6Moons.com Preview of Nagra's HD DAC...

cmalak

cmalak

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6moons audio reviews - Nagra HD DAC

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Looks very interesting. Pricing is 15K-18K Euros based on which power supply is selected. DSD-capable. Core digital board by Andreas Koch of Playback Designs and everything beyond that is pure Nagra. I like the Nagra sound and am sure this will be an excellent-sounding DAC (not in my price range unfortunately).
 
Oh boy, there really are some exciting new digital pieces hitting the market lately:panic::panic:
 
YEP, but what I don't like is that it UP-sample AND convert to DSD ALL incoming data. So ALL our PCM files are internally converted to DSD. I always heard that the less data manipulation...the better ? what do you think about this ? NAGRA HD DAC Front.png
 
bmichels said:
YEP, but what I don't like is that it UP-sample AND convert to DSD ALL incoming data. So ALL our PCM files are internally converted to DSD. I always heard that the less data manipulation...the better ? what do you think about this ? View attachment 4187
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That's what my EMM Dac2x does and it sounds pretty darn good.
 
Hello Guys.

I wish the future/new Nagra DAC will be priced at 15K€ with the small power supplies.
However no one knows for certain at this moment. And lots of speculations/rumors were heard about its price positioning.
My guess is that it will be more expensive than the given price range (15-18K€)

It seems a very well engineered, constructed product, along with a key feature such as the analog volume control. However tweaking the 12AU7/ECC82 tube and rolling for true NOS vintage models can take some time to get the best out of this DAC.

I like the Pro-derived look and built quality is second to none. You really get something tangible and solid with a Nagra product.
When I see some other expensive DAC's construction, well...

Let's hope its pricing will not be crazily high, eventually.
 
joeinid said:
Welcome Cellindo! Thank you for joining.
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Hi Joe, thanks and nice to see you on this forum. We are used to discuss on another Web place ;-)

What attracted first me was actually the Trinity DAC topic on which Elberoth is participating. This super expensive DAC seems fascinating... Ok, that it for Trinity.

Now let's come back to the Nagra subject. Whatever its price it shall be much more 'affordable', if I dare to write this abnormal word in the hifi world, LoL.

Cheers.
 
Ha! Yes. I remember. These are too rich for my blood right now. I am happy to see you here.
 
Cellindo, welcome to the forum !

Yes, the Trinity is the best I've heard (by far) but $$$.
 
Elberoth said:
Cellindo, welcome to the forum !

Yes, the Trinity is the best I've heard (by far) but $$$.
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Thanks Elberoth, thanks NortStar.

I need to dismiss both the Trinity DAC and the MSB Diamond IV because of their costly price tags.

In the background, I was lurking in trading my Puccini against a Vivaldi DAC (only the DAC unit alone with its useful USB input) and this could represent a 'sane' upgrade for my case, I believe.

However this new Nagra DAC is very tempting. Analog domain volume control, USB input, inherent DSD processing, I2S input too I believe.
Plenty of options for its power supply as well (such as low budget with Teddy Pardo, or medium budget with Nagra and higher budget with the top of the range Nagra's unit).
It could be a staged spending, always easier to make ;-)

Cheers
 
That is a very good concept. I was to go with the Vivaldi DAC myself at one point.

I wouldn't get the nagra without propoer shootout with the Vivaldi. Short term you can upgrade to the Debussy if you do not need the CD drive anymore, or an used u-clock. If you get the u-clock used at around 2k, you will be able to sell it without any loss.
 
Not sure this helps you in europe Cellindo, but according to audioarts in the US, the nagra dac retail price will be 23’750 (including 2x ACPS II power supplies) or 27’250 with an MPS. The dac uses two power supplies or two of the four available power outlets on the MPS unit. Dac units arrive in march for the lucky ones who get their orders in early ;)
 
How exactly is this different from PBD? Both by Koch, no? So is it an aesthetics thing?

If not...

I dont get it...I'm just saying!
 
Andreas Koch did the digital board for Nagra. Everything else is Nagra design. Nagra's core competence is in the analog domain so their analog output stage, power supplies, etc...is very different from PBD. Guarantee you it will have a not insubstantial difference in sonic traits vs PBD.
 
cmalak said:
Andreas Koch did the digital board for Nagra. Everything else is Nagra design. Nagra's core competence is in the analog domain so their analog output stage, power supplies, etc...is very different from PBD. Guarantee you it will have a not insubstantial difference in sonic traits vs PBD.
Click to expand...

NAGRA new DAC uses a tube and two output transformers (in order to adapt from asymetrical internal design to balanced output). These features plus the much different power supply scheme will make it totally not comparable to a Playback Design DAC, I guess.
 
If prices in US for the two power supply options are $23/27K (+ 8-10% States tax) this gives an idea for the European price (when we have to pay 20% VAT). Probably slightly over 20K Euros, then.
 
Wisnon...the link to the 6moons.com preview of the Nagra tells you exactly what Koch's contributions were to the design vs. what Nagra did in-house.
 
What Nagra is doing is not much different from what most of the DAC manufacturers are doing, i.e. designing a their own product around a certain DAC chipset.

The difference is that instead a 'DAC on a chip' (most often integrated with digital input filter) and some input receiver from say Wolfson or Crystal, they had went for a custom solution made by PD.

Not a bad move, as that will make a very distinctive product (say PD with a tube flavor), DSD capable, which is based on a proven technology.
 
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