NAD or Mckintosh?

[ParadigmDawg]

I have no need to prove myself to you or anyone else out there, ...

...But the Dawg...

The OP simply needs a new Denon or Onk so he has MultEQ XT32/Sub EQ HT and an outboard amp. He is running out of power plus he is adding a second sub.

He could also go the cool route and use DCX and a pro amp but that's more complicated even though it is a better bang for the buck.

 

[Alex2507]

Yamaha AVR and Parasound 2100, the parasound sounded amazingly better every time...

Just a quick question about this ... I take it that you attribute the Parasound 2100's superiority to it's DAC's and/or ADAC's? I haven't done the A/B thing thing in any meaningful way. I'm interested in hearing the 'why' and 'how' of your observations if you care to explain. The Parasound 2100 has me sort of licking my chops because it isn't crazy expensive and the little wheels are starting to turn in my head.

 

[Warpdrv]

Alex, take a run through this thread over at AVS in the 2 ch section... Merrymaid and Nuance (both their names are Brandon) are the guys who live close to me and we have all been to each others houses for GTG's a number of times. Their thoughts and expressions are identical to mine when had a sit down on the 2100 in HT bypass.... I honestly didn't expect to hear or notice a difference, but as Nuance gives his thoughts I can concur his wording of "Striking" in comparison....

 

[Warpdrv]

Ok thx for all the replies!...first yes it is for HT but also music! but i dont really listen to 2 channel stereo music most of the time i listen to music on ''ext stereo'' mode which means all speakers are playing that is because i prefer that more envelloping sound...now a little story about my pioneer....3 weeks ago or so i had a party here at my place (wich happend quite often lol)....and about 30 mins after i cranked the volume up the pioneer stopped playing !!...it was so hot i could bake an egg on it!!...i said to me self...woohh that should not happend again!...i think it lacks power for my use and if every time i crank the volume up it stops i will be very pissed!!...that is why i want to upgrade...and all people that no better then me about it including you guys here seems to agree that i would benifit from upgrading also my local dealer would agree with you that i would get a better sound also using a pre pro or pre amb and an amp!...clipping receiver because i crank the volume up... NO thx!.

Awesome.... puttin that receiver to the test Be careful - inadequate amps will damage speaker when pushed too hard, the amps will start to clip.
See here for more about Amp Clipping http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio)

No question that you would benefit from a good Pre-Amp / Amp combo....

Is there a budget in mind...?

What other products does your dealer have to offer...?
Personally, I'd question any products that don't have room correction in this day and age for HT as well as 2 ch.... what models is he suggesting ?

I stand by my words that a good preamp with good room correction should be something you should be looking very hard at. Your lucky, now is a good time for more mature well put together dedicated preamps coming out on the market...

 

[3db]

The answer between the Mac and NAD is...Which sound do you prefer? Tube or SS? Choosing the sound will make you choose the brand.

 

[clouso]

Awesome.... puttin that receiver to the test Be careful - inadequate amps will damage speaker when pushed too hard, the amps will start to clip.
See here for more about Amp Clipping http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio)

No question that you would benefit from a good Pre-Amp / Amp combo....

Is there a budget in mind...?

What other products does your dealer have to offer...?
Personally, I'd question any products that don't have room correction in this day and age for HT as well as 2 ch.... what models is he suggesting ?

I stand by my words that a good preamp with good room correction should be something you should be looking very hard at. Your lucky, now is a good time for more mature well put together dedicated preamps coming out on the market...

I dont have any specific models yet but next week im probably going to see both of my dealers for the NADS and McKintosh so then i will tell you what models they are both offering me! but i did talk on the phone to both of them already and they told me to come at their place and i will give both brands a good listen... i know i can get very good prices from both but espacially the NAD guy thou lol.....to be continued...

 

[clouso]

The answer between the Mac and NAD is...Which sound do you prefer? Tube or SS? Choosing the sound will make you choose the brand.

Yes hearing both of them will help a lot....

 

[jostenmeat]

Yes hearing both of them will help a lot....

McIntosh makes SS too though.

NAD however does carry Audyssey technology. When I run the filter for the latest XT32, I think there are only 4 hits right now, and you can bet that's what I will at least get in my next processor. None are NAD here.

NAD has a bunch with the tech, 7 of them with the XT version.

I forget which ones of the 7, if not all, carry yet another target curve that is proprietary to NAD, designed by Paul Barton of PSB fame.

http://www.audyssey.com/products/?mfr_filter=4&cat_filter=38

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Did they say the Pioneer was "thin sounding and harsh"?

No, I think they gave it 5 stars out of 5 for performance.

 

[clouso]

A NAD Master Prepro (upgradable modules)
a McIntosh amp (excellent build quality).
or just emotiva and save some money

Allright..i auditionned both McIntosh and NAD and to my hears the McIntosh sounded better with more presence and clarity but dont ask me to review them now lol...and anyway i didnt really get the price i wanted for either of them so now here is the thing!...i see a lot of people have Emotiva products here and i took a look on their web site...i must admitt i always had av receivers and im pretty confused when it comes to multiples sources for HT...this will be the first time and i need advices...first of all about emotiva!...their price are ''ridiculous'' in a good way!...if i get just a lil bit of it could i get an emotiva AV processor UMC-1 along with the UPA-7 and sell my pioneer??...are those 125 watts per channel enough compared to the ''supposed'' 130 of the pioneer??... and will that amp or processor clip too??...oh and btw where the hell do you plug the sub in those?? on the pics on their web site i see no place in the back pannel of both to plug a sub!.....pls help me!...lmao...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

i see no place in the back pannel of both to plug a sub!.....pls help me!...lmao...

