NAD Integrated Amplifier Warmth?

[anirudh19oct]

Which was the best ever sounding NAD preamp section in the integrated amp range of NAD? I know about the 3020 v1. But anything else from NAD which just blew you away with its warmth or nice sounding preamp section?

I badly want to try out an old NAD as a preamplifier and maybe even looking forward to buying one. Just calling out the users who's had experience with NAD.

NAD and PSB go hand in hand. Wanted to know user experiences regarding this.

( I have a Crown XLS2502 which I use as a power amp to drive my PSB Synchrony One Floorstanders)

Regards

 

[ryanosaur]

When you get to a certain level of good quality electronics in the High End Audio spectrum... most feel, and I agree, that the electronics do not impart any sort of character to the sound you hear. It's in these companies best interests to have a clean signal throughput. Adding any character/having a 'house sound' would be equated with adding distortion to the signal chain.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've auditioned some NAD preamps and amps.

But I've never noticed any "warmth" sound quality to them.

 

[lovinthehd]

I like tacos.

 

[killdozzer]

I've auditioned some NAD preamps and amps.

But I've never noticed any "warmth" sound quality to them.

I agree.

As @ryanosaur nicely put it, sound signatures are mostly regarded as sound being skewed in these forums. Imagine if you take some audio material that you perceive as warm and then play it through a system that is warm, the effect compounds, it accumulates.

However, @anirudh19oct none of this really matters if you know what you like and you don't mind it. So, if I was asked to tailor an answer to you specifically, I'd say: if you're absolutely sure that you like NAD sound signature and you're aware it'll affect all your material, NAD 106 comes highly recommended among the NAD fan boys.

I agree with @AcuDefTechGuy specific sound signature of NAD is usually described as laid-back upper mids. It would result in, for example, a snare drum being hit hard to sound softer and less harsh, with less attack or plucking strings on a guitar would appear less piercing.

 

[davidscott]

I've auditioned some NAD preamps and amps.

But I've never noticed any "warmth" sound quality to them.

I've owned a 3020 and later a 3140 and never noticed a warm sound.

 

[DigitalDawn]

The 3020 was well-known to be a very warm and musical amp. There's a great story behind the design of that little amplifier. Back in the day I owned one and loved it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've owned a 3020 and later a 3140 and never noticed a warm sound.

Was it even warm to the touch or did it produce enough heat to warm the room?

 

[killdozzer]

The 3020 was well-known to be a very warm and musical amp. There's a great story behind the design of that little amplifier. Back in the day I owned one and loved it.

Beautiful parts of that story are even here on Audioholics forums in the article Why Audio Amplifiers Can Sound Different.

 

[PENG]

Beautiful parts of that story are even here on Audioholics forums in the article Why Audio Amplifiers Can Sound Different.

Thanks, that's a good read. Regardless of the reasons cited, I want to see flat FR, minimum distortions, high slew rate, high DF, high SNR. If any manufacturers shape the FR or introduced any distortions, I won't buy their products. In a good restaurant, the server would ask if I want fresh pepper, so it's my choice in terms of yes/no/how much and I like it that way.

 

[DigitalDawn]

I

Was it even warm to the touch or did it produce enough heat to warm the room?

It was sonically warm.

 

[PENG]

I

It was sonically warm.

You do know he knows that right? For me, 25 degree C even at lower humidity and average wind speed under shade, is a little too warm for me already, 18 degree would have been great. For some people, they need a light winter jacket under the same condition. I believe like weather, sonically warm would have different meanings to different people.

 

[Phase 2]

I

It was sonically warm.

Hey! Wait a minute! Didn't Bob Carver event that first? With his tube amps? They look and feel pretty warm to me!

 

[Phase 2]

I can relate to the warm thing, the very first Onkyo AVR bought I was from Circuit City in Lafayette back in 2006. The salesman said that it was warm. Well I got it home after running that unit I called into Circuit City to speak with the sales guy that sold me the unit. I proceeded to tell him that he was wrong! That the Onkyo he sold me wasn't warm at all, I went, Man you can cook eggs on top of that thing! He goes Oh I meant to say sonically warm. Right then and there I knew I'd been had..lol needless to say I return it for a refund.. True story the rest I just made it up, I did buy my first Onkyo from Circuit City.

 

[PENG]

Hey! Wait a minute! Didn't Bob Carver event that first? With his tube amps? They look and feel pretty warm to me!

What he did, showed that if there was a sound signature by design, it could be measured and duplicated to the point people could not tell a difference in even just a single blind test. In the case of the Stereophile challenge, it was a pair of Conrad Johnson tube monoblocks vs his $400 M1.0t, apparently he modified in a motel within 48 hours.

 

[Phase 2]

What he did, showed that if there was a sound signature by design, it could be measured and duplicated to the point people could not tell a difference in even just a single blind test. In the case of the Stereophile challenge, it was a pair of Conrad Johnson tube monoblocks vs his $400 M1.0t, apparently he modified in a motel within 48 hours.

PENG, was just picking at DD some you know me . But yeah I did some research on Bob Carver, John Curl, and of course doctor Tool and Harman. Of all the ones I found Bob to be a very interesting study.

 

[killdozzer]

You do know he knows that right? For me, 25 degree C even at lower humidity and average wind speed under shade, is a little too warm for me already, 18 degree would have been great. For some people, they need a light winter jacket under the same condition. I believe like weather, sonically warm would have different meanings to different people.

Funny thing, and I already posted this a long time ago in another thread, no matter how imprecise these terms are, I found a surprising consistency in their use. (I even posted some videos back then to ask all of you what you think and also there was no inconsistency) For example, no one ever, ever described older NAD's as cold. Also, no one ever, ever described LS50's to be warm. (Sonically speaking)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I can relate to the warm thing, the very first Onkyo AVR bought I was from Circuit City in Lafayette back in 2006. The salesman said that it was warm. Well I got it home after running that unit I called into Circuit City to speak with the sales guy that sold me the unit. I proceeded to tell him that he was wrong! That the Onkyo he sold me wasn't warm at all, I went, Man you can cook eggs on top of that thing! He goes Oh I meant to say sonically warm. Right then and there I knew I'd been had..lol needless to say I return it for a refund.. True story the rest I just made it up, I did buy my first Onkyo from Circuit City.

Onkyo doesn't have a warm sonic sound. It has a fire-burning sonic sound.

 

[Phase 2]

Onkyo doesn't have a warm sonic sound. It has a fire-burning sonic sound.

I did return that unit, it would get so hot that you really couldn't leave your hand on top cause it was Hot!

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd sure like to see a definitive list of what electronics are what playback temperature range sonically LOL. OTOH I did just see that Ken Ishiwata of Marantz apparently is that guy who had kept things sounding a certain way over much of his 41 year career....but he apparently has agreed to retirement with the new organization....so will Marantz retain the claims of "warm" or "musical" without Ken?