Musical Fidelity NU-VISTA DAC high-end DAC with Upsampling and Balanced Class A Nuvistor Output Stage (Silver)

Musical Fidelity NU-VISTA DAC high-end DAC with Upsampling and Balanced Class A Nuvistor Output Stage (Silver)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

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!

Technical Talk
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! 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!

Digital Architecture
We utilize an extremely low-noise, low-dropout regulator designed specifically for high-performance audio systems and optimized for high-resolution audio thanks to its revolutionary dual-regulator architecture. The inclusion of a Time Domain Jitter Eliminator results in superb SNR and THD+N performance with unbelievably detailed transient response. Digital audio is the art of time, with our proprietary clock design we have managed jitter rates of unrivalled and below 100 femtoseconds. This outperforms many renowned and respected audiophile clock generators! Other advances in the DAC section include optional upsampling and reclocking and an oversampling bypass mode. The 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors ensure there is always enough headroom for these operations, the digital filters, including our own new proprietary filter for optimum transient response, and the MQA processing.

The Legendary Nu-Vista Stage
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.

Upsampling, Reclocking and Digital Filters
The CPLD MAX II (Complex Programmable Logic Device) Altera is used for re-clocking, which together with the XMOS microcontroller brings high-quality processing of both PCM, DSD and MQA technology. Upsampling and reclocking can be individually turned on and off for PCM signals. DSD and MQA use their own format specific settings and filters. For PCM signals, the Nu-Vista DAC has eight selectable digital filters. One of them is our proprietary optimal transient digital filter. In this filter we trade off frequency domain performance for optimum time domain performance resulting in a slight frequency roll-off at 20kHz, but zero pre-ringing and zero post ringing.

Oversampling Bypass
For ultra-high-res audio we have gone the extra step and created our oversampling bypass mode. For sample rates of 705,6k and 768kHz the DAC’s oversampling FIR filters are bypassed and the Nu-Vista DAC goes into oversampling bypass mode. At these ultra-high sample rates, the digital signal enters the DAC block directly. Effectively, this turns off all remaining filtering, improving audio parameters and the frequency spectrum by yet another step. The oversampling filter is the largest single digital section “block” on the ESS DAC chip by silicon area. By powering this filter block down, we reduce the on-chip PSU / ground noise and consequently lower signal correlated clock modulation on the ESS DAC’s silicon die. 

Musical Fidelity for the Sake of Music
Therefore, musical purists who are simply looking to feel that hypnotic sensation of communication between listener and artist: they will find it here. Just leave it at its standard settings and feel the immediate musical integration: the whole sound is sweet and clear; the treble is completely grain free and extended. The bottom end sounds endless with tactile bass dynamics.
As you get reintroduced to your music library, you might, at some point, want to discover what else is possible and hear it from different perspectives. It is then, when the customizability, options and settings turn the Nu-Vista DAC into a powerful piece of expert machinery. Explore the sound stage with upsampling or without. See what reclocking does and let yourself be drawn in deeper. Choose between 7 different digital filters, or our favourite, the optimum transient filter.
If you have the ultra-high-res files at hand, experience what the Nu-Vista DAC is truly capable of in oversampling bypass mode.

Super Silent Power Transformers
The Nu-Vista DAC displays our continued development of our Super Silent Power Transformers. Industrial grade power sockets with EMI filter and DC blocker stop interferences and eliminate transformer hum. The encapsulated toroidal transformer with low core saturation is ideal for audio applications and especially perfect for digital audio due to its extremely low electromagnetic radiation. The power supply for digital and analogue circuitry is carefully separated to provide immunity and isolation of the analogue amp and buffer stages from any possible digital HF interference.

Specifications

DAC

• DAC chip: 2x ES9038Q2M (dual mono) with 8x digital filter
• Frequency response: -0,5dB at 10Hz and 20kHz
• Total correlated jitter: <100 femtoseconds
• Linearity: <0.5dB down to -130dB
• Channel separation: < 130dB at 10kHz @ 0dBFS
• SNR: > 120dB „A“-wt. at 1kHz @ 0dBFS
• THD+N: < 0,003% at 1kHz @ 0dBFS

Digital Inputs

• 1x USB input: USB Audio Class 2 requires USB 2.0 or higher on computer
• USB PCM sample rates: up to 768kHz
• USB DSD support: up to DSD256 via DoP and native DSD512
• MQA support: full MQA decoding by hardware
• 3x Optical input: up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64
• 1x Coaxial input: up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64
• 1x AES/EBU input: 1x up to 24bit / PCM 192kHz, MQA 384kHz, DoP DSD 64

Analogue Outputs

• 1 pair line level RCA fix/var @ 2V RMS at 0dBFS
• 1 pair line level XLR fix/var @ 4V RMS at 0dBFS
• Output impedance: < 10 ohms

Power requirement

• Mains voltages: 115/230VAC 50/60Hz (factory pre-set); 100VAC 50/60Hz (alternative)
• Consumption: 40 Watts maximum, <0.5 W in standby (orange LED ON)

General Information

• Trigger In/Out
• Power connections for optional Nu-Vista Uni PSU (sold separately)
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 483 x 188 x 510 mm
• Weight: 21,5 kg net / 29,5 kg in shipping box