@bugsnest - I used to have some NAD gear (way back) and it is a great value. That doesn't mean it's great. A phono stage with an AB switch from MM to MC is not the same as having a multi option one. I have an excellent highly regarded integrated amp that has an internal switch from MM to MC in its very good phono stage, but when I put in a Sutherland Insight, which I got used for under $1K (and later put in the linear power stage) the difference was distinctly immediately noticeable.
I have come to the realization that many tweaks that you hear about here I just cannot appreciate when I do try them, but the phono stage is a very important piece of the audiophile puzzle and even though you think you have a good one, there is tremendous room for improvement. Don't worry about spending too much on the source - it it the most important part of the system..
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I had a NAD cassette player some one gave me it was really nice ,until it died....wasn't a top of the line .But NAD is good stuff...enjoy
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@mulveling and @tunehead - that;s how I see it. Not going to spend big to get a "complete" system but over time I can see myself doing that. I can see that the NAD is not in the league of the other systems in my chain so its an interim step in the final picture :)
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Just came back to this discussion after many days, nice to see this reassurance! :)
@harrylavo and @grossman616 - that's exactly my thought process!
@fatdaddy2 - 😁
@sokogear - the NAD has a great MM and MC phono stage (adjustable for low and high capacitance cards). That's what I love about it.
@holmz - I wasn't specifically responding to anything you said or didn't say, not sure what offended you ..
@limomangus - are we still talking hi-fi or did you move on to other topics of interest?? 🤣
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If you doubt the NAD's capability, wait until you have the requisite funds and order an "upgrade" that is returnable. If you can hear a difference go with your preference. If you chose the NAD and upgradetitis continues to bug you; rinse and repeat.
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Grandpa tapped Grandma......
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If you are using a MC cartridge (you didn't mention what you have), a good quality external phono stage would be a big improvement.
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Listen, after you swap in the new gear, continue to listen to the NAD. If you still love it, keep it. If not, well, there is your next upgrade. Don't get caught up in the "I have to upgrade completely game." I have an old Audionics BT2 preamp whose phone stage sounds as good as my old ARC 6 stage, among the best ever. Good enough to go into a system tied with my "best" system on phono.
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The NAD works, great! Save your money for something better, soo many good choices out there.......
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if you listen to rock makes little or no difference.
u work in loud factory?
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OMG. Don't do it. Your system will blow up and you'll be left with a mess of smoking electronics. (Seriously, it never costs anything to use what you've already got, especially something you like.)
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Thank you all for chiming in... It sounds like the consensus is I don't risk damaging anything in the chain using the NAD... but I ought to be saving up for a better/improved pre-amp in the future :)
How would the NAD damage anything?
And who said that?
I specific said “go NAD.”
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There may be synergy between the Paradigms and the electronics. Paradigm is a thoroughly modern speaker with no “musical” coloration. The NAD is a perfectly competent low noise preamp but has no pretense of being High End… no premium parts or heroic power supply. The MA462 gets shat on in these pages, but one thing it isn’t is harsh. That may play well with the new speakers.
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I was in a similar situation: good amp with no volume control, good speakers, but little budget for a preamp. I bought the new Emotiva BasX PT1. The edgy treble was too much for me. I did notice that putting a second preamp, a Xiangsheng 728A, after the Emotiva smoothed things (but preceding the Emotiva it did not). Fortunately, Emotiva honored its no-reason-needed return policy. I stretched my budget to a Van Alstine Transcendence RB 10, which is his budget tube preamp. The setup is marvelous now, detailed without going edgy and musical without going muddy.
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Honestly, the only way to truly know is to listen side-by-side with another option.
For example, I recently bought a Van Alstine Ultravalve Tube amp for a second tier system (wanted some tube ish) and paired it with a Aragon 24K SP preamp that was modified by Kevin Chambers (power supply and some inernal mods). But I wanted another preamp that could do both XLR and RCA, so I picked up a Schitt Freya+. Also thought the tube preamp with the amp would be one of those "magical" pairings.
