Nagra PSU or Nagra Dac Upgrade

[sbwheelrepair]

Hi, I have the opportunity to upgrade one of two components in my chain. Deciding between upgrading my Nagra Classic dac 1 to a classic dac ii or Nagra tube dac or upgrading to the Nagra PSU for my melody pre and digital sources. I have purchased the new Nagra Streamer which has been awesome but I know it could be improved on by using the fiber optic connection if I upgrade to a newer Nagra Dac or I could upgrade to the Nagra PSU which would also be an improvement. I am running the external acps power supplies already with the melody preamp, dac and the included basic external power supply for the streamer. Unfortunately the PSU would only power 3 of my 4 Nagra units so I’d have to pick either the dac, streamer , preamp or phono stage to use an acps. Would this be a more substantial upgrade path or moving into one of their more advanced and modern dacs. My classic dac looks to be around a 2020 model with approximately 6000 hours on the meter. Thanks any advice would be greatly appreciated, Joe

 

[Holmz]

Hi, I have the opportunity to upgrade one of two components in my chain. Deciding between upgrading my Nagra Classic dac 1 to a classic dac ii or Nagra tube dac or upgrading to the Nagra PSU for my melody pre and digital sources. I have purchased the new Nagra Streamer which has been awesome but I know it could be improved on by using the fiber optic connection if I upgrade to a newer Nagra Dac or I could upgrade to the Nagra PSU which would also be an improvement. I am running the external acps power supplies already with the melody preamp, dac and the included basic external power supply for the streamer. Unfortunately the PSU would only power 3 of my 4 Nagra units so I’d have to pick either the dac, streamer , preamp or phono stage to use an acps. Would this be a more substantial upgrade path or moving into one of their more advanced and modern dacs. My classic dac looks to be around a 2020 model with approximately 6000 hours on the meter. Thanks any advice would be greatly appreciated, Joe

I am no expert in this stuff, but here is my take.

I have the MPS and it has 4 ports which are connected with LEMO.
So it seems like maybe you could do 4 ancillary things with one of those?

While you could upgrade to the Nagra PSU, baybe the MPS would also be an option?
I think it is an older unit, but 12V is 12V, so I am not sure what the newer unit gives you.

I have a Jazz rather than a Melody, but I am sure that the Melody is dandy too.

I am running an RME DAC so that goes into the Jazz.
And running SS amps, so it is a bit easier as they turn on automatically for the Haus-boss. When the TV starts playing.
It sounds pretty OK to me.

I also do vinyl. And I see that we both have a VPS.

Everyone seems to be hard over on power (dirty power) etc. And power cables up the wazoo.
Maybe I have been blessed or lucky, but i have rarely had issues with power (as far as I know).
And most well designed gear is immune to a lot of power woes.
I’d rather have an MPS than a bunch of power conditioners myself… but that is the way I went, so maybe it is post-hoc rationalisation?

I cannot imagine that the Classic DAC would be worth upgrading “away from”, but maybe it is?
What is down stream of the front end source stack?

I am looking for a CDP, as The Haus-Boss wants to be able to play CDs… so that is a better option for me than a streamer, and I just stream via Spotify often through the HT AVP side, but through the DAC if I am serious.
Both ways sound just fine.

I really suggest just doing nothing.
Maybe keep an eye open for a 4 port MPS.
Your stack looks pretty solid to me, and what are you really gaining with an upgrade?
(I know that they say that the angels sing more with the newer gear, but how does it sound? )

Can you tell me about that Teac unit?
Is it a CD player/transport?



It seem we have a somewhat similar approach and taste.

 

[sbwheelrepair]

I am no expert in this stuff, but here is my take.

I have the MPS and it has 4 ports which are connected with LEMO.
So it seems like maybe you could do 4 ancillary things with one of those?

While you could upgrade to the Nagra PSU, baybe the MPS would also be an option?
I think it is an older unit, but 12V is 12V, so I am not sure what the newer unit gives you.

I have a Jazz rather than a Melody, but I am sure that the Melody is dandy too.

I am running an RME DAC so that goes into the Jazz.
And running SS amps, so it is a bit easier as they turn on automatically for the Haus-boss. When the TV starts playing.
It sounds pretty OK to me.

I also do vinyl. And I see that we both have a VPS.

Everyone seems to be hard over on power (dirty power) etc. And power cables up the wazoo.
Maybe I have been blessed or lucky, but i have rarely had issues with power (as far as I know).
And most well designed gear is immune to a lot of power woes.
I’d rather have an MPS than a bunch of power conditioners myself… but that is the way I went, so maybe it is post-hoc rationalisation?

I cannot imagine that the Classic DAC would be worth upgrading “away from”, but maybe it is?
What is down stream of the front end source stack?

I am looking for a CDP, as The Haus-Boss wants to be able to play CDs… so that is a better option for me than a streamer, and I just stream via Spotify often through the HT AVP side, but through the DAC if I am serious.
Both ways sound just fine.

I really suggest just doing nothing.
Maybe keep an eye open for a 4 port MPS.
Your stack looks pretty solid to me, and what are you really gaining with an upgrade?
(I know that they say that the angels sing more with the newer gear, but how does it sound? )

Can you tell me about that Teac unit?
Is it a CD player/transport?



It seem we have a somewhat similar approach and taste.

