In 1951, Nagra's founder Stefan Kudelski invented the first portable recorder, simply called the Nagra I. Nagra comes from a Polish word that means "it is recording". The Nagra I was followed by an impressive trail of game-changing products that revolutionized the face of sound recording. Professionals learned to recognized the value of a Nagra recorder, which would do the job under the most stringent circumstances. The impact these devices had in the field of art, science, ethnology brought a soundtrack to the world.
Nagra recorders have been used to record sound all around the world. Its contributions to major Hollywood films have been recognized with multiple Academy Awards for achievements in sound recording. Nagra was there with the advent of space exploration as Nagra recorders traveled to outer space supporting NASA in the Apollo space program. This long tradition of excellence has been perpetuated for generations.
Since 1998, Nagra has been also synonymous with sound reproduction at home for the most demanding music and hifi lovers. But that journey effectively started much earlier. The Nagra I and Nagra II portable recorders made use of a Thorens spring winding mechanism to rotate the reels and the capstan. So Nagra early recorders share a common root with turntables. During the golden age of analog, the idea to make a Nagra turntable was often discussed. Stefan Kudelski even filed a patent in 1972 for a special tonearm tracking system.
While often contemplated, it was not until six years ago that the design and engineering of a turntable befitting the name Nagra began. Working as a team, Nagra's staff of talented designers and engineers relentlessly pursued perfection in the fields of applied physics, mechanical and electronic
engineering, as well as material science. After four years and hundreds upon hundreds of team hours, accompanied by exhaustive listening tests, the result was the Reference Anniversary turntable which extended the edge of the art in LP reproduction. It was a first step in a return to brand's legacy of analog mechanical reproduction. Now, following two additional years of research and development, along with Nagra’s absolute insistence on listening verification – the company announced the launch of the Reference turntable - basically the production model that superseded the strictly limited Anniversary edition.
Very much like the Nagra legendary reel to reel recorders, the Reference turntable is an analog product not subject to the rapidly progressing and ever-changing developments of the digital domain. This means that the Reference turntable will remain technologically relevant for generations. For many it will be a last turntable purchase and a product which is proudly passed down from generation to generation, just like many Nagra III recorders from the 50's, which are still in active use today, the Nagra Reference turntable is a product for life.
Among the highlights for this exquisite Swiss made turntable that very few will be able to afford, is its massive 25lb machined, dual decoupled, super-cap motor drive system, featuring a spheroidal graphite iron shaft/bearing housing and a maintenance free sintered bronze, high temp/pressure oil impregnated shaft bearing, comprised of ultra-high polished, stacked carbide balls. On top the Nagra Reference turntable features an aerospace-grade aluminum/phenolic constrained layer damped platter, with an Alcantara platter surface.
Nagra added a belt transmission inspired by the legendary Nagra IV series of reel to reel recorders, and this turntable structure seats on a non-resonant, high rigidity constrained layer chassis, which in turn offers a floating mechanical and hydraulic suspension.
For usability, the Nagra Reference turntable includes a pure copper record weight, dual concentric carbon fiber uni-pivot tonearm with unique geometrical bearing profile, OCC copper tonearm wiring, unique no-contact magnetic anti-skating, and camera lens-like "on-the-fly" adjustable VTA. And to make the system even more long-lasting, the turntable comes with a separate linear power supply featuring an oversized medical grade silent transformer and ultra-low noise regulators.
The Reference turntable was designed as a system. This means that, according to Nagra, the turntable and its tonearm were designed to work from the "ground up" as a unified playback system. Careful consideration was given to the development of a tonearm with performance capabilities commensurate with the turntable itself. Yet, for those who prefer to supply their own tonearm, Nagra offers an armless version of the Reference turntable with arm board options to accommodate most tonearms.
After all, the Nagra Reference turntable sells for US $128,000 and is shipping now (actual units are available from stock) - you should be able to do whatever you want with it.
www.nagraaudio.com
