Switzerland-based NAGRA Audio Technology does not design audio equipment the way most companies do. Everything is deliberate. Measured. Re-measured. Built to a standard that would make Swiss watchmakers nod silently in approval. For 2026, NAGRA is extending that mindset with the launch of its new SERIES II product line, starting with the PREAMP II-S vacuum tube two-channel preamplifier. It is engineered with the same obsession for precision, longevity, and consistency that defines the brand’s professional heritage.
That it also likely sounds superb is almost incidental. The harder part to ignore is the price, which lands exactly where you expect when nothing about the design process involves compromise, shortcuts, or asking what the market “will tolerate.” At $24,500, the PREAMP II-S sits firmly in familiar NAGRA territory, and based on our experience with the company’s other components, there is every reason to believe the performance will justify the ambition — even if we’ll reserve final judgment until we hear it.
The Series II line adds another tier to Nagra’s product hierarchy and fits into the company’s lineup as follows:
- Reference – Nagra’s highest-level product series, built without compromise and intended to represent the company’s absolute statement designs.
- HD – Designed for customers with larger listening environments and demanding system requirements, the HD line focuses on scale, power, and flexibility while maintaining Nagra’s core engineering standards.
- Series II – The newest addition to the lineup, Series II draws directly from the Reference range, applying the same engineering philosophy in a more refined and compact format. The PREAMP II-S is the first product in the series, with additional models planned.
- Compact – The Compact line preserves Nagra’s design principles and build quality while prioritizing reduced size, simplified feature sets, and comparatively more accessible pricing.
NAGRA PREAMP II-S Sets the Direction for the New Series II Line
The PREAMP II-S represents the direction Nagra intends to take with the Series II line. According to the company, it reflects a return to established design principles while continuing to refine its approach to circuit layout, component selection, and overall execution.
The Tubes: The PREAMP II-S uses vacuum tubes that are also employed in Nagra’s Classic Phono, HD, and Reference series. The tube complement consists of 12AX7/ECC83 and 12AT7/ECC81 types, chosen for their availability, known operating characteristics, and consistency. Their use aligns with Nagra’s preference for proven components applied within tightly controlled designs rather than pursuing novelty for its own sake.
Modulometer: With the Series II line, beginning with the PREAMP II-S, Nagra reintroduces its Modulometer, a design element derived from the company’s professional recording heritage and most closely associated with the Nagra IV-S reel-to-reel recorder. The meter provides clear visual indication of left and right channel levels and serves a practical monitoring role while maintaining continuity with Nagra’s long-established industrial design language.
Reference Line Mechanical Expertise: Drawing on the mechanical design work developed for Nagra’s Reference line components, including the Reference turntable, the PREAMP II-S incorporates additional vibration control measures. A phenolic damping layer is positioned beneath the aluminum top cover, which is both bonded and mechanically secured. This construction approach is intended to manage resonance and support stable operating conditions for the circuitry.
Overall Design: The PREAMP II-S draws its visual and structural cues from Nagra’s earlier PL-P Tube Preamplifier produced between 1997 and 2009, while also aligning with the current HD and Reference lines. The design favors continuity and restraint over reinvention, focusing on clarity, usability, and mechanical consistency. A high-contrast OLED display, shared with the HD Phono and Reference DAC, is used to ensure clear readability. Input selection is managed via a precision rotary encoder derived from the HD Phono and paired with a fluted aluminum control knob.
As with the original PL-P concept, the power supply is housed externally, reducing the potential for electrical interference within the main chassis. The PREAMP II-S, along with other forthcoming Series II components, uses a compact enclosure intended to better suit modern living spaces while maintaining Nagra’s established design priorities.
Gain Stage and Noise Performance: The PREAMP II-S offers two selectable gain settings to support proper system matching while maintaining stable operating conditions. At 0 dB gain, it functions in a near-passive manner while retaining a low 9-ohm output impedance, allowing it to interface predictably with a wide range of power amplifiers.
When additional output is required, a +6 dB gain setting can be engaged using a front-panel toggle switch. Nagra’s long background in professional recording equipment informs the unit’s low-noise design, with a specified dynamic range of 125 dB intended to maintain a quiet operating floor and preserve low-level detail.
Musical DNA: Drawing from the Classic PREAMP, which also uses a vacuum-tube architecture, the PREAMP II-S is designed around neutrality and consistency rather than overt voicing. Nagra positions it as a control component intended to preserve scale, spatial information, and dynamic structure without introducing tonal emphasis. The goal is not to imprint a signature, but to allow downstream components and recordings to define the final presentation.
