One of NovaStar's most widespread top-tier receiving cards: 512×384 pixel capacity, LED Image Booster colour calibration and HDR support.
NovaStar · top-tier compact receiving card
NovaStar A8s LED receiving card
The A8s is one of NovaStar's most widespread top-tier compact receiving cards, loadable to 512×384 pixels on a single card. It uses the manufacturer's own LED Image Booster technology, which improves the picture on three levels: colour space handling (Color Management), precise grayscale correction (65,536 levels, 16-bit), and the 22bit+ function, which increases the displayed grayscale depth 64-fold at low brightness.
Its other functions include per-pixel brightness and colour calibration, individual gamma settings per RGB channel, HDR10/HLG support, low latency (down to 1 frame with a driver IC that has built-in RAM), and 3D image output. On the reliability side, dual-card hot backup, loop-based redundancy and dual power supply monitoring are also available.
The A8s is dust and vibration resistant thanks to its high-density connectors, accepts either 32 groups of parallel or 64 groups of serial RGB data (expandable to 128), and carries EMC Class B certification.
Where the A8s sits in an LED wall system
The end point of the chain, inside the cabinet: sending card (VX400/VX600, MCTRL660 Pro or a Taurus box) → Cat5e/Cat6 → A8s → HUB card → HUB75 → module. Roughly 650,000 pixels fit on one gigabit port at 60 Hz with an 8-bit source, so 3–4 A8s cards can be daisy-chained on one port. On the data side it outputs 32 groups of parallel or 64 groups of serial RGB data (expandable to 128) — the group count determines how many module data lines can be connected to one card, so it is the first figure to check when designing the cabinet's HUB. Hot backup and loop redundancy mean the cabinets can also be cabled in a ring, so a single severed Cat6 does not darken half the wall. It works exclusively with NovaStar senders and NovaLCT.
WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT CHOICE
Indoor/outdoor LED installations of high picture quality demanding high reliability, where HDR support and redundant (hot backup) operation matter.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
22bit+ and several advanced functions require NovaLCT V5.2.0/V5.4.0 or later; the smart module functions (calibration storage) need dedicated firmware and a module with flash memory.
The A8s in practice
The commissioning order: load the cabinet manufacturer's .rcfgx file (or use the `Smart Settings` wizard), draw the cabinet map on NovaLCT's `Screen Connection` tab, then `Save Configuration Files to Hardware` — skipping this last step is the most common mistake, because everything looks fine until the power goes off. 22bit+ and several advanced functions call for NovaLCT V5.2.0/V5.4.0 or later, while module-based calibration storage (smart module) requires dedicated firmware and a module with flash memory — with an older NovaLCT the function simply does not appear in the menu, and you can spend hours looking for it. Cards of mixed versions in one wall produce visible differences in tint, so the firmware has to be brought into line. The per-pixel calibration data lives on the card: if one is replaced, that cabinet's calibration is lost unless there is a NovaCLB backup. As spares, 3–5% of the card count is recommended, but at least two, on a uniform firmware version.
Alternatives to the A8s
If HDR and redundancy are not needed, the A5s Plus is cheaper in the same format. For a larger cabinet, the A8s Pro (512×512 px, Multi-Layer Calibration); for the most demanding project expecting long-term colour stability, the A10s Pro (adaptive thermal compensation). If the system is built on a COEX controller, the A8s-N or the CA50E is the compatible choice. For a high-volume, price-sensitive outdoor wall the DH7512-S is cheaper thanks to its built-in HUB75E ports. In other ecosystems the Colorlight i9 is the comparable fine-pitch card. The deciding factors: whether HDR and redundancy are needed, how large a cabinet is, and which generation of sender is in the system.
A8s manual and datasheet
The documents live on the manufacturer's own site and open in a new window — so you always get the latest version. We do not copy or translate their contents.
Related receiving cards
LED receiving card — but what does it go into?
On its own the NovaStar A8s is a component. With us it works inside these displays — design, manufacturing and installation included.
