Musical Fidelity Tri Vista integrated

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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    Again, to me, if a pro did it, I want to know who made the mod. A pro in my opinion, would not make another set of outputs both the same color, and what could they have tapped off of to do this that wouldn't mess with the sound?
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,756
    edited March 2022
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    So the tri Vista, my understanding of the schematics that audio plus sent me is this.

    The preamp section of the tri Vista has one input and two outs by design. There is a control board that operates relays to decide which input the preamp sees. See my crude drawing.

    So there are a million ways he could have randomly wired another set of outs by just running a positive and negative lead off an out. The problem is I don't believe the tri Vista preamp section is designed to run three output signals at a time at its output voltage but I could be wrong.

    When not in use it shouldn't change the signal.

    I'm not an electronics engineer so I could be off base on how the preamp section works.

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    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,124
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    That’s pretty sexy, actually.....
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
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    What gets me is, they apparently were too lazy to just pop the top and look. Those extra pre amp inputs could not even be wired up. If they are too lazy to pop the top on a piece this valued, what does that say for other items they sell of lessor value. What they just turn it on, make sure all controls work and that's it? That's not "tech work", a 5th grader can do that.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,650
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    I'm a big MF fan, and nice to see this pop up, but I'm glad you guys are passing on it.

    I understand the temptation due to rarity, but they're asking a premium price for this. It's a little beat up with no known history, no oe box and packing, and no solid history/explanation on that mod. As mentioned, I'd want to see photos of its implementation first hand to judge for myself whether I'd be comfortable moving forward with it.

    It likely works fine and/or could be restored to original if what Trey posts is the likely path to creating the additional preouts, but all of these things together devalue the piece significantly for me to the point that it would be a pass. I wouldn't even take it at $1500 because I'd always be wondering whether I was getting the proper experience.

    Most of us are pretty serious about gear. I don't like my stuff molested. This could also be a hard sell down the road should one decide to move it, not to mention, paying the premium just to get it in the house.

    Another one will turn up that everyone can feel good about.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    I requested a picture of the inside where the mod is done..

    I went to MF's website it it re-directed me for support from a USA distributor : ticket@focal-naim.com. I did send an email to see if they have any kind of record of a modification to the unit.
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  • jdjohn
    jdjohn Posts: 3,448
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    Looking at that internal pic above (even though it is not the actual unit in question), is it common to have RCA connectors inside an amp like that? Seems like an odd design choice versus simply direct wiring.
    "This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    Hello Brian,
    ​
    We have no trace of this unit here. Sorry !
    ​
    The extra RCAs do seem to be of very high quality.
    What would be really helpful would be a photo of the inside, showing where these RCAs are connecting to.
    If they are simply wired in parralel with the original PreOuts, it would be perfect.


    MICHEL ROUSSEAU
    SUPPORT & SERVICE
    USA 1 800 663 9352
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,406
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    jdjohn wrote: »
    Looking at that internal pic above (even though it is not the actual unit in question), is it common to have RCA connectors inside an amp like that? Seems like an odd design choice versus simply direct wiring.

    Very common.
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  • CottageChz
    CottageChz Posts: 428
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    jdjohn wrote: »
    Looking at that internal pic above (even though it is not the actual unit in question), is it common to have RCA connectors inside an amp like that? Seems like an odd design choice versus simply direct wiring.

    Funny, I had wondered this same thing just last week when my friend sent me a pic of the innards of his Music Hall Mambo and I spotted RCAs. So it does seem common like @F1nut says.

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  • BlueBirdMusic
    BlueBirdMusic Posts: 3,137
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    We shouldn't let those two RCA terminals divert us from thinking about what other mods might have been made that are not apparent.
    "Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"
    Harry / Marietta GA
    m9iutt1ly1yd.png
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    BlueBirdMusic wrote: »
    We shouldn't let those two RCA terminals divert us from thinking about what other mods might have been made that are not apparent.

    Agreed.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
    edited March 2022
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    I got pics. Looks like they used Monster cable inside. I sent them to the Musical Fidelity distributor as well.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    I got the same pics from Ben. So my question wouldn't splitting that off like they did change the sound quality and impedance since they tapped it off of mains? I see he said it doesn't effect the operation as an integrated but, I would think it would change the sound some? I am not electronically inclined, I am making a guess on the alteration.

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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,756
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    Eewwwww a splitter ewww
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,105
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    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    wlr215g36m2r.jpeg
    515.gif

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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    VR3 wrote: »
    Eewwwww a splitter ewww

    Had to read that twice. I first read it as a spitter >:)
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,756
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    Assuming! They didn't dick around with anything else, that is easily reversible
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,406
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    I guarantee that monster cable degraded the sound.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    "Michel Rousseau , said 37 minutes ago
    Hello Brian,
    ​
    It all looks very good.
    I had our own tech examine the work and it looks professionally made with high quality components.
    That extra pair od RCAs is in fact an Input.
    It should be labelled as Power Amp In, rigt next to the Preamp Out.
    This makes it possible for you to use the unit asa stand alone Preamp with another Amp, or only as an Amp with another Preamp.
    ​
    Again, the work was well done and should not affect the unit's performance.
    It would still be a good idea for you to listen to it before you buy, just to confirm.
    ​
    My best

    MICHEL ROUSSEAU
    SUPPORT & SERVICE
    USA 1 800 663 9352 "



    I am still leery of buying it and taking a chance on it. I don't know enough myself to have it reversed or anything and would hate to spend that kind of money and then pay to have it looked at. If they lowered it down to like $1000 or $1400, I might take a chance but, again, I would want it looked at.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,105
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    Well done?? HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS?!?!
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,919
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    Looks to me like an adventurous soul did that with a Dremel tool and a couple sets of 25 year old Y splitters from Best Buy.

    :)
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,650
    edited March 2022
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    erniejade wrote: »
    I am still leery of buying it and taking a chance on it. I don't know enough myself to have it reversed or anything and would hate to spend that kind of money and then pay to have it looked at. If they lowered it down to like $1000 or $1400, I might take a chance but, again, I would want it looked at.
    BRIAN! I'm gonna go Three Stooges Moe on you! lol
    Just wait for the next one dude :)

    From your consideration statement - man, for me it would HAVE to be the $1000 AND okay for me to personally remove the top and inspect this mod, AND to be able to return it if I wasn't happy for any reason.

    Even then, with TMR's flat rate shipping of $179 on items of this heft, and even if you were to use their account for shipping, that would be $360 to satisfy curiosity if it didn't work out.

    Who knows what else this thing's been through. It'd keep you up nights, pacing back and forth, slowly turning you into Rain Man. Kmart, boxers, 246 toothpicks...
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 26,160
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    You could always make an offer, highlighting the deficiencies in the piece and see what they say..
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,327
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    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    You could always make an offer, highlighting the deficiencies in the piece and see what they say..

    That is what I did .
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,650
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    Did they laugh when you said $500?
    I disabled signatures.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,105
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    I told them they can make payments. $500 to me now, $500 to me later and then I would gladly take this abomination off their hands.
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  • msg
    msg Posts: 10,650
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    Just for the record, it's only an abomination until Brian owns it.
    Then it'll be a unique piece of gear he got for a steal.
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,105
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    Maybe he can unpimp it.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1MNEqCr748
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,919
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    Might just be the lighting, and may be nothing at all, but one of those 5703 tubes in the photos (second tube from the left) looks like it's browned inside. It's also got a fair amount of dust inside the case and the external scratches to me indicate that whoever owned it previously didn't take excellent care of it.
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