Musical Fidelity M-3 NuVista Integrated Amplifier (Tube Hybrid)

Sonic beauty of tubes with the power and control of solid state.  

Many audiophiles prefer the harmonic beauty of tube amplifiers, but these often lack power and control in the bass.  This tube hybrid solves this problem by combining the best of both worlds, i.e., both tube and solid state.  The tubes in this unit are military spec metal NuVistor tubes that last so long (the life-span is estimated at 100,000 hours) that some manufacturers solder them on, rather than using sockets.  This unit uses sockets and five years ago I had a brand new balanced set of four tubes installed.  (The old ones had not burned out, but I wanted a balanced set.)

The design of the output section is essentially dual-mono for excellent channel separation.  To minimize interference, the 35-pound power supply is separate from the integrated amp and supplies power through power umbilical cables (included).  Thus, even though this is an integrated amp, it will still require two adjacent shelves on your equipment rack.  

With 250 watts per channel into 8 Ohms, this amp has the power to drive virtually any speakers with authority and without distortion.    

In addition to the authoritative bass and tube-warm mid-range, the highs are clear and extended, going all the way up to 60 KHz.  Thus, if your speakers have "super-tweeters" designed to reproduce sounds up into the stratosphere, this amp will be able to supply those frequencies if they are in the recorded music.  

This amp also provides incredible flexibility, with 5 line-level inputs and a phono input to the built-in MM phono stage.  There is a "Tape Rec" output on the back, which is handy if you want to send the signal to a recording device or headphone amp.  Finally, there is a "Pre-Out" socket, in the unlikely event that you want to use this only as a pre-amp and send the signal to a power amp of your choice.  

For more information, you may want to check out Michael Fremer's review in Stereophile.  

Why am I selling it?  I liked the sound so much, that I upgraded to Musical Fidelity's newest version of this amp, the Nu-Vista 800.

Condition

Before listing this for sale, I sent the amp to a Musical Fidelity service technician to have him go over it thoroughly.  He replaced the channel selector switch, which was showing signs of wear, and cleaned the contacts on the remote.  I wanted to make sure that everything worked perfectly.  

I listing this as a "6" (fair) because of small scratches that, with one exception, are not visible from the front of the amp.  On the top of the power supply faceplate there are two small scratches close together, which blend into the texturing on the surface, so that they are hard to see unless you are looking for them and the light reflects off of them just right.  I have included a picture of them.  Also, there is a very small paint chip on a heat sink vane on the left side of the amp, toward the back of the unit (see picture included)  Several of the screws on the top of the amp have small scratches around them from when the service technician's screw driver slipped; you can see these on the picture of the top of the amp, if you zoom in on them.  Similarly, there are minor scratches around the screw on the top right front of the amp.  This is visible from the front, but I can't see it from more than 3 feet away.   

Specifications

Power Output: 250 watts per channel into 8 Ohms

THD (Typically): <0.007% at 1 KHz; <0.003% at 1 KHz 9'A Weighted")

Frequency response: 20 Hz - 60 KHz +0.25 / -3 dB

Inputs: 1 phono, 5 line level

Outputs: Speaker outputs, Tape out, Preamp out

Input sensitivity (line inputs): 300 mV (for full output)

Input sensitivity (MM inputs): 3.5 mV (for full output)

Input impedance (line inputs): 100 KOhms

Input impedance (MM inputs): 47 KOhm

S/N Ratio (line inputs) (Typically): 102 dB "A" weighted

S/N Ratio (MM) (Typically): 85 dB "A" weighted

Power consumption: 1200 W

Power requirements: This is factory set for use in the United States

Dimensions of Amplifier: 482 x 145 x 470 mm (W x H x D), including feet and terminals

Dimensions of Power Supply: 365 x 145 x 250 mm (W x H x D), including feet and terminals

Weight of Amplifier (approx.): 50.7 lbs (un-boxed)

Weight of Power Supply (approx.): 35.3 lbs (un-boxed)