power amps & integrateds

[mpw]

HI,

i had a question which i thought i could pose.

I am running a NAD C356 integrated.

a. Tomorrow if i decide to go the pre-power route.. can i use the NAD C356 as the pre ?

b. How will this affect the sound signature ? Will i continue to hear the sound signature i am hearing now ( with a greater power delivery ) or will it be affected by the power amp i choose ( say quad or arcam ) ??

c. In short in a pre-power combo.. does the preamp section affect the sound signature the most ?

d. If c is true then i read so many reviews about sound signature of power amps.. what sense does it make ?

regards,
mpw

 

[reignofchaos]

a. The nad integrateds have a very poor pre section with a reasonably good power section. I say this from experience as I had a nad once upon a time. I'd not do what you intend to do.

b. Yes! The nad pre section has a house sound while the power section is reasonably transparent. So you'll mostly hear what you are hearing now.

c. Yes - the pre affects the sound significantly and if you have a good power amp, having a good pre is the deciding factor on whether you get good sound or not. The tone and timber of the sound is massively affected by the pre.

d. The power amp will decide things like the scale, timing, macro dynamics - normally it does not affect the tone massively unless it is a bad power amp :lol:.

 

[avidyarthy]

So, dumping the 356 now? :indifferent14:

 

[heliumflight]

I never liked Nad. Sold it in 3 days. To me it is bloat all the way when you start increasing the volume pot from 1. This is only my opinion.

 

[srisaikat]

According to my ear NAD Integrated Amp is great which has balance dynamic characteristics, but it's preamp out is not that great sounding when paired with other power amp. May be it is company's secret policy to make the listener to go for NAD power amp.

 

[spirovious]

NAD C356 can be used as pre by removing the shunt.If you get good power amp,it will not change sound signature of existing NAD.So option will remain for to control speakers better.

 

[mpw]

i like the NAD and Epos combo. Just yesterday night spent 2 hours listening to Joshua Bell and Pink Floyd.

i started this thread to elicit views as i was looking at a different combo for my next upgraditis ( which may not happen anytime soon). I figured many FM;s would have a similar question ( especially those having an integrated and wanting to move to pre-power combo )

mpw

 

[avidyarthy]

You would be amazed it is the other way around. Many old-timers are shying away from pre-power and moving to integrated. I had asked one such guy here ... as to why ... he had replied ... 'old age' as the main reason .. :lol:

 

[prem]

Hi mpw

Separating the power section of the power and pre helps a lot. Even if its an integrated amp, i like the power supply to be separated. Some integrated amps have great power isolation but those are expensive.

 

[Shivam]

Somehow I didn't find any difference in sound quality when I last time auditioned NAD C375BEE integrated and the comparable per/power combo (C165 and C275).
On talking with NAD people, I found out that the only difference is a separate power supply and a separate chassis for pre and power (both of which are obvious).

 

[mpw]

avid,

i was looking at it the other way around too.

Use a different pre and use the NAD power amp section.

mpw

 

[Staxxx]

Dear MPW, if you are ever in Bangalore I have an C375BEE virtually new sitting in its box, which I bought last year and have no use for, as i have imported my primary system. You are welcome to hear it if you feel this may be something of interest as I was planning on putting it on the For Sale section when I got around to taking photographs.

 

[mpw]

one more question..

whats damping factor for an amplifier ?

mpw

 

[reignofchaos]

Its the ratio of the impedance of the speaker to the output impedance of the amplifier. It varies depending on the frequency of the signal.

Normally the output impedance of the amp is really low - around 0.1 ohm or lower for a solid state amp. For tube amps, it is higher and as a result they have a lower damping factor. In theory, a higher damping factor means that the speaker can be controlled better by the amp.

In practice, because every manufacturer uses a different way of measuring it and publishing it in their specs, it can't be compared across multiple brands of amps.

 

[mpw]

Its the ratio of the impedance of the speaker to the output impedance of the amplifier. It varies depending on the frequency of the signal.

Normally the output impedance of the amp is really low - around 0.1 ohm or lower for a solid state amp. For tube amps, it is higher and as a result they have a lower damping factor. In theory, a higher damping factor means that the speaker can be controlled better by the amp.

In practice, because every manufacturer uses a different way of measuring it and publishing it in their specs, it can't be compared across multiple brands of amps.

==============================================

RoC,

thanks for your inputs.

thats why specs are made irrelevant as compared to system matching no ?

mpw

 

[mpw]

hi,

does it make sense to go in for a separate preamp when i always use the integrated in a Tone defeat / direct mode ?

mpw

 

[elangoas]

hi,

does it make sense to go in for a separate preamp when i always use the integrated in a Tone defeat / direct mode ?

mpw

I believe even a pre-amp will have the tone defeat/direct mode....

Are you not happy with the NAD sound signature (or) you are taking suggestions to improve/experiment ?

If you like the NAD, use the pre outs on your amp to connect to a another amplifier & you can do bi-amping too hyeah:....

NAD c 356 is itself a monster...

 

[square_wave]

HI,

i had a question which i thought i could pose.

I am running a NAD C356 integrated.

a. Tomorrow if i decide to go the pre-power route.. can i use the NAD C356 as the pre ?

b. How will this affect the sound signature ? Will i continue to hear the sound signature i am hearing now ( with a greater power delivery ) or will it be affected by the power amp i choose ( say quad or arcam ) ??

c. In short in a pre-power combo.. does the preamp section affect the sound signature the most ?

d. If c is true then i read so many reviews about sound signature of power amps.. what sense does it make ?

regards,
mpw

I have gone down this route before.

The biggest difference with a Nad integrated is when you add a good preamp to it. The sound becomes cleaner with better sound staging and fidelity.

The preamp is the weakest link in a Nad.

 

[srisaikat]

Dear MPW, if you are ever in Bangalore I have an C375BEE virtually new sitting in its box, which I bought last year and have no use for, as i have imported my primary system. You are welcome to hear it if you feel this may be something of interest as I was planning on putting it on the For Sale section when I got around to taking photographs.

Hi,
If u still have that NAD C375BEE for sale, will you please quote me your expected price? I probably will visit Bangalore within 15 days.

Best regards

Saikat Saha

Kolkata

 

[Staxxx]

Hi,
If u still have that NAD C375BEE for sale, will you please quote me your expected price? I probably will visit Bangalore within 15 days.

Best regards

Saikat Saha

Kolkata

Thanks. I have PMed you.