new Nagra Tube DAC

[ulf]

I have had the Nagra HD with PSU now for a long time and was very pleased with it. Fantastic sound both with C.E.C TLO 3.0 transport and with
computer Mac pro laptop with AUDIONIRVA plus and my 3000cd collection on NAS. TIDAL is very good and even Spotify played via Aragon spotify box on the Nagra sound very good.
I now got the new Nagra Tube Dac w new Classic PSU. A considerable economic outlay so very nervous if it should improve sound.
Straight out of box it was no improvement and a long burn i period was needed.

 

[morricab]

I have had the Nagra HD with PSU now for a long time and was very pleased with it. Fantastic sound both with C.E.C TLO 3.0 transport and with
computer Mac pro laptop with AUDIONIRVA plus and my 3000cd collection on NAS. TIDAL is very good and even Spotify played via Aragon spotify box on the Nagra sound very good.
I now got the new Nagra Tube Dac w new Classic PSU. A considerable economic outlay so very nervous if it should improve sound.
Straight out of box it was no improvement and a long burn i period was needed.

Why did you buy it without making thorough comparisons to the old one?

 

[ulf]

because I got a very favorable offer on the private market for my old dac and had to accept and sell very quick. That quick sell made the new buy possible.
I trust nagra's reputation for excellent products so I was sure the new would be better. Question how much better.

 

[ulf]

After a long burn in period i finally could give the new dac a seriously listening.
And wow it was not a small improvement over the already good HD dac.
Everything got better.
Microdetails not heard before pop up. Things buried in the mix now could be here clearly.
The soundstage expand in every direction
Midbass got cleaned up and you could more easily hear the bass player in rock music.
dynamics improved and was better preserved when you played music very low
You got more body on the individual tones.
High tones like cymbals was so clear and present.
I could go on but the content is I got a more musical DAC than the already good
HD dac. So a very good investment in musicality.
Being a retired man I found myself listening to good music even more.

 

[jfrech]

Congrats ULF. I bought the Classic PSU to replace my Nagra MPS. This PSU alone make a big difference on my Nagra VPS phono stage...

 

[pjwd]

After a long burn in period i finally could give the new dac a seriously listening.
And wow it was not a small improvement over the already good HD dac.
Everything got better.
Microdetails not heard before pop up. Things buried in the mix now could be here clearly.
The soundstage expand in every direction
Midbass got cleaned up and you could more easily hear the bass player in rock music.
dynamics improved and was better preserved when you played music very low
You got more body on the individual tones.
High tones like cymbals was so clear and present.
I could go on but the content is I got a more musical DAC than the already good
HD dac. So a very good investment in musicality.
Being a retired man I found myself listening to good music even more.

thanks for this Ulf - I was toying with upgrading to classic PSU but now you have given me reason to pause - perhaps this is the value/performance step up - as you say the HD DAC is no slouch
I do like the idea of more detail - does it still have that flowing organic sound

did you ever consider the HD DAC X and do you have any idea where the tube DAC sits in relation to that

sadly none are available to listen to in Aus

cheers

Phil

 

[ulf]

Phil
If you got the possibility go for the full upgrade
It’s hard to describe but everything is better even the flowing organic sound that made the HD dac equal the sound of a good vinyl rig.

I suppose dac x is even better but at the moment I can’t imagine how,
I don’t think there are any to listen to here I Sweden. And I will not afford it anyway.
Just content now with what I have.

 

[pjwd]

Phil
If you got the possibility go for the full upgrade
It’s hard to describe but everything is better even the flowing organic sound that made the HD dac equal the sound of a good vinyl rig.

I suppose dac x is even better but at the moment I can’t imagine how,
I don’t think there are any to listen to here I Sweden. And I will not afford it anyway.
Just content now with what I have.

Thanks for that Ulf - so good that you have had such a great result - always scary making that leap of faith !

