New version of MF "A3" int. amp.

There is a picture of new integrated amp in Nov What HiFi mag. Unit is called NuVista M3 integrated amp, styling is like other A3 line, no details were given, but it looks big and powerful @200w? and will very likely have CR (choke regulation). The real question is will it use nuvistors like previous NuVista products, previously MF said they had bought the entire world supply of these. Price is steep, 3,000 pounds which will be about $4,000 through Audio Advisor, please check with Audio Advisor to confirm future availability and final details. Most people should just go ahead and get A3 or A300, much better value, Sam

Dec issue of Hi Fi News has full review of new NuVista M3. It does use nuvistors, MF had enough in storage to release this product. It is dual mono and does use choke regulated power. Power tranformers are in seperate remote case, styling is similar to home theater amp, with two cases. Price is 2,995 pounds so Audio Advisor will probably sell at discount $3700-4000? Remember the old NuVista amp & preamp together cost over 5,000 pounds.

I recently bought an A3cr combo and picked up the NuVista silver ICs for half off. Burned them in for about 300 hours. They are ok, not as bright as some Kimber designs, but nothing incredible going on either. I'll use them for a tuner or secondary source. By the way, the A3cr amp is really a super value and a very fine amp, surprisingly measuring up to all the positive press its been getting. The preamp is likewise quite good, but is going back to AA in favor of a tubed model - for whatever reason it doesn't quite convey the 'presence' I've had with tube gear. I would not go overboard with the 'SACD capable' hype. Quite a few high end manufacturers have for some time designed their gear for wide bandwidth, and will handle SACD just fine. IMHO, I'd buy the new A3 for the power supply improvements, not the SACD button.