Hook the sub to the "SW" output (either RCA or XLR connector).

 

[clouso]

Hook the sub to the "SW" output (either RCA or XLR connector).

Yeah i know its a SW output but i could not see it ...bad pics for the back pannels but anyway....how about the emotiva processor UMC-1 and amplifier UPA-7..?...would it be better then my pioneer vsx-92thx..?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah i know its a SW output but i could not see it ...bad pics for the back pannels but anyway....how about the emotiva processor UMC-1 and amplifier UPA-7..?...would it be better then my pioneer vsx-92thx..?

Yeah, it's a bad pic; you have to copy/save that image and enlarge it to see, but it is there on the bottom left side.

I heard the UMC-1 has plenty of "bugs", so I can't say if it is "better".

So what exactly is really wrong with your current AVR or is it just "upgraditis"?

 

[clouso]

Yeah, it's a bad pic; you have to copy/save that image and enlarge it to see, but it is there on the bottom left side.

I heard the UMC-1 has plenty of "bugs", so I can't say if it is "better".

So what exactly is really wrong with your current AVR or is it just "upgraditis"?

If you didnt read all that thread i will tell you...im a guy how likes it loud and my pioneer clipped like 3 weeks ago because i cranked the volume and was having a party at my place!...it was so hot that i could not touch it!...and yes i want an upgraditis!...and emotiva seems to be a good choice...im just askin...

 

[clouso]

Should i just get a more powerfull AVR?...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you didnt read all that thread i will tell you...im a guy how likes it loud and my pioneer clipped like 3 weeks ago because i cranked the volume and was having a party at my place!...it was so hot that i could not touch it!...and yes i want an upgraditis!...and emotiva seems to be a good choice...im just askin...

No, you DON'T need another AVR!!!

You need at least a 200WPC amp like the Emotiva XPA-5.

Or perhaps a 300WPC amp from ATI, Earthquake, CinePro, Outlaw Audio, etc.

You can get this AT3002 for $1,200 (ask) + Shipping:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1293822699

It is a monster @ 300WPC x 2Ch RMS into 8 ohms + 7 yrs of warranty. It will look BRAND NEW too.

The Emotiva XPA-5 should also be good enough, but if you don't want to take a chance, go for 300WPC.

 

[clouso]

No, you DON'T need another AVR!!!

You need at least a 200WPC amp like the Emotiva XPA-5.

Or perhaps a 300WPC amp from ATI, Earthquake, CinePro, Outlaw Audio, etc.

You can get this one for $1,200 (ask) + Shipping:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1293822699

It is a monster @ 300WPC x 2Ch RMS into 8 ohms + 7 yrs of warranty. It will look BRAND NEW too.

yes the XPA 5 but it is a 5 channel..i want a 7 channel when it comes time to add two more surrounds and from what i see on their web site the 7 channel is only 125 watts per channel? the UPA-7.....why the hell did they build the 7 channel one into only 125 watts per channel and the 5 channels one to 200 and im speaking about 8 ohms??.but even then the XPA5 is at a ridiculous price!...since im in canada can i order them??..is emotiva an american company???

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

yes the XPA 5 but it is a 5 channel..i want a 7 channel when it comes time to add two more surrounds and from what i see on their web site the 7 channel is only 125 watts per channel? the UPA-7.....why the hell did they build the 7 channel one into only 125 watts per channel and the 5 channels one to 200 and im speaking about 8 ohms??.but even then the XPA5 is at a ridiculous price!...since im in canada can i order them??..is emotiva an american company???

Emotiva = made in CHINA.

Sounds like you WANT a 300WPC x 7ch amp!

I think the channels that demand the most power are the front Left + Right.

The Center and especially the surrounds do not demand that much power.

That is why a lot of people get an extremely powerful 2CH amp just for the front Left + Right, and use just the AVR's power for the Center + Surrounds.

 

[clouso]

Emotiva = made in CHINA.

Sounds like you WANT a 300WPC x 7ch amp!

I think the channels that demand the most power are the front Left + Right.

The Center and especially the surrounds do not demand that much power.

That is why a lot of people get an extremely powerful 2CH amp just for the front Left + Right, and use just the AVR's power for the Center + Surrounds.

I just want the perfect match for my speakers!...i think that a clipping av receiver isnt a match!...those studio 60v5 are sounding very well compared to the monitor 11v5 i had but i noticed that my pioneer is working a lot more!... i dont want to damage them with an amp that is too much powerfull or not enough powerfull!...cause both can damage a speaker!...

 

[walter duque]

i dont want to damage them with an amp that is too much powerfull or not enough powerfull!...cause both can damage a speaker!...

IMO there is no such thing as having too much power.