Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista PRE Balanced Class-A Preamp With Separate Power Supply (Black)

NU-VISTA PRE | PRE AMPLIFIER

The Nu-Vista PRE is a fully balanced, discrete Class A
Preamplifier with separate power supply unit.

Based on our excellent Nu-Vista 800 circuit we decided to go
all out “fully balanced” on the Nu-Vista range.

The Nu-Vista PRE features the tried and tested Nu-Vista
stage featuring 6S51N nuvistors in a discrete class A amplifier buffer.

Technical Talk

The Nu-Vista PRE uses a balanced configuration circuit and
balanced precision matched stepped attenuator for volume control. This means
even at low volume levels, as well as higher, stereo imaging will be precise
and accurate.

For driving strength, a pair of mini power amplifiers
(equivalent to 50W) are used for the output stages. They run in Class A for
preamp purposes, giving the best in line driving capability, dynamic range, as
well as reduced noise and distortion inherently. Supply capacitance is
generous, and chokes are added for further improved supply ripple and pulse
current spike reduction.

Nu-Vista PRE Power Supply

The Nu-Vista PRE comes with its own dedicated external power
supply.

To achieve better noise performance, we removed the AC mains
power supply from the main unit and built it into another matching box. In this
box we took advantage the extra space to set up inbuilt mains and output
filtering. This quietens up the supplies and results in almost no mains-borne
artefacts getting into the sensitive audio circuitry.

The Power supply has ON/Standby LEDs and is controlled from
the main unit front panel. If total mains isolation is required, the power
supply also has rear mounted mechanical rocker switch for full power off. Also
included is the Nu-Vista remote control which is a solid “Nu-Vista” style
re-imagination of usual remote controls. Machined from solid, it has the same
feel as front panel of unit, has powerful beam, and runs off easily replaceable
AAA Batteries.

Heroic Build Quality

The Nu-Vista PRE‘s mechanical construction is
uncompromisingly rigid and solid in typical Musical Fidelity tradition. Front
panel and side panels are milled from extruded aluminium profiles and are extremely
massive.

The separate Nu-Vista PRE PSU houses all the transformers,
which by nature generate mechanical vibrations and radiate harmful
electromagnetic fields. Here they are as far away as possible from the critical
amplifier circuits. This significantly contributes to great signal to noise
ratio. The Nu-Vista PRE is basically immune against the effects of vibration
from the environment. The same can be said about electro magnetic immunity. The
massive aluminium case acts as a Faraday cage. It protects the internals
against outer electromagnetic fields, and in the same way, the rest of your
hi-fi gear against electromagnetic fields generated by the Nu-Vista PRE &
PRE PSU.

The Legendary Nu-Vista Stage

Never before in the history of hi-fi have Nuvistor tubes
been coupled with state-of-the-art fully balanced and discrete technology and
sophisticated modern design techniques. The Nu-Vista PRE & Nu-Vista PRE
PSU‘s technical performances are astonishing. They measure like a dream but,
more importantly, sound incredible. Silky smooth with enormous transients and
an effortless feel that is at once relaxing and involving. Of special note how
they project images between the loudspeakers so that you can almost touch them.

The new Nu-Vista PRE and its PSU were a continued labour of
love for Musical Fidelity. We are passionate about what we do and passionate
about Nuvistor tubes as we have always been. We hope that you derive as much
pleasure listening to the Nu-Vista PRE as we had creating it.

Nuvistor Tubes

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.

One famous application was in the Ampex MR-70, a costly
studio tape recorder whose entire electronics section was based on nuvistors.
Another limited application of this very small tube was in studio-grade
microphones from that era, the AKG/Norelco C12a, which employed the 7586, being
a good example.

It was also later found in the famed Neumann U 47 studio
microphone. This microphone was highly regarded by artists all over the world,
and was used by many top recording artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles,
and so on. Remarkably, you can currently see a U47 microphone, with its stand,
cables and power supply on eBay for $10.999 „Buy-it-now“.

Unfortunately just as uses for Nuvistor tubes were being
explored, the transistor was invented and it was ‘game over’ for Nuvistors.
There the matter rested until about fifteen years ago, when Musical Fidelity
created the first of its ground-breaking Nu-Vista series. These legendary,
limited-edition products sold out in a matter of months. Today, fifteen years
later, they command very high secondhand prices because of their beautiful
sound, build quality, and longevity.

Nu-Vista PRE – Specifications

Pre Amplifier

• 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

In & Output

• 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

General Information

• Remote
  Control included

• Weight
  PRE: 22kg net (30kg)

• Weight
  PRE PSU: 25kg net (34kg)

• Dimensions
  PRE (WxHxD): 483 x 187,5 x 491 (506 with connectors)

• Dimensions
  PRE PSU (WxHxD): 483 x 187,5 x 475 (478 with connectors)

• Mains
  voltages: 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set); 100VAC 50/60Hz
  (alternative)

• Consumption <0.5W in standby mode; 65W
  maximum