Chris Frankland auditions this imposing new high-end hybrid amplifier and will get a really good shock.
Musical Constancy
Nu-Vista 800.2 Built-in Amplifier
£10,999 RRP
Musical Constancy began making distinctive, high-performance amplifiers again within the mid-nineteen eighties. Since then, in fact, the corporate has expanded its vary to incorporate CD gamers, DACs, streamers, phono phases, turntables and even loudspeakers. The story begins when clarinettist Antony Michaelson joined forces with Kevin Austin within the mid-to-late seventies, happening to kind Michaelson & Austin. The model produced some pretty valve amplifiers designed by the now-legendary Tim of Paravicini. I properly bear in mind utilizing the TVA-1X energy amp in my system again then – and excellent it was too.
Antony Michaelson went on to launch Musical Constancy as an organization in 1984, with the unique Paravicini-designed A1 Class A built-in amplifier being its first-ever product. This has since turn out to be an reasonably priced audiophile basic. It has not too long ago been revised and resuscitated and is now again within the firm’s big selection of hi-fi separates. Michaelson duly retired in 2018, and Musical Constancy was bought to Heinz Lichtenegger’s Audio Tuning firm, which additionally owns Professional-Ject.
UP CLOSE
When a product has been so properly acquired, why would you modify it? That call was taken out of Musical Constancy’s palms when, at very quick discover, key components for the Nu-Vista 800 built-in amplifier have been discontinued by some suppliers. And so the corporate determined to reply with the 800.2 reviewed right here whereas leaving as a lot unchanged as potential from the unique successful formulation.
The primary 800 built-in was launched round 9 years in the past and far of the identical design rules are nonetheless evident in at this time’s iteration. Like its predecessor, it’s a hybrid design utilizing a valve preamplifier stage and solid-state dual-mono energy amps – however it options some reasonably uncommon tubes in its preamp part. Nuvistor valves have been invented again within the fifties to handle what have been seen as among the pitfalls of standard tubes. They have been stated to supply excessive reliability, low microphony, low noise and improved batch consistency. They have been additionally small and had comparatively low energy consumption; Nuvistors have been famously used within the legendary AEG C12 and Neumann U47 microphones and Ampex MR-70 studio tape recorder.
4 Nuvistor tubes are used within the preamp part of the 800.2, alongside two separate solid-state mono energy amps impressed by its Titan amplifier. The 800.2 options domestically decoupled output phases, giving every output gadget its personal high-current bulk provide capacitor. These are mounted near the output transistors so as, says Musical Constancy, to supply extra rapid entry to saved vitality with a decrease impedance path. This, it says, ends in higher transient response and improved ripple filtering at larger currents.
Consider me, the 800.2 doesn’t skimp in the case of energy, boasting a woofer-wobbling, window-rattling 330 watts into 8 ohms, 500 watts into 4 ohms and 1,000 watt peaks into 2 ohms. There are 5 output gadgets per channel, with a peak present functionality quoted at 120 amps. Whole harmonic distortion is alleged to be lower than 0.005% between 20Hz and 20kHz, with a frequency response from 10Hz to 30kHz.
So what has really modified within the 800.2? Effectively, with the necessity to supply a new-look show and entrance panel, it was additionally essential to replace the facility provide circuits. This additionally introduced the design staff with the chance to rewind the transformers to realize decrease standing flux, which Musical Constancy says has made them much less delicate to mains DC offset noise. The brand new transformers are bigger and heavier however nonetheless match the casework.
That case is a large one, milled from extruded aluminium profiles to assist make it extra immune from vibration in addition to magnetic interference. When setting this amplifier up, I had my chiropractor on emergency standby due to its large 41kg weight! Regardless of its bulk at 483mm extensive, 510mm entrance to again and 187mm tall, its entrance panel is tastefully minimalist, dominated by the massive central show flanked by two massive rotary knobs. The show, when lit, reveals two massive VU meter-style graphics in addition to the enter chosen and the amount stage. The rotary knob to the left selects the enter, and beneath it’s an on/off/standby button, whereas the one on the correct adjusts quantity, and beneath that could be a button to regulate show and lighting modes.
