Nagra HD Preamp Versus Aries Cerat Incito S Preamp

[Audiocrack]

I have Transparent Opus power cords on my front end equipment (HD Phono/Pre Ref DAC) all into Transparent Opus Power Isolators. Using Siltech Master Crown to power my HD Amps

So the Siltech MC pc’s have supposedly arrived. Can you already share your (initial) experiences with us or is it maybe too early?

 

[jfrech]

So the Siltech MC pc’s have supposedly arrived. Can you already share your (initial) experiences with us or is it maybe too early?

Yes, I have 2 Master Crowns one 20 amp for each mono block, arrived ~2weeks ago.

My initial experience...they are transformational. Big change in resolution, quietness, how each note is seemingly infused with more energy, the whole system is more engaging. Crazy expensive (along the lines of just upgrading to Ref Amps). Might be the only two I get. I have since ordered a Double Crown power to try on the DAC or Pre or Phono...might try them on each to see, maybe start with the HD Pre...

 

[Audiocrack]

Yes, I have 2 Master Crowns one 20 amp for each mono block, arrived ~2weeks ago.

My initial experience...they are transformational. Big change in resolution, quietness, how each note is seemingly infused with more energy, the whole system is more engaging. Crazy expensive (along the lines of just upgrading to Ref Amps). Might be the only two I get. I have since ordered a Double Crown power to try on the DAC or Pre or Phono...might try them on each to see, maybe start with the HD Pre...

Btw, I am currently listening to three Siltech triple crown pc’s. Those who are interested in my listening experiences with these pc’s I refer to the Tidal La Assoluta system thread.

 

[jfrech]

Btw, I am currently listening to three Siltech triple crown pc’s. Those who are interested in my listening experiences with these pc’s I refer to the Tidal La Assoluta system thread.

Hi I poked around that thread-good stuff. What pages are the triple crowns on ....long thread

Never mind, I found it !! Sorry !

 

[Zeotrope]

I thought the balanced output on the HD Pre is standard; it’s just on the inputs that a balanced source input is optional.

 

[Zeotrope]

Many preamplifiers have excessive gain - we have to use them around 10-11 o'clock. It looks your Nagra is being used at an excellent setting. As far as I remember the output impedance of your preamplfier depends on the volume control level, being minimal at maximum level, as could be expected from a stepped output transformer.

Output impedance is minimal at minimal level. If someone can explain to me why this is the case, that would be great. So sound quality improves as volume is decreased?
Output impedance: < 0.2 ohm @ -15dB / < 40 ohm @ 0 dB

 

[Zeotrope]

Thank you for this. That's even lower than my seller thought the gain is.

Well I'm sure as heck glad I didn't get involved with the Nagra HD preamp! Only 5.6dB of gain is pretty wacky from a flagship preamp marketed as a general purpose line stage.

Nagra should market this explicitly as a "low gain line stage." No wonder they don't disclose in their spec sheet the gain -- a rather important specification for a line stage pre-amplifier!

The only other time I saw a gain spec this low for an active line stage preamplifier was my Hegel P30A with only 5dB of gain for a solid-state preamplifier. Unsurprisingly, Hegel, like Nagra, did not include this spec in its list of specifications for a product advertised as a general purpose line stage preamplifier.

Total gain would be the same, it’s just a question of adding it in the pre or amp.I would rather add it as close to the speakers as possible.

 

[microstrip]

Output impedance is minimal at minimal level. If someone can explain to me why this is the case, that would be great. So sound quality improves as volume is decreased?
Output impedance: < 0.2 ohm @ -15dB / < 40 ohm @ 0 dB

The output level depends on the number of turns of the output transformer involved in the signal - more turns, more output signal voltage, but also higher impedance as there transformer ratio increases and there is a greater length of copper wire involved. Considering the extremely low values of resistance and impedance involved I do not expect that it will affect sound quality.