Nagra HD DAC X

[Zeotrope]

?? I've seen at least 3 reviews. They are posted on Nagra's website on the bottom of the HD X page here: Nagra HD X

Here is the the What Hifi Review: https://www.whathifi.com/news/nagra-hd-dac-x-aims-for-digital-perfection

Right, I don’t consider those reviews. When they regurgitate specs, that’s not a review.

 

[spiritofmusic]

J, afraid ever since the Nagra tt details/photos were released, I've been torturing myself over Nagra gear, and their heritage products, on their website. It takes a lot to excite me about hifi gear aesthetically, but Nagra absolutely press all the right buttons.

 

[jfrech]

J, afraid ever since the Nagra tt details/photos were released, I've been torturing myself over Nagra gear, and their heritage products, on their website. It takes a lot to excite me about hifi gear aesthetically, but Nagra absolutely press all the right buttons.

The Nagra gear is just a pleasure to use and to listen to. Open it up and see the quality. Hope you get to hear it in your system one day.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I'm looking at 6 numbers on my lottery slip Lol.

 

[Zeotrope]

The Nagra gear is just a pleasure to use and to listen to. Open it up and see the quality. Hope you get to hear it in your system one day.

I second that. Their customer service is also top-notch.

 

[CKKeung]

I visited the showroom of Forthwise Ltd which is the Nagra dealer in Hong Kong yesterday.
The purpose was to check out the Nagra Reference Anniversary Turntable.
#96 of

Nagra Debuts its New Reference Anniversary Turntable/Tonearm Record Playback System

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/nagra-debuts-its-new-reference-anniversary-turntabletonearm-record-playback-system

www.whatsbestforum.com

It so happened that the new turntable was still being fine-tuned and not ready for a serious audition yet.

I therefore turned my attention to the Nagra HD DAC X in the same room instead.



It was paired with the Nagra CDP acting as the transport. The CDP/CDT have just been discontinued in 2021. Will there be a new Classic Series or HD Series transport coming?



The performance of the HD DAC X was outstanding, much better than the previous HD DAC version.
The music via it was analog-like, with natural timbre and flow.
It gave an unmistakeable Swiss favour of elegance and finesse.

IMHO and my personal taste, I would like to rate this Nagra HD DAC X and CH Precision C1.1+X1 higher than the Goldmund Mimesis 20H NextGen DAC, because naturalness is my priority.

 

[howiebrou]

I visited the showroom of Forthwise Ltd which is the Nagra dealer in Hong Kong yesterday.
The purpose was to check out the Nagra Reference Anniversary Turntable.
#96 of

Nagra Debuts its New Reference Anniversary Turntable/Tonearm Record Playback System

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/nagra-debuts-its-new-reference-anniversary-turntabletonearm-record-playback-system

www.whatsbestforum.com

View attachment 88126

It so happened that the new turntable was still being fine-tuned and not ready for a serious audition yet.

I therefore turned my attention to the Nagra HD DAC X in the same room instead.

View attachment 88127

It was paired with the Nagra CDP acting as the transport. The CDP/CDT have just been discontinued in 2021. Will there be a new Classic Series or HD Series transport coming?

View attachment 88128

The performance of the HD DAC X was outstanding, much better than the previous HD DAC version.
The music via it was analog-like, with natural timbre and flow.
It gave an unmistakeable Swiss favour of elegance and finesse.

IMHO and my personal taste, I would like to rate this Nagra HD DAC X and CH Precision C1.1+X1 higher than the Goldmund Mimesis 20H NextGen DAC, because naturalness is my priority.

Come on, what we really want to know is how you rate it against the Wadax?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

 

[CKKeung]

Come on, what we really want to know is how you rate it against the Wadax?

USD60k vs USD1x0k.

 

[CKKeung]

The obvious enemy of Nagra HD DAC X should be Lampizator Horizon.
Let's see/listen!

 

[Steve Vu]

Come on, what we really want to know is how you rate it against the Wadax?

Nagra always prices their products very high if Nagra believes they are the best. So if they price their DAC at $60k, you should not compare it with Wadax or Msb.

 

[skids929]

Nagra always prices their products very high if Nagra believes they are the best. So if they price their DAC at $60k, you should not compare it with Wadax or Msb.

Why not...Rhetorical question. Nothing wrong with putting a lower priced DAC against a higher priced DAC. Especially with the super high end stuff. I am sure that Nagra with the right set up, against an MSB in the right set up will please all sorts of ears in different ways.

For me personally, I'd take a reference over the Nagra, but thats me. I love MSB. But I am not foolish enough to think that Nagra isn't totally fricken awesome and that I wouldn't enjoy the hell out of it as well.

