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Thread: NAD or ?

  1. #1
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    Question NAD or ?

    im looking into buying the NAD C 326 int. amp for $500 off crutch field, the amp is only two channels which is all i need and rated 50w into 2 channels at 8 ohms. now my dad is saying oh are u sure thats what u want it doesnt have alot of power or anything, and ive learned its not always how much its rated ive read forums and reviews about amps saying they only have around 50 w a channel and it turning out to have at least 100 w a channel just from listening. so what im pretty much trying to say is that what i need ? im only spending about $500 and i only want 2 channels and a sub output, i want to listen to vinyl and cds is that good for what i need ? or is there something better out there for that price, and also considering this is only for a bedroom so it doesnt need to be crazy or anything just simple and able to do the job

    http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_7....html?tp=34948


    thanx

  2. #2
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    Do you have any others you considered?

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    not really well i wouldnt mind like a older sansui int. amp or something like that but idk i havent really looked around i know NAD is a good brand i havent heard anything bad about them but what id really like to get in rotel but i couldnt afford it

  4. #4
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    It sounds like you're open to used equipment, so you could probably manage a Rotel RA-1060 or RA-1062 for the price of a new NAD...or less. I see one for $325 on A'gon.

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    yeah im open to used equipment as long as its in really good condition with
    not much scratch marks or anything and the hard part is that does it send to
    canada ? and could u get me a link for that so i could check it out ?

  6. #6
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    I suppose it could be a problem getting sellers to ship from USA to Canada...it often is. Here's the link:

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....Integrated-Amp


    These guys would probably ship to Canada:

    http://www.audioclassics.com/detail....RA1062&nav=cat

  7. #7
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    yeah it says ship to usa only
    but ive been looking on http://www.audioadvisor.com/products.asp?dept=9
    and they have some nice int. amps
    i like the Cambridge audio
    or the marantz
    but they all dont have sub outputs ?
    is that a problem or does it not matter if u have good enough speakers

  8. #8
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    I agree...I like the integrated amps at Audio Advisor. Without any sort of volume-controlled outputs on the integrated amp, it seems like you would need the type of sub that has speaker-level inputs and outputs, so you can connect your sub to the amp and your speakers to the sub.

    Speakers certainly can perform well without a sub. I like my sub, though. I keep it turned down fairly low so it blends rather than thumps.

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    yeah there is some nice amps on there but im asking myself the question, do i want to go out and spend $1000 plus dollars for an amp just for my room, and also if i was gonna spend that much i would upgrade my speakers in the process. is that NAD what i need or should i go for the NAD C 375BEE which is triple the power but double the price. is it worth it to spend that much on something thats going in my bedroom or no cause the NAD C 326BEE seems to be all i need but i want to get a few more opinions before i decide

  10. #10
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    Maybe the guys on the east side of this continent have gone to bed...maybe they'll chime in tomorrow. I think you're on the right track with a high-quality 50-watt amp, as opposed to being caught up in the power numbers.

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    yeah cause i dont need HUGE power i just want an int. amp that sounds good
    and is gonna last me a long time, im gonna mostly just be listening to cds and vinyls
    so i think its the right one for me but ill wait till the other guys comment first :P

  12. #12
    Ajani
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    Quote Originally Posted by ryanianmckinnon
    yeah im open to used equipment as long as its in really good condition with
    not much scratch marks or anything and the hard part is that does it send to
    canada ? and could u get me a link for that so i could check it out ?
    For used Hi-Fi Gear in Canada, try:

    www.canuckaudiomart.com

    It's the Canadian version of Audiogon...

    The NAD should be more than sufficient for your purposes (unless you have ridiculously inefficient speakers and/or want to play the music at ear bleeding volumes)...

    A used Rotel RA-1062 would be well within your budget (and is an excellent option)... Also a Marantz PM 5003 is within your budget and is supposed to have a very good phono stage according to the Stereophile review....

  13. #13
    Ajani
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    Quote Originally Posted by ryanianmckinnon
    yeah there is some nice amps on there but im asking myself the question, do i want to go out and spend $1000 plus dollars for an amp just for my room, and also if i was gonna spend that much i would upgrade my speakers in the process. is that NAD what i need or should i go for the NAD C 375BEE which is triple the power but double the price. is it worth it to spend that much on something thats going in my bedroom or no cause the NAD C 326BEE seems to be all i need but i want to get a few more opinions before i decide
    For less than the 375BEE I'd check out the Rotel RA-1520 or for a little more than the 375, the Naim Nait 5i-2....

    What speakers are you planning to use?

  14. #14
    Can a crooner get a gig? dean_martin's Avatar
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    For a bedroom or small room the NAD will work very well. I have an older 40 watt pc NAD in my bedroom system. Plus, with a powered sub you can use it in a larger room.

    HOWEVER, you state in your post that you will be using it to play vinyl. Note that this integrated will require a separate phono amp to spin vinyl. If you already have a phono amp, either separate or in a receiver with pre-out, then you should be fine. If not, then you will need a separate phono-amp. Good ones can be found for under $200 USD, but you will need to factor it into your budget.

