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One is muscular hybrid power amplifier and the other is a respectably beefy tube monoblock amplifier with triode and ultralinear switching. IMHO, not really an apples to apples comparison. I'm curious why the older NuVista 300 when you can get a new A5cr power amp for the same price as a pair of Mahi's?
As with all components, a decision between the two needs to be made within the context of the other components in your audio reproduction chain and your musical and listening preferences.
I have not heard the NuVista 300 but have owned MF gear. I have a fondness for their stuff. Powerful, neutral, well-balanced and controlled. Did I mention powerful?
Haven't heard the Manley Mahi but I did like their Stingray integrated. No mistaking it for solid-state but like a lot of the better(?) contemporary push-pull triode or ultralinear stuff, doesn't seem to coat everything with an overly thick layer of tubed gooey-ness.
Sorry I don't have specifics about the two pieces of gear you're looking at. If anything, try them in your existing system and hear for yourself. Good luck shopping!
The two choices you list will have very different signatures in almost any system. What amp are you using now? What are you looking for, tube warmth or SS control? What kind of music do you usually listen to?
I bought a NuVista a few months ago, upgrading from an AudioNET SAM V2. I have QUAD ESL-989s, which supposedly cannot tolerate high power. Well, the MF must have CLEAN power, because my Quads play REALLY loud with it, without the protection circuit ever shutting down. I fully subscribe to MF's theorem that there is nothing to replace a lot of power but even more power...
Needless to say that the NuVista is also extremely solidly built and comes with a very quiet MC/MM phono pre-amp already built in.
Have fun chosing and then listening!!!
Arthur
Since I have not heard either one, I'd say neither.