Is the Nu-Vista PAS worth it over a cheaper high-power amp?

If your speakers dip to 2 ohms and you want tube character with solid-state grip, the power reserves and Nuvistor input stage are the reasons to pay. For efficient speakers, a smaller amp will do most of the job for far less.

How does it compare with the Nu-Vista 800 integrated?

The PAS is a power amp only, so it needs a separate preamp, but it offers more output and fully independent inputs. The 800 is a one-box solution with similar Nu-Vista tube styling.

Will it drive 2-ohm speakers safely?

Musical Fidelity rates it at 1,000W peaks into 2 ohms and five pairs of output devices per channel, so it is built for low-impedance loads. Keep it well ventilated, since it runs hot under load.

What tubes does it use, and can I replace them?

It uses eight 6S51N Nuvistor tubes in the input stage. Nuvistors are out of production, so buy spare tubes when you can find them.

The amplifier itself, a power cord and documentation. No preamp, remote or cables are included, so budget for balanced or RCA interconnects.

When is the best time to buy?

High-end amps rarely discount deeply, but dealer demo units and end-of-line sales are the usual route to a lower price. Compare the current price with its recent range before committing.

Musical Fidelity

Nu-Vista PAS

Last price we saw

$27,999.00at The Music Room, last seen Nov 1

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Our take on the Nu-Vista PAS

The Nu-Vista PAS is Musical Fidelity's flagship stereo power amplifier, a 1,000W-rated muscle amp built around eight 6S51N Nuvistor tubes in its input stage. It delivers over 300W into 8 ohms, 500W into 4 ohms and 1,000W peaks into 2 ohms, with five pairs of thermally compensated output devices per channel and more than 5W of initial class A bias. Distortion is quoted at 0.006% across 20Hz–30kHz and output impedance is under 0.1 ohm, so it will drive difficult speakers with ease. It is a niche, high-cost component; the latest best price should be checked against its recent range before buying.

Best forOwners of large, power-hungry floorstanding speakers