THE NEW NU-VISTA BY MUSICAL FIDELITY RANGE COMPRISES OF THE NU-VISTA PRE, NU-VISTA PAS STEREO AMP AND NU-VISTA PAM MONOBLOCKS

Musical Fidelity was founded by professional musician Antony Michaelson and has always had the goal to emulate the real-life dynamic reproduction of music.

Now, Musical Fidelity is under the stewardship of Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject Audio Systems and Audio Tuning. Their three-year, million Euro investment has resulted in a completely re-engineered Nu-Vista by Musical Fidelity range.

The blue glow of Nu-Vista by Musical Fidelity

NU-VISTA BY MUSICAL FIDELITY

The Nu-Vista By Musical Fidelity comprises of separate pre- and power amplifier solutions, the Nu-Vista PRE pre-amplifier, Nu-Vista PAS stereo power amplifier and the Nu-Vista PAM mono power amplifiers will begin shipping during early 2023.

Nu-Vista by Musical Fidelity product features include Nuvistor tubes, chosen for their technical characteristics, fully balanced discrete technology, and colour displays with optional VU-Meters and dimmer functions. Nu-Vista By Musical Fidelity has been designed with a solid build quality throughout, extensive connection options and purpose-designed matching power supply units for reduced noise and optimal performance.

Additional models will join the Nu-Vista by Musical Fidelity range during 2023 and 2024.

NU-VISTA PRE PREAMPLIFIER

The Nu-Vista PRE is a fully balanced, Class A pre-amplifier that combines, for the first time, fully discrete circuitry with Musical Fidelity’s nuvistor valve stage and a separate power supply in a matching chassis. To achieve its unique sound signature, the Nu-Vista PRE features eight (four per-channel) 6S51N nuvistor valves in a discrete, Class A amplifier buffer stage.

Nu-Vista PRE front and back

The Nu-Vista PRE features fully balanced circuitry and a precision-matched stepped attenuator for volume control. For strength in drive, the Nu-Vista PRE features a pair of mini (circa 50W) power amplifiers, running in Class A for pre-amp purposes. Additionally, the power supply capacitance is generous, and chokes are added for further-improved supply ripple. Pulse current spike is also reduced thanks to the design.

Inside the Nu-Vista PRE

NU-VISTA PRE PSU

Musical Fidelity says that the secret behind the overall performance is found in the large external power supply unit that accompanies the Nu-Vista PRE. The Nu-Vista PRE PSU allowed Musical Fidelity’s engineers to remove the AC mains power supply from the main unit and place it in a separate, spacious chassis dedicated to delivering power.

Inside the Nu-Vista PRE PSU

Featuring inbuilt mains and output filtering, it functions as a very quiet, clean power supply that allows the sensitive audio circuitry in the Nu-Vista PRE to perform without mains-borne interference, far away from the optimised power transformers. For convenience in use, the Nu-Vista PRE PSU is switched on and off via the Nu-Vista PRE’s front-panel.

Nu-Vista PRE PSU front and back

In typical Musical Fidelity style, the overall construction of the Nu-Vista PRE and Nu-Vista PRE PSU solid. The front and side panels are milled from extruded aluminium profiles, contributing to a chassis that is designed to act effectively acts as a Faraday cage, protecting the internal circuitry from external electromagnetic fields. The Nu-Vista PRE features 12 independent inputs, six RCA pairs and six fully balanced XLR pairs. For better system matching there is also a +6dB Gain boost button, which remembers which inputs need the feature applied. Complete control is available via the front panel, or using the dedicated remote control, which is itself machined from a block of aluminium for the same feel as the main unit. The Nu-Vista PRE PSU is then supplied with the required power cables for easy connection to the main unit.

Nu-Vista PRE in black

NU-VISTA PRE SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Stereo, fully-balanced line-preamplifier

Valves: 8 x 6S 51N Nuvistors

Volume Control: Precision channel-matched to < 0.25dB

Output Voltage: 28V rms

Output Current: 1A (peak-to-peak)

Output Impedance: < 47Ω

THD + N: < 0.002% Typical (20 – 20kHz)

Channel Separation: > 100dB (20Hz – 20kHz)

SNR: > 120dB (20Hz – 20kHz)

Gain: 2.15x / 4.3x (6dB switch enabled) @ max. volume

Inputs: 6 x Line-Level RCA Inputs

6 x Line-Level Balanced XLR Inputs

Outputs: 1 x Fixed RCA Output

1 x Fixed XLR Output

1 x Variable RCA Output

1 x Variable XLR Output

Trigger: In and Outputs (±5V to ±12V)

