Musical Fidelity Releases Nu-Vista PRE, PAS & PAM

All Image Credit: Musical Fidelity

Musical Fidelity, (now owned by Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject Audio Systems), has just released three new “cost-no-object” amplifiers that all use Nuvistor technology; a pre-amplifier (PRE), a stereo power amplifier (PAS) and a monoblock power amplifier (PAM). They are all based upon the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 800 circuit that uses 6S51N nuvistor triodes as discrete Class A amplifiers, are all “fully balanced” throughout and each comes with its own outboard power supply. All models come with a front panel dimmable color display with optional VU-Meters and clear display selected input and volume level.

Nuvistor Cross- Section

According to the press release, the Nuvistor tubes; “were invented in the 1950s to solve the many shortcomings of conventional tubes. 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.”  For those not familiar with the tube/valve technology check out this post.

6S51N Nuvistor

The NU-VISTA PRE

Coming in at 22Kg (48.5lb), and wrapped in a black or silver aluminum chassis that acts as a Faraday cage, this is a traditional all-analog pre-amplifier with 12 independent inputs; six balanced XLR and six single-ended RCA. The resulting signals drive a fully balanced, eight Nuvistor tubed design, comprising all discrete components, a ‘precision’ stepped volume attenuator and a 50 watt Class A output stage that drives both unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs alike.

Supply capacitance is generous, and chokes are added for further improved supply ripple and pulse current spike reduction.

Control is through either the front panel controls and/or the included remote.

Supporting this new design is the 24Kg (53lb) power supply.

PRE Specifications:

• Output Voltage: 28 Vrms
• Output Current: 1 Amp peak to peak
• Output impedance: <47Ω
• THD+N: < 0.002 % typical, 20Hz to 20 kHz
• Signal / noise ratio: >120dB, 20Hz – 20kHz
• Gain: 2.15x (normal); 4.3x (+6dB enabled); volume maximum
• Input impedance: 100 k Ohms
• Overload margin: 24dB
• Channel separation: >100dB, 20Hz – 20kHz
• Frequency response: + 0, –1dB, 5Hz to 100 kHz

Connectivity:

• 12 independent inputs: 6x RCA & 6x XLR
• Variable Pre output: 1x RCA & 1x XLR
• Fixed output: 1x RCA & 1x XLR
• Trigger input and output: 3.5mm mono jack socket
• Trigger level ±5V to ±12V

The NU-VISTA PAS

The matching PAS stereo power amplifier also uses eight 6S51N Nuvistor tubes for its input stages together with 5 pairs of high power, thermally compensated semiconductor output devices per channel, for reliable and stable Class AB operation. Discrete components are used throughout. The design is based upon the Titan 1000W amplifier and has; “separate capacitors for bulk supply, and one each for output devices considerably reducing output impedance and improving dynamics”. Additional smoothing and improved supply ripple and pulse current reduction is aided with the addition of DC supply chokes.

With an SNR of >108dB and weighing in at 27Kg (59.5lb) this amplifier can provide; 300wpc into 8 Ohms, 500wpc into 4 Ohms and 1000wpc peaks into 2 Ohms all at a damping factor of 200.

Just like the PRE, the PAS comes with its own power supply weighing in at 40Kg (88lb).

PAS Specifications:

• High output power, greater than 300W into 8 ohms, 500W into 4 ohms, 1000W peaks into 2 ohms
• Output Voltage: 49 Volts RMS
• Output Current: 130 Amps peak to peak
• Damping factor: 200
• Output devices: 5 pairs per channel
• Gain: 16x (23.5 dB)
• THD+N: < 0.003 % typical, 20Hz to 20 kHz
• Signal / noise ratio: >108dB ‘A’-weighted
• Channel separation: >96dB
• Input impedance: 100 k Ohms
• Input sensitivity for full output: 3 Volts RMS
• Frequency response: + 0, –1dB, 5Hz to 50 kHz

Connectivity:

• 4 fully independent inputs: 2x RCA & 2x XLR
• 2 loop through outputs: 1x RCA & 1x XLR
• Speaker outputs: 2 pairs 4mm banana plug/binding posts
• Trigger input and output: 3.5mm mono jack socket
• Trigger level ±5V to ±12V

The NU-VISTA PAM

If you are looking for even more power, look no further. The 27Kg (59.5lb) PAM together with its 40Kg (88lb) power supply will provide you with a huge; 600wpc into 8 Ohms, 1000wpc into 4 Ohms and 1500wpc peaks into 2 Ohms, all with a damping factor of 180.

PAM Specifications:

• High output power, greater than 600W into 8 ohms, 1000W into 4 ohms, 1500W peaks into 2 ohms
• Output Voltage: 69 Volts RMS
• Output Current: 150 Amps peak to peak
• Damping factor: 180
• Output devices: 5+5 pairs per channel
• Gain: 16x (23.5 dB)
• THD+N: < 0.003 % typical, 20Hz to 20 kHz
• Signal / noise ratio: >108dB ‘A’-weighted
• Input impedance: 100 k Ohms
• Input sensitivity for full output: 4.3 Volts RMS
• Frequency response: + 0, –1dB, 5Hz to 50 kHz

Connectivity:

• 4 fully independent inputs: 2x RCA & 2x XLR
• 2 loop through outputs: 1x RCA & 1x XLR
• Speaker outputs: 2 pairs 4mm banana plug/binding posts
• Trigger input and output: 3.5mm mono jack socket
• Trigger level ±5V to ±12V

MSRP (TBC)

With PSU: (NU-VISTA PRE/NU-VISTA PAS/NU-VISTA PAM)

• US: TBA
• UK: £20,499.00, £21,999.00, £20,499.00 each
• EU: €22,000.00, €24,000.00, €22,000.00 each

Read the press release here.

Further information visit Musical Fidelity.

See my review of their MX-VYNL here.