NAGRA
Amplifiers
DACs
Digital Sources
Headphones
Best Known For
Amplifiers
/
Used Products
14
 Available
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Brand Popularity
183
 of 900+
Products Listed
19
Review Count
41
Founding Year
1951
Headquarters
Switzerland
NAGRA
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

What's unique about the brand

Nagra Audio, a Swiss brand with roots in professional recording and film (including two Oscars for soundtracks), brings watchmaking-level precision to their hifi equipment through extensive in-house manufacturing of components like transformers. Their HD Preamp and Classic DAC showcase unique technologies, including virtual battery power supplies and PCM-to-DSD conversion, while their commitment to quality is demonstrated by rejecting over half of their tested valves to maintain exceptional standards.

What reviewers are saying

We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:

  • Nagra products draw heavily from their professional audio recording heritage, evident in their rugged build quality, compact form factor, and the inclusion of the iconic Modulometer.
  • The company meticulously handcrafts its own components, including transformers and custom capacitors, often exceeding industry standards by rejecting a significant portion of sourced parts to maintain exceptional quality control.
  • Nagra integrates sophisticated solid-state electronics with vacuum tubes, achieving a balance of modern performance with the desirable sonic characteristics of tubes, often described as a musical and emotionally engaging experience.
  • They offer a modular system approach, where external power supplies and vibration-free systems can significantly enhance the performance of their components, allowing for a scalable upgrade path.

Our favorite reviewer quotes:

  • "These pieces bring up the most 3D and holographic soundstage I have ever heard in my room. The sound is sweet, with layers upon layers of clean sound and beautiful death with a touch of warmth to bring body and soul to the music." (https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2022/01/25/nagra-classic-preamp-and-amp-in-the-house-the-leica-of-hifi)
  • "As Ella Fitzgerald coos "April in Paris," the luscious midrange depth of the 300p rivets your attention to the musical performance, and when Louis Armstrong joins her on the latter half of the track, awash in texture and tonal richness, it's so easy to forget about the gear completely and just dig this classic tune. And that is the essence of the 300p: It always gets out of the way and celebrates the music." (https://www.tonepublications.com/review/nagra-300p-amplifier)
  • "The Tube DAC is super refined when it comes to sound. No noise, intensely black backgrounds and a natural musical way of delivering the music." (https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2024/11/03/the-nagra-tube-dac-review-otherworldly)
  • "However, once we had switched over to the Tube DAC, the sound stage became almost holographic and the sound even smoother, richer, cleaner and clearer! Alison's trumpet playing seemed even more expressive than with the Classic DAC and the ambient decay from the instrument in the acoustics even clearer." (https://criterionaudio.com/2019/06/22/nagra-tube-dac-vs-classic-dac-criterion-audio-review)
Want to report a correction? Please contact us. We'd love to hear from you. Note that much of the data, recommendations, and summaries on ExtremeHiFi are researched after thousands of hours of loving labor. We archive our site's data and its pages on Archive.org and monitor for those repurposing the data. We also fingerprint data to know when text and numbers came from us.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

From Julian's interview with
.

Products

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Check Amazon
Amazon logo

Lineup comparison

We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.

Nagra Classic Amp

  • Positioning: The entry-level high-end amplifier in Nagra's lineup, suitable for high-quality installations.
  • Description: Features pure class A operation over a large power band. Uses tandem MOSFET transistors, which are simpler than the more complex designs in the Reference and HD lines. Its power supply concept with an overdimensioned transformer ensures stability, but it lacks the advanced mechanical damping and larger power supplies found in the more expensive models. Making it ideal for smaller rooms or those with a moderate budget.

Nagra HD Amp

  • Positioning: A high-end model designed for ultimate performance in large rooms with demanding speakers.
  • Description: Features a 1600 VA transformer and a dual Pi filter for stable power delivery. Offers more power and a larger chassis compared to the Classic Amp, making it suitable for larger spaces and those seeking a more powerful soundstage. However, it does not have the latest mechanical and electronic improvements of the Reference Amp.

Nagra Reference Amp

  • Positioning: The flagship model, representing the pinnacle of Nagra's amplifier technology.
  • Description: Distinguished by its new power supply, 25% larger than the HD Amp, and features like adjustable resonance decoupling feet and new input circuits. Offers the most refined sound with increased class A operation and advanced mechanical damping. Compared to the HD Amp, it provides even greater sonic detail and flexibility in matching with various speakers and room acoustics.
Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer

Search hifi products

Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.

Similar

Amplifiers

brands

Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
0
 Available
Brand Popularity
472
 of 900+
Headquarters
Poland

About the brand

Audiophonique is a Polish hifi brand that hand-makes all its products using 316L stainless steel enclosures and medical and military-grade components. Their DAC DHT stands out for its rare use of directly heated triodes and DSD conversion, while their cables feature a proprietary Extended Air Geometry with monocrystalline silver and copper conductors.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
14
 Available
Brand Popularity
128
 of 900+
Headquarters
Germany

About the brand

Burmester, a high-end audio brand renowned for its German craftsmanship, designs and handcrafts its components in Berlin. Known for its distinctive industrial aesthetic with chrome finishes, the brand supplies premium sound systems for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
4
 Available
Brand Popularity
313
 of 900+
Headquarters
Bulgaria

About the brand

Thrax Audio is distinguished by its use of transformers for volume control instead of traditional potentiometers in their Dionysos preamplifier, and their Spartacus amplifier features a unique two-stage shunt regulated Directly Heated-Triodes push-pull design in pure class-A with no feedback.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
1
 Available
Brand Popularity
476
 of 900+
Headquarters
Germany

About the brand

Accustic Arts is a German hifi brand that handcrafts its products with meticulous attention to detail, including a rigorous two-week testing process and the use of premium materials like thick aluminum plates and gold-plated contacts. Their unique "tube hybrid" technology in preamplifiers combines transistor technology with tube buffering, delivering a natural and emotionally engaging midrange reproduction that has earned them a dedicated following among audiophiles who appreciate precise, analog sound performance.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
15
 Available
Brand Popularity
115
 of 900+
Headquarters
Denmark

About the brand

Gryphon is one of the most respected high-end amplifier brands in the world. Its bass grip is phenomenal, thanks to an unusually high level of capacitance, which keeps everything tight and controlled, even with demanding speakers. Gryphon is also known for its bold, brutalist design—a look that a lot of people love. You’ll find their gear all over Europe and Asia, and the Diablo 333 is often considered an ‘endgame’ amp by those chasing the very best sound and aesthetics.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Known For
Amplifiers
/
Average Price
$20,001-$40,000
Used Products
4
 Available
Brand Popularity
349
 of 900+
Headquarters
China

About the brand

Viva Audio handcrafts bespoke audio equipment with zero negative feedback in its amplifiers, a rare feature that enhances natural sound quality. The Italian brand is distinguished by its "V" shaped chassis with automotive lacquer finishes, combining classic techniques from audio's golden era with modern technologies, with each component hand-built and tuned by founder Amedeo Schembri.

Our interview with the brand

What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?

What other products pair best with yours?

Website author headshot
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page