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Anyone Listen Extensively To V1 Of The Musical Fidelity Nu Vista Vinyl Phono Stage?

I needed a phono stage for my casual table, and I plan on using a SUT with it so I figured A good basic one would work. Did not turn out to be the case as the noise floor was too high for a ultra low output cartridge/SUT combo. I had run this pairing into an Esoteric E-03 with no issues, so it was certainly the phono stage. Back to the drawing board. I came across a Musical Fidelity Nu Vista Vinyl phono stage at an attractive price, and I ordered it. It i shipping now. A I look at it, theoretically, I could run all my table/arm combos into just it. In the past I owned a Nu Vista M3 integrated amp and enjoyed it quite a bit. But I do not believe the designer is the same person, and the case work on this phono stage does not match what would be the period of the integrated. Ha anyone had experience comparing this phono stage against other known entities? I also own the Esoteric E-03 and a BMC MCCI Signature ULN. 

neonknight

Showing 4 responses by dogberry

dogberry
753 posts
 

I should give mine another chance. Maybe make some heads explode by using it with an SUT!

dogberry
753 posts
 

I have a NuVista Vinyl MkI, and do appreciate the options. It reveals details that other phono stages have not, but there is one thing to be very careful with - switch it off before plugging in or disconnecting the inputs! Doing so with the power on can destroy the input board. Having said that, I have gone back to using a Quad 24p and a VAS SUT as I prefer the sound, which seems more "musical" to me.

dogberry
753 posts
 

And I just did. I'll give it a month and decide, but so far, so good!

dogberry
753 posts
 

@neonknight

I may experiment with the SUT later, but so far I’m using it ’straight’ as in the photo.

I liked the Quad 24p and SUT for the warmth of the combo. The NuVista is also Rubenesque but not so much so as the Quad. Of the four cartridges connected, I’d say the Ruby 3 mono and the LP-S are definitely improved, the Sussurro less markedly improved, and the only one connected as an MM, the London Decca Reference, might not be as good as it was. After a month I’ll decide whether to add back the 24p just for the Reference: I may just get used to it sounding a bit different. I think the Quad was adding some colouration that exaggerated the character of the Decca—in a good way.

With respect to my comment above about not plugging or unplugging connections with it turned on, I thought I had permanently injured the input board. It seems it just needed to be switched off for an extended period (perhaps there is some sort of protection circuit?) Now I realise I had left it aside for a couple of years when I need not have done so! All the same, lesson learned and it will always be powered off before any connections are changed.

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