[jtwrace]

From my conversations with Boris a while back about a perspective buyer inquiring about running the Vista off of DC batteries, he said he would have to know that in advance.  Made me think the Vista is setup to run only on V AC power as it is currently sold.  If you want to do something different I think you need to talk to him in advance of ordering.  Mine sounds fine the way it is and if it didn't I wouldn't have ordered a second one.  And I already had the wall wart turned upside down as that was the position available in my Tripp-lite when I plugged it in.  Never tried it with the cord facing down.

It does run on DC power.  Perhaps he does something different for batteries though.

[neobop]

Internally the unit runs on +/- 15 to 18V DC.   The supplied power adaptor and its connection is 12V AC.  There is no other connection for DC, which I saw as the only fly in the ointment.   I looked around for bigger 12V AC supplies and found squat.  I'm thinking of ordering one with a special DC connection but I don't know if its available yet.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=114404.20

"Within the US/Canada, the preamplifier ships with it's own wall plug AC supply (wall-wart). Due to the various standards worldwide 230V version needs to be locally sourced. International orders will ship without the power supply. Buyer will need to provide local power supply capable of generating 12VAC, with minimum output current of 0.2Amp and standard 5.5/2.1mm coaxial connector."

Sorry for the earlier mistake.  current is .2 amp min.
neo

[jtwrace]

That's fine too.  I have an LPS that has a trim pot.   

[neobop]

That's fine too.  I have an LPS that has a trim pot.   

AC LPS ?

[jtwrace]

AC LPS ?

Better power supply would probably be beneficial (I would not expect dramatic changes, so this should be considered low priority), but it should be a DC supply that connects directly to the DC supply inside the unit (±15 to ±18V). I would need to figure out how to make that connection without too much mess.

[neobop]

"but it should be a DC supply that connects directly to the DC supply inside the unit (±15 to ±18V). I would need to figure out how to make that connection without too much mess."

Supplied connection is 12VAC.  " Buyer will need to provide local power supply capable of generating 12VAC, with minimum output current of 0.2Amp and standard 5.5/2.1mm coaxial connector."

neo

Edit:  "Regarding the power supply: 12VAC made it possible to create internal supplies of +12V and -12V DC. Had I used 12VDC, the best I could get would have been +6V and -6V. Even though that would be sufficient most of the time, working with higher supply voltage allows for higher dynamic headroom and makes op amps operate further from the limit, which are both very good things."

[tomytoons]

You guys are funny. You have not even heard the unit. Purchase it first and see for yourselves.

I do like robust power supplies on the phono in the past. Black Cube , Monolithic, Jasmine etc.
You don't need battery it is very quiet. At least here it is. It's boogie factor is better than the Nova.
On the Nova I heard no difference between the battery mode.
There is no strain on any part of the music being played. I have no criticisms for wanting anything more form it. Believe me it has slam and nice refinement. Dynamic swings are very natural.

Try it.

[jtwrace]

You're correct.  I'll be interested to see what Boris has to say on this.  That is what really matters IMO.

[neobop]

You guys are funny. You have not even heard the unit. Purchase it first and see for yourselves.

I do like robust power supplies on the phono in the past. Black Cube , Monolithic, Jasmine etc.
You don't need battery it is very quiet. At least here it is. It's boogie factor is better than the Nova.
On the Nova I heard no difference between the battery mode.
There is no strain on any part of the music being played. I have no criticisms for wanting anything more form it. Believe me it has slam and nice refinement. Dynamic swings are very natural.

Try it.

Doesn't seem funny to me.  Apparently OP thought it was configured for DC power.  30 to 36VDC might make a difference.  I believe you about the rest, or I wouldn't waste my time.   
neo

[jimdgoulding]

Tomytoons, hi,  All, hi.

Tomy, you invested in Audio Vista in any way?  Thanks.

All, I have a Monolithic Sound phono pre.  Think the latest Vista is superior?  Can anyone be specific as to how in your experience?  Thanks.

[tomytoons]

HA!
No investment. Unless Boris wants to throw something this way.
Which might.......never mind.

The last Phono I had was a Monolithic PS1 with the HS1b power supply, before that was the Jasmine LP2.0/II, before that was a Nova, before that was the EE Mini Max Phono, before that was a Black Cube SE, I had an RS in there for a week too.

And looking at your system the best specific I can give you is your jaw will drop.
Your cartridge is probably more expensive than this Phono Pre.
Is that a Seiki table I see?

[JackD]

Jimdgoulding

I find it kind of interesting and insulting that you would enter this thread and insinuate that a long standing member and forum sponsor was planting shills to promote his products and then when the person you made the insinuation against answered you more graciously then I would have you haven't come back to respond even though you have been active on the forum many times since.  Maybe since you like the Monolithic you have an investment in them? Bottom line your post was irresponsible and you insinuating question could have been asked through pm.  I guess since I own two of them I have an investment too.

[jtwrace]

since I own two of them I have an investment too.

How about some thoughts on them?   

[Audiovista]

Hi all,

I am traveling this week with very sketchy internet access.... great thread, and thanks to all for participating.

You already got it right regarding the power supply - it has to be 12V AC (12V DC will not work, you will get very weird sound, one customer in Australia tried it, but it did not damage the unit). Minimum current requirement is 0.2A (200mA), larger is ok, but I am not sure differences will be audible. The 12VAC is internally converted, filtered and stabilized to +12VDC and -12VDC.

