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
neversatisfied

Showing 1 response by lous

First of all, if you are truly satisfied, don't waste time and money. I suspect that you really are not satisfied. If correct, the question is why is it that you are not satisfied.

I.M.O., if you are not experiencing listening fatigue, then you are wasting your money. If you are experiencing listening fatigue, you need to figure out what's bothering you.

 

Some are hyper sensitive to phase and time alignment. Some are concerned with hearing obscure details. If details are a big problem you may want to stick to monitors as they have less bass making details more readily audible. Then again some want details but also want bass. Some want "warm" systems, systems lacking in details. For them details are akin to brightness, even though it's really not bright. I know a guy who has serious high frequency hearing loss. To him a system that would send most out of the room holding their ears is awesome.

 

Music is personal. You like what you like, but you need to figure out what that is or you can spend many thousands and still be unhappy with your system.

 

If you want to seriously replicate a life like experience you're in big trouble. You need have a big pile of money. You can minimize the money somewhat if you can solder, or have a friend who can.

 

I am a detail, be there type. Open baffle is the ideal, but full range planer type speakers physically tend to have limited dynamics. Used Spatial Audio Saphire S speakers are supposed to be quite good, that's hearsay multiplied because I have not personally heard them. Perhaps the biggest problem will be finding neutral electronics, cables, etc.

 

if time and phase are critical to you Thiel, and Vandersteens are a good starting point. Unfortunately Thiel is only available used, and I have not heard the newest Vandersteens, the older ones are quite warm. I'm not sure that you could even hear cable differences with the older Vandersteens. The new ones are at least much better, but the system was less than ideal so I can't say if you can get details and phase/time alignment with them.

 

Personally while phase alignment is doable, I consider time alignment somewhat of a canard because it will only be correctly aligned at a specific distance, and your room may not allow for that.

 

IMO, the smart money is saving up to spend the most you are willing to pay for equipment regardless of your preferences. Otherwise you'll end up incrementally buying amp after amp for instance usually loosing money all the while.

 

Had I knuckled down and purchased a M.L. 27.5 decades ago, I would have ultimately spent a lot once, but far less over time on amplifiers. Today there are far more neutral, my preference, than just one or two. Even older good amps are expensive, and replacing their electrolytic capacitors is a good idea yet further increases the cost of older gear.

 

So, I doubt that I have resolved your issues, but hopefully I have told you something that you can find value in.