I will now engage in deeeep thought

Cheers

Phil

 

[ulf]

So far six of my Audiophile friends have listen to the new dac. They all new my setup inside out. Three of them has developed a new tube amp and one of them will starts manufacturing it ( the prototype sounds very well)
Anyhow they all agreed that the new Dac was a major step up in sound quality

The best praise comes from the Vinyl Only Guy. He is a man of few words and with 4000vinyls,
I quote: That’s a DAC I could live with.
Nuff said!

 

[ulf]

The CD that mesmerized my tube/vinyl friends was Reference Recordings
RR 136 Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo capriccioso.
Very well recorded and one of the most beautiful classic pieces I know!
(it also contains the famous organ symphony)

 

[jfrech]

So far six of my Audiophile friends have listen to the new dac. They all new my setup inside out. Three of them has developed a new tube amp and one of them will starts manufacturing it ( the prototype sounds very well)
Anyhow they all agreed that the new Dac was a major step up in sound quality

The best praise comes from the Vinyl Only Guy. He is a man of few words and with 4000vinyls,
I quote: That’s a DAC I could live with.
Nuff said!

That's quite a compliment !

 

[Sniper17]

View attachment 55236
I have had the Nagra HD with PSU now for a long time and was very pleased with it. Fantastic sound both with C.E.C TLO 3.0 transport and with
computer Mac pro laptop with AUDIONIRVA plus and my 3000cd collection on NAS. TIDAL is very good and even Spotify played via Aragon spotify box on the Nagra sound very good.
I now got the new Nagra Tube Dac w new Classic PSU. A considerable economic outlay so very nervous if it should improve sound.
Straight out of box it was no improvement and a long burn i period was needed.

Please keep us posted!

 

[ulf]

I recommend the cd Nameless by Dominique Fils-Aime
Listen to the song Birds. Via the C.E .C transport and Tube Dac I use the old qliche: She is in the room singing for you, A somewhat spooky feeling.
I also got a heavily tweaked Spotify playback system. Even on Spotify she is there!

 

[Sniper17]

I recommend the cd Nameless by Dominique Fils-Aime
Listen to the song Birds. Via the C.E .C transport and Tube Dac I use the old qliche: She is in the room singing for you, A somewhat spooky feeling.
I also got a heavily tweaked Spotify playback system. Even on Spotify she is there!

Thanks for the update. I have owned the HD DAC for six months. Primarily with Tidal. I demoed the Classis DAC, the HD DAC blew it away. I appreciate your updates. Probably going Tube DAC next year.

 

[ulf]

My new Tube Dac
Also testing a Nuprime super cheap cd transport. Exceptional good sound quality for little money.

 

[jfrech]

My new Tube Dac
Also testing a Nuprime super cheap cd transport. Exceptional good sound quality for little money.View attachment 56431

I still find I like spinning discs slightly better. Curious as to your thoughts. I Maybe loose a lil resolution vs a hi rez file but gain in textures and weight. It's not a massive diff, both sound good.

 

[ulf]

A pictures of the Nagra Classic PSU to My Nagra Tube DAC. Together with the C.E.C. TLO 3.0 the dac makes absolutly world class sound spinning CD.
My computer rig with NAS and Tidal is equally good but a little difference.A few high res files, but not everyone, has an even higher SQ.

 

[AlexisArch]

Hi,
always happy with Ur Nagra Tube dac?
and... am curious if u have compared directly the mighty cec tlox with the new low cost Jewel nunprime cdt 8...?

 

[ulf]

The CEC transport with Nagra Tube Dac gives excellence sound as it should given the high price,
Comparing it to supercheap Nuprime transport directly gives interesting results.
The Nuprime transport is nearly as good! If I have not heard the C E C I could happily lived with the Nuprime sound quality.
But why has the Nuprime remote no direct access to different tracks on a CD?
A nuisances

 

[Sniper17]

I have the HD DAC and PSU. I have a basic CDT. So far, the performance of the CDT is heavily dependent on the DAC. If looks don't matter, a basic CDT is good enough. The CEC is beautiful! If I do upgrade the CDT, the unit from Acoustic Plan from Germany is compact and a work of art. The Nagra CDT looks great, but at $12K USD, not realistic.