May I have opinions please on the pluses and minuses of Nuvista tubes versus vacuum tubes? Supposedly and from the basic homework I've done, Nuvista tubes purportedly offer high reliability, low microphony, low noise, consistency, and small size compared to their vacuum counterparts. So what's the down side?
Here’s a write up of the MF Tri-Vista. I own this integrated, and it’s quite nice. I have upgraded the fuses and interconnecting cables for nice improvements; more delicacy and ’air’.
I would agree that while maybe not the be-all, end all, they are a worthy consideration in the $3K range. Mine has bested the Joule Electra LA-100 preamp/Bryston 7B ST monos setup in my system (also nice separate components from yesteryear).
Thanks for the candid feedback. My curiosity with the Nuvista (nuvistor) is that within the realm of what I already have (MF M6si) it is Musical Fidelity’s "upgrade" offering (with respect to where I’m at now). But I just can’t wrap my head around how much improvement there would be, at more than twice the MSRP mind you. Sure, auditioning is worth something too and if it comes to being a more serious consideration I would do that. Typically though I’ve found auditioning components (speakers and basically anything) is only so efficient, viable, meaningful, etc. so I honestly give more credence to opinions of owners, manufacturer marketing hype, technical specifications and overall product reputation.
Given what has been stated in this thread it would seem nuvistors are worthy of consideration, but certainly not the be-all-end-all. I was perhaps hopeful to learn or field opinions that it could offer traditional vacuum tube sound without the negatives, whatever the traditional sound (if any) and negatives (if any) happen to be. And its already been pointed out (here and/or elsewhere) that there is no tube sound per se and everything has negatives.
In all likelihood if and when I do "upgrade", I would probably be inclined to get something along the lines of a class A Pass labs amp just "because". Class A (seemingly) always gets the most up votes as far as sound quality and Pass always the same kind of thumbs up. But for now, as the Rolling Stones might say, "I’m just sitting on a fence".
Per OPs question: another (older) use for nuvistors was for the front end of VHF receivers/preamplifiers and were employed in my (early 60s) ham radio equipment. The smaller size meant lower inter-electrode capacitance and therefor higher efficiency. Reliable low noise transistors for higher frequencies were rare and expensive then. Other than that (as already posted) they are just vacuum tubes. Thanks.
I take this to mean your statement about a hybrid being a sales pitch ** is ** specific to MF.
No there are others that do it, just to get the Tube guys interested as well. Just like McIntosh throw an output transformer on the end of what "could be" perfect good solid state amp, absolutely no need for it if the solid state amp is "done right". Try putting an output transformer on the rear of a Gryphon, Krell, ect, and see what happens to the sound.
George, is your statement about a hybrid being a "sales pitch" in your opinion specific to MF, or in general and applicable to any hybrid amp manufacturer?
I just look at where he used them in the Trivista sacd, that they could be bypassed and probably get better sound/transparency without any circuit design negatives. And that they were maybe from army surplus, and just used to "maybe" give a product more cred/appeal to the "tube set".
Same what I saw in the MF A3-24 dac a good dac, but two massive power supply chokes (army surplus?) on already very nice super low noise, very stiff low impedance solid state power supplies, what for?? just to make them not stiff again??? Again appeal to some that love chokes in tube equipment?
No, directed at all tubes, unless direct output coupled.
I don't
believe anyone has made a tube amp/preamp that is direct coupled (no
caps or transformers in the signal path) from input to output, like you
can with solid state.
The KSS OTL was direct coupled from input to output. You can do it, you just have to jump through some hoops.
I don't think direct coupling is a good idea for either solid state or tubes, because the timing constant of the amplifier goes lower than its power supply. At that point, its possible to modulate the supply, which in turn introduces IM distortion.
We limit the bandwidth of our amps to 1 or 2 Hz for this reason, but we do employ direct coupled inputs and outputs.
No apology necessary. I’m very appreciative of your input (and clarifications). And I get what you’re stating (and agree) about purchasing based on sound quality, long term reliability and serviceability. That writes and sounds much easier than it is. Not always so easy to make a choice, given the hundreds if not thousands of available choices. Also, it's rather impractical to attempt to listen/audition all options.
