NAD 314 vs. C320BEE

We have 320BEEs as bedroom amps. They are a good deal and sound nice when warmed up but they do not have the resolution of a better solid-state unit. You'll use your money more wisely if you follow Kotta's advice and move up in class when you want a change. The move you are thinking of now is pretty much a sidegrade.

Move up in class means that you may have to spend money, unfortunately. NAD gear is in a class which is built to a certain price level. This is not bad; it is a challenge to a designer and sometimes the solution is very elegant indeed, but the limitations are there all the same. If the designer's budget were doubled or tripled, what would be the result? A unit in a different class.

Since upgrading is expensive, it makes sense to take the biggest step you possibly can. If you can look up from your NAD, as far as to a Bryston, SimAudio or YBA integrated, or perhaps a Portal Panache (which I haven't heard but is said to be good value at its price), these would represent a big step up in class.

Look around here and see what is selling for three or four times the price of a C320BEE. If you have a dealer, ask him for a recommendation. Avoid mass-market gear as a general rule. Have fun hunting!

Quangle, I agree with Kotta that the Rotel 855 is an excellent player for the money. Mine was not as smooth in the midrange as my Cambridge CD4 but it had cleaner highs and more bass.

Both these players should cost around $100 used. They are both getting pretty old, though. Unless you can find one that has seen little use, you may be doubling your cost with a laser replacement quite soon. Given that, you might prefer to look for a used Music Hall CD-25, a Shanling CD-S100 or an Onix XCD-88. These are all the same player! It is made by Shanling in China. I used to own one as well and it is way ahead of the Rotel or Cambridge mentioned above--in fact, IMHO it would be impossible to find a better player at its price point new or used.

Is your $250 budget now leaning, first to a new amp, then to a new CD player, like the donkey in the story who couldn't decide between two piles of hay and nearly starved? Welcome to the club, and FWIW, here is my guideline: source first. As long as your amp and speakers are not actually toxic to the music, an upgrade at the source will send its benefits all the way down the chain.

Let us know what you decide, if you get the chance.