Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S – High-End Phono Preamplification with Nuvistor Technology

The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S is a high-end phono preamplifier designed to extract the maximum performance from Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridges. Based on technology developed for the flagship Nu-Vista Vinyl 2, it combines a fully balanced, discrete architecture with Class A circuitry and Musical Fidelity's distinctive Nuvistor technology.

The result is an exceptionally sophisticated phono stage designed to amplify the extremely low-level signals produced by a phono cartridge while maintaining very low noise and distortion, preserving detail, dynamics and the information contained within the recording.

Technology Derived from the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2

The Nu-Vista Vinyl S follows the same technical philosophy developed for the Nu-Vista Vinyl 2, while using a redesigned circuit board and Nuvistor layout that significantly reduces the overall size of the unit.

The new Nu-Vista S chassis provides an approximately 45% reduction in footprint while retaining the exceptional construction quality associated with the Nu-Vista series.

Fully Balanced and Discrete Architecture

The Nu-Vista Vinyl S audio circuitry is fully balanced and discrete. Rather than relying on conventional integrated circuits for signal amplification, Musical Fidelity uses carefully selected discrete components.

The phono amplification is divided into three Class A gain stages, allowing the extremely low-level signal from the cartridge to be handled with exceptional precision.

Following the phono section, each channel has its own circuit board featuring a discrete, balanced Class A Nuvistor stage, providing low output impedance together with extremely low noise and distortion.

8 × 7586 Nuvistors in Class A

At the heart of the Nu-Vista Vinyl S are 8 × 7586 Nuvistors used in a balanced Class A buffer circuit.

Nuvistors were originally developed to provide many of the characteristics of traditional vacuum tubes in a much smaller and more robust package. Musical Fidelity has used this technology for decades in its Nu-Vista components, combining it with modern circuitry to achieve excellent transparency, low distortion and a natural musical presentation.

MM and MC Compatibility with Extensive Adjustment

The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S is designed to provide precise matching with a very wide range of MM and MC cartridges.

For MM cartridges, gain settings of 40, 43, 46 and 49 dB are available, with a 47 kΩ input impedance and selectable capacitance between 50 and 400 pF.

For MC cartridges, gain settings of 60, 63, 66 and 69 dB can be selected, while impedance can be adjusted across an extensive range from 5 Ω to 47 kΩ.

These adjustment options allow the phono preamplifier to be carefully matched to the electrical characteristics of the cartridge and the requirements of the audio system.

Four Independent Phono Inputs

The Nu-Vista Vinyl S features two RCA inputs and two balanced XLR inputs. Each input can be configured for use with either MM or MC cartridges.

Loading settings are stored independently for each input, making the Nu-Vista Vinyl S particularly convenient for systems using multiple turntables, tonearms or cartridges.

RIAA, DECCA and COLUMBIA Equalisation

The equalisation section uses a sophisticated split-passive architecture divided into two passive stages. This approach provides more accurate impedance matching and minimal deviation from the ideal equalisation curve.

In addition to the RIAA curve used for the vast majority of modern records, the Nu-Vista Vinyl S also provides DECCA and COLUMBIA equalisation curves, particularly useful for selected historic recordings and pressings.

Adjustable Subsonic Filter

The Nu-Vista Vinyl S includes a selectable subsonic filter with three settings: Off, Mild and Standard.

This feature can reduce extremely low frequencies caused by warped records, vibration or turntable/tonearm/cartridge resonances without unnecessarily affecting the musical signal.

Independent RCA and XLR Outputs

The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S provides both RCA and balanced XLR analogue outputs.

Each output has its own dedicated output stage, allowing the RCA and XLR outputs to be used simultaneously if required.

Super Silent Power Transformer

In a phono preamplifier, where extremely low-level signals must be amplified, power supply quality is particularly important. The Nu-Vista Vinyl S uses Musical Fidelity's Super Silent Power Transformer technology.

The power supply incorporates EMI filtering, DC blocking and an encapsulated low-saturation toroidal transformer designed to minimise interference and electromagnetic radiation.

Each channel also benefits from its own low-noise symmetrical power supply, while the Nuvistor circuitry uses passively filtered and regulated power supplies.

Nu-Vista Construction

The chassis is manufactured from extruded aluminium and acts as an effective Faraday cage, helping to protect the sensitive internal circuitry from electromagnetic interference.

The front panel incorporates a colour display that clearly shows the selected input and cartridge loading settings. The unit also includes the Nu-Vista S remote control, allowing the main functions to be operated from the listening position.

With its fully balanced architecture, discrete Class A circuitry, 8 × 7586 Nuvistors and extensive adjustment options for MM and MC cartridges, the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista Vinyl S is designed for high-end analogue systems where every detail of vinyl reproduction matters.

Key Features

• High-end phono preamplifier
• Compatible with MM and MC cartridges
• Fully balanced and discrete architecture
• Three Class A gain stages
• 8 × 7586 Nuvistors in a balanced buffer circuit
• MM gain: 40, 43, 46 and 49 dB
• MC gain: 60, 63, 66 and 69 dB
• MM impedance: 47 kΩ
• MC impedance adjustable from 5 Ω to 47 kΩ
• Selectable MM capacitance from 50 to 400 pF
• RIAA, DECCA and COLUMBIA equalisation curves
• Off, Mild and Standard subsonic filter settings
• 2 RCA inputs
• 2 balanced XLR inputs
• RCA output
• Balanced XLR output
• Individual settings stored for each input
• Super Silent Power Transformer
• Adjustable colour display
• Nu-Vista S remote control included

Technical Specifications

MM gain: 40, 43, 46 or 49 dB (XLR output)
MM sensitivity: 5 mV for 500 mV output (40 dB, 1 kHz)
MM impedance: 47 kΩ
MM capacitance: 50-400 pF selectable
MM THD: <0.005% at 1 kHz
MM signal-to-noise ratio: >101 dB A-weighted at 40 dB

MC gain: 60, 63, 66 or 69 dB (XLR output)
MC sensitivity: 500 µV for 500 mV output (60 dB, 1 kHz)
MC impedance: 5 Ω to 47 kΩ selectable
MC capacitance: 400 pF
MC THD: <0.008% at 1 kHz
MC signal-to-noise ratio: >82 dB A-weighted at 60 dB

Overload margin: 32 dB
Equalisation curves: RIAA, COLUMBIA and DECCA
Subsonic filter: Off, Mild (IEC) and Standard (20 Hz / 18 dB per octave)

Inputs: 2 × stereo RCA + 2 × stereo balanced XLR
Outputs: 1 × stereo RCA + 1 × stereo balanced XLR
Maximum power consumption: 40 W

Dimensions (W × H × D): 483 × 131 × 404 mm
Weight: 14 kg