Back to nuvistor for a moment, I received a message from Musical Fidelity in response to my inquiry as to where/how the improvement is between the M6si and their nuvista lineup. I don’t know what they mean by "psu", so perhaps you could translate that acronym. Thanks.
The following is from MF: ---------- The Nu-Vista 600 has the benefit of the Nu-Vista valve preamp stage. The preamp is directly coupled to the input stage so you have shorter signal paths, we have an improved psu over the M6si. You hear the beauty, warmth and transparency of the valve stage and the transients and power of the transistor power amps.
The Nu-Vista 600 has 4 transistors per channel and outputs 200 wpc, the N800 has 10 transistors per channel and outputs 300w. -------------
Right. I'm pretty sure there was a recent thread though here on the forum quoting Nelson Pass as to his thoughts on amplifier evolution. If I'm not mistaken it is somewhat at an impasse. To that end a fellow (Roger) from HCAT chimed in with a new (purportedly) design that many folks here poo-pooed for various reasons. The posts got rather argumentative and the thread was subsequently deleted.
I'm not all that interested in class D. If anything I'd go class A, tubes or a hybrid. Anything "new" in that realm?
Sales pitch, to make one believe there’s a a romantic/euphonic side to it. as the tubes are in between the s/s I/V stage and output buffer and serves no purpose, but a sales pitch.
Then perhaps I should stay with my M6si which I’m happy and content with, and when/if the time comes to "upgrade" look/think elsewhere than the MF line. Not to mention the fact that the Nuvista 600 is another five grand more (MSRP) than the M6si.
EDIT:
George, is your statement about a hybrid being a "sales pitch" in your opinion specific to MF, or in general and applicable to any hybrid amp manufacturer?
Sales pitch, to make one believe there's a a romantic/euphonic side to it. as the tubes are in between the s/s I/V stage and output buffer and serves no purpose, but a sales pitch.
and is not at all "syrupy." Pretty good for a metal encased micro-tube.
That's because it's got a transistor buffer after the Nuvista to drive the outside world with, without it it'd be "syrupy" if the Nuvista had to do the job.
I have owned the MF Nu- Vista 3D CD player for about 16 years. It is really a wonderful piece of gear. The sound is very "natural," almost analog in nature and is not at all "syrupy." Pretty good for a metal encased micro-tube.
As for the Nu-Vista vs Tri- Vista issue, my understanding is that there were a lot of problems with overheating in the Tri- Vista components. I have read a number of posts on various audio forums attesting to that. The Nu-Vistas were designed to stay cooler than the average tube, so that may explain MF's return to its use.
Interesting bit of info as well that MF went to the trivistor when the Nuvistors dried up.
Musical Fidelity time-line http://www.musicalfidelity.com/about-us/timeline confirms that nuvista 1997 and trivista 2002, but why then (seeking speculation) would their current amplifier offerings utilize nuvistor tubes instead of trivistor?
I see that. And I hope I wasn't patronizing! It's just that they are such different beasts. And what is a tube sound anyway? One would never believe my 1960s push-pull amps were tube if one thought tubes were warm and lush. I have had sand amps that were like that.
Thank you both very much. A lot to read through and digest.
From what I gather from your input this far the use of nuvistors in the MF design does not necessarily in and among itself produce the famed tubed sound, and instead and more broadly where other tube amps are concerned, is dependent on the circuit in its entirety.
That’s why there’s so much rolling goes on with caps as they all have their own coloured sound, the best cap is no cap for the ultimate transparency..
Right. But frankly this is something I’d much prefer to avoid. I’m not looking to "tweak" the sound of a particular product, although I can understand the desire and benefit in doing so. Instead, I prefer to "set it and forget it".
No. Not necessarily. It depends on everything - circuit, quality of transformers, type of tube, configuration of tube, quality of passive components. Adding tubes is not a panacea for some "tube sound."
Agreed. That's why I prefaced the question by stating "all else being equal".