Dimensions (W x H x D): PRE: 483 x 187.5 x 506 (incl. connectors)

PRE PSU: 483 x 187.5 x 478 (incl. connectors)

Weight: PRE: 22kg net

PRE PSU: 25kg net

NU-VISTA PAS CLASS A STEREO AMPLIFIER

The Nu-Vista PAS is a fully balanced, Class A stereo power amplifier that also combines, fully discrete circuitry with Musical Fidelity’s nuvistor valve stage and a separate power supply in a matching chassis. It  features eight (four per-channel) 6S51N nuvistor valves in a discrete, Class A amplifier buffer stage.

Nu-Vista PAS

FULLY BALANCED

The Nu-Vista PAS features fully balanced circuitry and a high power, low distortion output amplifier stage. The amplifier power stage features five high-power, thermally compensated output devices per-channel for reliable and stable operation. Inspired by the iconic Musical Fidelity Titan amplifier, it has separate capacitors for bulk supply, and one each for the output devices.

Nu-Vista PAS back panel

Elsewhere in the circuitry, chokes are added for further-improved supply ripple. Pulse current spike reduction bias is set for over 5W of initial Class A operation that slides into Class B operation at the point where the lower discontinuity is easier dealt with than “standard” crossover distortion. It also has the separate Nu-Vista PAS PSU.

Nu-Vista PAS inside

NU-VISTA PAS SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Stereo, fully-balanced power amplifier

Valves: 8 x 6S 51N Nuvistors

Output: 300W (8Ω) / 500W (4Ω) / 1000W Peak (2Ω)

Output Voltage / Current: 49V rms / 130A peak-to-peak

THD +N: < 0.003% Typical (20 – 20kHz)

Frequency Response: 5Hz – 50kHz (+0 -1dB)

Channel Separation: > 96dB (20Hz – 20kHz)

SNR: > 108dB A-Weighted

Inputs: 2 x Line-Level RCA Inputs

2 x Line-Level Balanced XLR Inputs

Outputs: 1 x Fixed RCA Output

1 x Fixed XLR Output

4 x Speaker Terminal Pairs

Trigger: In and Outputs

Dimensions (W x H x D): PAS: 483 x 187.5 x 494 (incl. connectors)

PAS PSU: 483 x 187.5 x 478 (incl. connectors)

Weight: PAS: 27kg net

PAS PSU: 40kg net

Nu-Vista PAS PSU back and inside

NU-VISTA PAM MONOBLOCK AMPLIFIERS

The Nu-Vista by Musical Fidelity range also features the Nu-Vista PAM, which takes the PAS design and separates it into fully separated monoblock amplifiers. The added space allows for a slightly modified internal design, featuring a bridged output amplifier stage utilising the power of 2 x 5 pairs of high power thermally compensated output devices. The end-result is even more power and greater drive ability per speaker.

Nu-Vista PAM Monoblock amps

NU-VISTA PAM SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mono, fully-balanced, bridged power amplifier

Valves: 4 x 6S 51N Nuvistors

Output: 600W (8Ω) / 1000W (4Ω) / 1500W Peak (2Ω)

Output Voltage / Current: 69V rms / 150A peak-to-peak

THD +N: < 0.003% Typical (20 – 20kHz)

Frequency Response: 5Hz – 50kHz (+0 -1dB)

SNR: > 108dB A-Weighted

Inputs: 2 x Line-Level RCA Inputs (mono)

2 x Line-Level Balanced XLR Inputs (mono)

Outputs: 1 x Fixed RCA Output (mono)

1 x Fixed XLR Output (mono)

2 x Speaker Terminal Pairs

Trigger: In and Outputs

Dimensions (W x H x D): PAM: 483 x 187.5 x 494 (incl. connectors)

PAM PSU: 483 x 187.5 x 478 (incl. connectors)

Weight: PAM: 27kg net

PAM PSU: 40kg net

Nu-Vista PAM PSU

NU-VISTA BY MUSICAL FIDELITY  PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Distributed in the UK by Henley Audio  the prices are as follows. Nu-Vista PRE pre-amplifier (SRP £20,499.00), Nu-Vista PAS stereo power amplifier (SRP £21,999.00) and the Nu-Vista PAM mono power amplifiers (SRP £20,499.00 each). Shipping during early 2023. Available in black or silver.

HiFi Pig Says: An impressive way to relaunch the Nu-Vista By Musical Fidelity name, we look forward to hearing the new range soon.