From the Audiophile division of Swiss NAGRA, the new for 2019 Tube DAC and Classic PSU in the house.

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Steve Hoffman, Jun 18, 2019.

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  1. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Nagra, the legendary Swiss company has lent me their wonderful (new for 2019) vacuum tube (valve) DAC (digital to analog converter) with matching Classic PSU (power supply.) The units are brand new but without even any proper break-in they sound nicely musical. The sound is being fed from my Audio Note UK CDT 3 through the Nagra and into my Audio Note M9 preamplifier to the AN Ongaku SET amplifier and out through AN-E Alnico speakers. Glorious.

    With the list price higher than the Matterhorn, this elegant duo is already turning everything I play though it to Suisse Gold.
    nagra one.jpg nagra two.jpg nagra three.jpg nagra four.jpg nagra five.jpg
     
    Steve Hoffman, Jun 18, 2019
    #1
    kevinsinnott, James_S888, IanL and 11 others like this.
  2. Uglyversal

    Uglyversal Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sydney
    They look amazing and I am sure they sound-amazing too, congratulations!
     
    Uglyversal, Jun 18, 2019
    #2
  3. konut

    konut Prodigious Member. Thank you.

    Location:
    Whatcom County, WA
    I'm convinced you only became a mastering engineer so you could get companies to lend you all the coolest new audio toys.
     
    konut, Jun 18, 2019
    #3
    SandAndGlass and Twinsfan007 like this.
  4. Claus

    Claus Senior Member

    Location:
    Germany
    Nagra is beautiful.... I was very impressed, when I heard Nagra's HD DAC X at my dealer. Detailed and smooth playback without any fatigue.... music like heaven on earth.

    HD DAC X - Nagra

    Nagra's pre- and power amp and DAC is the best electronic chain I've ever heard. In combination with Wilson Audio speakers..... a dream!
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2019
    Claus, Jun 19, 2019
    #4
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  5. blue

    blue Mastering rules

    Location:
    sweet spot
    How does it compare with the PSAudio?
     
    blue, Jul 5, 2019
    #5
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  6. Benzion

    Benzion "Cogito, ergo sum" Forum Resident

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    As Mel Brooks would say: "It's good to be the king"...

     
    Benzion, Jul 5, 2019
    #6
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  7. swvahokie

    swvahokie Forum Resident

    Location:
    blacksburg virginia
    I am hulk green with envy
     
    swvahokie, Jul 5, 2019
    #7
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  8. Stereosound

    Stereosound Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I would like to do a Swiss Dac shootout between Nagra, Soulution and CH Precision.
     
    Stereosound, Jul 5, 2019
    #8
  9. Tommyboy

    Tommyboy Senior Member

    Location:
    New York
    Do you find this bittersweet? You get to test out great stuff but have to return the components after a while. After reaching a certain level of nirvana, and having to give it up would make me tear what’s left of my hair out!
     
    Tommyboy, Jul 5, 2019
    #9
  10. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I think they are going to let me use it for as long as I want..
     
    Steve Hoffman, Jul 5, 2019
    #10
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  11. Tommyboy

    Tommyboy Senior Member

    Location:
    New York
    That’s great! Enjoy
     
    Tommyboy, Jul 5, 2019
    #11
    Steve Hoffman likes this.
  12. direstraitsfan98

    direstraitsfan98 Well-Known Member

    Location:
    QC
    These have a msrp of over $40k...
     
    direstraitsfan98, Jul 5, 2019
    #12
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  13. caracallac

    caracallac Forum Resident

    Location:
    Ireland
    As Rod Stewart said "Some guys have all the luck" ;)
     
    caracallac, Jul 9, 2019
    #13
  14. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    NAGRA Tube DAC update.

    This machine is amazing. That is all.

    I'm using as a transport the PS AUDIO PerfectWave Memory Player PWT Transport. Going through the Audio Note UK M9 into the Ongaku Kensei.

    41181063-69B3-4892-BA7E-8BF049B39488.jpeg B5BE7A86-8424-42B4-B243-F83622DE6BBA.jpeg
     
    Steve Hoffman, Aug 10, 2019
    #14
    SandAndGlass, hvbias and toddrhodes like this.
  15. Bertrand Michels

    Bertrand Michels New Member

    Location:
    France
    I am looking forward your complete test of this beauty.

    I wonder if you could also test for us the integrated headphone amp. Is headphone out good enough to avoid a separate headphone amp ( at least with easy to drive headphones) ?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    Bertrand Michels, Oct 4, 2019
    #15
  16. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    If they would send it to me, sure..
     
    Steve Hoffman, Oct 4, 2019
    #16
  17. SandAndGlass

    SandAndGlass Twilight Forum Resident

    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale, FL - East Tennessee
    I think in order for most people to get these,

    [​IMG]

    They to first find one of these...

    [​IMG]

    :)
     
    SandAndGlass, Oct 4, 2019
    #17
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  18. James_S888

    James_S888 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Zurich, Switzerland
    I'm going to demo one of these in March, through my home system.
    Any hints to get the best out of it?
    I have the Zürich rep. just around the corner from my office. He loves Nagra.
     
    James_S888, Feb 11, 2020
    #18
  19. Steve Hoffman

    Steve Hoffman Your host Your Host Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Let it warm up for an hour first. Then enjoy.
     
    Steve Hoffman, Feb 11, 2020
    #19
  20. Surge

    Surge Well-Known Member

    The Nagra Tube DAC to the PS Audio DirectStream DAC? I own both. No comparison. The Nagra is in a different league - it sounds like vinyl!
    The approach is the same for both companies. The PS Audio DSD is nice, and remember, it’s about 4X less expensive — so it’s not surprising it doesn’t sound as good.
     
    Surge, Feb 11, 2021
    #20
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  21. Surge

    Surge Well-Known Member

    Yes, it is! I actually bought the Tube DAC because it has a headphone amp. I’m using it with Focal Stellias, low impedance and easy to drive. It sounds wonderful. Every review I’ve read has mentioned that the headphone amp is top notch. You can’t do better with easy to drive headphones.
     
    Surge, Feb 11, 2021
    #21
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