Can you have a look at my question about the Nuvistors in your link
I maybe wrong but I think Anthony Michaelson went to the Nuvsitor when the Trivistor became hard to get, in bulk, or the other way around.
From what I was told by a distributor, he’s known for loitering around military surplus auctions, where he can buy a pallet load of a part for next to nothing, then goes home and designs a specific number of editions using that part.
I also don’t really see DC coupling as a benefit in an amp
That's your opinion, listen to a good direct coupled amp, say Gryphon/Krell ect, then listen to it with the best cap or transformer you can get inserted somewhere in the signal path.
For the most transparent sound, the best cap is no cap, and the best transformer is no transformer.
George, please correct me if I am misquoting you - in which case the circuit is no longer pure tube, but hybrid.
Correct, as I was letting the OP know that the final sound signature of it was solid state and not tube. If it didn’t have the solid state buffer, the sound would be very different and not be able to drive very well either due to high impedance, that why Anthony Michaelson (MF) put the solid state output buffer in it.
Of course there are direct coupled tube amps. The Loftin-White instrumentation amps, designed in 1929, and still used today, were direct coupled designs. The Acrosound Stereo 20-20, designed by the brilliant Ed Laurent, only has an input coupling cap
" The Acrosound Stereo 20-20, designed by the brilliant Ed Laurent, only has an input coupling cap"
This technically should not then be called a direct coupled amp. As there is a cap in the signal path. It should be described as a capacitor coupled amp with direct coupled output stage.
PS: But wait it’s not even that, it has an output transformer as well, so it has transformer coupled output as well. So in no way can this be called a direct coupled tube amp.
No. Not necessarily. It depends on everything - circuit, quality of transformers, type of tube, configuration of tube, quality of passive components. Adding tubes is not a panacea for some "tube sound."
To clarify one other thing, Nuvistors are vacuum tubes.
Appreciate the clarification. Then, given they are vacuum tubes, assuming all else being equal, should one expect to achieve the same level of "famed" tube sound by using nuvistors (as compared to some other vacuum tube)?
Do you have an opinion (and care to share) of the Musical Fidelity amplifier products/designs that use nuvistor tubes? I'm currently using an M6si which I'm very happy with, but the "nuvista" series is their top-of-the-line offering. Thanks.
To your point about needing to have capacitor or transformer coupling, is this something unique to nuvistors?
No, directed at all tubes, unless direct output coupled.
I don't believe anyone has made a tube amp/preamp that is direct coupled (no caps or transformers in the signal path) from input to output, like you can with solid state.
Your reply is a bit "over-my-head", but I glean the gist of what you're saying/writing is to avoid designs that use nuvistor tubes?
To your point about needing to have capacitor or transformer coupling, is this something unique to nuvistors? (meaning vacuum tubes do not have capacitor or transformer coupling)
They are a tube, and a tube needs to either have capacitor or transformer coupling, and the best transformer or tube coupling is no transformer or tube coupling. Unless you go direct coupling with them then there are other pitfalls/compromises that have to be made.
BTW: I believe in the equipment I’ve worked on CDP and DAC, Musical Fidelity never used these tubes without having solid state transistor after them as proper output buffers.
I do not know what a Nuvista is so I hope someone hear can help you with that I do know what a Nuvistor is
Yes, excellent point. My bad. The essence of my question stems from Musical Fidelity amplifier products http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/nu-vista/nu-vista-800 and how these types of tubes differ from the more commonly used (in audio) vacuum tubes.
I note they are using "nu-vista" in their own "marketing way", but the description does in fact indicate " Nuvistor tubes were invented in the 1950s to solve the many shortcomings of conventional tubes."
Therefore, given the titling of my post, please consider "nuvista" (and other permutations of nuvistor) to in fact mean "nuvistor", unless of course someone points out that in fact there is a functional difference on the basis of the label naming.
I do not know what a Nuvista is so I hope someone hear can help you with that I do know what a Nuvistor is but it would not seem to be part of your original question it would appear because a Nuvistor is a vacuum tube.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
