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Accuphase or Musical fidelity for Focal Micro Be

I have a Musical Fidelity A5 combo (cd player and integrated amp) driving a pair of Focal Micro Utopia Be augmented with a REL Stentor 3 subwoofer. The A5 combo is a good match for the Focals, the system is very musical, with good details, and never fatigue.

Recently, a dealer offer me the chance to upgrade my A5 combo to a Musical fidelity Nu Vista combo, i.e. M3 integrated amp and the 3D cd player.

At the same time, I have been offered a very good deal on a Accuphase system, i.e. the E-408 integrated and the DP-67 cd player.

The Accuphase route should be about 1000 euros more expensive (assuming that eventually I will be able to get a decent price for the A5 combo). However, as I am after the best sound this is not really an issue.

Since it is quite difficult to listen these electronics on my speakers I would really appreciate any feedback from people that had experience with these electronics.

I thank you in advance.
nvp
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I haven't had any Accuphase since the 80s but they are a good company. I like the Mini Utopias , mine have the Titanium dome tweeters. But I find they are a little forward on some music and I still like the fabric domes on my Spendors, even though they are not as "fast" as the metal ones. The Focal is outstanding at detail retrieval and the Musical Fidelity is also very good at this. I have a NuVista 21 CD player but listen more often to my Audio Synthesis DAX, both used with Meridian 200 transports. The M3 is a very good unit , the best amp I have had. As you see I have 2 REL Stadium subs, which work well with the Focal. I suspect the M3 is a considerable advance on the A5 and I can recommend that combination. Whether is is better than the Accuphase I couldn't say.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I called the 21 a player, it is of course a DAC.
rrsclyde
84 posts
 
I have the original Micro Utopia's (now in a secondary system) and have powered them with both the E-408 and the E-530. Although I have since moved to tubes, the Accuphase integrated were the best I've owned (including JRDG, BAT, Sim Audio, Plinius)...the E-530 especially. It was a great match with the Micro's.

The only MF integrated I've owned was one of the lower end ones that I used in a bedroom system. I'm sure the Nuvista model is much more refined and more similar to the Accuphase and JRDG Concentra II.
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