Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC

Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC

Nu-Vista DAC is Musical Fidelity's flagship DAC, built around the critically acclaimed ESS 32-bit HyperStream II architecture and incorporating the company's famous nuvistor circuitry — each channel has its own fully balanced Nuvistor 7586 triode tube stage running as a discrete Class A amplifier buffer. It's the first time in hi-fi history that nuvistor tubes have been coupled with fully balanced, discrete technology and sophisticated modern digital architecture. Pairs naturally with the Nu-Vista 600.2 or Nu-Vista 800.2 amplifiers. As an authorized Musical Fidelity dealer in Toronto, Canada, Vinyl Sound can help you integrate this DAC into your digital and analogue system.

Key Features

• 32-bit Hyperstream II DAC circuit, 2x ES9038Q2M chips in dual differential mode
• 8x 7586 nuvistor tubes in a balanced buffer output circuit, low-noise Class A
• 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors
• Switchable advanced reclocking and upsampling
• 8 selectable digital filters, including a proprietary optimum-transient filter
• Oversampling bypass mode for ultra-high sample rates
• Full hardware MQA decoding on USB and SPDIF inputs
• Roon Tested
• Super Silent Power Transformer with discrete input power filtering and DC blocking
• 1x asynchronous USB (up to 768kHz), 1x coaxial, 3x optical SPDIF, 1x AES/EBU, 1x I2S (for the upcoming Nu-Vista CD 2)
• 1x RCA, 1x balanced XLR output, switchable variable/fixed
• Trigger in/out
• Optional connection for the external Nu-Vista Uni PSU (sold separately)
• Colour display with digital playback info, dimmable
• "Front panel in your hand" Nu-Vista remote control

Dual ES9038Q2M DAC Architecture

Nu-Vista DAC uses 2x ES9038Q2M chips in dual differential mode for a pristine dual-mono design, supporting up to 768kHz PCM files, DSD256 via DoP, and native DSD512 via USB. SPDIF inputs support MQA (up to 384kHz) and DSD (DoP 64). A low-noise, low-dropout regulator with dual-regulator architecture, combined with a Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, achieves total correlated jitter below 100 femtoseconds. 16-core XMOS and CPLD MAX II Altera processors handle upsampling, reclocking, digital filters — including a proprietary optimum-transient filter that trades a slight 20kHz roll-off for zero pre- and post-ringing — and MQA processing.

The Nuvistor Output Stage

The DAC section feeds directly into a fully differential analogue stage where each channel has its own fully balanced Nuvistor output stage, with 7586 triode tubes running in a completely discrete Class A setup. Musical Fidelity leverages the nuvistors as a low-impedance output stage with ultra-low distortion and noise, aiming for a silky-smooth sound with strong transients and clarity without harshness — something the company states many DACs struggle to achieve.

Oversampling Bypass

At sample rates of 705.6kHz and 768kHz, the DAC's oversampling FIR filters are bypassed entirely and the digital signal enters the DAC block directly, turning off all remaining filtering. Because the oversampling filter is the largest single digital block on the ESS DAC chip by silicon area, powering it down reduces on-chip PSU/ground noise and lowers signal-correlated clock modulation on the DAC die.

Optional Nu-Vista Uni PSU

Nu-Vista DAC can optionally be powered by the separately sold Nu-Vista Uni PSU, which moves the AC mains power supply into its own matching enclosure, freeing up space for mains and output filtering beyond what's typically possible in a single-box design. This further reduces mains-borne artefacts reaching the sensitive audio circuitry. The external supply has ON/Standby LEDs controlled from the main unit's front panel, plus a rear-mounted mechanical rocker switch for full mains isolation.

Reviews

"It delivered some of the most natural music I have experienced at home. The performance of these components is exemplary. The top components available in their price range." — Chris Baillie, The Ear, April 2024

"Top-notch performance is required to deliver this stuff with the exquisite delicacy we experienced with the Nu-Vista DAC's playback. The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC is a truly impressive component, fully capable in all musical senses." — Stephen Dawson, Audio Esoterica, November 2024

"The Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista DAC plays in a full, warm way, also offering excellent energy transfer. It is resolving and fast. The resolution of the device is excellent." — Wojciech Pacuła, High-Fidelity.pl, June 2024

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this compare to the M8x DAC?
M8x DAC uses a fully discrete solid-state balanced output stage and includes a high-power headphone amplifier. Nu-Vista DAC uses a nuvistor tube output stage for each channel instead, positioning it as the flagship of the tube-hybrid Nu-Vista range rather than the solid-state M-series.

Does this decode MQA?
Yes, full hardware MQA decoding is supported on both USB and SPDIF inputs.

Can I upgrade the power supply later?
Yes, Nu-Vista DAC can optionally be powered by the separately sold external Nu-Vista Uni PSU for improved noise performance.