pre amp help - NAD 917

cdm418

Hey all! hoping you can help. I picked up a NAD 2700 power amp to power my Polk Audio Lsi15 speakers. The guy i bought it from also had a NAD 917 (surround sound tuner/preamp). I currently have a Mitsubishi DA-C20 pre amp, but decided to grab the NAD 917 because the price was right, and i figured it will match well with my NAD 2700 amp because they are the same brand. Is anyone familiar with the NAD 917 preamp? Im trying to determine if it has a phono stage. I came across an ebay lidting of someone selling a NAD 917 and they stated that it did not have a phono stage. I'm only using this stereo setup to listen to vynil records, so obviously i need a phono stage. I also have an extra DJ PRE II preamp, that i could connect to the NAD 917 if needed, but what would the puropose of a preamp WITHOUT a phono stage be? I just started getting into this hoppy to play records, so I've always assumed a preamp was the same as a Phono preamp, but im learning that may not be the case. If the NAD 917 does not have a phono stage, do i have any use for it if im only playing records, and if so how would i connect my ART DJ PRE II into it to add a phono stage? Hope this makes sense. I can always skip the NAD 917 and continue using my mitsubishi DA-C20, but i want to understand what a Preamp without a Phono stage would be used for. Thanks in advance for the help!

Here's a link to the NAD 917 manual...

https://nadelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/917-A-V-Surround-Sound-Tuner-Preamp-English-Manual.pdf

marvda1

how about cds

cdm418

okay, I wasn't aware you would need a preamp for CD's. Since I'm only playing records, is there no need to use this Preamp? or should I plug a phono stage (ART DJ PRE II) into this preamp (aux input)? Thanks for the reply

mhardy6647

Well, I mean, a preamp gives you source selection, right? And some controls and such... maybe some increased gain/drive 'twixt source and power amp... impedance matching, too.

Do you need a preamp? I dunno. I don't use one (i.e., I don't use an active preamp, sometimes referred to as a linestage). I use a passive source selector (actually, a couple of 'em) and an autoformer volume control. Phono preamp is separate, in my case.

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish?

mhardy6647

The NAD certainly doesn't appear to have a phono preamp... but it does have tone and balance controls, and tape dubbing facilities. If (!?!) those things are value-adds for you (the OP, that is), then use 'em.

rooftop59

why did you post this twice?!?

Viking64

rooftop59 wrote: »

why did you post this twice?!?

I would guess a new member being unsure as to which category of the forum in which to post this subject.

cdm418

Thanks for the help guys! And yes, I posted in two sections, wasn’t sure which was the right one. Didn’t know that was frowned upon. Ultimately, what I was trying to accomplish is just get a more powerful amp to drive my speakers (NAD 2700). But I wasn’t sure if my Mitsubishi DA-C20 pre amp would be a good match with it, so I grabbed the NAD 917 as well. Once I realized there wasn’t a phono, I wanted to understand what someone would need a preamp without a phono stage for. I guess, do you think I’m best to use my Mitsubishi DA-C20 preamp with my NAD 2700, or use the NAD 917 with an ART DJ pre II connected to it to add a phono stage?

mhardy6647

This may sound snarky, but it's meant with absolute earnestness!
You should use whichever sounds better to you.

Spend some time comparing -- different music, different sources, different levels of volume, different times of day (different loudspeakers if that's an option) -- and don't neglect the aesthetic aspects of the two options.

These ol' Mitsubishis weren't common but they were pretty nice, as I recall.
And they're certainly attractive components.

Tony M

I have a Mitsubishi rack stereo that seems to be SOLIDLY BUILT. It still works and sounds great too.
They are from this series.
Receiver, Cd changer and something else...Dang...why can't I remember...
Maybe a single disc player.

cdm418

They are definitely good looking! I’ll play around with different configurations to see what sounds best! Thanks again!