CES 2013

Nagra of Switzerland debuted its new Jazz preamplifier complete with ACPS II power supply ($12,500). This replacement for the PL-L line level preamplifier, shown with the company's Hi-Fi Director Jean-Pascal Panchard, melds tube technology with an improved circuit design that is said to yield more open and detailed sound. As important, the input and output jacks are now on the back panel instead of the sides! A review of the Jazz is scheduled to appear in the April 2013 issue of Stereophile.

Also on display was the new MSA stereo power amplifier ($9450). A MOSFET design that offers 60Wpc into 8 ohms, or 120Wpc into 4 ohms in bridged mode, it includes external switches for input sensitivity, bi-amping, and bridged mode. Inputs are XLR only, and the design, IMHO, is compact and handsome.