Nagra HD DAC X aims for digital perfection

News
By published

An update to one of the best DACs we've ever heard

Nagra has taken on a tough job - improving on the Nagra HD DAC. We heralded this ultra-high-end DAC as quite possibly the most desirable DAC we've ever tested. Yes, ever. So we were naturally pretty excited to hear the new Nagra HD DAC X on show at CES 2019. And it certainly didn't disappoint.

Forming part of a jaw-dropping system, the HD DAC X has had some fairly hefty upgrades in comparison to its predecessor. The new DAC features no less than 37 individual power supplies, with the main digital power supply claiming a noise level 30 times lower than the HD DAC.

Nagra engineers have also adapted the company's newly designed vibration free stand to further lower any hint of resonances to a new level.

There was no denying the end result was one of the best rooms of music we've ever heard at CES. But with the new HD DAC X set to cost you a cool $65,000, we're maybe not surprised.

MORE: 

Inside the Nagra factory in Switzerland

CES 2019: news, highlights, best new products

Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).