Exploring class D amplification, NAD C268 with non-NAD preamplifier

You’re worrying about gain too much.  It’s rarely a problem and as long as the input impedance of the amp is over 10x the output impedance of the preamp you’ll almost always be fine.  The big concern is you clearly have an issue with the sound.  It’s a cheap Class D amp so not surprising you’re finding it dry sounding.  Cut bait.  It’s the wrong amp for you, and there are tons of other options.  Here are a few off the top of my head worth a look…

https://www.galion-audio.com/products/galion-ts-a75-power-amp

https://classdaudio.com/product/gan-fet-amplifiers-3/

https://www.schiit.com/products/wotan

Pair one of those with something like a Schiit Freya and you’ll probably get much more of what you’re looking for. 

https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-f

Just a few ideas, but it really sounds like the NAD pieces aren’t doing it for you, so don’t force the square peg into a round hole when there are so many other excellent options out there.  Best of luck. 

Thanks Soix,

I appreciate your good points. Here are a few notes. I liked the NAD combo! Yes it does not sound like good class A\B. I have some good ones...Quad 909 and Schiit Aegir (semi A). However, class D, IMO, is getting better. As I said I'm exploring class D again since its been a year or 2 since I last took a look. Whether the NAD amp is cheap or not, I have no clue but it sounded good to me as did the Microzotl 2.0\PS Audio S300 pair.

Pairing the freya with Class D Audio looks promising. The other 2 amps look like class A/B. Both over 40 pounds. Not what I'm looking for with this query. That and the energy consumption.

I'm aware of the impedance ratio and it's not gain that I'm worried about. The MiroZotl sounded really good with the PS Audio S300. It's just that for my speakers, my listening levels and streaming songs that have varying recorded levels, I would like a combo to have more range in the volume from 0 up to at least a quarter of the control range. I probably would have keep this pair had it been so. That's why the NAD C268 feature is intriguing but not what I'm primarily looking for.

It's of question of whether a different preamplifier with the NAD C268 can make it a little less "dry". Maybe not and I'll definitely looked into the freya\classdaudio pair.

Thoughts from any others with experience with the NAD C268 and a non-NAD preamplifier.