First initial listening session? I think I liked what I perceived as better clarity with the Aragon. This is with stock tubes on the Freya+ (I have some NOS Sylvania tubes on the way). Honestly, with all the hype the Freya+ has gotten, I thought it would be the clear winner.
Now, the updated caps are still breaking in on the Aragon and I have no idea how many hours are on the stock Tung Sol 6SN7’s with the Schitt, but this is why you gotta listen to things in your system. BTW, neither preamp sounded bad...it was just a matter of which was doing what better.
(FYI, after Kevin’s mods to the 24K it tested better than the OEM specs of the 28K, which everyone considers the "better" Aragon preamp).
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I’d go so far as to say, hell, your gonna love it. You already "love" the phono stage and the unit it self is pretty decent. With the upgrades that you will be using, your gonna be happy. Maybe even VERY happy. I hope so. And this leads into the upgrade path you should be taking, which is, don’t stretch you budget to include everything if you don’t have to. Instead focus most of the budget on one or two great components (then start the saving process over again for next upgrades). By doing so, you get slower upgrading, but to much better equipment. And when done in say 5 to 8 years,,,, KILLER SYSTEM.
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Unfortunately the preamp is really the brain of the system and impossible to dismiss. So much so that I just forked out for a PS Audio BHK preamp. Should get it mid week 🙂
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Yes you are crazy. We are all crazy. The world is crazy. That said, do what makes you happy even if your old preamp will hold back your new rig.
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You are not crazy. That's a good preamp. Of course, a side by side listen is always best.
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Mac is tuned for Mac, if you listen to rock makes little or no difference.
If jazz a bit , classical a lot .
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Nothing wrong with the NAD, just that the rest of your system (well maybe excluding the Node 2i lol) is at so MUCH of a higher level.
Certainly it’s fine to enjoy for now, and this is CERTAINLY a reasonable upgrade path you’ve chosen - you don’t have to buy everything at an equal level all at once - but I would plan to audition some good preamps (tube and SS units) in the near future so you can tap into the fully potential of your excellent system!
Here’s an internal pic of the NAD pre from the web - looks fairly solid, discrete transistors instead of opamps or ICs. But the parts like resistors & caps are very basic. A good modern PCB or P2P and quality modern parts can be much better and more appropriate to the rest of your system.
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ithere is no reason the nad wont work Iwoild dfefinately recomemd a new preamp
you will be shocked at the improvement
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op
your to-soon-arrive speakers are pretty darned resolving and your big mac amp is very good
my guess is you will hear a notable difference (improvement) in sound quality going from the nad (which will work just fine, as has been said) to a higher level linestage, whether it be a higher order solid state unit or one that runs tubes
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I would try the NAD, but I would not expect great sound. I tried using my Adcom preamp with my krell amp and it sounded horrible, bought a new preamp and now I have great sound.
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+1 for preamp should be fine!
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Thank you all for chiming in... It sounds like the consensus is I don't risk damaging anything in the chain using the NAD... but I ought to be saving up for a better/improved pre-amp in the future :)
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452 looks good but I've heard it many times and just not musical IMHO.
Don't fall for the neurotic belief that spending more and more gets you a better preamp!
My Big Mac was very flat sounding and not in a good way. I was much happier with my Parasound but others have had good luck so I'll reserve my opinion until you get everything working together. The NAD might work for you in this set-up for now, with the NAD sound being a little warm but don't be fooled a new pre-amp is in your future, good preamps are way better than an old low-line NAD
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Keep and use the NAD! Nothing wrong with it sonically. Don't fall for the neurotic belief that spending more and more gets you a better preamp! Diminishing returns sets in quickly!
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GTG =. Got to go
It may be alright for the time.
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God to God
I pray you are right, or send telegram, or cable, to Odin.
so 100% “go Nad”.
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NAD will be fine but I'd be looking for another amp! 452 looks good but I've heard it many times and just not musical IMHO.
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sure, so long as you view it as a stop gap measure - nothing’s going to blow up and you’re going to get music, you’re just not going to really hear what the rest of your gear can do.
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good to go... i think... :)
I’ll go with this one, given my situation 😄
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good to go... i think... :)
or is it gone to grave?? 😂
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I’m afraid to ask but what’s GTG?
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