First impressions of MF Tri Vista SACD player

[Rob N]

Another MF limited edition player (800 to be made @ £3995 in the UK) which is,I think even bigger than the Nu Vista and is certainly heavier at 23kg compared to the Nu Vista's 16kg (the only single box player I can think of bigger and heavier is probably a Wadia).The front panel has a grey-silvery finish which MF call 'Moonstone' each panel is hand made,is about 1/2" thick and has been finished using a 'nine step polishing process'.The transport is a Philips SACD type which MF have added two round bars to make it more rigid,it upsamples to 192Khz,has 2 digital outputs (coax and optical) and 2 inputs and one pair of RCA analogue outputs.The output stage is fully discrete and features four sub miniature 5703 triode tubes functions in class A and is claimed to have an output of 5 watts.The power supply features two large chokes and a number of smaller PCB mounted ones are also used.The unique part of the player is the four feet which glow red for 15secs at switch on then fade to amber for about 30 mins and then to blue when the unit is fully warmed up (this actually looks quite good and not as tacky as it sounds!!).The power consumption is stated at 50watts but when I connected it to my PS Audio Power Plant (with multiwave) it read between 80 and 120 watts depending on the multiwave setting.

I have only used it for a few days (with CD only at this stage) so it’s not fully burnt in yet but already it sounds good with a more detailed and fuller sound (more analogue?) than the Nu Vista which I had previously used.

I will post more after full burn in (about 2 weeks)

 

[pigmode]

Impressive. I'm interested to see a more in depth review after burn-in.

 

[peter braun]

I bet that will sound terrific. I heard a new MF A3.2 cd player the other day and it sounded just as beautiful as it looked.

 

[Rob N]

I’ve had this player for 6 days now (it’s been left on continuously) and I’m starting to get a real idea of what it sounds like.It does sound significantly different to the Nu Vista (mostly for the better).The first aspect I noticed is how much fuller it sounds,what I mean by this is that load up a thin,flat sounding compressed pop cd and it sounds much fuller (without being rich or obviously coloured) with much greater depth and they become much easier to listen to no other cd player I’ve tried has done this.The second aspect is the treble which is more extended than the Nu Vista but does not sound harsh or fatiguing,this gives the Tri Vista a more open sound than the Nu Vista.The bass goes deeper as well making the Nu Vista sound a little lean by comparison.

I’ll post more after further burn in.

 

[Nightfall]

Rob,


Thanks for the update on these superb components. Previously, I havent had personal exposure to anyone whose budget would have allowed the purchase of this level of gear.
I cant afford them either, but its certainly nice to hear the impressions of people like you who do have the opportunity to do so.

 

[Rob N]

There’s been a couple of reviews in UK mags.

Hi Fi Choice said it was one of the most analogue CD players the reviewer had heard and said it was amongst the best regardless of price.

Hi Fi News also gave it a good review.They also had a second mini review by a different person who was currently using a Wadia 830 and before hearing the Tri Vista was not thinking of changing,after listening to both CD’s & SACD’s he said he’s seriously considering getting the Tri Vista.

 

[Nightfall]

Several of the high end magazines here have given the NU Vista's brilliant reviews. I dont if the Tri Vista is actually available here in the US yet.
I also love the look, and obvious quality, based upon reviews, of the Musical Fidelity CD Pre24. I would almost consider one to base my headphone system on, excepting, that sadly, it offers no headphone out.
The cd player alone has been rated as 90% the sonic equal of the Nu Vista, and shares the transport, and many other parts, including, I think, the DAC's, at a huge discount. What a shame it cant be used with headphones.

 

[dd3mon]

Quote:

I also love the look, and obvious quality, based upon reviews, of the Musical Fidelity CD Pre24. I would almost consider one to base my headphone system on, excepting, that sadly, it offers no headphone out.

Why would you purchase a multi-thousand dollar Musical Fidelity CD-Pre for a headphone system and even be thinking about using anything but a dedicated headphone amp? I remeber kelly posting in his review that his Tangent-built Meta42 (can be had for as low as $150!) was superior to ANY headphone jack he'd ever encountered on a source/receiver/(integrated) amp. There are many other amps that would only cost a fraction of what you'd be paying for this source that are far superior to the Meta42 as well.