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    yeah in www.canuckaudiomart.com there is a decent older mcintosh McIntosh MC 2100 STEREO POWER AMPLIFIER for $500 but idk if its what i need, cause i need to find a int. amp is what im prefferably looking for cause i wanna listen to vinyls and cds, but there is also a rotel ra 1062 in there for $600 and id have to go pick it up and the speakers im gonna be running are acoustic research ar 226ps, and i dont know if i would need a sub or not

  16. #16
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    One nice thing about the older gear...phono inputs. You could probably round up a nice Adcom setup within this budget. I actually like the NAD you chose, though.

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    yeah that is the nice thing about older gear
    but i love the NAD but i dont want to have to pay for a seperate amp just
    to play vinyls i like some of the new rotels i was looking on the website
    that Ajani gave me a link for and there is a Rotel ra1062 in vancouver for $600
    thats in really good shape and around my bugdget and it has a phono input but
    i dont know if he has a sub output but i think its four channels

  18. #18
    Retro Modernist 02audionoob's Avatar
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    In the long run, you might be happier with a separate preamp for vinyl...don't know for sure. It leaves open the option to upgrade the phono preamp. This would be a good setup in the same budget range, including a phono preamp:

    http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridg...Audio_340a.asp

    http://www.spearitsound.com/Cambridg...Audio_540p.asp

  19. #19
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    yeah i was looking at that cambridge amp on a site i can remember but it was a pretty nice one and that set up would only cost about $500 total which is around my budget

  20. #20
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    I personally owned an NAD C320BEE and can recommend it. I would keep scouting Audiogon or Canuck Audio Mart for a deal. I scored mine for $175.00 and it was as brand new. Form what I have seen though the average going price is around $250.00 or so.

    The NAD is "only" rated at 50 wpc but it had no trouble driving my Dynaudio Contour 1.3s to room filling volumes. Reallistically the difference between NAD, Rotel, and Cambridge Audio components at their price points is not ground breaking, they are all high value pieces. If you want more power and refinement then you will pay substantially more.

    For spinning vinyl look at the NAD PP-2 phono preamplifier which runs about $140.00.

    If you are in no particular hurry you will find some very good deals on Audiogon (and many will ship to Canada). Do a little research and check out Creek, Arcam, Rega, etc.

    Good luck

  21. #21
    Vinyl Fundamentalist Forums Moderator poppachubby's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ren9328
    If you are in no particular hurry you will find some very good deals on Audiogon (and many will ship to Canada). Do a little research and check out Creek, Arcam, Rega, etc.

    Good luck
    As a Canadian I have to disagree. More and more sellers on Audiogon can't be bothered to ship here. It's quite discouraging. Canuck Audio Mart is simply not at the same level as Audiogon, therefore, we lose.

    It means as Canucks we must look harder for our bargains.

  22. #22
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    Poppa, you can still make out but it WILL cost a bit more.

    I have sent a couple of items to Canada from here in Michigan. It takes longer to get there and costs more (which is absurd to me). The fact is is that there are just more items available here in the US because we have nearly ten times Canada's population. So much for NAFTA!

    My top score down here in the states has to be Krell KAV 300iL from a local attorney for less than $1000.00 (well less!). That deal bordered on a larceny.

    I am just trying to give the OP some good options that won't break the bank. Everything is relative, the better the quality of your supporting equipment the more you are able to tell differences between components. For him I think NAD would be a fantastic choice. When using Dyn Contour 1.3 SEs (or some other fantastic monitors) maybe not so much so. As always YMMV.

    I am one of those that is willing to pay the extra 400% for the few % improvement that top flight gear is capable of. On the other hand I have listened to the mid-level equipment and know how good it can be and what a great value it is.

  23. #23
    Rob_a rob_a's Avatar
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    Give Emotiva.com a try, there gear is good, low priced and have reasonable shipping cost. I am 100% sold with them.
    HT system:
    Marantz SR7001 receiver
    Emotiva UPA-2 Amplifier
    Adcom GDV-870 DVD-A/CD player
    Yamaha S1800 DVD/SACD player
    Panasonic DMP-BD60K blu Ray player
    PSB Image series speakes s/s
    Dayton RSS210HF 8" reference sub
    Hitachi 46" HD projector screen

  24. #24
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    i actually didnt get NAD, Rotel, or cambridge i actually am looking at a denon inergrated amp tomorrow and im 99% buying it i just have to make sure everything works good and is in good condition. this thing is a beast weighing 52 pounds but ill let the pictures speak for themselves and poppac good to know your from canada

    http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/553.asp#

    its only 4 years old
    only has 60-100 hours on it
    brand new worth $1200
    im buying it for $575 what a deal

  25. #25
    RGA
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    If you are in Victoria BC - you should drop by Soundhounds on Pandora Ave and Qelectric across the street for vintage gear. You may pay less and get an even better amplifier - don't judge amplifiers on how much they weigh. Not a good idea.

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