Power Supply: The PREAMP II-S is supplied with Nagra’s Compact PSU, providing a regulated 12V/2A power feed designed for stability and low noise. For users who already own a Nagra MPS or Classic PSU, the preamplifier can be purchased without an included power supply. Power delivery is handled via Nagra’s LEMO connector, consistent with the company’s long-standing approach to secure, professional-grade connections.
Comparison
| Preamp II-S (2026) | CLASSIC PREAMP (2016) | |
| Product Type | Preamp | Preamp |
| Price | $24,500 $27,900 /w PSU | $21,450 $22,500 |
| Vacuum Tubes (selected by Nagra Laboratory) | 2x 12AX7/ECC83 1x 12AT7/ECC81 | 2x 12AX7 / ECC83 1x 12AT7 / ECC81 |
| Input Connections | 1 x XLR 4 x RCA | 1 x XLR 4 x RCA |
| Output Connections | 2 x XLR 1 x RCA | 2 x XLR 1 x RCA |
| Output impedance | 18 Ω – Gain selection switch @ +6 dB 9 Ω – Gain selection switch @ 0 dB | High mode: 24Ω Low mode: 6Ω |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz – 50 kHz (+0 / -0.5 dB) | 10 Hz – 50 kHz (+0 / -0.5 dB) |
| Dynamic Range | >125 dB (Gain selection switch @ +6 dB) | >125 dB (Gain at +12 dB) |
| Input level to reach 0 dB (Modulometer) | 1 V rms (Gain at +12 dB) (Gain selection switch @ 0 dB, volume potentiometer @ 0 dB) | 0.28 V rms (Gain at +12 dB) >25 V rms (Gain at 0 dB) |
| Total harmonic distortion (THD) | <0.01% @ 1 kHz, 1 V rms out, no load | <0.01% at 1 kHz out, no load |
| Crosstalk | >85 dB @ 1 kHz, 1 V rms out, no load | >85 dB |
| Power Consumption | PMAX 12.6 W | 12 V 1040 mA< 1o mW in standby |
| Power Supply Options | Compact PSU: Compact Power Supply Classic PSU: Multiple Power Supply | Not Indicated |
| Power Supply Characteristics | 12 – 12.6 V DC / 1 A | 115 V or 230 V AC input |
| Operating Temperature | +15°C to +35°C +59°F to +95°F | Not Indicated |
| Standby | < 1 W | Not Indicated |
| Operating environment | Indoor only, Moderate climate | Indoor only, Moderate climate |
| Dimensions | 380 x 280 x 76 mm (15 x 11 x 3 inches) | 390 x 277 x 80 mm (15.4 x 10.9 x 3.2 inches) |
| Weight | 4.8 Kg (10.6 lbs) | 4.9 Kg (10.8 lbs) |
The Bottom Line
Nagra Audio Technology products have never pretended to be democratic, and the PREAMP II-S does nothing to change that narrative. At $24,500, this is not a value play and it is not priced that way because of vacuum tubes alone. The cost reflects the total execution: circuit discipline, mechanical construction, power supply strategy, long-term serviceability, and a design approach rooted in professional standards rather than lifestyle audio trends. It also assumes the buyer already owns—or is prepared to invest in—a power amplifier and loudspeakers capable of revealing what a control preamplifier at this level can actually do.
This is a preamp for listeners who already know the sound they are chasing. Many of the most convincing rooms we have heard at major high-end shows have paired Nagra electronics with speakers from companies like Boenicke Audio and DeVore Fidelity, where the common thread was control, scale, and an absence of editorializing. The PREAMP II-S fits squarely into that ecosystem. It is not about flavor, features-per-dollar, or first impressions. It is about building a reference-level system where nothing gets in the way—and accepting that this level of restraint, precision, and consistency comes at a cost most people will never justify, and never need to.
Price & Availability
- The Nagra PREAMP II-S is priced at $24,500.
- The Nagra PREAMP II-S + Compact PSU is priced at $27,900.
All Nagra Products are available through Authorized Dealers.
Related Reading:
- Nagra Unveils Its First High-End Streamer: High End Munich 2024
- Nagra’s $128K Reference Turntable Offers State-of-the-Art Analog Playback
- McIntosh’s 75th Anniversary Party Continues With the Launch of the C55 Solid State and C2800 Vacuum Tube Preamplifiers
- Vincent Audio SA-T7 Diamond Tube Preamplifier Features Ultra-rare PCF803 Telefunken Tubes
