My new amp vs my old amp
PSOVLSK
Posts: 5,371
Well, I've had my new NAD T-955 for a couple of weeks now so I thought I'd go ahead and post my impressions. This will be pretty short and very non-technical.
I'd been running an XPA-5 in my HT for the past few years and decided to sell it and give something else a listen. I ended up with the NAD mainly due to the combination of price/new. It seemed to be priced in line with comparable used amps.
My first impression was not too good as I turned it on to find five blue lights shining from the front of the NAD...with no way to turn them off. The Emo had the same blue lights, but at least there was a switch to turn them off.
I find the sound very comparable to the Emo with my LSi setup. I think the bass is a little tighter, but nothing else stands out. I just don't hear any significant sonic differences one way or the other. My DSOTM blu-ray sounds fantastic with either amp in the system:cheesygrin:
The NAD runs very hot. It is hot to the touch and really helps my PJ heat of my modest little HT.
This experience cost me about $225, but I figure part of that price is hearing two different amps in my HT. The other benefit for me is having a new amp. The downside is of course spending $225 for little/no improvement...and retaining the annoying blue lights
I'd been running an XPA-5 in my HT for the past few years and decided to sell it and give something else a listen. I ended up with the NAD mainly due to the combination of price/new. It seemed to be priced in line with comparable used amps.
My first impression was not too good as I turned it on to find five blue lights shining from the front of the NAD...with no way to turn them off. The Emo had the same blue lights, but at least there was a switch to turn them off.
I find the sound very comparable to the Emo with my LSi setup. I think the bass is a little tighter, but nothing else stands out. I just don't hear any significant sonic differences one way or the other. My DSOTM blu-ray sounds fantastic with either amp in the system:cheesygrin:
The NAD runs very hot. It is hot to the touch and really helps my PJ heat of my modest little HT.
This experience cost me about $225, but I figure part of that price is hearing two different amps in my HT. The other benefit for me is having a new amp. The downside is of course spending $225 for little/no improvement...and retaining the annoying blue lights
Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
Post edited by PSOVLSK on
Comments
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That is surprising Paul, the NAD stuff I have owned sounded really good and would have thought the would be a bigger difference between the 2.
BTW, really enjoying that black keys cdSpeakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs -
Out of curiosity, maybe you could remind us of what speakers you are using, listening levels, and room dimensions.
LSi 15's, C, 7's
Listening levels have been varied, but probably about 70-75db during movies, a little less for music.
Room is about 12 x 13 with 10ft ceilings.
I have seen that review, but thanks for the link. And thanks for your experience with regards to the bass, seems as though we both discovered more/tighter bass.
For anyone interested, here's The Black Keys cd Tracy is referring to. I'd never even heard of it, but I stumbled across it at a used cd store. Good stuff!
And I don't want my "review" to come across as though I'm not happy with the NAD. I'm happy with it, I just really feel as though there wasn't much improvement.Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden -
Thanks guys, this is all very useful information.Main Family Room: Sony 46 LCD, Sony Blue Ray, Sony DVD/VCR combo,Onkyo TXNR 708, Parasound 5250,
Polk SDS-SRS with mods, CSI 5 center + Klipsch SC2, Polk RT2000P rears, Klipsch KG 1.5's sides, Polk Micro Pro 1000, Polk Micro Pro 2000, Polk SW505, Belkin PF60, Signal Cable Classics,Monster IC's, 2 15 amp circuits & 1 20 amp circuit.
Living Room: Belkin PF60, Parasound HCA2200, MIT ProlineEXP balanced IC's,Emotiva XDA-1 DAC/Pre,Emotiva ERC2 transport,MIT AVT2, Polk LSI 9's. -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chulahoma:_The_Songs_Of_Junior_Kimbrough
Forgot to paste the link in the earlier post.Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
