a glimpse of musical fidelity tri-vista DAC

[2livers]

hey guys,

I happened to be at Fred's sound of music in Portland, Or today and they were just unpacking their first musical fidelity trivista DAC. i sat as they installed it in a home reference system and awed at the sheer weight of the thing. VERY HEAVY. the foot pegs are illuminated orange when cold and then turn blue when the piece has warmed up....pretty slick. I only listened to this cold but it was quite incredible.
the CD playing was some well recorded jazz number with lots of thumbs on bass strings kind of thing...and that's exactly what i heard. the actual thumb striking the actual bass string. if i closed my eyes it was as if the performer was two feet in front of me. The spaciousness was awesome. has anyone heard this in a home headphone system? it's a bit expensive but seemingly worth it. in a way, i kinda wish i didn't hear it because now i have this as a reference. oh well...

 

[Rob N]

I have the TRi-Vista CD player and it's fantastic

 

[kartik]

Tuberoller has one too!

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally posted by 2livers hey guys, I happened to be at Fred's sound of music in Portland, Or today and they were just unpacking their first musical fidelity trivista DAC. i sat as they installed it in a home reference system and awed at the sheer weight of the thing. VERY HEAVY. the foot pegs are illuminated orange when cold and then turn blue when the piece has warmed up....pretty slick. I only listened to this cold but it was quite incredible. the CD playing was some well recorded jazz number with lots of thumbs on bass strings kind of thing...and that's exactly what i heard. the actual thumb striking the actual bass string. if i closed my eyes it was as if the performer was two feet in front of me. The spaciousness was awesome. has anyone heard this in a home headphone system? it's a bit expensive but seemingly worth it. in a way, i kinda wish i didn't hear it because now i have this as a reference. oh well...

Nice review recently in 1/04 Stereophile by Sam Tellig who will probably rate it class "A" next recommended gear issue (which all conspiracy advocates will immediately dismiss since MF runs adds there) the reason it is so heavy is multiple power supplies with multiple power chokes

The Tri-vista Dac would very nicely match my other MF 3.2cr gear in the audio rack, he he. The price is not outrageous new $2395, but I will wait a year or so for some used ones to show up at Agon..........besides I have no reason to sell Bel Canto Dac 2 really and BC may have Dac 3 model in the future for much less than Tri-vista Dac.

Would love to demo the Tri-Vista Dac for a while.

 

[Rob N]

Yeah, the Tri Vista CD player has 3 mains transformers + 2 chassis mounted chokes.

 

[mcgino]

I really liked the sound of the Trivista SACD when I auditioned it. I missed out on two Trivista SACD's (One, I decided to buy, but the warehouse had closed, when I went back, gone. The other, the guy agreed to sell to me, but then sold to someone el before I could pick it up). Was a bit torn about the Trivista SACD because of:
1) Digital outs are swapped (left, right)
2) Ticking transport (the transport and display are exactly the same as my 963SA - paying a lot of money for the power supplies and output stage)
3) Trivista DAC uses the 1792 vs. the 1738 in the Trivista SACD (better performance - its in their advertising)

One big plus for it is that it also plays DVD-A disks which makes it a universal player without video circuitry. Been also thinking of getting the Esoteric DV-50, but they are upgrading it in Japan in Feb (who knows when it will make it out to HK) with better video.

A Sony SCD-1 came up locally. The plan now is to get the SCD-1 and a Trivista DAC. I figure I will have the option to mod the SCD-1 to improve SACD and for red-book the Trivista DAC should be better than the Trivista SACD.... unless... Rob, wanna upgrade and sell me your Trivista SACD?

Also, there's a local shop here that adds a tube output mod to the 963SA. Might be a poor-man's Trivista SACD.

 

[Rob N]

mcgino,I doubt whether the Trivista DAC would be much better than the Trivista SACD,perhaps only marginally.

It's true that the transport & display are only standard philips kit and,yes there is a slight ticking, but unless you sit right next to it you can't hear it.

Didn't know that the digital outs are swapped but then I've never used them.