Hi, I was wondering if I’d notice an improvement as well as the external Nagra acps converters I’m using that are in line of power already covert 115v to 12v dc.. so the main upgrade might likely be a newer Nagra dac as the classic I have is the original version made from 2017-2021 and doesn’t accept the new n-link fiber optic cable from my new Nagra streamer where any of the ones above this one will, even the classic dac ii. The teac unit is pretty new to me as I wanted a small transport only to run through my dac and recently switched from a source stack on the side of the room and monos up front for my Sasha daw’s to now everything in one enclosed cabinet with all gear inside in one place as I live 400’ from the Pacific Ocean and don’t want to deal with oxidation in open shelf racks any longer. In my experience it’s very hard to hear sonic differences in transports as that’s my 3rd most likely source next to vinyl and streaming with the Nagra streamer. It is good and cheap I’d say as it uses the 5020 teac transport mechanism in it that many brands use in much more expensive players like ps audio among others. The Teac Transport is the new 500 series reference and I had a luxman D03x that I think slightly bested it in dynamics but going into my dac to a/b I had to use a combination of optical for one transport and digital coaxial on the other.. both audioquest carbon. All of my other cables are transparent ultra and transparent reference on my phono side

 

[sbwheelrepair]

Hi, I was wondering if I’d notice an improvement as well as the external Nagra acps converters I’m using that are in line of power already covert 115v to 12v dc.. so the main upgrade might likely be a newer Nagra dac as the classic I have is the original version made from 2017-2021 and doesn’t accept the new n-link fiber optic cable from my new Nagra streamer where any of the ones above this one will, even the classic dac ii. The teac unit is pretty new to me as I wanted a small transport only to run through my dac and recently switched from a source stack on the side of the room and monos up front for my Sasha daw’s to now everything in one enclosed cabinet with all gear inside in one place as I live 400’ from the Pacific Ocean and don’t want to deal with oxidation in open shelf racks any longer. In my experience it’s very hard to hear sonic differences in transports as that’s my 3rd most likely source next to vinyl and streaming with the Nagra streamer. It is good and cheap I’d say as it uses the 5020 teac transport mechanism in it that many brands use in much more expensive players like ps audio among others. The Teac Transport is the new 500 series reference and I had a luxman D03x that I think slightly bested it in dynamics but going into my dac to a/b I had to use a combination of optical for one transport and digital coaxial on the other.. both audioquest carbon. All of my other cables are transparent ultra and transparent reference on my phono side

By the way, I loved the luxman cd player very much but it was just too large for my cabinet I found for all of my gear. I had two of the D-03x players in 2 of my systems and they are incredible for the price. Very good built in dac as well but nothing like the Nagra. I’ve sold one of the 2 luxman players now and am
Definitely keeping the other as it plays even the most old and damaged of discs without issue and is built like a tank. The Teac isn’t Japanese any longer like before so for the price it’s good but I’m sure there are better out there and I’ve not ever seen a Nagra cd player come up for sale in US in a long time so the size fit my needs and I am certainly done buying cd’s so it’s just an extra source now.

 

[Holmz]

Hi, I was wondering if I’d notice an improvement as well as the external Nagra acps converters I’m using that are in line of power already covert 115v to 12v dc.. so the main upgrade might likely be a newer Nagra dac as the classic I have is the original version made from 2017-2021 and doesn’t accept the new n-link fiber optic cable from my new Nagra streamer where any of the ones above this one will, even the classic dac ii.

I assume it also outputs with some other digital method?

The teac unit is pretty new to me as I wanted a small transport only to run through my dac and recently switched from a source stack on the side of the room and monos up front for my Sasha daw’s to now everything in one enclosed cabinet with all gear inside in one place as I live 400’ from the Pacific Ocean and don’t want to deal with oxidation in open shelf racks any longer.

What city/town or county?
We are about 4000’ feet from the water here, and a place in South bay is about 2000’
Both get a frosting of ocean mist on the car windows by morning.

In my experience it’s very hard to hear sonic differences in transports as that’s my 3rd most likely source next to vinyl and streaming with the Nagra streamer.

Me too, but the haus-boss being happy is a thing.

It is good and cheap I’d say as it uses the 5020 teac transport mechanism in it that many brands use in much more expensive players like ps audio among others. The Teac Transport is the new 500 series reference and I had a luxman D03x that I think slightly bested it in dynamics but going into my dac to a/b I had to use a combination of optical for one transport and digital coaxial on the other.. both audioquest carbon. All of my other cables are transparent ultra and transparent reference on my phono side

Thanks - is it call the PD505T?

 

[sbwheelrepair]

Yes, it’s the 505T. Have not had the urge to try the external clock that’s offered but if one shows up in silver on the used market then maybe it’s something I can try and be able to sell if it’s not worth it. I’m in the Santa Barbara area and I live one point down from Rincon point

 

[Holmz]

Yes, it’s the 505T. Have not had the urge to try the external clock that’s offered but if one shows up in silver on the used market then maybe it’s something I can try and be able to sell if it’s not worth it. I’m in the Santa Barbara area and I live one point down from Rincon point

A fellow I worked with told me a story of a first date with his now wife.
They were in Santa Barbera, and went roller skating, or roller blading.

He said that this drop dead gorgeous blond skated past them and Melanie said, “did you see that?”
The fellow, somewhat confused and embarrassed said, “yeah I did.”
Melanie said, “I don’t think that I’ve ever even heard of a 1 legged fellow rollerblading.

He said he turned around, and sho-nuf the fellow skating with the woman, indeed had 1 leg.

He said she could have been skating with big foot and he would not have noticed.

 

[jfrech]

Hi, what a tough choice! Perplexing question for sure. I have used a MPS and Classic PSU over the years. Right now I have a MPS powering my Nagra Streamer. Both PSU's are upgrades over your ACPS power supplies. The Classic PSU is better. The Nagra MPS is discontinued, but plenty of used ones out there. My dealer has several (depends where you live if he can sell to you)

I like the idea above, get a used MPS, put your best power cord on it, power 4 components. Then try a dac upgrade....my two cents! Good luck !