Nagra has officially unveiled its Series II product line, which is intended to bridge the gap between its Classic and HD product lines. The first member of this new product family is the PreAmp II-S, which, according to the Swiss manufacturer, marks both a return to Nagra’s roots and a progressive evolution in design, engineering, and musical performance.
According to Nagra, the Series II’s design philosophy emphasizes sound quality above all else, while maintaining a reasonable size. Under the aluminum top cover of the PreAmp II-S, a phenolic resin damping layer is applied, both bonded and mechanically attached. This reportedly reduces resonance and immediately improves sonic stability, clarity, and focus. Furthermore, the PreAmp II-S is equipped with a new generation of tubes, also used in the Classic Phono and the HD and Reference series. These tubes offer improved transparency, more micro-detail, and more realistic dynamic expression.
A total of three tubes are installed. These can be two 12AX7 or ECC 83 tubes, and a single 12AT7 or ECC 81 tube.
External power supply
The PreAmp II-S comes standard with the Nagra Compact PSU. This delivers 12 volts/2 amps, providing the preamplifier with an exceptionally clean and stable power source.
Alternatively, the preamplifier can be ordered without a power supply for owners of a Nagra MPS or Classic PSU. The 12V DC input uses the traditional LEMO connector, a hallmark of professional Nagra products for decades.
The return of the modulometer
The Series II brings back the legendary Nagra Modulometer, derived from the iconic Nagra IV-S tape recorder. This precision-engineered instrument allows accurate visual monitoring of left and right channel levels while simultaneously reinforcing the unmistakable Nagra identity.
The Nagra PreAmp II-S offers two selectable gain settings for optimal matching with the power amplifier while maintaining signal integrity. Most systems benefit from a 0 dB gain setting, allowing the PreAmp II-S to behave almost like a passive preamplifier, while maintaining an exceptionally low nine ohm output impedance.
The user can also select a +6 dB gain via a switch on the front panel. Nagra promises a dynamic range of 125 dB, which provides a quiet background that, according to the designers, allows music to emerge with greater nuance and realism, while “preserving the musical identity while simultaneously enhancing transparency, spatial definition, dynamics, and musical flow.” Nagra offers a frequency response of 10 Hz to 50 kHz (+0/-0.5 dB).
