[What is the Least Expensive Amplifier?]

On 1/29/2018 at 10:13 PM, nicesound said:

DerKommisar,

 

That is a very interesting post! You somehow covered everything I've been looking at for speakers. I'm not really planning to buy more expensive speakers now though. I have the JBL 530's.

Where in the world did you see JBL 530's on display? They aren't found around as much.

 

I also just found this thread and noticed you replied to my thread.

 

They mention nCore sounding much better than UcD, which is in the NAD I'm looking at. Do you think the Cambridge sounds better because more watts RMS? Also, if so NAD a more powerful similarly priced UcD amp maybe.

 

I think I really wanted a class D Hypex though. I was looking into those NC400 mono block kits. That is way more power than I would need though. I think klipsch Bookshelf speakers need like 4 watts to listen at standard 80db and have power handling of like 80 watts and the NC400 are 400 watts RMS I think!

 

Do you have any idea how the NAD C328 would compare to my AV receiver Marantz NR1606? That is what I'm using right now.

 

 

 

I’ve owned the JBL 530 for a couple years now. I also got to demo a Marantz NR1508 for a few days as well. I thought it sounded better than the NAD  C328. 

[What is the Least Expensive Amplifier?]

On 1/18/2018 at 7:11 PM, nicesound said:

Teaman,

 

I just looked at that eBay posting. Thanks.

 

I think I'm pretty close to buying the NAD C 328. I really want to get away from an AV receiver. I may get an AV pre-amplifier by a good brand some day, but until then I think an HDMI switch would work just fine.

 

This new Class D amplifier technology also sounds very nice and NAD apparently uses the best class D chip, though with some special implementation. Having a receiver that is super slim, needs no heat vents, so I can stack stuff on it if I want, is also nice. The simplicity of the device and the remote also seem to match my style and I like to reward companies for that as well as use their products.

 

The only thing that could make it more future proof would be a modular power supply so I can swap out an AC power supply for DC. I believe homes will start  running on DC within the next 10 years. Only current way around that is to get an amp that runs off of DC and has an AC adapter, but I didn't see any really good ones like that.

I just demoed the NAD C328 with the KEF LS50, Klipsch RP-150M and JBL Studio 530. I really wanted like this piece because it had all the features I was looking for use in my bedroom 2channel system. However the sound quality was just not there. Bass is lacking and the midrange seems thin. I can see why they included a bass boost eq. It sounded best paired with the JBL’s but I don’t this amp delivers the full potential of any of these speakers. I also have a Cambridge CXA60 on hand for comparison which is in a different league to the NAD. The sound from the Cambridge is richer and more full bodied. 

[What Solid State Amps don't sound good with Klipsch Speakers?]

I just spent a couple weeks with the Emotiva A-300 and my RP28F’s. Compared to my Denon AVR-X4300 the Emotiva had a much cleaner sound. However that clarity came at the expense of leaner bass and spitty sibilants. Needless to say I was disappointed given Emotiva’s reputation among the online forums. The Denon was so much warmer sounding. It’s a surprising result because I had went in into purchasing the Emotiva thinking dedicated amplifiers should be superior receivers. So for now the Emotiva is going back and I’m sticking with the Denon to drive my RP28F’s. 

[RP28F replacement spikes]

Thanks! The supplied spikes were so blunt. Not sharp at all. 

[RP28F replacement spikes]

Does anyone know what type of bolt the threaded sockets accept beneath the base plate where you install spikes on the RP28F?