 

[Steve Vu]

Why not...Rhetorical question. Nothing wrong with putting a lower priced DAC against a higher priced DAC. Especially with the super high end stuff. I am sure that Nagra with the right set up, against an MSB in the right set up will please all sorts of ears in different ways.

For me personally, I'd take a reference over the Nagra, but thats me. I love MSB. But I am not foolish enough to think that Nagra isn't totally fricken awesome and that I wouldn't enjoy the hell out of it as well.

Ok. If you think Nagra is better than Msb, it's up to you. The consumers have more choices. Nagra understands the level of their DAC. That is the reason for their price $60k. If not, it must be more $150k. That is what I think.

 

[howiebrou]

USD60k vs USD1x0k.

Yeah but the street price of the Nagra is also 2X the Goldmund as well!

 

[howiebrou]

Why not...Rhetorical question. Nothing wrong with putting a lower priced DAC against a higher priced DAC. Especially with the super high end stuff. I am sure that Nagra with the right set up, against an MSB in the right set up will please all sorts of ears in different ways.

For me personally, I'd take a reference over the Nagra, but thats me. I love MSB. But I am not foolish enough to think that Nagra isn't totally fricken awesome and that I wouldn't enjoy the hell out of it as well.

I agree. Who cares what the MSRP is? Pitting the top model of any brand against each other is worthwhile imo. To only be willing to compare dacs at the same price point is ridiculous considering the price has zero bearing on the performance (except perhaps within the same brand`s own hierarchy).

 

[skids929]

Ok. If you think Nagra is better than Msb, it's up to you. The consumers have more choices. Nagra understands the level of their DAC. That is the reason for their price $60k. If not, it must be more $150k. That is what I think.

I didn't say it was better than MSB...I am saying I do not measure the sound quality of any DAC (or any other component) based on what it costs. I measure hifi gear with my ears, which is how I settled on my mish-mash of components, which together sounds incredible. I believe its all about system synergy; that Nagra DAC in the right set up might be amazing with careful matching..Local friend of mine has $400k system with Wadax, Stenheim and CH Precision and to my (unacclimated) ear it sounded flabby (probably the Stenheims) and overall wasn't impressive at all. You can't buy your way out of bad sound, or into good sound, you need to system match to your own taste.

 

[Steve Vu]

I didn't say it was better than MSB...I am saying I do not measure the sound quality of any DAC (or any other component) based on what it costs. I measure hifi gear with my ears, which is how I settled on my mish-mash of components, which together sounds incredible. I believe its all about system synergy; that Nagra DAC in the right set up might be amazing with careful matching..Local friend of mine has $400k system with Wadax, Stenheim and CH Precision and to my (unacclimated) ear it sounded flabby (probably the Stenheims) and overall wasn't impressive at all. You can't buy your way out of bad sound, or into good sound, you need to system match to your own taste.

Ok bro. That's your feeling. Let the music tell the story.

 

[skids929]

Ok bro. That's your feeling. Let the music tell the story.

Bro? Good Lawd...

 

[Steve Vu]

Bro? Seriously?

Ohh, I often tell that with everyone has the same hobbies. I am sorry if I make you uncomfortable.

 

[Zeotrope]

I visited the showroom of Forthwise Ltd which is the Nagra dealer in Hong Kong yesterday.
The purpose was to check out the Nagra Reference Anniversary Turntable.
#96 of

Nagra Debuts its New Reference Anniversary Turntable/Tonearm Record Playback System

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/nagra-debuts-its-new-reference-anniversary-turntabletonearm-record-playback-system

www.whatsbestforum.com

View attachment 88126

It so happened that the new turntable was still being fine-tuned and not ready for a serious audition yet.

I therefore turned my attention to the Nagra HD DAC X in the same room instead.

View attachment 88127

It was paired with the Nagra CDP acting as the transport. The CDP/CDT have just been discontinued in 2021. Will there be a new Classic Series or HD Series transport coming?

View attachment 88128

The performance of the HD DAC X was outstanding, much better than the previous HD DAC version.
The music via it was analog-like, with natural timbre and flow.
It gave an unmistakeable Swiss favour of elegance and finesse.

IMHO and my personal taste, I would like to rate this Nagra HD DAC X and CH Precision C1.1+X1 higher than the Goldmund Mimesis 20H NextGen DAC, because naturalness is my priority.

You can‘t really judge a DAC based solely on redbook CDs. It’s like putting 87 Octane in a supercar and measuring lap times.
Connect the Taiko Extreme to a DAC and then decide how it compares to other DACs!