 192 kHz stereo converter found in higher-end devices. This component handles conversion for all internal sources (streaming, CD, radio, USB) and for external digital sources connected to the coaxial S/PDIF and optical Toslink inputs.

The rear USB-B input lets you connect a computer: the NP3 is then recognized as an external sound card and accepts streams up to 24-bit / 192 kHz. For Bluetooth reception, an optional IOTAVX adapter is required. It plugs into a dedicated port on the rear and supports the AptX HD codec, which transmits a higher-quality signal than standard Bluetooth.

An integrated preamplifier in 3.5 kg of steel

The NP3 includes volume control, allowing it to operate as a full-fledged stereo preamplifier. Connected directly to a power stage (the IOTAVX PA3, for example), it forms a complete two-component system without the need for a separate preamplifier. The analog output is in stereo RCA, unbalanced format. The absence of an analog input is the downside of this versatility: purely analog sources (a turntable without a digital phono preamplifier, for example) will find no connection here.

The slim, rigid steel chassis measures 435 x 70 x 240 mm and weighs 3.5 kg. The front panel is organized around a central display, flanked by a power button and a multifunction knob. The design reprises the visual codes of other IOTAVX devices (SA3, PA3), with a standard half-rack format that makes stacking or integration into a hi-fi cabinet easier.

Integration with the IOTAVX ecosystem

The trigger and dimmer connectors on the rear allow the NP3 to be linked to other devices in the range. The SA3 integrated amplifier can turn the NP3 on and off remotely via the trigger link, and its remote control operates the player’s functions. Conversely, the NP3 can trigger the power-up of a PA3 power stage. An RS-232 port completes the control panel for home automation installations or centralized control systems.

Power consumption in standby remains below 0.5 W, and the power supply accepts both 115 VAC and 230 VAC (50/60 Hz), making the device usable in most countries without a voltage adapter.

Technical specifications

General presentation

• Product type: network player / CD player
• Supported audio formats: up to 24-bit / 192 kHz via USB PC

Functions

• High-resolution audio streaming
• CD playback
• DAB+ and FM radio
• USB playback
• Bluetooth
• Integrated volume control

Compatible streaming services

• Spotify, Tidal, Napster, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, XIMALAYA, QQFM

Connectivity

• Digital inputs
  • 1 x coaxial S/PDIF
  • 1 x optical Toslink
  • 1 x USB PC (24-bit / 192 kHz)
• Wireless and network inputs
  • 1 x DAB+ / FM antenna
  • 1 x Bluetooth (IOTAVX adapter required)
  • 1 x Wi-Fi antenna
  • 1 x Ethernet
• Multimedia inputs
  • 1 x USB-A
• Outputs
  • 1 x analog stereo RCA (L / R)
  • 1 x coaxial S/PDIF
  • 1 x optical Toslink
• Control inputs / outputs
  • 1 x trigger input, 1 x trigger output
  • 1 x dimmer input, 1 x dimmer output

Power supply and consumption

• Supply voltage: 115 VAC / 230 VAC – 50 / 60 Hz
• Standby power consumption: < 0.5 W

Dimensions and weight

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 435 x 70 x 240 mm (height including feet)
• Weight: 3.5 kg