I have had the NAD 375BEE for 8 years. Sweet sounding A/B Amp that comes alive with a tube preamp. Had a PrimaLuna 100 (6 tubes) but after trying a Rogue RP-1, I sold the PL. RP-1 can be had for around a grand. Upgrade the two tunes in the RP-1 and your current speakers will thank you for it. My experience in separates is that the preamp is what changes the sound the most (for the least amount of money) and that speakers are the most expensive upgrade and the least consequential. Surely, others will chime in that their Focals or Revel speakers made the biggest difference but at a major cost above and beyond what you currently have.
Is my amp good enough?
Hello everyone. New here and looking for some opinions.
My system comprises of mostly NAD components. The pre amp is the C165BEE and the amp is the C275BEE. They are currently driving an older pair of Monitor Audio Silver 8's. I have always been rather happy with this set up.
I am now looking at upgrading the speakers to a brand new set of Monitor Audio Gold 300 5G speakers and I am wondering if my amp has what it takes to get the best out of the incoming speakers. I am not sure if I would get an honest answer from a salesperson as they might convince me I need a $6000 amp to drive the speakers.
I have included the specs on my amp and the speakers I am looking at. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Some details:
NAD C275BEE
OVERALL SPECIFICATIONS
FIXED IN, SPEAKER OUT
Continuous output power into 8 Ω and 4 Ω (both channels driven) >150 W (ref. rated THD, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Continuous output power into 8 Ω (Mono, Bridge mode) >330 W (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz, <0.02% THD)
Rated THD (250 mW to rated power, CCIF IMD, DIM 100) <0.008 % (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz)
Clipping power (4 Ω and 8 Ω) >170 W (ref. 1 kHz 1% THD)
IHF dynamic power - 8 Ω 250 W
4 Ω 410 W
2 Ω 600 W
IHF dynamic power (Bridge mode) - 8 Ω 800 W
4 Ω 1200 W
Peak output current >50 A (ref. 1 Ω, 1 ms)
Signal/Noise ratio >102 dB (A-weighted, ref. 1 W)
>123 dB (A-weighted, ref. 150 W)
Damping factor >180 (ref. 8 Ω, 50 Hz and 1 kHz)
Frequency response ± 0.1 dB (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz)
3 Hz - 100 kHz (ref. -3 dB)
Input impedance (Fixed IN) 10 kΩ + 200 pF
Input impedance (Variable IN) 100 kΩ + 100 pF
Input sensitivity 1.2 V (ref. rated power)
Voltage gain 29 dB
Minimum input level for AUTO TRIGGER 10 mV at 1 kHz
Time to power OFF at no signal in AUTO mode <10 minutes
POWER CONSUMPTION
Normal operation 312 W (ref. 230V AC 50 Hz; 120V AC 60 Hz)
Standby power <1 W
Idle power <100 W
Monitor Audio Gold 300 5G:
Specifications | |
---|---|
System Format | 3-way |
Frequency Response (-6 dB) | 30 Hz – 50 kHz |
Sensitivity (1W@1M) | 90 dB |
Nominal Impedance | 4 Ohms |
Minimum Impedance | 3.5 Ohms @ 1 kHz |
Maximum SPL | 117 dBA (Pair) |
Power Handling (RMS) | 250 W |
Recommended Amplifier Requirements | 100 – 250 W |