Nagra HD phono prototype
- Thread starter jfrech
- Start date
So it doesn’t look too bad ?; more importantly, how does it sound?
I was using the DarTZeel 18NS internal phono stage prior to this, and loved it. I honestly thought that there’s no way it can get better.
Unfortunately (and I say this because of the cost difference), it got A LOT better.
There’s a 600 hour break-in time for the HD Phono. Nagra does 48 hours at the factory. It sounds fantastic out of the box.
First impressions: greater sense of air and space when applicable. For example, on Nina Simone Live at Montreux:
I was using the DarTZeel 18NS internal phono stage prior to this, and loved it. I honestly thought that there’s no way it can get better.
Unfortunately (and I say this because of the cost difference), it got A LOT better.
There’s a 600 hour break-in time for the HD Phono. Nagra does 48 hours at the factory. It sounds fantastic out of the box.
First impressions: greater sense of air and space when applicable. For example, on Nina Simone Live at Montreux:
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I’m not very eloquent when describing what I hear; but the level of texture, depth, and detail from each note is dramatically improved. It’s not about hearing notes that weren’t heard before, it’s as if the resolution has increased - like watching a movie in HD vs 4K.
I compared the same 2xHD album on digital (Taiko Extreme/XDMS/HD DAC X) and vinyl. Digital sounds great … until you hear the vinyl version. And then you realize digital is more clinical and further from what live music sounds like. There’s no comparison (and best not to compare, because analog will win).
Relative to the 18NS Phono, there’s no real comparison. And this is not a knock on the DarTZeel, it’s essentially “free” with the preamp, and it sounds great. Just don’t compare it to the Nagra!
I compared the same 2xHD album on digital (Taiko Extreme/XDMS/HD DAC X) and vinyl. Digital sounds great … until you hear the vinyl version. And then you realize digital is more clinical and further from what live music sounds like. There’s no comparison (and best not to compare, because analog will win).
Relative to the 18NS Phono, there’s no real comparison. And this is not a knock on the DarTZeel, it’s essentially “free” with the preamp, and it sounds great. Just don’t compare it to the Nagra!
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Load settings - I am starting to appreciate how important Load is to fine tune the sound. It makes a huge difference!
Example: I could never get Norah Jones Come Away with Me to not have occasional distortions from sibilance. Her voice would momentarily shift to the right channel. I have all the albums - they all sound the same in this regard. It is well documented that this is on the recording and will be more noticeable with certain stylus shapes and on more revealing systems.
I also read that reducing the cartridge loading can help, and it certainly did! Distortion is essentially gone - incredible! I reduced Load from 75 to 60. This would not have been possible with the 18NS because it has far fewer load options (not to mention the difficulty in accessing them if the rear of the component is up against a wall, as is my case).
Example: I could never get Norah Jones Come Away with Me to not have occasional distortions from sibilance. Her voice would momentarily shift to the right channel. I have all the albums - they all sound the same in this regard. It is well documented that this is on the recording and will be more noticeable with certain stylus shapes and on more revealing systems.
I also read that reducing the cartridge loading can help, and it certainly did! Distortion is essentially gone - incredible! I reduced Load from 75 to 60. This would not have been possible with the 18NS because it has far fewer load options (not to mention the difficulty in accessing them if the rear of the component is up against a wall, as is my case).
The Nagra “Modulometer” shows both dB and voltage by channel. It’s therefore really useful for checking Azimuth, Antiskate, and Balance, for example.
Just dialed these in using this test LP: https://www.discogs.com/release/3525012-Analogue-Productions-Ultimate-Analogue-Test-LP
Just dialed these in using this test LP: https://www.discogs.com/release/3525012-Analogue-Productions-Ultimate-Analogue-Test-LP
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Hilary Hahn, Eugène Ysaÿe - Six Sonatas For Violin Solo Op. 27
View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2023 Vinyl release of "Six Sonatas For Violin Solo Op. 27" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com
But l’ve listened to hundreds of live classical concerts to know how a violin should sound.
With the HD Phono it sounds as a small single instrument. Furthermore, as she plays up and down the scale, the sound doesn’t waver or shift more than it should.
Really impressive!
The modulometer is one of the many reasons I have held onto my Nagra PL-L.
It is happy working in my 2 channel home theater.
I was wondering about this ! Very interesting ! I can't wait until my HD phono is installed on Sunday !
I should have never sold my PL-L, that was on fantastic preamp, and looks to die for. I wonder what it would sound like today with a Classic PSU...
My HD Phono is installed and playing music. Just 30 min on. Wow. The ambiance the resolution ... the spaciousness, just a lack of noise. It's cold and needs time to warm up. MORE to come ...
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Congrats!
I literally played albums for over 12 hours yesterday - cancelled all my meetings
Enjoy and let us know what you think…
Perhaps someone with more knowledge can explain this:
With too much Antiskate, the output of the Right channel is Lower than the Left. This is clearly visible on the meter - the L needle has more output.
Why?
Right channel is on the outer groove wall. I would have thought that too much AS would increase output in the R channel; but it’s the opposite. Is it more because you actually prevent the stylus for going too far into the inner grooves, which are the quieter parts of the L channel? So effectively it’s not that the R channel is quieter; but that the L channel is louder than the R?
I'm on about 75 min playing time. It's already warming up some. Geez does it sound good ! There isn't a a single reason to AB vs my former Nagra Classic Phono/PSU, it's a whole diff ball game. (the Nagra Classic is simply outstanding btw)Congrats!
I literally played albums for over 12 hours yesterday - cancelled all my meetings
Enjoy and let us know what you think…
It comes in a week or so. So using my Allaerts MC2 Formula 1, which is a pretty sweet cartridge also. I think I'll prefer the Nagra MC-4, my former Nagra MC-6 was just fantastic. The Allaerts has an alluring quality to it...just totally pulls you in. It's a high impedance cartridge however, likely better for the future Nagra optional input card, although it sounds swell right now !
Very special gentlemen, congratulations to both and a cool wow.
I’m finding that I’m changing Load depending on the album - not always, but sometimes the sound is too bright, and a slight reduction in load value takes care of that . I’m using 35-60, mainly 55-60.
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