Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC - Digital Analogue Converter

The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC represents the pinnacle of digital-to-analogue conversion. Built around industry-leading ESS 32-bit HyperStream II DAC architecture, the input and output options of this sensational device means you can accommodate a whole world of digital audio with the highest possible sound quality.

The Nu-Vista DAC offers inputs for up to three optical sources, one coaxial device, one USB device, a single AES/EBU source and even an I2S input for the Nu-Vista CD player (TBA). The extensive yet intuitive control interface gives access to multiple customisation options, and the included remote control brings further flexibility and convenience. The balanced and unbalanced, and fixed and variable, output options also make the Nu-Vista DAC a simple addition to any listening system, whether as a dedicated source device or as a pre-amplifier.

Building on Musical Fidelity’s knowledge and experience with ESS Sabre DACs, the Nu-Vista DAC uses two ES9038Q2M chips in dual differential mode for a true dual-mono design. Thanks to these converters, the Nu-Vista DAC supports up to 768kHz audio files in PCM formats, DSD256 via DoP, and native DSD512 via USB, covering virtually any digital file type you can buy or stream. The S/PDIF inputs are also improved over regular DACs with their support for MQA (up to 384kHz) and DSD (DoP 64).

Musical Fidelity makes use of an extremely low-noise, low-dropout “dual-regulator” architecture in the Nu-Vista DAC, designed specifically for high-performance audio systems. The inclusion of a Time Domain Jitter Eliminator further results in superb technical measurements, including jitter rates below 100 femto seconds. Other advances in the DAC section include optional upsampling and re-clocking settings and an oversampling bypass mode.

The 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors ensure there is always enough computational headroom for all the in-device operations and facilitate the extensive filter options and built-in MQA processing, while never compromising on quality. For ultra-high-res audio handling, with sample rates of 705.6kHz and 768kHz, the Nu-Vista DAC switches into oversampling bypass mode, where the digital signal enters the DAC block directly for a pure conversion with no change to the original signal quality.

Key Features

• Sophisticated Nuvistor tube stage
• Stylish colour display with setting options
• Optional connection for external Nu-Vista Uni PSU (sold separately)
• Flagship model with luxury build-quality
• Class-leading electrical design
• Nu-Vista Remote Control offers a "front panel in your hand”
  

Technical Specifications

• MQA Compatibility: Full MQA Decoding
• Frequency Response: -0.5dB (10Hz - 20kHz)
• Channel Separation: > 130dB (@ 10kHz)
• Valves: 4 x 7586 Nuvistors
• Output Level (Unbalanced): 2 V
• Output Level (Balanced): 4 V
• Signal To Noise Ratio: (A-Weighted) > 120 dB
• THD +N: < 0.003% %
• Output Impedance: < 10 Ω
• I2S Input: HDMI (for Nu-Vista CD)
• Optical Input(s): 3
• Coaxial Input(s): 1
• AES/EBU Input(s): 1
• USB Digital Input: 1 x USB 2.0
• DAC Chip: Dual ES9038Q2M
• File Limit Support (PCM): 32-bit, 768kHz
• DAC Filters: 8
• File Limit Support (DSD): DSD512
• Fixed Analogue Output(s): 1 x RCA Pair, 1 x XLR Pair
• Output Options: Switch fixed level outputs to variable
• Trigger Connection: Y
• Maximum Power Consumption: 40 W
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 483 x 188 x 510 mm
• Weight: 21.5 kg

Further Information

Nu-Vista Vinyl 2 - Product Sheet (PDF)