Review: Musical Fidelity NU-VISTA 3D CD PLAYER CD Player


Category: Digital

At the beginning of 2002 I replaced my Rotel 988 transport/Muse Model One D/A converter with the 3D CD player. I have eclectic tastes for pop, rock, classical and jazz as well as World music. After installing and breaking in the 3D CD player I was immediately aware of a more analog sound coming from my new player. Compared to my old unit it has more air and much more detail without harshness or edge. There is more of a sense of easy dynamics and a non mechanical ease. Also the pacing is much improved although pacing is not the forte of the old combo. The only area that the old combo could compete was in the feeling of solidity and quiet which was the best aspect of that system. Probably the most annoying thing about equipment sound that I look for is freedom from digititis especially harshness or edge. Both systems were superior in this area with the 3D CD system resolving things in a more musical and natural manner. With Jellyfish, Spilt Milk CD the separation of various layers was more distinct and the voices were more easily understood and more natural in sound. The triangles and other upper range sounds were more extended and better resolved. The bass was about as deep but better resolved and concise. The midrange was also better resolved as previous system somewhat older and not high resolution. There was an improvement in top to bottom consistency giving a more natural impression. With classical music such as Bantok collection on Hyperion their is less compression and again more finely resolved. Jazz recordings such as Digital Duke has more tuneful and resolved bass, more lifelike airy and nuanced presentation and better attack on notes. Overall this is a no contest fight with a very good but older unit. The 3D CD player has a resolution and microdynamics that the older unit lacks. Lifelike analog like presentation is more comparable to the performance of my turntable than my old combo or other lower priced units I have heard. I heard a Krell CD/preamp in an audiophile store a few years ago and I think this sounds better. A natural nuanced more dynamic and complete sound would be the strength of the 3D CD system. Weaknesses would be possible lack of the very deepest bass and of course it still doesn't have the sound of my Philips SACD player or my turntable, but what CD player does? I can't tell you if this is the ultimate CD player because I haven't heard many really pricey units. I liked a Spectral I heard on the same system as the Krell CD/PREAMP because it sounded cleaner than the Krell but may not have been as nuanced and analog like as the 3D CD. However I feel I got my moneys worth.

Associated gear
NU-VISTA INTERCONNECT CABLE, HW4 TURNTABLE WITH ET-2 ARM, AUDIBLE ILLUSIONS 3A PREAMP, GRADO SONATA MM CARTRIDGE, CELLO STRINGS AND TARA DECADE INTERCONNECTS, PARASOUND 2200 POWER AMPS (2), CARVER PLATINUM SPEAKERS WITH MODIFIED CLEARVIEW CROSSOVER (BIAMP), TARA THE ONE SPEAKER CABLE, WELDING CABLE (BASS)

Similar products
ROTEL TRANSPORT/MUSE MODEL ONE D/A,
jmob02

I would like to add some info on my system and the Nu-vista 3D CD player. I have it set up on a Solid Steel equipment rack with Polycrystal reference cones. No other modifications have been done and I use the stock cord. Recently I have acquired an HMS Gran Finale Top Match Box Interconnect. While it costs 4x as much as the very reasonable Nu-Vista Interconnect it also performs much better. I feel that I have gained a couple of steps in resolution and dynamics. The sound is now much closer to the sound of my turntable and I have also used this interconnect on my Philips 1000 SACD player. Set on 3 this interconnect also upgrades my SACD sound and makes it more organic and whole. Now I can experience more of what the Nu-Vista 3D CD player can do. The setting for the Nu-Vista is 0 so no impedence or timing matching is required. The attack and pacing of the music is now noticably improved from the slightly soft/slow sound I was getting. Bass is more defined than before with a noticable attack and impact. Overall the sound is more musical and lively. Almost every parameter has been improved. I believe that a low impedence interconnect of high quality is much advised with this CD player.
nice review J: thanks for the report.
What AC cord are you using?
Using any special shelving or footers?
Does the 3DCD decode HDCD?