There are many potential answers here, but try auditioning an NAD C 375BEE. It is surprisingly refined, powerful (150 wpc), stable, poised, transparent, dimensional, you name it. The preamp section is very musical and throws a big sound stage. Its amp section is quite a step up from an old 545. The C375 BEE is at the top of your budget ($1500) but solves your preamp problem while dramatically updating your power section with a great dose of integrated synergy to boot. If that’s too much, try the NAD C 356BEE. Same basic signal path, a little over half the power (80wpc) and price ($799).
Which amp/preamp/integrated for GoldenEar Triton 5's
I just purchased a pair of GoldenEar Triton 5's. I have an old Adcom amp GFA-545, but the Adcom preamp that went with it soudns muddy on one channel. Tried to get it fixed but it's still not right, so I either need a new preamp, or a new integrated. Found a great deal on Peachtree's 220SE, but am weighing that against buying something like the Parasound P5 preamp and keeping my Adcom going. Any advice much appreciated, and doesnt have to stay with those 2 choices, but my budget can't extend past $1500, and I'd prefer if it stayed closer to $1k. Thanks for your thoughts....
Showing 3 responses by johnnyb53
Thanks for all your responses. I had considered the NAD's, but was a bit put off by their so-so reviews on whathifi and the number of choices they offer. I don't know what WhatHiFi's deal is, but their reviews seem to be all over the map and have me scratching my head, esp. their NAD C 375BEE review. Sometimes they seem to enjoy the role of iconoclast, trashing highly regarded products (e.g., this NAD and also the GoldenEar Aon 3). Their sonic criticisms sound to me like they take the time for warmup, let alone burn-in for electronics and break-in for speakers. Their descriptions of the NAD and GoldenEar products sound like the generic shortcomings of cold fresh product--hazy midrange, lack of frequency extension, and loose bass--criticisms they had for both the NAD amp and the GoldenEar speakers. I certainly wouldn't take their uncoroborrated review on anything. There are lots of positive reviews of the NAD C 375BEE. Soundstageaccess review (DAC version) Stereophile (Sam Tellig's column) Notice both these reviews highlight the NAD's clear-yet-musical presentation and clean, tight bass, the very areas WhatHiFi considered weaknesses. I have heard the C 375BEE driving Magneplanar 1.7s (bought a pair) and GoldenEar Triton 7s. |