The again panel sports activities two units of gold-plated speaker binding posts, permitting for bi-wiring or bi-amping. Then there are three units of RCA line stage inputs, a set line out and volume-controlled preamp out, plus a balanced XLR enter. The distant management is a chunky steel gadget, as befits its pairing with such a behemoth. It controls inputs, mute, energy, show and quantity. It proved simple to make use of and confirmed no annoying quirks. Homeowners can even discover that within the equipment field, there are 4 spiked toes with cups and 4 felt pads. Take your selection as to which most closely fits the floor you’re inserting the 800.2 on.
If you swap on the 800.2, you’ll discover that the Nuvistor valves, seen by a perforated display screen on the rear of the amp, glow crimson. They then change to yellow, and when they’re totally as much as working temperature, they’ll change to blue, which I discovered was often round twenty minutes. A pleasant contact is that illumination beneath the entrance panel’s entrance edge shines down onto the floor beneath the amp. It begins out crimson and modifications to blue when the valves are sizzling to trot. I feel it seems reasonably elegant, however you may flip it off if it annoys you.
To correctly sound out the 800.2, I hooked it as much as a pair of Russell Okay Red120Se loudspeakers with Audio Notice CDT-5 CD transport and DAC 5 Particular. In use, the Nu-Vista 800.2 proved easy, and choosing the enter and quantity stage utilizing the distant management could not have been simpler. I additionally had one other hybrid amplifier design of the same worth handy, which helped me get the Musical Constancy right into a clearer market context…
THE LISTENING
The very first thing that strikes you in regards to the sound of this amplifier is its element, openness and articulation. The best way it picked out the guitars within the introduction to I am sorry, my love from Linda Ronstadt‘s excellent Hasten Down the Wind album was very spectacular. This, together with Coronary heart Like A Wheel is one in every of my favorite albums of hers, and the massive Musical Constancy did it actual justice. Recordings from the mid-seventies may be variable, however this one is beautiful, and I knew her highly effective vocals could be a great check of this Goliath.
There was an important sense of effortlessness in the way in which that the 800.2 conveyed the facility of her voice whereas preserving it clearly differentiated from backing vocals. Metal guitar was convincingly dealt with, whereas the bass line was deep, tuneful and tight, with none sloppiness. This emotion-packed ballad was very properly conveyed, and when Ronstadt actually let rip, the 800.2 took it in its stride with not even a touch of harshness or glare.
The amplifier’s simple energy and consummate smoothness, allied with nice element, make it completely suited to high-quality recordings equivalent to A Place for Skipper from guitarist Larry Carlton‘s Discovery album. I used to be happy to listen to the finesse and poise of the 800.2 on drums and percussion and the insights it gave into how Carlton was taking part in and shaping every be aware. The bass line was weighty and highly effective however not overpowering, and the observe moved alongside properly with a great sense of timing.
With the blisteringly quick No One Emotion from George Benson‘s 20/20 album, the driving bass line on this observe moved issues alongside at a great tempo – proving that the Musical Constancy is not a fats, soggy-sounding super-amp. On the identical time, it provided tremendous perception, with the synths and drum machine properly layered, separated and voiced. The horn part did its factor with poise, energy and panache with none undue forwardness, whereas Benson’s vocals have been articulate and open. Michael Sembello‘s beautiful guitar solo was additionally ably dealt with, and his fleet-fingered play was properly conveyed. All in all, a tremendous efficiency.
The 800.2 is an enormous smoothie then, however this does not imply it’s boring. The mix of wonderful element decision, plus nice rhythmic and dynamic drive, is fairly particular. It was a pleasure to play one in every of my favorite albums from ace saxophonist Dave Koz, The Danceand particularly the observe The Brilliant Aspect. The 800.2 conveyed the rhythmic impetus of the quantity properly, with bass and drum strains have been properly carried and Koz’s sax had actual chew, heat and energy. And when Jonathan Butler got here in on guitar and scat vocals, this amplifier brilliantly signposted the ability of his taking part in and the great thing about his vocals.
THE VERDICT
Musical Constancy’s Nu-Vista 800.2 built-in amplifier might seem like a brute, however do not be fooled by appearances. The easy reality is that it really works, sounding well-balanced, musically coherent and straightforward on the ears. It greater than held its personal towards probably the greatest transistor amps at this worth that I needed to hand, in addition to towards a well-respected hybrid competitor. Able to driving even probably the most demanding loudspeakers with ease to excessive volumes and in massive rooms, this amplifier guarantees a lot and virtually over-delivers.
