Nad C320 to Marantz PM6005?
Discussion
First time posting in here so please be gentle..
I've been listening to a Nad C320 with some old Mordaunt Short floorstanders for years now but finally got around to switching the speakers for a pair of Q Acoustics 3050s last year and have been enjoying the difference since.
That's now got me wondering about the amp, especially as I now listen mainly to mixcloud through my PC and am thinking it's time to switch the old Nad for something with a DAC built in.
I've been told that the Marantz PM6005 is a good partner for the 3050s but am wondering if I'm really going to notice that much of a difference between my faithful old Nad and something new, specificaly the Marantz.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I've been listening to a Nad C320 with some old Mordaunt Short floorstanders for years now but finally got around to switching the speakers for a pair of Q Acoustics 3050s last year and have been enjoying the difference since.
That's now got me wondering about the amp, especially as I now listen mainly to mixcloud through my PC and am thinking it's time to switch the old Nad for something with a DAC built in.
I've been told that the Marantz PM6005 is a good partner for the 3050s but am wondering if I'm really going to notice that much of a difference between my faithful old Nad and something new, specificaly the Marantz.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Once upon a time, I had an NAD C320 paired to some old Eltaxes, which got replaced by a pair of MA BX2s which made the NAD sound great. I then went to an Arcam A85, which made the BX2s sound great. I then went to a pair of Tannoy DC6 SEs which made the A85 sound great. Be careful. It's a slippery slope!
First thing, what's the budget? There's some great amplifiers out there and as said above, you can get the functionality you want with a dedicated USB, Bluetooth or DNLA DAC.
Second, what sort of sound are you going for? I've always liked NAD's punchiness, and I think you can install DAC modules on the new ones, e.g. the C356 (there's one on ebay for £350 right now). The new direct digital designs have had very good reviews, the D3020 especially. If you want something smoother then Arcam's amps are always a good call. What were once top of their midrange can be had for around £200 to £300, e.g. the A85 or A90.
First thing, what's the budget? There's some great amplifiers out there and as said above, you can get the functionality you want with a dedicated USB, Bluetooth or DNLA DAC.
Second, what sort of sound are you going for? I've always liked NAD's punchiness, and I think you can install DAC modules on the new ones, e.g. the C356 (there's one on ebay for £350 right now). The new direct digital designs have had very good reviews, the D3020 especially. If you want something smoother then Arcam's amps are always a good call. What were once top of their midrange can be had for around £200 to £300, e.g. the A85 or A90.
Thanks both, that's given me things to think about and maybe a straight swap isn't the way to go at all.
I listen to what you'd broadly call dance music and do enjoy the thump that the C320 has but it's not the most versatile sound and these new speakers show it as being a bit muddy and kind of flat at low volumes for the more musical stuff I listen to. At lower volumes it struggles with tracks like this, in that it's difficult to pick the individual layers out;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oKW5EKY_SE
but still sounds great at any volumes with tracks like this which it just drives along:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCnbPTpqq5Y
I have been putting that down to the MP3 format suiting tracks with less complexity so thought about Dragonfly Audio USB DAC but I'm finding the same thing when I bother to fire up the turntables and mixer, so I'm now thinking about a different amp and it seems sensible to go for one with an internal DAC.
Budget would be limited at the moment as it's MOT / Inspection II service time, the Marantz caught my eye as it's now around £250.
I'm thinking maybe just live with the murky sound for now and then come back to it with a bigger budget later in the year if the Marantz isn't going to sound that much better.
I listen to what you'd broadly call dance music and do enjoy the thump that the C320 has but it's not the most versatile sound and these new speakers show it as being a bit muddy and kind of flat at low volumes for the more musical stuff I listen to. At lower volumes it struggles with tracks like this, in that it's difficult to pick the individual layers out;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oKW5EKY_SE
but still sounds great at any volumes with tracks like this which it just drives along:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCnbPTpqq5Y
I have been putting that down to the MP3 format suiting tracks with less complexity so thought about Dragonfly Audio USB DAC but I'm finding the same thing when I bother to fire up the turntables and mixer, so I'm now thinking about a different amp and it seems sensible to go for one with an internal DAC.
Budget would be limited at the moment as it's MOT / Inspection II service time, the Marantz caught my eye as it's now around £250.
I'm thinking maybe just live with the murky sound for now and then come back to it with a bigger budget later in the year if the Marantz isn't going to sound that much better.
Edited by HerrSchnell on Wednesday 30th March 22:06
I had a NAD C320BEE until very recently, powering a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS6s after my previous upgrade from some old stand mount Missions from the early 90s which were replaced due to my then-toddler son attempting to use the speaker stands as a standing aid! I was always reasonably happy with the sound but recognised the amp was now the weak point in the system.
On a whim I decided to buy a used Arcam A28 for around £300 off AVForums. The difference is absolutely enormous! The bass is so much more controlled and punchy - the whole soundstage is now much improved as well - and I'm currently working my way through my music collection again.