-dd3mon

 

[Nightfall]

Quote:

Originally posted by dd3mon Why would you purchase a multi-thousand dollar Musical Fidelity CD-Pre for a headphone system and even be thinking about using anything but a dedicated headphone amp? I remeber kelly posting in his review that his Tangent-built Meta42 (can be had for as low as $150!) was superior to ANY headphone jack he'd ever encountered on a source/receiver/(integrated) amp. There are many other amps that would only cost a fraction of what you'd be paying for this source that are far superior to the Meta42 as well. -dd3mon

I already have a Corda Blue headphone amp, and access to a couple other ones. This is something entirely different. A simply beautiful gem of a component, that, given Musical Fidelity's design brilliance, would no doubt have a superb headphone output were they to offer one. The cd section has been compared to others that cost thousands more.

 

[dd3mon]

Oh I agree =) I've read several reviews of the CD-Pre24 (including Stereophile), and if I had even close to that much cash it'd be a definite consideration - wonderful innovative product. I'd also agree with you that it'd be wonderful if there was a great headphone output included, but I wouldn't expect it. To make a great headphone amp costs alot of money (more than the cheap resistors or opamps generally used in headphone outs), and I guess most big names aren't willing to go to a higher price point to please a minority of users who would love a really great headphone out.

ah well.. I guess seperates is really the only way to go in any form of hi-fi audio

-dd3mon

 

[Rob N]

I think the Tri Vista is more or less fully burnt in now and I must say it really is great.I’ve been going through CD’s I haven’t listened to for years because they sounded poor but on the Tri Vista they sound much fuller and more open.My initial concern was that it sounded a little bright compared to the Nu Vista but I think that has now gone,the treble now sounds extended,clear and smooth.It really does sound like some of my old CD’s have been rerecorded/remastered!!

I managed to borrow an SACD (The Human League – Dare on Virgin) which is duel layer I don’t know whether this is a well mastered SACD or not and it’s the first time I’ve heard this format.I must say that the difference between the CD and SACD layers was much smaller than I expected.The SACD layer did sound slightly smoother and the sound was a touch more open but it wasn’t an obvious difference.One of the comments in the Hi Fi news review said a similar thing “the difference was incremental rather than fundamental” and that CD playback was nearly as good as SACD!! Perhaps this is because the Tri Vista plays CD’s so well or that this particular disc does not really show SACD’s advantage over CD?

BTW I’m using RS1 phones,Earmax Pro amp (still waiting to properly try an RKV) all connected to a PS Audio P300 power plant.

 

[Rob N]

BTW the Serial No of mine is 357 and the initial number MF are producing is 500 (of these only 135 are available in the UK),a further 300 will be made to be sold together with the Tri Vista Pre & Power amps which will be available in the Spring

 

[Nightfall]

I managed to borrow an SACD (The Human League – Dare on Virgin) which is duel layer I don’t know whether this is a well mastered SACD or not and it’s the first time I’ve heard this format.I must say that the difference between the CD and SACD layers was much smaller than I expected.The SACD layer did sound slightly smoother and the sound was a touch more open but it wasn’t an obvious difference.One of the comments in the Hi Fi news review said a similar thing “the difference was incremental rather than fundamental” and that CD playback was nearly as good as SACD!! Perhaps this is because the Tri Vista plays CD’s so well or that this particular disc does not really show SACD’s advantage over CD?
[/B][/QUOTE]

Rob,

This really surprises me because the difference between sacd's and standard cd's is very significant. I dont personally know whether that particular sacd that you chose is well recorded or not, but I really wonder if it is. You should have gotten much better results.
Given my great respect for Musical Fidelity, I would expect their sacd player to be a superb performer. Regardless how well the cd playback on this model is, the sacd quality should clearly surpass it. Please try some other sacds that are known to be of excellent recording quality as soon as you can. What you hear should be a full order higher in sound reproduction.
I have routinely been able to hugely impress even non-audiophile friends when playing sacd's for them, back to back with the same cd.
I wonder that the reviewer made that comment too. I could only imagne that would be possible if the cd sections sound reproduction quality was beyond anything else ever made and the sacd section was very mediocre. Again, something I would seriously doubt would happen with a Musical Fidelity product.
Let us know when you have a chance to try some other sacds. Even if I cant afford it, I like to know that at least I dream
of having the best!


JC

 

[Rob N]

I'll try and find some more SACD's in the next few weeks although I'm spending way to much time listening to all my old CD's at the moment,this really is a fantastic player and a definite improvement over the Nu Vista.

 

[Rob N]

Here's some pics of the player