Thanks again, and I will be back next week to join you for more conversation!
Boris

[neobop]

Jimdgoulding

I find it kind of interesting and insulting that you would enter this thread and insinuate that a long standing member and forum sponsor was planting shills to promote his products and then when the person you made the insinuation against answered you more graciously then I would have you haven't come back to respond even though you have been active on the forum many times since.  Maybe since you like the Monolithic you have an investment in them? Bottom line your post was irresponsible and you insinuating question could have been asked through pm.  I guess since I own two of them I have an investment too.

Hi JackD,
I think Jim asked a fair question and no such insinuation was implied.  Someone could have a vested interest in a company and promote a product without being a planted shill.  More importantly, like a disclaimer in a review, it provided Tommytune with a further opportunity to comment.  Look at his list of past phono stages.  That was in direct response to Jim's questions.

Irrespective of that question or implication, it looks to me as if Vista has little or no competition < $1K and competes in the < $2K class.  The only one I'm not sure about is the Soundsmith MMP3 ($500) and MCP2 ($800).   Their power supply is 24 VDC so they have the same internal voltage as Vista, but nowhere near the flexibility.  In fact, even if you had both you couldn't adjust them like Vista.  Ever hear or read about these?

I also want to make it clear that power supply considerations in no way change my mind.  I'm curious what Boris comes up with, but Vista phono is emerging as the preeminent phono stage at 3X its price.  I'm not exactly hurting for a phono stage now, but I plan on getting one.  What other phono stages can you compare it to? 
neo   

[tomytoons]

Thinking about it. A shill for a $300 piece is just plain dumb anyway. That statement was stupid but more sarcastic that is how I read it.
How much profit margin is involved anyway? Boris is giving $30 of every sale to AC.
I already said and if you do any math Boris is surly not going to retire on proceeds from the sale of this little box. He has a minimal list of shipments and serials, look at them.

Many people will never take the Vista seriously because it is cheap. Well it's way beyond that in value to me and I suspect to others. Just enthusiastic that's all. Anyone that has purchased will know. I have recommended it all over, don't believe? Your loss.

I have been around here a long time as another account and left before because of stupid shit like this. Too many nice people here to get offended anymore, just by a hand full of ego's and personalities that are on most of these boards. Want names? LOL!

The "LOL!" was added for levity.

[WireNut]

Too many nice people here to get offended anymore, just by a hand full of ego's and personalities that are on most of these boards.

 Well said tomy.
 How bout we get back to the discussion. I got all excited about flipping my wart and now I'm getting bummed 

[neobop]

I have been around here a long time as another account and left before because of stupid shit like this. Too many nice people here to get offended anymore, just by a hand full of ego's and personalities that are on most of these boards. Want names? LOL!
The "LOL!" was added for levity.

What stupid shit?  This makes no sense to me.  Seems like you did a damn fine job of relating your experience and stating your opinion and I haven't read any opinions to the contrary.  So what's the problem?

I think you're right about the price point.  If this was $600 it would be compared to the Nova Phenomena and sales would go through the roof.  As I understand it, this is a limited offer and you should get it while the deal is still available.
neo

[jsaliga]

Irrespective of that question or implication, it looks to me as if Vista has little or no competition < $1K and competes in the < $2K class.  The only one I'm not sure about is the Soundsmith MMP3 ($500) and MCP2 ($800).   Their power supply is 24 VDC so they have the same internal voltage as Vista, but nowhere near the flexibility.  In fact, even if you had both you couldn't adjust them like Vista.  Ever hear or read about these?

Since you asked, I use a pair of them.  One is fed by a Bob's Devices Cinemag Blue SUT to run my Ortofon SPU Gold Reference LOMC stereo cartridge.  The other is used to run my Ortofon SPU CG25 DI MK II mono cartridge, mounted on a second tonearm on the same table.

But I have to tell you that I think if you heard one phono preamp you pretty much heard them all, once you get past matching load impedance that is.  I know my stance on this is very much outside of the mainstream.  I have owned phono preamps costing as little as $80 and as much as $5,000.  I won't say they all sounded the same, but I will say that I feel spending any more than $500 on a phono preamp is a colossal waste of money in my experience.  There are others who will argue that you should drain your bank account on the most expensive phono preamp you can buy.  Whatever floats your boat.

I like the Soundsmith MMP3 just fine: they are dead quiet and very musical (if a phono preamp can be any such thing).  However, I said the same thing about a lot of phono preamps I have used in the $80 to $1,000 price range, so you may want take that with a big grain of salt.  The only thing that I feel very strongly about is that I will never own another tube driven phono preamp...ever. 

You can probably do very well by spending less money than the cost of the Soundsmith.  My focus these days is on music, not equipment.

Happy listening.

--Jerome

[jimdgoulding]

Jimdgoulding

I find it kind of interesting and insulting that you would enter this thread and insinuate that a long standing member and forum sponsor was planting shills to promote his products and then when the person you made the insinuation against answered you more graciously then I would have you haven't come back to respond even though you have been active on the forum many times since.  Maybe since you like the Monolithic you have an investment in them? Bottom line your post was irresponsible and you insinuating question could have been asked through pm.  I guess since I own two of them I have an investment too.

Jackie, good sir, I'll try and not be offended by your response.  It was a straight ahead question and nothing more, not an insinuation.     

Tomy, I think you've sold me since I'm ordering one.  Thank you.  And, yes, indeed, it's a Micro Seiki BL91.