Nak PA 5A MKII verses?

geppy1

Anybody with experience with a Nak PA 5A MKII power amp? I have not heard one since the early 90s when I left the biz so that is a while ago. Say compared to a Belles 150A Hot Rod or other things that I know the sound of Adcom GFA 5500 or NAD 272, Rotel 990,981 Thanks

erniejade

When I heard a PA5A years ago, I thought it was a bit hot in the top end. I thought it had a sounded a lot like an adcom GFA555 ( sorry I haven't heard the 5500).

heiney9

The PA5 and MKII were always very smooth on the top end when new. These amps today are long in the tooth so any recent listening impressions of OE amps should be taken cautiously unless the amps have been serviced.

In general I always thought the Nak amps were a bit polite compared to the Adcom 555 or NAD of the day (1987-1990). Nice midrange, sweet top end, but just not as much slam as the 555.

Well worth seeking out and well worth refurbing which is what I would suggest for any electronics of this age.

Just my .02c

H9

heiney9

Belles 150A would be my choice of what you listed and I'm a fan of the Nak amps.

geppy1

Bingo. They polite thing is it. That is what was lingering in the back of my mind from 25 years ago. I am just getting dumb. To think I set countless customers up with systems and gear and trained sales people in this stuff and now I can hardly sort my name out of the alphabet . Been spinning around in circles gear wise for the last three /four years. I really would prefer an integrated to eliminate variables and for space reasons but older used separates seem to give one more for the money. On the other hand I have never been big on lets get one brand of preamp and another of power amp and now the synergy dance starts . Oh wait endless cable combos to compare too. The one thing about NAD is that it always seems to be the "safe' choice. I have heard and seen that a number of times. It seems like you can hardly go wrong with NAD . Not great but does the job well enough. Almost jumped on a 162 /272 today.

Maybe I should go back to my Monitor 10 (1980 version ) and the Harman Kardon PM 665 with Monster cables ICs and speaker cable and a Magnavox 552 changer with dual 16 bit converters as well as Denon turntable and HK CD 491 deck. Music sounded so good back then or seemed to.

pitdogg2

You certainly have been turning out the gear Keith. Stop spinning your wheels man.

nooshinjohn

The PA 7 MkII would be my choice, but also a Threshold Stasis would be on that list. An intriguing choice would be the Usher amps, which share much with these older designs. Dskip may be able to score one for you at a decent price.