Nagra HD DAC X

[Solartiger]

At the moment my setup is the Aurender N30SA streamer feeding the DAC section of my Gryphon Ethos CD player. When I like a recording, I buy and download it—only about 5% of my listening is streaming from Qobuz, the rest is local files. The Ethos is a wonderful CD player, but its DAC module isn’t quite on the level of the best dedicated DACs, especially with high-resolution music.

I’ve followed the DAC discussions here with interest. Many products widely reviewed elsewhere are difficult to access in South Africa. I even tried to arrange a Lampizator demo, but the local dealer had no stock or demo unit. I’ve also heard dCS and MSB in Europe, but their sound wasn’t for me.

Gryphon and Nagra, however, have strong dealers here. Last week one arrived with two boxes: the Nagra Tube DAC and the Nagra Classic power supply. I swapped out the Ethos for the Tube DAC and connected the Aurender via AES/EBU.

The Tube DAC sounded closer to an analog turntable than to a CD player—beautiful, spacious, with female voices and acoustic instruments alive in front of me. My Gryphon chain (Commander → Antileon Evo → EOS5) clearly loved it and never sounded better. After reading members’ impressions of the Nagra HD DAC X, I decided to straight go for the Nagra HD DAC X. So, a new DAC is on the way.

Swiss chocolate for the ears!

Best,
Ecki

 

[Holmz]

It is a bit rude to say that I am on the prowl for the older CDC or CDP in your thread.
But as I have been accused of rudeness in the past it’s a bit late to change my spots.
Hopefully someone needs to dispose of one to move up to the HD DAC, so that is my rational.

I’ll try and stay positive

 

[jfrech]

At the moment my setup is the Aurender N30SA streamer feeding the DAC section of my Gryphon Ethos CD player. When I like a recording, I buy and download it—only about 5% of my listening is streaming from Qobuz, the rest is local files. The Ethos is a wonderful CD player, but its DAC module isn’t quite on the level of the best dedicated DACs, especially with high-resolution music.

I’ve followed the DAC discussions here with interest. Many products widely reviewed elsewhere are difficult to access in South Africa. I even tried to arrange a Lampizator demo, but the local dealer had no stock or demo unit. I’ve also heard dCS and MSB in Europe, but their sound wasn’t for me.

Gryphon and Nagra, however, have strong dealers here. Last week one arrived with two boxes: the Nagra Tube DAC and the Nagra Classic power supply. I swapped out the Ethos for the Tube DAC and connected the Aurender via AES/EBU.

The Tube DAC sounded closer to an analog turntable than to a CD player—beautiful, spacious, with female voices and acoustic instruments alive in front of me. My Gryphon chain (Commander → Antileon Evo → EOS5) clearly loved it and never sounded better. After reading members’ impressions of the Nagra HD DAC X, I decided to straight go for the Nagra HD DAC X. So, a new DAC is on the way.

Swiss chocolate for the ears!

Best,
Ecki

Congratulations! I heard the classic dac/Classic psu and sprung for the Ref Dac. Very very happy with Nagra