Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 Phono Stage

Key Features: 

• Fully balanced and discrete design
• 3-part gain stage with Class A circuitry
• Split-passive RIAA, DECCA & COLUMBIA equalization
• Two-step subsonic filter (Switchable: OFF – Mild – Standard)
• Low Noise Nu-Vista Class A circuitry
• 8x 7586 Nuvistors in balanced buffer circuit
• MM (40, 43dB) & MC (60, 63dB) capable with +6dB option for each gain setting
• Separate output and input stages - connect multiple inputs and outputs simultaneously
• Super Silent Power Transformer
• Discrete input power filtering and DC blocking circuitry 
• 2x RCA inputs
• 2x balanced XLR input
• 1x RCA output
• 1x balanced XLR output
• Optional connection for external Nu-Vista Uni PSU (sold separately)
• Color display with loading settings and clear selected input
• Load settings stored for each input
• Dimmable display
• Nu-Vista Remote Control “Front panel in your hand”

Product Description: 

The Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 stands tall as the pinnacle of Musical Fidelity's phono preamplifiers. This ultra-precise MM / MC phono preamp provides exceptional performance, housing a discrete Class A Nuvistor tube stage. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and encased in a substantial build, their goal was simple: to create a phono stage free from constraints. This design ensures immunity from input stage overload and eliminates any limitations in output driving capacity. Its sole purpose? To serve as a conduit for music. It exists to faithfully transmit the artist's intent, their raw emotions, and unbridled passion directly to your ears and soul.

New Design

In contrast to its predecessor, the Nu-Vista Vinyl, the Vinyl 2 boasts an interior adorned with discrete and fully balanced audio circuitry. Its phono pre-amplification houses three gain stages driven by fully Class A discrete transistor circuitry. No corners are cut in the EQ stage either. It's completely passive and divided into two separate stages (split-passive) - a more costly yet meticulously designed approach ensuring the most faithful representation of the ideal EQ curve. This split passive equalization enhances impedance matching and minimizes deviation from the desired EQ. Alongside the standard RIAA curve, we've integrated the less common DECCA and COLOMBIA curves. Audio signals from the phono preamplifier are directed to distinct boards for each channel, featuring a fully balanced discrete Class A Nuvistor stage. The pristine PCB layout and purpose-driven design guarantee minimal noise and distortion with a low output impedance. Both RCA and XLR outputs possess individual stages, enabling simultaneous use. Aligning with other recent Nu-Vista additions, the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 employs the same display technology and a redesigned front panel for a cohesive aesthetic.

Discrete Advantage

A discrete circuit comprises individual electronic components, distinct and separate from one another, known as discrete components. These encompass "passive" elements like resistors, capacitors, and inductors, as well as "active" components such as transistors. Conversely, an integrated circuit (IC or chip) might serve as an operational amplifier (Op-Amp) within the signal chain.

Musical Fidelity often utilizes specialized IC Op-Amps tailored for audio applications. They offer compact and efficient electronics, streamlining the work for design engineers. However, after extensive listening tests and years of experience, we've observed that even the finest ICs often lack the neutrality, naturalness, dynamism, or vividness characteristic of the Musical Fidelity "sound." Moreover, they are challenging, if not impossible, to repair. Hence, they’re reigniting their passion for traditional discrete designs.

While standard phono preamplifiers with integrated circuits may contain a few tens or hundreds of components, discrete designs involve hundreds or even thousands of components in comparison. This elongates the design process, yet in their view, yields the best sound quality for your investment.

Fully Balanced

In the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2, the fully balanced design principle operates on a hot and cold (+ and -) signal setup. Both + and - signal chains effectively convey identical musical information. A genuine balanced amplifier adeptly extracts the ultimate musical data from these +/- signals and effectively eliminates any potential added noise throughout transmission.

Contrarily, a "pseudo-balanced" amplifier doesn't independently process the + and - signals; instead, it combines them before processing. Pseudo-balanced designs miss out on the advantages inherent in balanced connections, unlike fully balanced amplifiers. In a true, fully balanced device, the + and - segments of both left and right channels are treated individually, effectively doubling the amplifier sections by a factor of 2. This necessitates twice the circuit board space, twice as many electrical components, and meticulous planning for the circuit board layout. Consequently, the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 excels in suppressing unwanted noise, errors, and interferences, offering the highest possible signal-to-noise ratio.

Extreme Loading Options 

Each of its single-ended RCA or balanced XLR inputs can be independently configured for MM/MC and loading preferences, with each input retaining its specific settings.

Offering extensive ranges from 40dB (100x voltage amplification) to 69dB (3690x voltage amplification), the gain is smoothly switched using signal relays. Managing such substantial amplification necessitates an exceptionally quiet phono preamp - a realm where a fully balanced design plays a pivotal role - to handle these elevated amplification levels. JFET transistors are employed to toggle input capacitance and impedance.

