Nagra's First Phono Cartridge
agra's Reference MC phono cartridge ($18,500) was designed in parallel with the company's 70th Anniversary Reference turntable/tonearm system, and it is considered "an ideal companion component to complete the ultimate LP playback platform." It features "a number of significant and unique elements," including a transducer with a double-layer coil wound with high-purity silver wire. The cartridge's ruby cantilever is mated to a high-strength titanium structure featuring a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. The stylus tip has a Swiss-produced Fritz Gyger S profile, chosen for "its wonderful combination of detail retrieval and musicality." Even the connector pins are addressed, to eliminate the commonly found connection joint between the pin and the coil. For the Reference MC, each pin is a single continuous piece from the windings. Nagra also paid close attention to the Reference MC's body. At the interface between the cartridge generator and the body, the Reference MC has an inlay at of a non-ferrous material, EXIUM AM. (The platter of Nagra’s 70th Anniversary Reference turntable has a CNC-machined ring of the same material.) EXIUM AM is exclusive to Nagra and comes from a collaboration between the CNES (the French equivalent of NASA), the Ecole de Mines de Paris and the French firm LBI Foundries. It has very high damping properties, making it perfect for use in audio applications where the elimination of unwanted vibrations and resonances is a priority. Its use is exclusive to Nagra. The Reference MC will be available in 4- and 6-ohm
variants. Specifications include output of 0.45mV @ 5cm/S (6-ohm version) and 0.30mV @ 5
cm/S (4-ohm version). Compliance for both versions is 12µm/mN and weight is 14.3 grams.
Recommended tracking force is 2-2.2 grams. The cartridge will begin shipping next month. |
