Source: Press Release, Last Accessed: 2022/11/01

Swiss high-end audio firm, Nagra, announced the upcoming release of their first phono cartridge – the Reference MC cartridge. The new cartridge is the product of a number of years of intense R&D, supplemented by extensive listening tests, the company says. Initial units are scheduled to be delivered in December.
This Reference MC will be available in 4 and 6 Ohm variants and, according to the press release, features a number of significant and unique elements. While traditional moving coil transducers utilize a single layer coil body, the Reference MC employs a multi-layer transducer featuring a double layer coil body wound with hyper-pure silver windings. The 6 Ohm Reference outputs 0.45mV at 5cm/S. The 4 Ohm Reference achieves an output of 0.30mV at 5cm/S.
The cartridge features a ruby cantilever mated to a high strength titanium structure with a DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating. The titanium structure utilized in the coil body/cantilever interface addresses a traditional source of resonance and substantially reduces vibration unrelated to the musical signal, the company says. The stylus tip is a Swiss produced, Fritz Gyger S profile.
The connector pins employed in the Reference MC form a continuous single piece from its external end point to its internal point of contact with the coil, resulting in a welcomed lowering of inductance.
The cartridge body is constructed from a unique, non-ferrous alloy called EXIUM AM. Born from aerospace materials research, EXIUM AM is the result of a collaboration between the CNES (the French equivalent of NASA), the Ecole de Mines de Paris and the French firm LBI Foundries. It was developed to address the need for an alloy with very high damping properties. The Reference utilizes an EXIUM AM inlay at the critical interface between cartridge generator and the cartridge body. Nagra’s use of EXIUM AM is exclusive and the company has secured the sole worldwide right to use EXIUM AM in audio products. A proprietary super magnesium alloy is utilized for the balance of the cartridge body.
Designed in parallel with the Nagra 70th Anniversary Reference turntable/tonearm system, Reference MC is an ideal companion component to complete the ultimate LP playback platform, Nagra stated.

For more information: https://www.nagraaudio.com/

More News...