As a followup, could you please provide us with a budget you might consider to accomplish your goal?
DO I SELL OR DO I KEEP
WHEN I MOVED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS TOLD MY STEREO EQUIPMENT WAS OBSOLETE AND THAT I SHOULD PURCHASE A SONOS SYSTEM. I DID AND WHEN IT WORKS, ITS WONDERFUL; WHEN IT DOESN'T, ITS AWFUL AND THIS HAPPENS WITH SOME FREQUENCY.
I OWN THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS GOOD EQUIPMENT AND WHAT ITS WORTH IF I WERE TO SELL IT:
1. SONY 5 DISC AUTO DISC LOADING SYSTEM
2. NAD/RDS STEREO TUNER C 420
3. NAD STEREO INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER C 370
4. MARANTZ AV SURROUND RECEIVER SR5300
I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT AN AUDIOPHILE AND APPRECIATE WHATEVER OPINIONS I CAN REVIEW.
THANK YOU.
KENNETH
I OWN THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT IS GOOD EQUIPMENT AND WHAT ITS WORTH IF I WERE TO SELL IT:
1. SONY 5 DISC AUTO DISC LOADING SYSTEM
2. NAD/RDS STEREO TUNER C 420
3. NAD STEREO INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER C 370
4. MARANTZ AV SURROUND RECEIVER SR5300
I'M OBVIOUSLY NOT AN AUDIOPHILE AND APPRECIATE WHATEVER OPINIONS I CAN REVIEW.
THANK YOU.
KENNETH
12 responses Add your response
I agree with wspohn. Due to the mediocre CODAC and the associated high jitter clocks within Sonos Connect, it falls short on most audiophiles expectations. You must use an outboard DAC or get an upgrade by Wyrd 4 Sound. https://www.wyred4sound.com/products/upgrades-and-mods/sonos-connect-modified However I must say, there is no other streaming system I have heard sounds as amazing as Sonos if you are using their own proprietary smart speaker system. |
Keep the NAD C370! It is an excellently built piece of audio gear. They actually don’t make a lot of mid-level stuff like this anymore. If you have concerns about the age of the NAD C370, I would maybe ask a DIY friend or an electronic repair shop to replace some of the electrolytic caps inside. At this point, the caps are probably pretty aged out. Replace them with something good like Elna Cerafines, or even Nichicon. It will turn the NAD into something excellent (though I’m sure it’s great as it is). I used a Krell HTS 7.1 processor for 13 years and, even though it’s considered "obsolete", it still beat the crap out of a lot of stuff I have reviewed. The "audio" portions of this type of equipment generally cannot get better. It’s the "digital" or "feature" stuff (hdmi, blu-ray, etc.) that tend to be looked at as "outdated". The NAD tuner you can keep as a good item if you continue to listen to AM/FM. The Marantz AVR is definitely outdated (as far as features, digital/hdmi support, bluray, etc.) but can still be used. The older Marantz stuff did have good sound, but it had a warm/slow signature that could be taken as "boring". The new generation Marantz equipment is definitely improved with differently designed circuits. I don’t know a lot of details about Sonos, but after briefly looking at the technology, I think your NAD integrated is still going to produce a much better sound quality than anything Sonos. I think a product like Sonos is going to cater more to the "iPhone generation" and not necessarily to any type of audiophile. I would keep the NAD stuff and maybe look into something like a Marantz network audio player (NA6005 or NA8005). They can stream from Spotify, internet radio, Apple Airplay as well as from any DLNA source. You can setup Jriver on your computer to use as a music source. It will play a multitude of different file types and the Marantz has excellent audio quality (fully discrete audio stages, etc). I think this will pretty much blow the Sonos stuff out of the water with regards to sound quality. Alternatively, you can look at the Marantz bluray players. They will support DLNA/JRiver servers and also will play CD/SACD or bluray audio. But it doesn’t look like they support the internet audio/radio stuff. |
Kenneth, in regards to issues with Sonos, how are you listening to Sonos? I have Sonos throughout my home and never experienced any dropouts in last 5 plus years. The Sonos bridge is connected to my AT&T router/modem providing seemless connectivity. I used to own Sonos connect box in my dedicated home theater until I upgraded to a Aurender server / DAC setup. My current setup includes Sonos speakers in following areas in a three story home. Sonos playbar with a sub in living room Sonus play 1, a pair in the kitchen Sonos play 3 in the bedroom Sonos playbar with a sub in lounge Sonos play 3, a pair with a sub in the study |
