SWISS AUDIO ICON NAGRA JOINS ABSOLUTE SOUNDS PORTFOLIO
Absolute Sounds has been appointed the new, exclusive distributor for Nagra in the UK and Ireland, effective immediately.
The partnership brings the renowned Swiss manufacturer’s high-end HiFi products to British and Irish music enthusiasts through Absolute Sounds’ network of specialist HiFi retailers.
THE NAGRA LEGACY
Founded in 1951 by engineer Stefan Kudelski in Prilly, near Lake Geneva, Nagra quickly established itself as a pioneer in sound recording. Its first product, the Nagra I, was the world’s first professional-quality portable recorder, revolutionising broadcasting and film sound production. The company’s name, derived from the Polish verb “to record”, reflects Kudelski’s heritage and his lifelong pursuit of sonic perfection.
Over more than seven decades, Nagra has built a reputation for combining engineering excellence with craftsmanship, supplying institutions such as the BBC, NASA, and major film studios including Universal and Paramount. The company’s partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival, established in 1967, remains a lasting symbol of its commitment to live and recorded sound.
NAGRA ENTERS THE HIGH-END HIFI WORLD
Nagra turned its expertise towards domestic high-end audio in 1997 with the launch of the PL-P preamplifier, a design that borrowed heavily from its professional heritage. In 2012, Nagra’s audio operations became part of Audio Technology Switzerland, a new company formed from the Kudelski Group. Still owned by the Kudelski family, it continues to craft high-performance HiFi components for listeners around the world.
ABSOLUTE SOUNDS
Ricardo Franassovici, Founder and Managing Director of Absolute Sounds, expressed his long-held admiration for Nagra:
“Few manufacturers meet our standard for joining the Absolute Sounds portfolio, but Nagra is truly special – the original Swiss innovator in high-performance audio. I have admired their products since my days in the rock industry of the 1970s and am thrilled to finally bring them to our customers. Their combination of design, precision and history is unmatched.”
MODERN-DAY NAGRA
Nagra’s 2025 product range spans four series – the Compact Line, Classic Line, HD Line and Reference Line – covering valve and solid-state amplification, DACs, turntables, and more. All are handmade in Romanel-sur-Lausanne, near Nagra’s birthplace, using components sourced and often custom-made to precise specifications. Core processes, such as winding transformers, are carried out in-house.
Matthieu Latour, Sales and Marketing Director at Audio Technology Switzerland, described the partnership as a natural fit:
“Absolute Sounds is among the most prestigious distributors in high-end audio. Their relationships with brands such as Wilson Audio, Magico and DeVore Fidelity create ideal synergy with Nagra’s components. Through their exceptional network, we can ensure UK and Irish customers receive the service and expertise they expect.”
HiFi PiG Says: We wish Nagra and Absolute Sounds a long and successful partnership.
