which nad amp sholuld I get?


Category: Amplifiers

I like NAD sound and want to get a new 70w-120w nad power or integrated amplifier. (speakers have 89db sensitivity)

Currently I have 70w amplifier, 60w was not enough for me.
Should I get 320bee, this post says it very powerful:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ramps&1038674345&read&3&4&
?
or c270, or maybe the older 218, 214?

I don't turn volume control past 10 o clock.
samuellaudio
The venerable NAD 3080 would more than handle the requirements you need. This NAD amp would drive 2 ohm loads with ease and will drive planars nicely. Hard to find but worth the search.

The NAD 3080 is a fully descrete amplifier,no cheap IC parts anywhere. Appears to use the Motorola hi hat output transistors wired in parallel no less! Means they are coasting most of the time.

Power Amplifier Section:

Continous average power output at 8 ohms min RMS power per channel 20-20,000 kHz both channels driven,with no more than the rated distortion/ 90 W(19.5 dBW)

Distortion: 0.03%
Clipping Headroom: + 1.6 dB
Clipping Power(Maximum Power) 130 Watts at 8 ohms
160 Watts at 4 ohms
180 Watts at 2 ohms
Dynamic Headroom at 8 ohms - + 2.5 dB
Dynamic Power( short term) 160 Watts at 8 ohms
200 Watts at 4 ohms
200 Watts at 2 ohms
Reactive Load Rating - + 2.5 dB(160 W)
Transient Overload Recovery Time <5 uSec.
Slew Factor - >50
Slew Rate - 40V/uSec.
Damping Factor at 50Hz 8 ohms - 120
THD - <0.03
IM - <0.03
TIM - <0.03
Frequency Response 20-20,000 kHz at rated Power - +/- 0.5dB
Frequency Response Range 5-50kHz
Input Impedance -10K/100pf
Input Sensitivity - 140 mV
Signal to Noise Ratio - 104 db at rated power.

Pre Amplifier Section:

Phono Inputs(2 provided)
Input Impedance - 47k Ohm/47pf
Input Sensitivty - 0.25mV
Input Overload - 200mV
THD - 0.01%
RIAA Response Accuracy - +/- 0.3dB
Signal to Noise w/cartridge - >82dB ref 10 mV

High Level Inputs(Tuner,Aux,Tape)
Input Impedance - 50k ohm/100pf
Input Sensitivty - 20mV
Signal to Noise Ratio - >80 dB
Maximum Input Signal - Infinite
Frequency Response 20-20 kHz - Infinite
Distortion All Types - <0.01%
(THD,SMPTE IM,IHF,CCIF,TIM)
Controls:

Bass Control Range at 50Hz - +/- 11 & +/- 13dB
Treble Control Range at 10kHz +/- 6 & +/- 9 dB
Infrasonic Filter - 20Hz 12dB/oct.
High Filter - 8kHz 12db/oct

In my opinion one of the best Integrated amps ever made and could compete with the Accuphase of the time at far less cost. The problem, trying to find one, as this was one of the products that established NAD. Since the 3080 Integrated Amp which was the flagship model, NAD has not produced any integrated that is as good as this one.
I am using the NAD C352 and sometimes have the urge to change it. But everytime I sit down to listen to the music..the urge is gone. The C320BEE is a very good amp. But I suggest that you go to the dealer with a couple of your fav CDs and do a A/B with the c352 and then decide.
For me, as of now, it is difficult to justify why I should jump in the $1500-$2000 price range from the NAD C352. A $2500+ will probably justify...but it is too much right now.
I am cuurently using the Nad Silverline S200 this together with a Mapletree tube pre amp offers fantastic sound quality whether it is played loud or at lower volumes. The S200 puts out 220 watts, so the reserve power is all there in spades. You can get some really good deals on this unit on this site.

If you haven't found audio heaven then what have you got to lose.

Good luck.

Ricky.
Listen to Ferrari...the NAD 3080 IS one of the best products NAD ever made and can smoke many an amp out there with class, grace, and power.