I owned both the NAD C370 integrated amp and NAD C420 Tuner in a prior "B" system. (1) There is nothing "obsolete" about either of these pieces performance-wise ...in fact its argued in many reviews that the C370 intergrated amp was one of NAD’s best offerings besting even the the 372 and later models. (2) "NAD kit is "obsolete" and go move to a SONOS system...."?? Other than wireless capabilities that can be matched with adding on an external wireless DAC etc as an add-on to the C370 for streaming etc , then this assertion sounds like just a hardsell misguided self-serving sales pitch...full stop. (3) Your existing source with a SONY multi-disc player can certainly be upgraded SIGNIFICANTLY without blowing the wad.Yes.... this one piece is obsolete. I would get say, a matched single-spin NAD spinner and/or or NAD external DAC to complete the current technology add-in, the all-in-one matched appearances issue, and the synergy issue. (4) All AV receivers are "obsolete" within months of release with ever-changing CODECS etc. AV Receivers are also all just made-to-their price-point quality (usually very dodgy crap-build to the cheapest price-point possible Chi-Fi kit) that simply don’t measure up to quality built integrated and power amps because they lack the high-end power supplies, caps etc. ... With the possible exception of the very top-end ARCAM FMJ AV receiver. Yes, the Marantz AVR is also obsolete as an old 6.1 tech gear circa 13 years ago.... But that is "AV" and not relevant to any 2-channel NAD kit herein. (5) Unless you are just looking to sell out completely, choosing speakers with the desired requisite synergy with your NAD is the issue for 2-channel. I know the NAD strengths and warts very well having directly owned them. PSBs immediately come to mind commensurate with your NAD gear price-point. (6) if you are looking to sell: the NAD kit:... C370: $300 +/- C420: $100 +/- Me...I’d keep the NAD kit, and go get a new source (CDP and DAC) and also get new speakers to do them justice cuz at those modest price-points, they are good performers that wont be easy to match much less beat in performance by any of the many budget level contenders and pretenders out there. "..... It’s Your Money The NAD C370 ain’t long on style, but I found it alive with substance—a real blue-collar champion offering an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Its smooth, authoritative, solid-state sound was delivered with conviction: warm, dry, and solid, never edgy or fatiguing. If you’re looking for more personality and refinement, you’ll have to dig deeper in your pockets. However, as the flagship offering of NAD’s high-performance/high-value Classic Series, the C370 is an exceptionally solid, versatile, musical performer...." Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/nad-c370-integrated-amplifier-page-3#oiK5QAXrGuWhaWB8.99 The SONY multi-spinner .... negligible to minimal value in today’s marketplace ...mostly for spare parts value The MARANTZ SR 5300 AVR...yes, this was also an old 2003-era 6.1 budget receiver for $600 in its heydey. Its probably going to fetch minimal to sub-$100 in today’s private marketplace. Dealers won’t touch it generally. Good luck |
As for market value for each component this isn't the place to ask that. I look on ebay's sold listings to get an idea of what others have paid for your components. There are other resources on Audiogon you can leverage to find that out. Use their bluebook or list an auction for your items. As for whether or not you should keep your system that is for you to decide. To me if it sounds good to you then keep it. If you are bored with your system and want to try something new just unload it. Don't expect big bucks. I was trying to help my father in law sell his NAD gear and the offers coming in we pennies on the dollar. |
HELLO SPENCER, SUCH AN INTERESTING QUESTION. I'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED SUCH A QUESTION. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, ESPECIALLY MY COLLEGE YEARS, I'D OFTEN BE UP ALL NIGHT LISTENING TO MUSIC. BUT AS YOUR QUESTION POINTEDLY INQUIRES AS TO "HOW" I LISTEN, I MUST ADMIT THAT I WAS OFTEN DOING OTHER THINGS WHILE THE MUSIC PLAYED. HOWEVER, ON VACATIONS AND OTHER TIMES, I'D SPEND THE WHOLE NIGHT WADING AROUND IN THE POOL AND LISTENING TO MUSIC ALL NIGHT--A TRULY TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE. I CONTINUE TO DO THIS BUT NOT IN A POOL AS I MOVED FROM LA TO SF. MOST OF THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO IS CLASSICAL; I LISTEN TO JAZZ AT THE OFFICE AND IN THE CAR PERHAPS 15-20% OF THE TIME. FROM TIME TO TIME, I'LL LISTEN TO CLASSIC ROCK AND CURRENT VOCALISTS LIKE ADELE. BUT CLASSICAL MUSIC IS FAR AND ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. THANKS, KENNETH |