Nagra HD DAC X

[thomask]

Someone claimed that Nagra HD DAC X is his favorite DAC right now. It sets the reference line under his preferences of resolution, dynamics, soundstage, neutrality, transparency, midrange and bottom end.

The Nagra DAC is the only one he heard matching the best turntables.... and a lot cheaper than the overpriced MSB Select.II

He's rating:

Nagra HD DAC X - 98
MSB Select II - 95

It is not inexpensive at 65,000$

https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/hd-dac-x/

Had anyone in our forum listened to Nagra HD DAC X? View attachment 55050

 

[howiebrou]

No but I would be interested to see if it is top notch. 65k is a lot though to spend on a technology that evolves so quickly.

 

[thomask]

No but I would be interested to see if it is top notch. 65k is a lot though to spend on a technology that evolves so quickly.

I had tuned my Dave and Mscaler so that it does not sound hot or bright.

But it does not have analog like ease.

It is not easy to spend more than 50K$ on Dac which evolve very rapidly.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Someone claimed that Nagra HD DAC X is his favorite DAC right now. It sets the reference line under his preferences of resolution, dynamics, soundstage, neutrality, transparency, midrange and bottom end.

The Nagra DAC is the only one he heard matching the best turntables.... and a lot cheaper than the overpriced MSB Select.II

He's rating:

Nagra HD DAC X - 98
MSB Select II - 95

It is not inexpensive at 65,000$

https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/hd-dac-x/

Had anyone in our forum listened to Nagra HD DAC X? View attachment 55050 View attachment 55051

I'm amused by your statement that the Nagra is cheaper than the overpriced MSB.

The word "cheaper" is doing some serious lifting. And you're not gonna find many people who don't believe a £65k dac is not overpriced either.

 

[thomask]

I'm amused by your statement that the Nagra is cheaper than the overpriced MSB.

The word "cheaper" is doing some serious lifting. And you're not gonna find many people who don't believe a £65k dac is not overpriced either.

That is not my statement but done by someone else from Germany.

I agree with you that 65K$ is a lot of money for Dac.

The thing is that MSB Select II may have a real contender.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Thomas, I've read a couple of comments that the ACerat Kassandra also pushes the Select 2.
I guess it would make sense to listen to as many of the top contenders as possible.

 

[NorthStar]

No but I would be interested to see if it is top notch. 65k is a lot though to spend on a technology that evolves so quickly.

Yes, and same for 200k turntables.

 

[howiebrou]

Yes, and same for 200k turntables.

I would add that i think digital has a slightly more evolution pace than vinyl...

 

[thomask]

I am playing ripped CD of the above performance right now through Cocktail Audio X30 with internal SSD.

Violin is an Achiles' heel for digital player.

If it sounds steely, then something is wrong.

After tuning with some digital cables and use of isolation transformers, violin sounds sweet with silky upper tone through my Dave and Mscaler.

Thus I am in no rush to change my digital gear again.

Dave and Mscaler also provide 3D holographic soundstage in my listening room.

I may live with it happily for 3 years or longer.


I will try to audition other top notch Dacs just to keep abreast of digital evolution.

 

[NorthStar]

I would add that i think digital has a slightly more evolution pace than vinyl...

I have to agree; in the music recordings, the upsampling, the clocking, the jitter, the aliasing, the quantification and the resolution.

But turntables are also making improved steps; heavier, quieter, speed accurate, better isolation of the platter, motor and tonearm.
The recordings are more into the rediscovering of the old masters though, when they were @ their best recorded.

My opinion.

 

[NorthStar]

A pleasant Frenchman doing the presentation ^

Looks neat inside ^

 

[thomask]

A pleasant Frenchman doing the presentation.

It could be my next Dac if the price go under 50k$.

 

[NorthStar]

Cool

 

[christoph]

It could be my next Dac if the price go under 50k$.

Do yourself a favor and listen again to the Lampizator Pacific with different tubes

 

[Zeotrope]

I would add that i think digital has a slightly more evolution pace than vinyl...

Nagra will update their DACs, so they stay relevant. So you send it back for updates as the tech evolves.
That said, the NAGRA DACs are the only thing I have heard that sound like vinyl. So I’m not sure how much more there is to evolve.

 

[Zeotrope]

Why no reviews of the HD DAC X, nearly 3 years after its launch?!

 

[Zeotrope]

Someone claimed that Nagra HD DAC X is his favorite DAC right now. It sets the reference line under his preferences of resolution, dynamics, soundstage, neutrality, transparency, midrange and bottom end.

The Nagra DAC is the only one he heard matching the best turntables.... and a lot cheaper than the overpriced MSB Select.II

He's rating:

Nagra HD DAC X - 98
MSB Select II - 95

It is not inexpensive at 65,000$

https://www.nagraaudio.com/product/hd-dac-x/

Had anyone in our forum listened to Nagra HD DAC X? View attachment 55050 View attachment 55051

Hi @thomask, who came up with these statements? I would like to read more reviews but have only come across one, from a Brazilian reviewer.

I find my Tube DAC seriously competitive and marginally better than my ~$40k turntable setup. So I can imagine the HD DAC X is going to be even better.
Has anyone back to back compared the HD DAC X with a Nagra IV-S reel to reel?

 

[jfrech]

Why no reviews of the HD DAC X, nearly 3 years after its launch?!

?? 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

 

[spiritofmusic]

J, any news on the HD Phono? Will it ever appear?

 

[jfrech]

J, any news on the HD Phono? Will it ever appear?

Hi Spirit, That was the other thing my dealer was going to Switzerland to listen to. It's apparently in a pre production state expected spring of next year. All I know is it will look like the HD Pre and HD DAC X however it is more complicated than both. This is only my guess, not a fact, but I suspect that the Classic Phono turned out so well that they had to go back and improve the HD Phono a bit.

My Classic phono was shipped with Genelex tubes (2 6922's, 1 12AX7 and 1 12AT7). I just re tubed it with Amperex Holland NOS 7308's, Philips Holland ECC81, ECC83. About 50 hours on the tubes and they are really getting special. My HD PRE has Mullard ECC88's from the factory.