What's remarkable about the Nagra BPS phono
stage ($2395) is not its small size, although that's certainly attention-grabbing.
Instead, it's the circuitry and
well-considered features that are squeezed into this hand-sized chassis that make the BPS
noteworthy.
The BPS uses essentially the same circuit as
Nagra's VPS phono stage, but it omits the VPS's tubes. Like the VPS, it uses custom Nagra
step-up transformers to derive its gain -- 45 to 60dB, making it suitable for use with
moving-coil cartridges. It runs on a nine-volt battery, although wall power is also an
option.
The smart features continue underneath, with
a skid pad that spells out the Nagra name.
Jean-Claude Schlup, the engineer at Nagra
responsible for the BPS, was happy to show off its nifty carrying case. [www.nagraaudio.com]
