robert_kc

I own an NAD C375BEE and Klipsch RF-7 II, but they’re in different systems. (My NAD C375BEE is in a system with Klipsch Palladium P-37F.) I’m mostly a tube guy; I use the NAD C375BEE for movies. With that said, I’m satisfied with the NAD C375BEE. One nice feature is that you can engage or disable the tone controls from the remote control, which can be useful when the Klipsch’s high frequencies need to be tamed (i.e., for a bright recording). What type of music do you listen to? How large is your room? How loud do you like to listen? When driving RF-7 IIs, I doubt that you will realize any benefit from more power than the NAD C375BEE. Of course all watts aren’t created equal. I own more than 2 dozen amps. Mostly tube amps, which range from 8wpc to 75wpc. My most powerful solid state amp is rated at 270wpc. In a moderate size room, with reasonable listening levels, my 8wpc SET tube amp (same price as NAD C375BEE) will drive the RF-7IIs with ample volume, dynamics, and bass. And sound beautiful. (I mostly listen to classical music and opera, which often have far greater dynamic range than pop music.) Bottom line, if you want a solid state integrated amp, the NAD C375BEE is a good unit. On the other hand, if you engage in serious listening to music involving natural instruments (e.g., classical), I suggest that you consider driving the RF-7 IIs with tubes. With a tube amp you can “voice” the sound quality by changing tubes, enabling you to optimize how the amp mates with the speakers. And, if you buy a well-regarded vintage tube amp, you can always recoup your investment. Or, new made-in-the-USA SET tube amps are available in the price range you’re considering. I can provide more info (and pics of my systems) if you’re interested. (I’m not trying to sell you anything, and I have no affiliation with any manufacturer, distributor or retailer.) Hope this helps …

I own Klipsch Palladium P-37F tower speakers. The only negative is limited bass output. I also own RF-7 II speakers. The RF-7 IIs are capable of excellent sound quality when paired with the right tube amp, and powerful bass, at a much more affordable price compared with Palladium. However RF-7 IIs don’t have the aesthetic refinement of the Palladiums. A friend owns the Palladium subwoofer. It will shake pictures off the wall.

Linaki, Based on my experience, I strongly suggest that you consider pairing the RF-7 II’s with an “Inspire Fire Bottle SE Stereo Tube Amplifier HO” custom built by Dennis Had. (I have no affiliation with Dennis, other than being a satisfied customer.) Based on my tube rolling I’ve found the following combination perfect for the RF-7s: Amperex 6DJ8, JJ GZ34/5AR4 rectifier, Groove Tube GT6L6 GE (Gold Series, performance rating 5). I sometimes drive this amp directly from the variable output of my Oppo universal disk player (i.e., no pre-amp). For all pop recordings (i.e., anything other than classical), the Inspire amp delivers ample output volume without a pre-amp. However, for some high-res (24bit/192kHz) classical music (what I usually listen to) there isn’t quite enough gain, and I need to insert a pre-amp (McIntosh MX-110Z) for a little more output volume. The sound quality is outstanding. (In this system the other amps that I have to choose from are: Scott 272, Scott 222C, Fisher KX-200, Marantz 2325 solid state receiver, Pilot SA-260, Scott 210F (mono), Fisher TA 500 (mono), and Scott LK150. Another particularly good sounding combination in this system is the MX-110Z driving the Scott LK150.) FYI, Dennis makes more than one type of SET amp – you can find extensive comments in another hi-fi forum. (And he makes a pre-amp.) The Inspire SET tube power amp is in the same price range as the NAD C375BEE. I have an NAD C375BEE in a different system driving Klipsch Palladium P-37F speakers. (Other amps in this system are Scott 399, Fisher 800B, Kenwood KR-9050, Pioneer SX-1980, Fisher X-1000, Scott 299C, and McIntosh MC240.) I have other systems with a mix of other amps – mostly tube amps (McIntosh MC30s, MC275, Scott 296, Altec 353A, etc). For music I always prefer a tube amp. I use the solid-state amps for movies and background listening. Bottom line: The NAD is a fine solid state integrated amp if that’s the route you choose, but tubes and RF-7s go together like peanut butter and jelly. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions. Robert