The Nu-Vista DAC is a high-end DAC with upsampling and balanced Class A Nuvistor output stage.
The Nu-Vista DAC is our new flagship DAC built around the critically acclaimed ESS 32-bit HyperStream II DAC architecture. The Nu-Vista DAC incorporates our famous Nuvistor circuitry, each channel having a fully balanced stage of Nuvistor 7586 triode tubes involved in a discrete Class A amplifier buffer. It features RCA and XLR outputs, 3x optical and 1x coax SPDIF inputs, 1x USB and 1x AES/EBU inputs. A I2S input is also there, for a future yet to be announced Nu-Vista CD-player!
Building on our knowledge and experience with Sabre ESS chips, the Nu-Vista DAC uses 2x ES9038Q2M chips in dual differential mode for a pristine dual mono design. Thanks to these converters, the Nu-Vista DAC supports up to 768 kHz files in PCM and DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512 via USB, covering any digital file you can buy or stream. The SPDIF inputs are greatly improved as well, now supporting MQA (up to 384kHz) and DSD (DoP 64) as well!
The new Nu-Vista DAC is a continued labour of love for Musical Fidelity. Our passion for Nuvistor tubes didn‘t stop.
Nuvistor tubes were invented in the 1950s to solve the many shortcomings of conventional tubes. Unlike them, Nuvistor tubes offer very high reliability, low microphony, low noise, consistency from batch to batch, small size, relatively low power consumption and great technical performance.
Unfortunately just as uses for Nuvistor tubes were being explored, the transistor was invented and it was ‘game over’ for Nuvistors. There the matter rested until about fifteen years ago, when Musical Fidelity created the first of its ground-breaking Nu-Vista series.
One famous application was in the famed Neumann U 47 studio microphone. This microphone was highly regarded by artists all over the world, and was used by many top recording artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and so on.
Never before in the history of hi-fi have Nuvistor tubes been coupled with state-of-the-art fully balanced and discrete technology and sophisticated modern digital architecture. The DAC section goes directly into a high performance, fully differential analogue stage with technical characteristics that are astonishing. Each channel has its own fully balanced Nuvistor output stage; the Nuvistor 7586 triode tubes running in a completely discrete Class A setup.
The power of the Nuvistors is leveraged as an excellent low impedance output stage with ultra-low distortion and unfathomably low noise. But dreamlike technical measurements aren’t everything. Silky smooth sound with enormous transients and effortless feel that retains all its punchiness and clarity, without any harshness or astringent sound behaviour. This is what the Nu-Vista DAC so masterfully accomplishes. Something that DACs often struggle with.
| DAC | |
| DAC circuit | 32 bit Hyperstream II |
| DAC chip | 2x ES9038Q2M (dual differential) with 8x digital filter |
| Total correlated jitter | <12 picoseconds peak to peak |
| Frequency response | -0,5dB at 10Hz and 20kHz |
| Channel separation | < -130dB at 10kHz @ 0dBFS |
| SNR | > 120dB „A“-wt. at 1kHz @ 0dBFS |
| THD | < 0,002% at 1kHz @ 0dBFS |
| THD+N | < 0,003% at 1kHz @ 0dBFS |
| Digital Inputs | |
| USB input | USB Audio Class 2 requires USB 2.0 or higher on computer |
| USB PCM sample rates | up to 768kHz / 24 bit |
| USB DSD support | up to DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512 |
| USB MQA support | full MQA decoding by hardware |
| Optical TOSlink® input | 3x up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64 |
| Coaxial RCA input | 1x up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64 |
| AES/EBU balanced input | 1x up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64 |
| Analogue Outputs | |
| Line level inputs | 1 x line level single ended RCA connectors; 2V RMS at 0dBFS |
| 1 x line level balanced XLR connectors; 4V RMS at 0dBFS | |
| Output impedance | 10 ohms |
| Power requirement | |
| Mains voltages | 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set) |
| 100VAC 50/60Hz (alternative) | |
| Consumption | <0.5W in standby mode |
| 40W maximum | |
| Weight | |
| Unit only, unboxed | 21,5 kg |
| In shipping box | 29,5 kg |
| Maximum Dimensions | |
| Nu-Vista DAC (WxHxD) | 483 x 187,5 x 491 (506 with connectors) mm |
| Standard accessories | |
| IEC type mains lead | 10-Amp type |
| Remote control | Nu-Vista DAC remote |
| Batteries | LR03 or AAA, manganese alkaline type 2 off |
| 4x Spike Foot | |
| 4x Spike Foot Cup | |
| 4x Spike Foot Screw | |
| 4x Felt pad for Spike Foot Cup | |
| 4x Felt pad for Standard Foot |
