NAD C372 with RTi150

nnguyen29
nnguyen29 Posts: 27
edited October 2005 in Speakers
I am considering buying a NAD C372 to drive my RTi150 for a 2-channel music system only. I currently using an ATI 2505 (250 watts x 5) with Outlaw 950 for the RTi150, CSi40, and 4 RTi38s in a 7.1 system.

Will the NAD be better than the ATI for 2-channel music?

Thanks in advance
Post edited by nnguyen29 on
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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    Nad owners, ATI owners, and RTi150 owners - any comments?
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited October 2005
    If I were you, I'd find a NAD somewhere to listen to and see how you like it. NAD makes good stuff, but I have a feeling that you're not going to hear a huge difference between that and your ATI...
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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    Isn't the NAD more musical than the ATI?
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited October 2005
    In my experience comparing solid state components, you are comparing the preamp sections of each since both amps have decent power ratings. With that said, the Outlaw is just as good with music as the NAD will be. I doubt that you would be able to tell the 2 apart in a true A/B listening test.

    Now try a tube preamp with your ATI and really hear those 150s sing. That is the ticket! You've got plenty of amp for those beasts, you just need a better source (CD) or preamp. What CD/DVD player are you using.

    BTW the ATI is a nice match for the Outlaw preamp as ATI makes Outlaws amps also.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    Dennis,

    Thanks for your inputs...I am glad someone else beside Polkmania care to give me some advices :-)

    I am using Denon DVD2900 for CD/DVD.

    So in your opinion, with the ATI 2505 and Outlaw 950, 2-channel music will be just as good (if not better) than with the NAD C372 (150 watt x 2)?

    I was thinking about getting the NAD because I saw a lot of posts on the various A/V sites praising how musical the NAD amps are...and I have an oppotunity to get a C372 with C422 (tuner) for $450...

    This is why I ask for advice...if I am not gaining much, then I probably will not go for the NADs

    BTW what tube preamp are you recommending?

    Thanks!
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2005
    Go for the NAD. It has plenty of power to drive your speakers and for that price it is the best option. It is a very nice sounding, 2 channel integrated and you will not be disappointed.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    Dennis, any other comments?
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2005
    I'd definitely say stick with the ATI stuff and get you a tube pre.
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited October 2005
    Shack,

    What would he gain with the NAD?

    IMO, his RT speakers aren't revealing enough to bring out any difference that the NAD would have over the Outlaw/ATI. Am I missing something?
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited October 2005
    My experience tells me that the RTi150s in 2 channel will perform better with the ATI at high levels simply because you have the headroom to drive the bass through those towers. The NAD may be better at lower levels, but give up some to the ATI when driven into its limits, so your listening habits should be considered.

    For your $450, I would buy the Dodd ELP preamp from Tweekgeek.com. It is easily the best under $1000 model available today. Its small size will not take up alot of shelf space either. The only other choice at this price would be a used preamp.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited October 2005
    I second the recommendation on the Dodd ELP.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • unbridled_id
    unbridled_id Posts: 179
    edited October 2005
    I have heard that the Nad integrateds weak point is the pre amp section. I have the c272 which is the c372 minus the pre. I decided to go with a passive pre (ft audio little wonder). I think that (a separate pre) would be the superior setup over the integrated.
    The greatest enemy of truth is very often not the lie - deliberate, contrived and dishonest - but the myth - persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.

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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited October 2005
    NAD makes some pretty decent stuff but you'd probably be best to just save your money and stick with the setup you have now. Put that money towards something that will make more of a substantial difference.

    But then again I've never heard any ATI gear and only have experiance with NAD...
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2005
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    Shack,

    What would he gain with the NAD?
    nnguyen29 wrote:
    I am considering buying a NAD C372 to drive my RTi150 for a 2-channel music system only.

    A 2-channel music only rig. The NAD is a fine piece of gear that would make a good base for a 2-channel system....which is what he said he was considering.

    I assume he will replace the Rti150s with something else in his HT system (maybe move a pair of RTi38 to the front and a set of FXis to the surrounds). I'm not sure how he is doing it now since he has a 5 channel amp with 7 speakers and a 7.1 pre.

    The NAD pre section is pretty good. Not everybody want or needs tubes in their systems. We seem to have gotten on a roll here that EVERY recommendation is some form of tube...tube pre....tube CDP...tube amp. It runs in cycles I guess and is the current "hot button". SVS for a while....vinyl for a while....and so forth.

    I have a NAD 2-channel rig and like it a lot...therefore I have no problem recommending it.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    I was using HK-525 as pre/proc and ATI 2505 for 7.1 (the ATI for 5 channels and the HK driving the back surround channels). Then I purchased the Outlaw 950 to replace the HK-525 as pre/proc and running 5.1. I was thinking of moving 2 RTi38s to the front for 5.1 HT and use the RTi150 with the NAD for 2-channel music.

    If the NAD driving the RTi150s is better than using the ATI (in 2-channel), then I will use them (NAD + RTi150s) for 2 channel. If it is not, then I will leave the RTi150 as the front speakers in the 5.1 HT and switch to 2 channel (via the stereo by-pass feature of the 950).

    Basically:

    Scenario 1: 1 system for both HT & 2-channel:
    ATI 2505
    Outlaw 950
    Fronts: RTi150s
    Center: CSi40
    Side surrounds: RTi38s

    Scenario 2:
    HT system:
    ATI 2505
    Outlaw 950
    Center: CSi40
    Fronts & Side surrounds: RTi38s
    2-channel system
    NAD C372
    NAD C422 (Tuner)
    RTi150s

    Which scenario will be better for 2-channel music?
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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    Any comments? Anyone?
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited October 2005
    BETTER is a very subjective word here..every person here may have a different opinion as to what is BETTER.

    The only way YOU will know if it is better...worse...the same...is to give the NAD a try. If it doesn't meet your expectations you can always sell it. The NAD integrateds seem to hold their value well.

    If you don't want to try it out...then your system as it stands is probably pretty good too.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • criverajr
    criverajr Posts: 1,675
    edited October 2005
    NNguyen29,

    I agree with Shack, I to got into tubes and after listening for awhile did not really dig it, can say it was better than my SS stuff but just did not do it for me. In other words listen for yourself and decide, then make your decision based on what you hear, not on what other say your going to hear by going with this or that, now back to your regularly scheduled program.

    CRj :)
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,623
    edited October 2005
    I have the RTi150s and they sounded great with my NAD C370. However, I now run the RTi150s vertical bi-amped with a NAD C370 and NAD C270 and it sounds even better. However, my future dream is to replace the Polk's with the B&W 803Ds and go with a Musical Fidelity A5 integrated. Long term future unfortunately.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited October 2005
    Thos i150s must be great with the right amount of power. When I had them I was only using a marantz receiver and I loved them.
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  • nnguyen29
    nnguyen29 Posts: 27
    edited October 2005
    I might experiment with using the ATI 2505 to bi-amp my RTi150...250 watts x 2 going to each RTi150 may make them sing!!!
    :):):)
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited October 2005
    nnguyen29 wrote:
    I might experiment with using the ATI 2505 to bi-amp my RTi150...250 watts x 2 going to each RTi150 may make them sing!!!
    :):):)

    Now you're talkin'..........you can't find any better sound until you try different stuff. Listenin' to us guys debate the topic just clouds the issue. :D
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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