Integrated Amplifiers

Speaking with Heinz Lichtenegger, president of Musical Fidelity, about the limited supply of nuvistor tubes, the message is: don’t worry. ‘We bought tens of thousands, so we are fine for what we want to launch. It was a big investment, ensuring our products can last at least ten years on the market, so we have no plans to change anything.’

But Heinz does have more plans for what he calls the brand’s ‘no-compromise’ series, including a CD player, a more compact pre/power system without a separate PSU, and a Nu-Vista 300 integrated. The last of these will utilise the smaller casework seen in the recently launched Vinyl S phono stage and offer ‘about 150W’.

Heinz says his 45 years in the hi-fi industry have shown the benefits of launching complete series with options at different price points. Just don’t expect a Nu-Vista streaming integrated. ‘We would never put any digital circuits in a Nu-Vista power or integrated amplifier. In listening tests, it just does not work. It’s not the same quality, and not suitable for the best of the best.’