After years of intense research and development, the HD PHONO is finally available for discerning vinyl listeners. It is the ideal complement to the HD range and the world-acclaimed HD PREAMP, HD DAC X, and HD AMP monoblocks.
The first Nagra phono stage was derived from the microphone preamplifier stage of the Nagra IV-S reel-to-reel. It later evolved into the phono section of the legendary Nagra PL-P preamplifier. Nagra has since improved that original design by creating the Nagra VPS and BPS, followed by the Nagra Classic PHONO, released in 2020.
The Nagra HD PHONO follows the introduction of the Reference turntable and the Nagra MC-4 moving coil cartridge. Both the Reference turntable and the MC-4 cartridge are next-generation competitors in their own right and proved to be important assets in the completion and fine-tuning of the HD PHONO
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The HD PHONO is a two-chassis design in which the delicate phono stage circuitry is isolated in its CNC-machined aluminum chassis. A second chassis houses a huge external power supply with a supercapacitor. Supercapacitor-based power supplies provide all the advantages of battery-based power supplies with the added advantage of accepting and delivering loads much faster and with greater charge current and cycle stability than battery-based power supplies. This power supply is based on those in the HD PREAMP and HD DAC X but features several innovations that make it even quieter with improved performance. Both chassis are suspended on a system that incorporates a damped, constrained layer platform coupled to four damped towers with isolators that provide superior vibration resistance.
The best analog is incorporated into the HD PHONO. It is double-mono, pure Class A with 100% valve stages. In addition, it incorporates a remote control with the ability to adjust the capsule load from 10 to 390 ohms, with steps as fine as 5 ohms for the smallest values. This allows for a perfect match between your capsule and the HD PHONO stage, all confirmed by ear from the comfort of your listening chair.
The HD PHONO presents a new generation of input transformers. Following the original VPS transformer and based on the Nagra IV-S microphone input transformers, the HD PHONO transformers are a fourth-generation design with 26 dB of gain. The core of the new transformer is made of cobalt and is cryogenically treated for several weeks to improve performance. The transformer itself is wound by hand in a very delicate process that requires the skills of watchmakers.
- Double mono/class A valves
- 4xEF806S, 2xE88CC
- Custom-made input transformers with 26 dB gain with cryogenically treated cobalt cores
- Total gain up to 68.5 dB adjustable by +/- 6 dB, i.e. 62.5 and 56.5 dB
- RIAA, TELDEC, NAB 100 µS, VICTOR EUR, VICTOR US
- 2x MC inputs on RCA
- 1x MM input on RCA
- 1x optional input for future custom transformers
- Remotely controlled charging system from no load to 390 ohms in 5-ohm steps
- Independent power supply with supercapacitor module ensuring silent power
