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High Fidelity Audio

Magnetostat Se

NAT Audio · Vacuum Tube Line Stages

Magnetostat Se

Pure triode excellence defined by absolute zero feedback and transformer coupling.

The Magnetostat SE represents the pinnacle of NAT Audio's pre-amplifier design, functioning as two independent pre-amplifiers within a single chassis to offer both balanced and single-ended operation. By eliminating coupling capacitors entirely from the signal path and utilising an absolute zero feedback circuit, it ensures the musical signal remains pristine and untainted by corrective loops. At the heart of the SE version is an advanced battery power supply that isolates the delicate audio circuitry from mains-borne noise and fluctuations. This power delivery, combined with high-performance N.O.S. military-grade 6S31B-R triodes, allows the unit to resolve micro-dynamics with startling clarity. The signal is then coupled via custom-wound, wide-bandwidth nano-crystalline transformers, which maintain excellent frequency linearity from the deep bass to the high-frequency extremes. The sonic character of the Magnetostat SE is defined by its organic liquidity and holographic soundstage. It eschews the artificial speed of solid-state designs in favour of a rich, harmonically dense presentation that sounds remarkably close to a live performance. With its extremely low noise floor and impeccable spatial resolution, it provides a profoundly authentic connection to the music, designed for the listener who values truth and texture above all else.

Key Features

01

Battery power supply

Dedicated battery-powered filtration ensures total isolation from AC line interference and RF pollution.

02

Nano-crystalline transformers

Custom-wound output transformers provide exceptional bandwidth and phase accuracy without coupling capacitors.

03

Relay-based attenuation

A high-precision shunt-type volume network uses 56 computer-controlled relays for 96 distinct levels of attenuation.

04

Military-grade triodes

Employs robust 6S31B-R N.O.S. vacuum tubes, chosen for their linearity and resistance to microphonics.

Chapter 01

Engineering Philosophy

The design of the Magnetostat SE is driven by the goal of total signal purity. By creating a transformer-coupled circuit that operates entirely without capacitors or feedback, NAT has removed the primary sources of phase shift and colouration. The dual-mono configuration ensures perfect channel separation, preserving the spatial integrity of the original recording.

Chapter 02

Build and Construction

Housed in a modular chassis with a 20mm thick laser-engraved aluminium front panel, the Magnetostat SE is as much a precision instrument as it is an audio component. The interior is populated with premium parts, including 0.1% Vishay resistors and high-capacity electrolytic capacitors, all meticulously hand-assembled to ensure maximum reliability and performance longevity.

Chapter 03

Listening Notes

Listening through the Magnetostat SE is an experience of ease and authority. It does not force detail upon the listener; rather, it presents the music with a natural sense of scale and presence. The 'SE' upgrade—which includes silver-wire transformers and superior input resistors—brings a new level of transparency, allowing the listener to perceive the finest nuances of venue acoustics and instrumental timbre.

Specifications

TypeDual-mono vacuum tube line stage
Frequency response4 Hz to 250 kHz (-3 dB)
Gain21 dB
Input Impedance> 20 kohms
Output Impedance< 150 ohms
Dimensions (H × W × D)185 mm × 483 mm × 430 mm
Weight33 kg (main unit) + 3 kg (power supply)
Finish optionsBlack