Advice on an amplifier

[Farmer Ted]

We just bought a SB3. It's hooked up and playing nice with our wireless network. Now, we would like to upgrade our soundsystem. I'll confess up front that my wife and I are not audiophiles. All we've owned so far is boom-boxes, but we would like a real sound-system. I've done some research, and we've decided to get a set of Magnepan MMGW speakers (http://www.magnepan.com/_mmgw.php). They sound like really nice speakers for their price, and I'll admit that we like the styling, too.

We also need an amplifier. I know nothing about amps. I understand that the speakers need a powerful one, because they are 4 ohm speakers. We don't play music that loud, but I want to make sure that we get something suitable. Basically, I don't want to buy a Corvette, but install a Chevy Cavalier engine in it, because that would just be silly. Even though I'm not planning on driving 180 mph; I'll just be cruising at the speed limit.

So here's the amp that I've been thinking of getting: A NAD C320BEE (http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_amplifiers/C320BEE_framset.htm)
Does this seem like a reasonable pairing? From what I've read, it's a solid amp. I like the price as well; it's in line with the speakers.

I would appreciate any help you have, even if it's just a thumb's up. Thanks!

[seanadams]

So here's the amp that I've been thinking of getting: A NAD C320BEE (http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_amplifiers/C320BEE_framset.htm)
Does this seem like a reasonable pairing? From what I've read, it's a solid amp. I like the price as well; it's in line with the speakers.



Looks like a very reasonable unit - a good value. Relay switching on the inputs says that they've paid attention to minimizing the signal path, and they haven't cut too many corners to reduce cost.

Audiophiles might lean towards something with only a single input. If you're looking for something to use only with Squeezebox, you may want to look for a standalone amp that just has a volume control (small pots on the back are sufficient just to set the max level, since SB has its own volume control). Also nice to have would be automatic shut-off so you don't hear any noise from the speakers if you leave it on when nothing's playing.

Personally I could get by with just a single input except I do like to keep my B&O changer hooked up just for nostalgia. :)

[nelamvr6]

You don't mention what price you were quoted for the C320BEE. I am right this moment listening to an NAD C352 which I got here (click link) (http://www.spearitsound.com/nad/c352.asp).

It is a factory refurbished unit which comes with a factory warranty. The unit I got was absolutely perfect, it sounds great!

If it is close to the price you were quoted for the C320BEE then this may be a great way to get more amp for your money.

[Mike Anderson]

The exact same thing happened to me. I got the Squeezebox, decided I'd like to upgrade my system, and bought Magnepan MMG's (in addition to a bunch of other stuff.

I don't know anything about that amp, but I would encourage you to:

1) look into buying a used amp -- you can get great deals that way;

2) check out some of the audio forums on the internets, e.g.:

http://forums.audioreview.com/

http://www.audioasylum.com/index.html

There are a bunch of reviews of NAD amps at the first site (as well as other equipment.) Here are some reviews of the amp you're interested in:

http://www.audioreview.com/cat/amplification/integrated-amplifiers/nad/PRD_299767_2717crx.aspx

Be forewarned! You're about to get into an extremely addictive hobby!!!

I bought the MMG's and loved them so much I decided to bump up to the 1.6qr's. Then I had to upgrade my amp to get everything out of them. Then I had to upgrade to a Benchmark DAC1, etc.

Make sure you prepare your wife amply for your new hobby; now would be a great time to buy her some new jewelry!

[Buckyg4]

Just make sure you demo the NAD with the Maggies. They are lower impedance speakers and some amps don't do a very good job of driving them.

[P Floding]

We just bought a SB3. It's hooked up and playing nice with our wireless network. Now, we would like to upgrade our soundsystem. I'll confess up front that my wife and I are not audiophiles. All we've owned so far is boom-boxes, but we would like a real sound-system. I've done some research, and we've decided to get a set of Magnepan MMGW speakers (http://www.magnepan.com/_mmgw.php). They sound like really nice speakers for their price, and I'll admit that we like the styling, too.

We also need an amplifier. I know nothing about amps. I understand that the speakers need a powerful one, because they are 4 ohm speakers. We don't play music that loud, but I want to make sure that we get something suitable. Basically, I don't want to buy a Corvette, but install a Chevy Cavalier engine in it, because that would just be silly. Even though I'm not planning on driving 180 mph; I'll just be cruising at the speed limit.

So here's the amp that I've been thinking of getting: A NAD C320BEE (http://www.nadelectronics.com/hifi_amplifiers/C320BEE_framset.htm)
Does this seem like a reasonable pairing? From what I've read, it's a solid amp. I like the price as well; it's in line with the speakers.

I would appreciate any help you have, even if it's just a thumb's up. Thanks!

How much is the NAD?
How much were the Magnepans, if I may ask? (Just curious)

FYI, I use a $2000 speaker (approx. translated from the british pound price) with a Krell amp that is (was when new) in the $8000 range, and a preamp in the $4000 range. This sounds very different to the same speakers driven by a $1500 integrated amp.