Given the Arcam was retailing at about £900 at the end of production (nearer £1100 originally) I'd consider looking at used amps. They really don't wear out unless they've been abused.
My NAD was 14 years old and I sold it for £90 to offset the replacement.
On a whim I decided to buy a used Arcam A28 for around £300 off AVForums. The difference is absolutely enormous! The bass is so much more controlled and punchy - the whole soundstage is now much improved as well - and I'm currently working my way through my music collection again.
Given the Arcam was retailing at about £900 at the end of production (nearer £1100 originally) I'd consider looking at used amps. They really don't wear out unless they've been abused.
My NAD was 14 years old and I sold it for £90 to offset the replacement.
I've found my Arcam (with both the MAs and the Tannoys) to be very good with stuff like Daft Punk, Sasha. I've just run those tracks you posted and with the first one, as with all tracks with female vocals on my setup, it sounded sweet and detailed, and with the second what I would just describe as controlled. It's never going to shake your bones, it's not got that character about it, but it starts and stops the speaker cone so sharply you get a great feel from the kickdrum.
As said in the last post, there's some great bargains on eBay but really you're just taking a punt in terms of the sound without auditioning it. Having said that, companies tend to have a house sound to their products so the general characterisation of Naims as giving a rollercoaster, Arcams being smooth, NADs kicking hard, etc. generally holds true across the past and present ranges.
As said in the last post, there's some great bargains on eBay but really you're just taking a punt in terms of the sound without auditioning it. Having said that, companies tend to have a house sound to their products so the general characterisation of Naims as giving a rollercoaster, Arcams being smooth, NADs kicking hard, etc. generally holds true across the past and present ranges.
Adrian E said:
On a whim I decided to buy a used Arcam A28 for around £300 off AVForums. The difference is absolutely enormous! The bass is so much more controlled and punchy - the whole soundstage is now much improved as well - and I'm currently working my way through my music collection again.
Sounds like you're going through the same process of rediscovery that I did! Nothing like listening to your favourite tracks and hearing things you've never heard before. By the way, if you want one of the finest CD players ever made to match it, there's a CD23 on eBay at the moment for £350.HerrSchnell said:
I can see a weekend signing up to AV forums and scouring ebay ahead, had no idea amps depreciate so much and the idea of adding a DAC to an older high end amp is seeeming like the one to me.
Be interested to know a bit more about the various company house sounds in particular.
Ignore the really old stuff - mine was just coming up to 4 years old and the FMJ range are well within reach if Arcam proves to be to your liking. I can't get on with the aesthetics of the Naim range - it all looks a bit knocked together in appearance but I have no doubt the sound quality would be amazing. I didn't audition an Arcam before buying but think the NAD was too underpowered for my speakers so found the Arcam to be much punchier. My listening space isn't huge (about 5x5m) and the speakers are about 20cm from the wall so they produce plenty of bass for the space. I have similar listening tastes to you, by the sounds of it Be interested to know a bit more about the various company house sounds in particular.
Thanks to the poster above ref CD player - will have a look as need to replace my Marantz SE that's over a decade old! Currently considering a UDP-411 which I'm kicking myself for not buying when Peter Tyson had it on a trade in offer for £600 up till February! Either that or an Oppo and DAC.....
Adrian E said:
Ignore the really old stuff - mine was just coming up to 4 years old and the FMJ range are well within reach if Arcam proves to be to your liking. I can't get on with the aesthetics of the Naim range - it all looks a bit knocked together in appearance but I have no doubt the sound quality would be amazing. I didn't audition an Arcam before buying but think the NAD was too underpowered for my speakers so found the Arcam to be much punchier. My listening space isn't huge (about 5x5m) and the speakers are about 20cm from the wall so they produce plenty of bass for the space. I have similar listening tastes to you, by the sounds of it
Thanks to the poster above ref CD player - will have a look as need to replace my Marantz SE that's over a decade old! Currently considering a UDP-411 which I'm kicking myself for not buying when Peter Tyson had it on a trade in offer for £600 up till February! Either that or an Oppo and DAC.....
Uncanny, my music room is also about 5x5m with the speakers set a similar distance from the wall!Thanks to the poster above ref CD player - will have a look as need to replace my Marantz SE that's over a decade old! Currently considering a UDP-411 which I'm kicking myself for not buying when Peter Tyson had it on a trade in offer for £600 up till February! Either that or an Oppo and DAC.....
I've just won an auction for a Dragonfly 1.2 DAC which is only a fifteen minute drive from home so am picking that up tomorrow and will see what kind of a difference that makes to the C320.
That'll scratch my upgrading itch for the moment and then I'll get digging for an amp so i can relegate the C320 to dining room bookshelf speaker duty. If only there were someway to audition second hand gear....
Forums | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff