After an extended Research and Development effort, Musical Fidelity produces a spare-no-expense Nuvistor-based preamplifier and stereo/monoblock power amplifiers.
The company now reintroduces its Nu-Vista technology in the new flagship Nu-Vista PRE and dedicated Nu-Vista PSU power supply. The same concept of main chassis and matching external power supply applies to the Nu-Vista PAM and Nu-Vista PAM PSU monoblocks and Nu-Vista PAS and PAS PSU power amplifiers. The new components are a significant extension and refinement of Musical Fidelity’s celebrated 800 series, with the company claiming a world-first by adopting Nuvistor valves in fully balanced and discrete circuit designs.
In Musical Fidelity’s view, the Nuvistor valves/tubes are a great device for high-end audio applications, with the company stating, “Nuvistor tubes were invented in the 1950s to solve the many shortcomings of conventional tubes”, it went on to say, “Unlike them, Nuvistor tubes offer very high reliability, low microphony, low noise, consistency from batch to batch, small size, relatively low power consumption and great technical performance.”
The fully balanced Nu-Vista PRE is a conventional dedicated preamplifier with the purist concept of just volume control and source switching. It features a full Class-A output stage and Musical Fidelity’s choke implementation as used in past Nu-Vista top-tier products. The Nu-Vista PRE offers a massive input count, with six balanced XLR and six unbalanced RCA inputs while the output bank features variable balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA (a fixed output option also offers XLR and RCA options). Power in/out triggers are offered via 3.5mm mini-jack and in 12V and 5V options.
The specifications reflect a flagship product, with the massive power supply being capable of producing 1 amp of current peak to peak, a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 120dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and a Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise (THD+N) of 0.002% again from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Output impedance is quoted as 47 ohms while input impedance is 100 kohms, with both figures pointing to good source and power amplifier matching.
The Nu-Vista PRE and PRE PSU feature massive chassis in a matching style. The aluminium chassis panels are of very high gauge, utmost rigidity and superb finish quality. The Nu-Vista PRE and PRE PSU weigh-in at 22kg and 25kg respectively, making for an overall preamplifier tipping the scales at 47kg.
The Nu-Vista PAM and PAM PSU Class-A/B monoblocks and dedicated power supplies are the ultimate power amplification effort from Musical Fidelity. Again, the four chassis PAM and PSU are massively constructed to match the PRE. The fully balanced amplifiers are inspired by Musical Fidelity’s highly regarded Titan amplifier. The PAM features a central high quality VU meter which displays dBV (voltage level).
The PAM is specified as being capable of outputting “greater than 600 watts into 8 ohms” and with 1000 watts on tap at 4 ohms (peaks of 1500 watts into 2 ohms are quoted). Current is said to be a massive 150 amps peak to peak while THD+N is quoted at under 0.003% “typical” from 20Hz to 20 kHz, SNR+N is under 108dB A-weighted and the input impedance is 100 kohms. The Nuvistor valve configuration is made up of four 6S 51N Nuvistors in a balanced buffer input circuit per main chassis.
The PAM caters for two unbalanced RCA and two balanced XLR inputs while there are two loop-through options in RCA and XLR. Triggers are the same as the PRE in 3.5mm in/out in 5V or 12V options. PAM weighs 27kg while PAM PSU comes in at 40kg.
The Nu-Vista PAS and PAS PSU is a stereo version of the Nu-Vista PAM and PAM PSU. Of course, reflecting its stereo circuit, the PAS features twin dBV meters (one per channel). The chassis is of equal build quality, finish and assembly precision which also applies to the PAS PSU.
In the case of the PAS, the Nuvistor configuration is now eight 6S 51N valves (four per channel). Power output is now 300 watts into 8 ohms and 500 watts into 4 ohms (peaks of 1000 watts into 2 ohms). SNR is better than 108dB while THD is 0.003% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The main inputs are the same as PAM with two unbalanced RCA and two balanced XLR (no loops are offered).
The new Musical Fidelity flagship Nu-Vista preamplifier, monoblocks and stereo power amplifiers are available in Australia via importer Audio Marketing’s country-wide specialist dealer network.
Musical Fidelity PRE, PAM & PAS + PSUs
Price: AU$41,000, AU$41,000 each, AU$45,000 (all include PSU)
Australian Distributor: Audio Marketing
+61 2 9882 3877
www.audiomarketing.com.au
