The Birth of a New Nagra Series
Long before Nagra became a reference name in high-end home audio, its recorders were designed for sound engineers requiring absolute reliability and uncompromising sound quality in the most demanding environments. Yet from the very beginning, music lovers recognized their exceptional sonic qualities and adopted them for home use.
In 1998, Nagra officially entered the high-end Hi-Fi world with the PL-P, its first home-oriented product: a battery-powered tube preamplifier with phono stage, featuring the legendary Modulometer™ and rotary selector. It quickly became an icon.
The Return of the Modulometer™
The Series II brings back the legendary Nagra Modulometer™, derived from the iconic Nagra IV-S reel-to-reel recorder. This precision-engineered instrument allows accurate visual monitoring of left and right channel levels while reinforcing the unmistakable Nagra identity.
The design philosophy of Series II focuses on sound quality above all, while maintaining a reasonable footprint suited to modern living spaces.
Mechanical Reference Legacy
Drawing from the mechanical expertise developed for the Reference turntable and Reference electronics, the PREAMP II-S benefits from advanced vibration control. A phenolic damping layer has been added beneath the aluminum top cover.
Firmly glued and screwed in place, it ensures optimal control of mechanical resonances, contributing directly to the unit’s exceptional sonic stability and clarity.
HD Tube Technology
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 deliver enhanced transparency, improved micro-detail, and more realistic dynamic expression.
Design & Ergonomics
Visually, the PREAMP II-S draws inspiration from the historic PL-P as well as the HD and Reference lines.
The OLED display, shared with the HD PHONO and Reference DAC, offers sharp characters and high brightness for excellent readability, even from a distance.
Input selection is handled by a precision rotary encoder, derived from the HD PHONO, featuring a finely fluted aluminum knob whose mechanical quality is immediately perceptible.
Faithful to the original PL-P concept, the power supply has been removed from the chassis and is now external. This prevents unwanted interference coming from the mains.
Power Supply Architecture
The PREAMP II-S is delivered as standard with the Nagra Compact PSU. Providing 12 V / 2 A, it supplies 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 12 V DC input uses the traditional LEMO connector, a hallmark of Nagra professional products for decades.
Gain Stage Philosophy
Two selectable gain settings allow optimal system matching while preserving signal integrity. Most systems will benefit from operating the PREAMP II-S at 0dB gain, where it behaves almost like a passive preamplifier while maintaining an exceptionally low output impedance of 9 ohms. This ensures precise control over any power amplifier. When additional gain is required, +6dB can be engaged via a front-panel toggle switch.
Silence as a Design Principle
Nagra products are renowned for their exceptional measured performance, particularly in terms of noise. Decades of experience designing ultra-silent professional recorders are directly eflected in the PREAMP II-S.
With a dynamic range of 125 dB, it offers an extraordinarily quiet background, allowing music to emerge with maximum contrast and realism.
Sonic Signature
Owners of the Classic PREAMP who appreciate its accuracy without clinical character, wide and deep soundstage, lifelike dynamics, and exceptional silence will immediately recognize its musical DNA in the PREAMP II-S.
The new model retains this signature while elevating performance in every aspect: greater transparency, improved spatial definition, enhanced dynamic expression, and an even deeper sense of musical flow.
Technical specification
ELECTRONICS
- Output impedance : 18 Ω – Gain selection switch @ +6 dB 9 Ω – Gain selection switch @ 0 dB
- Frequency response: 10 Hz – 50 kHz (+0 / -0.5 dB)
- Dynamic range: >125 dB (Gain selection switch @ +6 dB)
- Input level to reach 0 dB (Modulometer): 1 V rms (Gain at +12 dB) (Gain selection switch @ 0 dB, volume potentiometer @ 0 dB)
- Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.01% @ 1 kHz, 1 V rms out, no load
- Crosstalk: >85 dB @ 1 kHz, 1 V rms out, no load
- Vacuum tubes (selected by Nagra Laboratory): 2x 12AX7/ECC83 1x 12AT7/ECC81
- Power consumption: PMAX 12.6 W
- Power supply: 12 – 12.6 V DC / 1 A
- Operating temperature: +15°C to +35°C Standby < 1 W +59°F to +95°F
- Operating environment: Indoor only Moderate climate
CONNECTIONS
- Inputs: XLR RCA 1 to 4
- Outputs: 2 x XLR 1 x RCA
GENERAL
- Dimensions: 380 x 280 x 76 mm (15 x 11 x 3 inches) Add 3cm or 1.2 inches with a VFS plate placed under
- Weight: 4.8 Kg (10.6 lbs)