Introducing the PREAMP II-S.

We hope the new year finds you well. This is a very special year for Nagra, as we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Nagra I, this coming October.

We begin this jubilee year with the introduction of the Nagra PREAMP II-S — a new preamplifier and the first product in an entirely new line: Series II.

Series II, designated with Roman numerals like the original Nagra recorders, is positioned between our HD and Classic product lines. As a tribute to our heritage, it features a Modulometer™ inspired by the legendary Nagra IV-S.

The PREAMP II-S draws heavily from our most recent developments in the Reference and HD series, including its power supply, as it comes equipped with a Nagra Compact PSU.

Throughout this anniversary year, we will be unveiling many new products and projects celebrating music and our legacy. We wish you all the best — and plenty of music. Nelson Mandela often spoke about the power of music and dance in bringing peace and connection.

We hope, in our own way, to contribute to even more music in your lives.

The Birth of a New Nagra Series:

Long before Nagra became a reference name in high-end home audio, its recorders were designed for sound engineers requiring absolute reliability and uncompromising sound quality in the most demanding environments. Yet from the very beginning, music lovers recognized their exceptional sonic qualities and adopted them for home use.

In 1998, Nagra officially entered the high-end Hi-Fi world with the PL-P, its first home-oriented product: a battery-powered tube preamplifier with phono stage, featuring the legendary Modulometer™ and rotary selector. It quickly became an icon.

SERIES II – A new chapter rooted in legacy, precision and musical truth

The Series II embodies Nagra’s original spirit: professional-grade reliability transformed into musical elegance for the home. Rooted in the company’s legendary recording heritage, it delivers a sound that is natural, coherent, and deeply engaging. From the first notes, Series II conveys music with clarity, balance, and authenticity, remaining faithfully aligned with the original recording and the artist’s intention.

Nagra Preamp II-S series II preamplifier

Nagra Preamp II-S series II preamplifier front Compact PSU VFS power supply

Nagra Preamp II-S series II preamplifier back connectors

Series II reintroduces the iconic Nagra Modulometer™, inspired by the legendary IV-S recorder, offering precise left/right level monitoring and reinforcing Nagra’s visual identity. The design prioritizes uncompromising sound quality in a compact form suited to modern living spaces.

Building on the Reference series’ mechanical expertise, the PREAMP II-S incorporates advanced vibration control with a phenolic damping layer under the aluminum top cover, reducing resonances for greater sonic stability and clarity.

The PREAMP II-S features next-generation tubes shared with the Classic Phono and HD/Reference series, delivering greater transparency, finer micro-detail, and more lifelike dynamics.

Nagra Preamp II-S series II preamplifier inside

Inspired by the historic PL-P and the HD/Reference lines, the PREAMP II-S combines refined design with intuitive ergonomics, featuring a high-brightness OLED display, a precision rotary encoder with a finely machined aluminum knob, and an external power supply to eliminate mains interference.

The PREAMP II-S comes standard with the Nagra Compact PSU, delivering clean, stable 12 V power, and can alternatively be used with a Nagra MPS or Classic PSU via the signature LEMO DC connector.

The PREAMP II-S offers two selectable gain settings: 0 dB for near-passive operation with ultra-low 9 ohm output impedance, and +6 dB when additional gain is needed, ensuring optimal system matching and precise amplifier control.

Drawing on decades of ultra-low-noise recorder design, the PREAMP II-S achieves a 125 dB dynamic range, delivering an exceptionally silent background for maximum musical contrast and realism.

Building on the Classic PREAMP’s musical DNA, the PREAMP II-S preserves its natural, non-clinical accuracy while advancing transparency, spatial precision, dynamics, and overall musical flow.