Nad C350

[Alex2507]

It's an integrated stereo amplifier. What does integrated mean? lol. I saw it at a pawn shop for $225. Came home and looked it up. Thats when the confusion set in.

They also had a pair of Paradigm Mini Monitors. $150. Those would sound better than my Infinity Primus 250's wouldn't they?

These are entry level questions so I posted here. I might be able to snag the whole show for $300 after they factor in the nice guy discount. Thanks.

 

[anamorphic96]

It's an integrated stereo amplifier. What does integrated mean? lol. I saw it at a pawn shop for $225. Came home and looked it up. Thats when the confusion set in.

They also had a pair of Paradigm Mini Monitors. $150. Those would sound better than my Infinity Primus 250's wouldn't they?

These are entry level questions so I posted here. I might be able to snag the whole show for $300 after they factor in the nice guy discount. Thanks.

That would be a pretty good deal. Shoot for 250 and work up. You could probably get it all for 275. Have hard cash ready. It always helps in pawn shop situations.

The Primus 250's would be on par with the Mini's and maybe a bit better.

 

[zumbo]

An amp amplifies the signal.

A pre-amp is connected to an amp as a controller.(Volume, etc..) It would also have the connections needed for other audio equipment.(CD, etc..)

An integrated amp is a pre-amp and an amp all-in-one.

Neither a pre-amp, nor an integrated amp, have a radio tuner. A tuner would have to be added separately to p/u radio broadcasts. This is why the above products are called separates.

A receiver is a pre-amp, amp, and tuner all-in-one.

A pre-pro(pre-amp processor) is a pre-amp with AV connections for HT.

An AV receiver is a receiver with AV connections for HT.

 

[Alex2507]

The Primus 250's would be on par with the Mini's and maybe a bit better.

Thanks. That makes me feel pretty good about the Infinitys. The next step would be to hear the difference between those speakers driven by the NAD and an HK AVR in stereo mode. My guess is that the NAD would have the advantage or would that be like splitting hairs?

An amp amplifies the signal.

A pre-amp is connected to an amp as a controller.(Volume, etc..) It would also have the connections needed for other audio equipment.(CD, etc..)

An integrated amp is a pre-amp and an amp all-in-one.

Neither a pre-amp, nor an integrated amp, have a radio tuner. A tuner would have to be added separately to p/u radio broadcasts. This is why the above products are called separates.

A receiver is a pre-amp, amp, and tuner all-in-one.

A pre-pro(pre-amp processor) is a pre-amp with AV connections for HT.

An AV receiver is a receiver with AV connections for HT.

What an answer! That should have a title along the lines of:

7 Things You Need to Know

 

[anamorphic96]

Your likely splitting hairs. The HK receivers have pretty strong amp sections. I would say save your money and see if you can get yourself into a Infinity center channel or better sub. These would make the biggest improvements.

 

[no. 5]

The next step would be to hear the difference between those speakers driven by the NAD and an HK AVR in stereo mode. My guess is that the NAD would have the advantage or would that be like splitting hairs?

Na, I think the NAD will have an advantage; it should have better preamps than a home theater receiver, and NAD amps usually have a very good amount of head room - something that H/K amps are not (to my knowledge) known for.

 

[Alex2507]

Your likely splitting hairs. The HK receivers have pretty strong amp sections. I would say save your money and see if you can get yourself into a Infinity center channel or better sub. These would make the biggest improvements


My sig. sort of spells out what I'm up to. The Primus are zone 2 for 2 channel stereo only so there is no need to couple them with a center. My 5.1 speakers for HT are smaller "on wall" jobs that don't suck up floor space. I'm never going to crank up a movie but music is different. I do like to turn that up sometimes and do care about SQ. My sub is already under scrutiny but I'm sort of limited to the amount of bass I am comfortable putting out living in a condo.

For me there is snob appeal to owning a NAD and Paradigm. Even little ones. Putting that money and some time toward room acoustics is evidently what I should be doing. Deals are tough to walk away from.

 

[Alex2507]

Na, I think the NAD will have an advantage; it should have better preamps than a home theater receiver, and NAD amps usually have a very good amount of head room - something that H/K amps are not (to my knowledge) known for.

My replies are out of order cause I'm slow but this is what I wanted to hear. Now I gotta have 'em. What is your opinion of the Primus 250's as opposed to the Paradigm Mini Monitors? Snob appeal can't be discounted.

 

[no. 5]

Snob appeal can't be discounted.

true indeed.

What is your opinion of the Primus 250's as opposed to the Paradigm Mini Monitors?

Hmm, the 250's will give you better bass response. With one exception, I don't really like the sound of Paradigm, but hay, that's just me.
As the Paradigm is about the same price as the 250, it could be assumed that the Paradigm's smaller size means it has a better cabinet, better drivers, ect.. however, it should be noted that the Primus series is really very good.
Aside from the deference in bass response, you would probably be happy with either one (and I'm guessing that's true of the 250's already).... although if you get Paradigm you can name drop.

 

[Alex2507]

I'm good with the 250's but I don't have much to compare them to. A couple of years ago I got this stuff because it was on sale and I was really curious about 5.1 for DVD's. Since then I've been trying to learn more about it. I call it a field of interest but the first time I mentioned capacitance, induction, EMI and RFI to anybody it got labled as an obssesion. What's in a lable?

Thanks for the input everybody.