Though a technically intricate and costly implementation, it empowers the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 to seamlessly match with any cartridges and seamlessly integrate into your Hifi system. By these standards, the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 excels. It remains impeccably silent even at the highest amplification levels, virtually free from distortion. Its input and output remain impervious to overload, ensuring a perfect cartridge load. Ultimately, it delivers the artist's intent, emotions, and passion directly to your ears and heart.

Super Silent Power

The Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 showcases Musical Fidelity’s continual advancement in Super Silent Power Transformers. Equipped with industrial-grade power sockets featuring an EMI filter and DC blocker, this technology effectively halts interferences and eradicates transformer hum. Their purpose-designed encapsulated toroidal transformer specifically caters to delicate phono signals, boasting low core saturation and remarkably minimal electromagnetic radiation.

Each discrete amplifier stage incorporates a DC servo mechanism, guaranteeing optimal DC operation. Powering the preamplifier are two high-quality symmetrical low-noise power supplies, individually dedicated to each channel. Additionally, all fully balanced Nuvistor PSUs undergo passive filtration and regulation. Working within the realm of mere hundreds of microvolts from a phono cartridge, every component plays a critical role; every incremental improvement in signal-to-noise ratio holds utmost importance.

If desired, the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 can be powered by the upcoming Nu-Vista Uni PSU (not yet available, slated for release in 2024). This configuration enhances noise performance by relocating the AC mains power supply from the main unit and integrating it into a matching separate box. Leveraging the additional space allows for mains and output filtering capabilities that surpass typical one-box solutions. This advanced setup significantly reduces supply noise, virtually eliminating mains-borne artifacts from reaching the delicate audio circuitry.

Nuvistor Tubes

Nuvistor tubes emerged in the 1950s, devised to address the limitations of conventional tubes. Unlike their predecessors, Nuvistor tubes offered remarkable attributes: exceptional reliability, minimal microphony, low noise, consistent performance across batches, compact size, relatively low power consumption, and outstanding technical prowess.

One prominent application was in the Ampex MR-70, a high-end studio tape recorder featuring an entire electronics section built around Nuvistors. Another niche use of these diminutive tubes was in studio-grade microphones of that era, such as the AKG/Norelco C12a, notable for utilizing the 7586 Nuvistor.

Later, the famed Neumann U 47 studio microphone incorporated the Nuvistor. Revered by artists worldwide, the U 47 found favor with top recording artists like Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. Remarkably, a complete U47 set, including stand, cables, and power supply, is currently listed on eBay for $10,999 as a "Buy-it-now" offer.

Unfortunately, just as Nuvistor tubes were gaining traction, the advent of transistors marked the end of their prominence. However, about fifteen years ago, Musical Fidelity introduced the groundbreaking Nu-Vista series. These limited-edition products swiftly sold out within months, and today, fifteen years later, they command high secondhand prices owing to their exquisite sound, exceptional build, and enduring quality.

Premium Build Quality

Just like all Nu-Vista models, the mechanical construction of the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 embodies the Musical Fidelity tradition of unwavering solidity and rigidity. Its front panel and side panels are meticulously milled from extruded aluminum profiles, boasting substantial massiveness. This design renders the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 impervious to environmental vibrations, ensuring an unparalleled level of immunity. The same level of protection extends to electromagnetic interference; the robust aluminum case serves as an effective Faraday cage, shielding the exquisitely sensitive phono stage internals from external electromagnetic fields.

Included with the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 is the Nu-Vista remote control—a solid reinterpretation of conventional remotes in the distinctive "Nu-Vista" style. Crafted from solid materials, it mirrors the tactile feel of the unit's front panel, emitting a powerful beam. Additionally, it operates on easily replaceable AAA batteries, ensuring convenience in its usage.

The Nu-Vista lineage remains a cherished passion project for Musical Fidelity. Despite the Nuvistor tube's underutilization in audio, its renaissance dawned in the early 1990s when Antony Michaelson and his fledgling company, nestled in the quaint Wembley artisanal enclave west of London, commenced crafting amplifiers with Nuvistors. These limited-edition amplifiers swiftly sold out, becoming enduring symbols of audio individuality highly sought after to this day.

Now, under new ownership, Musical Fidelity is committed to forging ahead and contributing to audio history. The Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 embodies this commitment, poised to join the ranks of esteemed predecessors. Their aspiration is for you to derive as much delight from listening to it as we did in the process of its creation.

Specifications: 

Features

Inputs and Outputs

Power Requirements

Dimensions and Weight: 

Overall - 483 x 188 x 510 mm

Product Weight - 22 kg 

Shipping Weight - 30 kg