NAD 2140 or Nakamichi 420, or else?


I have one of each of these, with NAD pre, and NAK PA5 pre to go with them, and will be putting a system back into use after a looong time without. Speakers were ruined so we're shopping for replacements, and leaning towards Para MM, Focal Chorus 706, similar others. Very few of the other speaker brands I see mentioned here in the other forum I've ever heard of, let alone heard, and no dealers even remotely close to me sell them anyway.
My worry is I'll get speakers that sound great with the electronics in the store, get them home and my NAD/NAK pieces don't do them justice. How good or lacking are either of those two amp choices? Willing to locate another of which ever ends up the better choice to run in bridge mode, not a problem. But, will I really need to step up to different electronics to get where my ears want to be? Is the general consensus here that both these amps sound good, or will be severely outclassed by the speakers?
doggitter

Showing 1 response by tonyangel

Doggitter,

I wouldn't be so worried about the amps being out classed by the speakers. The only issues that you have to worry about is whether there is a synergy between your speakers and your amplification and whether the amps will drive the speakers.

I don't have direct experience with either of the specific amps that you have mentioned, but I have had experience with NAD equipment in general. I've found that, in most cases, NAD amps perform beyond their ratings. It has also been my experience that, although NAD isn't the last word in audio quality, they generally sound very good and get along with most speakers.

Still, keep in mind that your equipment is very old and there have been advances since they were sold. Odds are that more modern equipment is going to sound better. I do, however, believe that this applies more to the pre amps than it does the amps.

I can tell you this. My local high end shop sells Focal speakers, among others, and they regularly audition their stuff to customers using NAD gear.