Opinions on Musical Fidelity NuVista tube Preamp?

[Sundar Kingsley]

Anbody listened to one of these? Seems like a lot of preamp for the
money(Line+Phono+Remote) and $1995 retail.

Haven't seen a review in the US but has been reviewed in the UK.

Thanks for any info.

Sundar

[JamesyM]

In article <36B9B1A7...@ix.netcom.com>, Sundar Kingsley
<spk...@ix.netcom.com> writes:

>Anbody listened to one of these? Seems like a lot of preamp for the
>money(Line+Phono+Remote) and $1995 retail.
>
>Haven't seen a review in the US but has been reviewed in the UK.
>

It's been reviewed in a couple of UK mags IIRC, and had glowing (sorry, no pun
intended!) reviews. It seems that the only problem is finding one here...they
are very rare, due to the limited availability of the Nu-Vista tubes.

I've seen a few UK shops advertising them in their secondhand sections
(strangely) new/unopened but priced as "offers".

_______________________________________________________________________

Jamesy McPhie, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

"Wisdom is the domain of the Wis, which is extinct..."

[Thor...@tnt-audio.com]

Hi there,

> Anbody listened to one of these? Seems like a lot of preamp for the
> money(Line+Phono+Remote) and $1995 retail.
>
> Haven't seen a review in the US but has been reviewed in the UK.

I auditioned a Dealers loaner and was VERY unimpressed.

I decided not to press ahead with a request for a review unit. Maybe it's just
me.... But I feel the NuVista is a lot of hype and little substance.

The Nuvistors used are essentially 6DJ8 in Drags. The Circuit is not massively
different from the X-Pre which sells for a fraction of the cost....

Go and audition it carefully and compare to the Audible Illusions Unit, seeing
that you are in the US. At least from the technical design, the AI Unit should
be a lot better.

As for remote-controlled Preamps, all of them use Pot's and not stepped
Attenuators. Pot's don't sound good, in my experience.

In my experience there are few worthwhile Preamplifiers in the Market (Valve
or Sand). From the ones under $7,000 that I heard and liked where Convergent
Audio Technolgies and an early (2D) Audible Illusions. There was one from UK
Trilogy and one from Mr. Croft. That pretty much wraps it up.

All other Units that I would rank as acceptable active Preamps tended to be
homebrew or extremely small series ultra-expensive units that might as well be
discounted by Joe average.

There are VERY few good Preamps in the whole of the UK. Look for a modestly
priced Integrated Amp (Tubes or not) with a stand-alone Phono-Stage and you
are better served....

Kind regards Thorsten

Visit TNT-Audio on the Web - the only advertising
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[allanrose]

well I reviewed one and subsequently bought it......compared to similarly
priced pre-amps I tried, I'm afraid there was no comparison. I auditioned
against a Jadis Orchestra pre and a Michel Orca.....it trounced the Jadis
for punch and neutrality and detail. The Michel was very close and in the
end the Nuvista was (considerably) cheaper, meant it was a 'no brains
descision.

It really does seem to combine some of the best features of valve/tranny
amps IMHO

The problem you are going to run into is finding one....only 500 were made,
so whether the sound suits your ears is going to be risky if you end up
buying one 'blind'.

There is a review at http://www.datateam.hu/pages/mf/nuvista.html if you
are interested

If you need anymore info, email me direct

[Thor...@tnt-audio.com]

Hi there,

> a Jadis Orchestra pre

???????

Since when? The Orchestra is an integrated Amp....

http://www.jadis-electronics.com/jadis/anglais/listprod.htm

Later Thorsten

[Stephen Walters]

.... due to the limited availability of the Nu-Vista tubes.

Well,

this is not entirely correct.

Nuvistor are subminiature valves/tubes that were popular for while when
small signal VHF/UHF transistors were rare (Only the military had them).

I used to get my Nuvistors from old 1960's and early 70's oscilloscopes.
One nuvistor (Or possibly two) makes a very good VHF/UHF masthead preample
and will survive the electromagnetic pulse of an atomic bomb!

I have eleven left if anybody want's any. They are not expensive but are
difficult to locate.

Stephen Walters / G7VFY
07957-168684
07899-906118