AMPS.

[cindychops]

As i may be self isolating soon i thought it would be nice to try to improve my hifi.I will list what i have and then list what i have just received and would like to add.

Denon PMA 700AE
TDL RTL3
MARANTZ CD-63 MK11 KI SIGNATURE


Would like to integrate the following.

TECHNICS SL-150,INFINITY BLACK WIDOW TONE ARM,DENON DL101 CARTRIDGE.
2 X NAD 214 POWER AMPS
ROTEL PHONO AMP.
I know the above is old but is great condition and if i added the 2 amps (bridged) to the denon would i see/hear a noticeable difference? At present cd's sound lovely through the tdl's on very low volume and you can feel the bass through the room but sound NICE.any opinions would be great.

[Crackie]

The bridged NADs have a great reputation should be a worthwhile improvement on the amp stages in the Denon. The PMA 700 can be used as a pre amp; it should very easy to set up and to hook up the turntable and phono stage.

The NADs deliver 240wpc when bridged so you'll need to take care with the volume control. The TDLs are rated at 120W max.

Back in the second half of the 1990s I was Tech Sales Manager for the company that built the RTL2s and RTL3s for TDL. It was a privilege to work with John Wright, the owner and designer at TDL; a charming guy who was happy to share his considerable knowledge and experience.

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 19th March 23:03

[cindychops]

When i bought the tdl's i played Clannad harry's game through the marantz and even on the lowest volume sounded haunting and filled every inch of the room (if that makes sense).
How would i go about connecting the denon to the nad's.

[Crackie]

cindychops said:

When i bought the tdl's i played Clannad harry's game through the marantz and even on the lowest volume sounded haunting and filled every inch of the room (if that makes sense).
How would i go about connecting the denon to the nad's.

The Denon has a pair of sockets on the back called 'Pre Out'..........used this way the, Denon is a Pre amplifier rather than an integrated amplifier. The Denon will set the volume level and allow you to switch between input sources but the NADs will be doing the power amplification.

The Rotel phono stage should be connected to one of the Denon's line inputs not the phono input. The DVD/Aux input would be ideal.

[cindychops]

Crackie said:

The Denon has a pair of sockets on the back called 'Pre Out'..........used this way the, Denon is a Pre amplifier rather than an integrated amplifier. The Denon will set the volume level and allow you to switch between input sources but the NADs will be doing the power amplification.

The Rotel phono stage should be connected to one of the Denon's line inputs not the phono input. The DVD/Aux input would be ideal.

I have only used one Nad Power amp as with 2 connected and bridged even breathing on the volume dial would make the speaker coils act as if they were at a woodstock concert so i only use 1 now.
I have an interconnect that seems to have the same rigidity as a wire coat hanger (and will even stay in any position till moved) going from denon preout to nad line in and used in stereo mode and the Tdl's are more than happy even more so at low volume.
I know that the Marantz Ki signature was rated highly in its days but in a direct comparison between the vinyl and cd version of Logical Song by Supertramp the cd gets 9/10 and the vinyl 5/10 as is lacking depth,bass,but the soundstage is as good as well as the clarity just seems to be missing warmth.
Will have a fiddle about with the tonearm settings over the next couple of days but am very very happy with extra ooomph the nad has given the system.

[Crackie]

cindychops said:

Crackie said:

The Denon has a pair of sockets on the back called 'Pre Out'..........used this way the, Denon is a Pre amplifier rather than an integrated amplifier. The Denon will set the volume level and allow you to switch between input sources but the NADs will be doing the power amplification.

The Rotel phono stage should be connected to one of the Denon's line inputs not the phono input. The DVD/Aux input would be ideal.

I have only used one Nad Power amp as with 2 connected and bridged even breathing on the volume dial would make the speaker coils act as if they were at a woodstock concert so i only use 1 now.
I have an interconnect that seems to have the same rigidity as a wire coat hanger (and will even stay in any position till moved) going from denon preout to nad line in and used in stereo mode and the Tdl's are more than happy even more so at low volume.
I know that the Marantz Ki signature was rated highly in its days but in a direct comparison between the vinyl and cd version of Logical Song by Supertramp the cd gets 9/10 and the vinyl 5/10 as is lacking depth,bass,but the soundstage is as good as well as the clarity just seems to be missing warmth.
Will have a fiddle about with the tonearm settings over the next couple of days but am very very happy with extra ooomph the nad has given the system.

Good.........pleased to hear the NAD amp has made a worthwhile improvement.

If you've got enough cable it's worth using the other NAD and having a go at bi-amping the speakers; each NAD doing bass and treble respectively. Don't forget to take out the bi-wire links on the TDL's terminal trays before trying this........

If you've got some reasonably thick speaker cable feeding the TDLs now, use that to feed the bass section. For the treble section any cable that's long enough to reach will do just fine. Twin lighting flex is plenty good enough.

[cindychops]

Finally after 4 weeks i have managed to bridge both the nads and have one powering left and the other powering the right,when i first turned them on it was like THUNDER literally and had to turn the bass to normal but even with the denon volume on 2 sounds like a disco.
Is there a sequence to turning the preamp and amps off as when i turned the power amp off 1st with the the source still active got a huge buzz from the amp.(if i turn off tuner-preamp-amps it has'nt happened again)
Have also got an audiolab 8000t tuner and its not far off the Marantz Ki cd player for quality.(have just bought some leds to replace the slightly dim lights in the display).
The order of awesomeness would be Marantz/audiolab and in 3rd place the technics tuntable which is a surprise.
I have 21 yr old twins and they keep telling ME to turn the music down!!!!bloody youth of today.