Swiss high-end audio firm, Audio Technology Switzerland SA, announces the High End 2023 Munich show official world debut of the Nagra Classic DAC II.
Nagra’s newest digital offering, the Classic DAC II, features the same NADM (Nagra Audio Digital Module) digital engine employed in both our world acclaimed HD DAC X and TUBE DAC, and accommodates all current high resolution formats such as DSD 4x (256) and DXD. Other highlights include an output stage featuring discrete topology in pure Class A and an improved built-in power supply along with the option to connect a Nagra external reference power supply, Classic PSU, for ultimate performance.
The balance of Nagra’s Munich system will be comprised of a Nagra 70th Anniversary Reference Turntable, Nagra Reference MC phono cartridge, Nagra’s upcoming HD PHONO stage, HD PREAMP, HD AMP monoblocks, Nagra IV-S tape machine and Nagra VII Anniversary Edition digital recorder all feeding a pair of Wilson Audio Alexx V speakers combined with a pair of Wilson Audio LoKe subwoofers. Cabling by Shunyata, racks and amp stands by Modulum.
In addition to demonstrations of this world class system, Nagra will present “Meet the Expert” sessions interspersed throughout the show days featuring industry notables giving presentations from their particular perspectives supplemented with relevant musical demonstrations.
The highlight of the “Meet the Expert” presentations will surely be that of Grammy award winning guitar legend Al Di Meola. On Thursday at 14:30 Mr. Di Meola will play selected portions from both the acclaimed album “Friday Night in San Francisco” featuring fellow guitar greats Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin, as well as the recently released follow up LP “Saturday Night in San Francisco”. He will offer commentary, and anecdotes about the music, the performances and the recordings. This is a rare opportunity to gain “insider” insight into a recording that can be found on the shelves of music lovers and audiophiles the world over.
Nagra is exhibiting in room F 130.
Explaining What a High-End Digital Audio Converter Is
In the world of high-performance audio, the digital-to-analog converter—better known as a DAC—is one of the most critical components in your signal chain. Whether you’re streaming lossless music, spinning high-res files off a server, or connecting a CD transport to your amp, a DAC is the gateway between the digital domain and the analog world where music becomes emotion.
At its core, a digital-to-analog converter does exactly what the name suggests: it takes digital audio data—those ones and zeros—and transforms it into a continuous analog waveform that your amplifier and speakers can understand. Every piece of digital music you listen to goes through a DAC. Even your phone has one. But there’s a massive difference between the DAC buried inside a smartphone and a purpose-built, high-end DAC engineered with sonic purity in mind.
So, what separates a high-end DAC from the rest?
First, it’s about the precision of the conversion. High-end DACs are engineered to minimize noise, jitter, and distortion. They use better power supplies, superior internal clocking, and refined output stages. These factors might sound technical—and they are—but the result is something any listener can appreciate: more detail, better dynamics, and a more natural, lifelike presentation of your music.
High-end DACs also tend to support a wider range of formats and resolutions. We’re talking about PCM at high sample rates, native DSD, and sometimes even proprietary filtering algorithms that are designed in-house by audio engineers with decades of experience. But the real magic isn’t just in the specs—it’s in the voicing. The best DACs aren’t just neutral measuring tools; they’re designed to present music in a way that connects with listeners on a deeper level.
Build quality is another hallmark of a high-end DAC. We’re talking machined aluminum chassis, discrete analog output stages, isolated digital sections, and sometimes even outboard power supplies to reduce noise further. These aren’t features added for show—they’re added because every little improvement in shielding, layout, and component quality adds up to better sound.
Some of the top-tier DACs also include volume control and preamp functionality, allowing them to feed a power amp directly. Others feature multiple inputs for various digital sources—USB, coaxial, optical, AES/EBU—plus balanced and unbalanced outputs. They’re designed to be the centerpiece of a modern high-end audio system.
Ultimately, a high-end DAC is about fidelity. Not just technical accuracy, but emotional clarity. It’s about preserving every nuance in the recording and presenting it with a sense of space, depth, and realism that lesser gear just can’t deliver. For many audiophiles, upgrading to a serious DAC is a revelation—one that redefines what digital audio can sound like.
The Audiophile History of Nagra
To understand Nagra is to understand the intersection of precision engineering and emotional connection to music. This Swiss company, known first for its legendary portable tape recorders, quietly and confidently evolved into one of the most revered names in high-end audio. Nagra’s journey into the audiophile world wasn’t some trendy pivot—it was a natural extension of the company’s DNA: pure, unflinching dedication to audio excellence.
Nagra was founded in the 1950s by Stefan Kudelski, a Polish engineer living in Switzerland. The company’s early fame came from the creation of portable reel-to-reel tape machines that redefined professional audio. Journalists, filmmakers, and even intelligence agencies relied on Nagra recorders for their rugged build, accuracy, and stunning fidelity. These machines became staples on Hollywood film sets and in broadcast vans around the world.
But the audiophile community didn’t start paying close attention until decades later, when Nagra began quietly applying its audio know-how to playback systems designed not for the field, but for the listening room. And they didn’t come to the party with flash or fluff. They arrived with gear that felt like it was machined by watchmakers—because, in many ways, it was.
Nagra’s early home audio components were compact, visually minimalist, and engineered to absurd tolerances. The company’s trademark analog modulometer—the little backlit needle meter found on many of their components—isn’t just there for show. It’s a nod to their professional lineage and a sign that performance still matters more than polish.
What made Nagra’s transition to audiophile gear so unique was how natural it felt. Their preamps and amplifiers didn’t sound like lab equipment. They sounded like music. They managed to preserve detail, texture, and dynamic range in a way that felt effortless. That sense of realism, of presence, is what drew in serious listeners—and kept them.
As the digital era took hold, Nagra didn’t sit on the sidelines. They developed high-end DACs that maintained their signature sonic clarity while embracing new digital formats. Their HD DAC became a quiet benchmark among those who know. And, true to form, Nagra built these units with the same no-compromise mindset: discrete circuitry, isolated power supplies, and sonic voicing aimed squarely at accuracy and emotional engagement.
