Nagra REFERENCE Preamp
- Thread starter Zeotrope
- Start date
What's the route to upgrade a Nagra HD Pre to the "reference"?
What's the difference (other than the obvious dual power supply)?
What's the difference (other than the obvious dual power supply)?
I don't know the cost of the upgrade from HD to REF.
There are many differences, but let's wait for Nagra to post them first. I was told not to share before Nagra discloses them publicly.
There are many differences, but let's wait for Nagra to post them first. I was told not to share before Nagra discloses them publicly.
So, breaking news. I am trading in my dCS Vivaldi clock, upsampler, and dac for the new Nagra Ref dac. Keeping my dCS Vivaldi transport. Over time I'll upgrade my HD amps likely first to Ref and then my HD Pre to Ref ...
Congratulations!
I have owned the HD DAC X for a few years and love it. I know it’s cliché to say it but it is the most “analogue” like DAC I have ever heard. I also use it as a DAC for the main channels of surround content, for movies.
Hello everybody. Just a few notes on the Nagra Ref Hd preamp:
Without going into tech details, and compared to the HD:
Pros:
1- more of everything.
2- reavealing all the details and nuances, huge soundstage in every dimensions, perfect tonality ( using top tele tubes), big dynamics. The sound is very elastic, i.e., the instruments are very well separated and independent of each other, developing tones perfectly audible but everything is presented as a whole. Noise is much lower
3- never crossing the line to hardness and sterility, very indulgent on bad recordings.
4- bass is deeper and better controlled (don’t know if the huge measured peak in the subsonic frequency response on the HD is now filtered)
5- one step closer to the reality on very good recordings.
Against:
1- software needs some improvements (on the automatic warming up the mute seems to engage/disengage with some noises).
2- price is a bit on the edge.
3- top plate is better damped but it seems to vibrate like the other one.
4- should have some presets for biasing different tubes or choice of firmware for each tube.
Cheers
Without going into tech details, and compared to the HD:
Pros:
1- more of everything.
2- reavealing all the details and nuances, huge soundstage in every dimensions, perfect tonality ( using top tele tubes), big dynamics. The sound is very elastic, i.e., the instruments are very well separated and independent of each other, developing tones perfectly audible but everything is presented as a whole. Noise is much lower
3- never crossing the line to hardness and sterility, very indulgent on bad recordings.
4- bass is deeper and better controlled (don’t know if the huge measured peak in the subsonic frequency response on the HD is now filtered)
5- one step closer to the reality on very good recordings.
Against:
1- software needs some improvements (on the automatic warming up the mute seems to engage/disengage with some noises).
2- price is a bit on the edge.
3- top plate is better damped but it seems to vibrate like the other one.
4- should have some presets for biasing different tubes or choice of firmware for each tube.
Cheers
Thank you, José! Great first impressions.
Mine arrives on Tuesday.
Regarding the software: have you heard from Nagra about a software update?
Mine arrives on Tuesday.
Regarding the software: have you heard from Nagra about a software update?
Nil. As far as i know. Probably Nagra will do some corrections based on critics, but thats is just a guess.
When did yours ship out?
I know they made a software update late last week. I thought it was for the Amp, but it could have been for the Pre as well.
I know they made a software update late last week. I thought it was for the Amp, but it could have been for the Pre as well.
I think 3 weeks ago. The one a have here is only for testing. Already ordered a new one with 2 power supplies and the dac with the 2 ps.
Hi Jose M. Thanks for posting !
I ordered the Ref DAC first, hoping they start shipping in a few weeks. To replace my Vivaldi 2.0 Apex dac/Upsampler/Clock. Keeping the dCS Transport. Curious on your against list, what is the issue with top plate. Mine fits like a glove in my HD Pre and HD Phono. I haven't noticed any vibration issues.
I have used Mullard, Amperex and now Mazda tubes. I shied away from Telefunkens thinking to cool. Have you tried other tubes and what are your experiences? Thanks
Hello and thank you for your post.
The Ref Hd Preamp vibrates like the one on the HD, and the vibrational transmission is about the same.
The Ref has a black substance between the top plate and the external chassis.
I had the 2 side by side and the vibration is the same, playing at very high volume levels, transmission also the same, based on empirical tests.
The best isolation chassis i tested is on the Boulder phono preamp.
You can play at very loud levels and feel nothing.
Nagra isolation system is very good and spares time to search for tuning with footers.
Regarding tubes, i tried top nos Mullards, Siemens, Philips and has you can see by the backbone of my system everything is filtered, the sound becoming warm and the treble is not coming naturally, although this is a matter of taste.
Cheers
Thanks Jose M. And welcome to What's Best Forum. I enjoy my time here. Can you let us know the rest of your system. Congratulations on the Ref Preamp. Seems the positives outweigh the negatives !
Hi, my system is like this:
3 dedicated lines, Audience t4 30A for the amps, Nagra HD preamp and dac (tele tubes), D’Agostino m400 mxv, Taiko Extreme, Boulder 2108 phono, Tech Das with Sat/AIRTIGHT, ALL CABLES nordost Odin2 and Gold, Magico M7 speakers and acoustic treatment.
Cms and Grand Prix racks, Sra platforms for the Audience and Switch ( Melco/Pink Faun), various Center Stage, Wilson Pedestals and Dalby footers for the Extreme.
Direct ethernet cable from the isp router with Aardvark ultra, and optical isolator with Melco dac to the switch.
2 Stromtanks feedind all the sources.
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