What I'm trying to say is that with good but "cheap" speakers the amp can be very good and make a big difference. The NAD, to me, looks slightly underpowered for a panel speaker. At least if a magnetostat is anything like a electrostat to drive!

Something like the TacT M2150 might provide superiour sound for a relatively bargain price (for a true high-end product). I have not personally heard TacT's power amps, but they seem to get fantastic reviews, and I do use a TacT pre-amp with digital room correction, and it is very good. (I'm thinking of switching from a Krell power amp to a Tact power amp.)

http://www.tactlab.com/Products/M2150/index.html

Oh, and do verify that the amp suits the speakers!

Regards

[Mike Anderson]

How much were the Magnepans, if I may ask? (Just curious)

Magnepan MMG's are $550 direct from the factory - deal of the century right there, they are awesome speakers for the money.

(Not sure about the W's, but they can't be much different.)

And if you want to, after four months you can trade them back in for full value towards a set of higher-value Magnepans. That's what I'm doing to get the 1.6qr's.

Those people are just like drug dealers -- they give you a little taste of the good stuff, and you're hooked!

[P Floding]

Magnepan MMG's are $550 direct from the factory - deal of the century right there, they are awesome speakers for the money.

(Not sure about the W's, but they can't be much different.)

And if you want to, after four months you can trade them back in for full value towards a set of higher-value Magnepans. That's what I'm doing to get the 1.6qr's.

Those people are just like drug dealers -- they give you a little taste of the good stuff, and you're hooked!

Wow! That is an astonishing price, if the Magnepans are anywhere near as good as people usually claim them to be! If I could only get them over here to the UK without doubling the price..

Still, a good speaker calls for a good amp, and a planar speaker might call for a very good amp.

I also agree with the person who mentioned second hand amplifiers as a possible route.

[pfarrell]

P Floding wrote:
> Mike Anderson Wrote:
>
>>Magnepan MMG's are $550 direct from the factory - deal of the century
>>right there, they are awesome speakers for the money.
>>
>>Those people are just like drug dealers -- they give you a little taste
>>of the good stuff, and you're hooked!
>
> Wow! That is an astonishing price, if the Magnepans are anywhere near
> as good as people usually claim them to be!

This particular model is clearly their drug dealer 'first time is free'
the target market is home theater folks, not hard core audiophiles.

But Maggies and Quads are not all that expensive themselves.
They take a lot of rooms and often have bad WAF. But the
speakers bring a lot of bang for the buck.

> Still, a good speaker calls for a good amp, and a planar speaker might
> call for a very good amp.

Traditionally, planars present a different kind of load
that doesn't take kindly to wimpy amps. I think it is
more of a current thing than a simple watt requirement.
But I'm not an EE.

--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimserver/slimsoftware.html

[Mike Anderson]

MMG's are not true audiophile, no -- but they are still great speakers for the money, and they will let you figure out if you really like the planar sound.

The main drawback is that the sweet spot for MMG's is very small. Second, they don't have a lot of low end. In an optimal setup, they're flat only down to 55-60hz or so.

A subwoofer is a prerequisite if you care about bass a lot. I got a Dayton 10" sub when I got my MMG's, but I'm looking to sell it now that I'm getting the 1.6qr's.

A lot of people will tell you planar speakers require good current, not necessarily a lot of power. It tends to be the case that high-watt amps can provide the current, so people tend to associate them with requiring lots of watts.

[pfarrell]

Mike Anderson wrote:
> MMG's are not true audiophile, no -- but they are still great speakers
> Second, they don't have a lot of low end. In an optimal setup, they're
> flat only down to 55-60hz or so.

Neither do my Sonus Fabers. Nor many other mini-monitors.
Subs are needed.

I paired my Sonus Fabers with a Rel sub, and its WAF is low
even though it is walnut and well built.

I'm not sure how big a deal the size of the sweet spot is.
I'm the only audiophool in the house. So all it has to do
is be big enough for me to move my head reading.

--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimserver/slimsoftware.html

[Mike Anderson]

I like to walk around, and I also like to entertain company a lot, so for me it's a drawback that the sweet spot is so small.

[Skunk]

Get a used Mcintosh amp from www.audioclassics.com

[P Floding]

I like to walk around, and I also like to entertain company a lot, so for me it's a drawback that the sweet spot is so small.

I think it depends on what you mean by "sweet spot". I don't know of any speakers that give good imaging over a large area. However, some can give a good tonal balance to the sound over a large area, wheras some don't (falling off sharply, for example, in the treble, when off axis).

[Skunk]

I don't know of any speakers that give good imaging over a large area.


I was thinking the same thing, though I've read the Gallo Ref3's are spooky in their ability to give a larger sweet spot. They use a proprietary wide dispersion cylindrical tweeter, atop two mids in aluminium spherical enclosures, atop a side firing woofer. How that twittering-machine images well I'll never understand.

I haven't heard a lot of speakers, but I can't see myself moving away from point-source technology, as far as midrange at least. Cabasse has some interesting drivers out.