PRE , PAS and PAM : a new line of high-end amplifiers from Musical Fidelity (now owned by Heinz Lichtenegger of Pro-Ject Audio Systems). The new preamplifier (PRE), power amplifier stereo (PAS) and monoblock amplifier (PAM) were created as an extension of Musical Fidelity’s Nu-Vista 800 circuit, and – a maximalist’s dream – each unit comes with its own external power supply.
Nu-Vista means Musical Fidelity uses Nuvistor tubes, which, according to a press release, “…were invented in the 1950s to overcome the many shortcomings of conventional tubes. In contrast, Nuvistor tubes have very high reliability, low microphony, low noise level, consistency from batch to batch, small size, relatively low power consumption and excellent technical characteristics.”
The Nu-Vista PRE is a traditional all-analog preamplifier with 12 independent inputs—six balanced XLR and six single-ended RCA—whose audio signals are routed through a balanced Nuvistor tube-load circuit consisting of discrete components, a “precision” step volume attenuator, and a class output stage And your choice – balanced XLR or single-sided RCA outputs. The whole thing is wrapped in an aluminum chassis to fit 22kg on the scale. The matching external power supply has a similar casing, doubling the total volume of the product and adding another 24kg to your hi-fi rack.
The corresponding Nu-Vista PAS stereo power amplifier combines an octet of 6S 51N Nuvistor tubes (at the input stage) with all discrete components for a “balanced, low-distortion design based on the legendary Titan 1000W amplifier, using five pairs of high-power output devices for stable and reliable operation. Separate capacitors for mass supply and output devices reduce output impedance and improve dynamics. Added chokes improve power supply ripple and reduce pulse current surges.”
In terms of power output, the Nu-Vista PAS offers 300 W/k into 8 ohms, 500 W/k into 4 ohms, and 1000 W/k peak into 2 ohms. The SNR is more than 108 dB. The weight of the device has not been revealed, but like the PRE, the PAS comes with its own external power supply of a similar size.
Want more output power and better channel separation? You’ll have to take a look at the pair of Nu-Vista PAM all-in-ones – each requiring its own external power supply – 600 W/k into 8 ohms, 1000 W/k into 4 ohms and 1500 W/k peak into 2 ohms plus damping factor 180. Each PAM weighs 27 kg and the corresponding power supply weighs 40 kg.
Price :
- NU-VISTA PRE + PSU: 22,000 EURO
- NU-VISTA PAS + PSU: 24,000 EURO
- NU-VISTA PAM + PSU: 22,000 euros per piece
