Parasound 5250, Nad T955

[slipperybidness]

I'm itching for a separate amp. Really liking the nad t955. Just read up on the parasound 5250, looks pretty appealing as well. I'm looking at the v.1 of the parasound.

I'm driving goldenear tritons (very good sensitivity), pioneer elite as sound processor, and about 60%music, 25% games, 15% movies.

Is the parasound worth the extra money, considering I'm more interested in music than movies?

I'm wanting to have a quality amp that I know will last for 10++ years.

 

[3db]

I'm itching for a separate amp. Really liking the nad t955. Just read up on the parasound 5250, looks pretty appealing as well. I'm looking at the v.1 of the parasound.

I'm driving goldenear tritons (very good sensitivity), pioneer elite as sound processor, and about 60%music, 25% games, 15% movies.

Is the parasound worth the extra money, considering I'm more interested in music than movies?

I'm wanting to have a quality amp that I know will last for 10++ years.

Both are equally adept in delivering power to your speakers regardless of the source. Two channel music makes less demand on an amplifier than a 5.1 soundtrack. If an amp can do 5.1, then it will certainly perform well with 2 channel music. Out of those two, I would go with NAD becuase it costs less. There are still cheaper but quality amplifer offerings to be had from the likes of Outlaw and Emotiva. I would check into those.

 

[slipperybidness]

Yeah, I think I've decided against the emotiva, I haven't looked into the outlaws much yet, nor the ATI that gets good reccomendations.

My concern is that the parasound looks badass, but seems to be geared more to movies, while the nad is geared more to music.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, I think I've decided against the emotiva, I haven't looked into the outlaws much yet, nor the ATI that gets good reccomendations.

My concern is that the parasound looks badass, but seems to be geared more to movies, while the nad is geared more to music.

Amps are amps, and they are for all sounds, not just music or movies.

Amps don't make any sounds of their own, unless they have distortion.

What really determine the sound quality are the original source, speakers, and room acoustics.

The fact is, most of us don't even need amps. We have them anyway, though.

Those GoldenEars are like the DefTechs; they don't need the external amps.

But if I were to choose, I would go with Parasound.

I get the feeling from reading forums that NAD may not be as solid as they used to be. Things change.

I know InTheIndustry, whom I trust completely since he installs all kinds of units for many clients and have real experience with them, prefer the Parasound over the NAD.

 

[3db]

Yeah, I think I've decided against the emotiva, I haven't looked into the outlaws much yet, nor the ATI that gets good reccomendations.

My concern is that the parasound looks badass, but seems to be geared more to movies, while the nad is geared more to music.

An amp is neither geared towards music nor towards movies. An amplifier is a neutarl device whose design should amplify signals without adding a characterstic sound. All seperate amps have a flat frequency response well past the audable frequency range so they cannot impart a sound. A solid state amplifier adding a character sound is a misconception perpetrated by misinformed audiophiles who have no clue to the theorey of operation of an amp let alone anything else electronic. DO NOT listen to them.

Outlaw uses rebadged ATI amps. Power amps are relatively dirt simple when compared to preamps, AVRs, etc. If the NAD is considerably cheaper and offers the same level of warranty over a Parasound, get the NAD. If you are worried about warrnaty, get a Bryston but these amps ARE expensive. However, no other manufacturer even comes close to touching their 20 year warranty.

Oout of curiosity, why did you rule out Emotiva?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Outlaw uses rebadged ATI amps.

I would also add that ATI make amps for "1/2 dozen" companies including JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Earthquake Sound, in addition to Outlaw.

I'm not biased towards ATI amps or anything like that.

 

[3db]

I would also add that ATI make amps for "1/2 dozen" companies including JBL, Lexicon, Mark Levinson, Earthquake Sound, in addition to Outlaw.

I'm not biased towards ATI amps or anything like that.

There is no bias in facts.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There is no bias in facts.

I meant that I'm not biased in recommending ATI even though I own 3 ATI amps.

 

[slipperybidness]

OK, the plot thickens.

How about the T955 refurb, 1yr warranty for $700 vs the parasound 5250 for $2000 new 3yr warranty. Also, I am considering the Marantz 7005. Any thoughts on the 7005?

Again, I am looking for a great amp, don't want to buy a new one for at least 10 yrs, prob more like 20. I think I would be happy with the Nad for several yrs, but may want to upgrade it later.

Also, my current room is about 30'x20' with 1/2 of it vaulted ceiling. House is an open floorplan, the couch has to be about 7' from the speakers. I realize that either amp is probably more than I need currently, but I won't always be in this house and I want a solid purchase that I can live with for a long time no matter what house I own.

AccuDefTech, any other reccomendations in the $1000 to $1500 range? Any others other than ATI?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

AccuDefTech, any other reccomendations in the $1000 to $1500 range? Any others other than ATI?

Do you mean the like-new ATI AT1805 w/ full 7 yrs warranty for $1,595?

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1316801977

I would send them an email asking to buy for $1,395.

They are an ATI authorized dealer, and they used to take best offers. I got $200 off each of the ATI amps I bought from them. All 3 amps I bought were like-new 10/10 condition.

These amps spec @ 180WPC, but they will most likely produce 200WPC since ATI always under-spec their amps.

For example the AT6012 is spec @ 60WPC, yet The Audio Critic measured 80WPC.

The Marantz 7055 looks pretty good for $800 --> 140WPC x 5ch = $800.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make-a-store/item/MARMM7055/Marantz-MM7055-5-Channel-Power-Amplifier/1.html

 

[GranteedEV]

OK, the plot thickens.

How about the T955 refurb, 1yr warranty for $700 vs the parasound 5250 for $2000 new 3yr warranty. Also, I am considering the Marantz 7005. Any thoughts on the 7005?

Again, I am looking for a great amp, don't want to buy a new one for at least 10 yrs, prob more like 20. I think I would be happy with the Nad for several yrs, but may want to upgrade it later.

Also, my current room is about 30'x20' with 1/2 of it vaulted ceiling. House is an open floorplan, the couch has to be about 7' from the speakers. I realize that either amp is probably more than I need currently, but I won't always be in this house and I want a solid purchase that I can live with for a long time no matter what house I own.

AccuDefTech, any other reccomendations in the $1000 to $1500 range? Any others other than ATI?

Amps are VERY simple - Get whatever gets you the most watts into a low impedance, per dollar. If it doubles its watts from 8 ohms to 4 ohms, great, and if it does again into 2 ohms, that's the amp to pick.

I recommend these extremely robust Face Audio amps from Kevin Haskins' website:

http://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?cPath=146&products_id=671

You won't regret it.

Don't get drawn into silly audiophile B.S. about certain brands of amps "sounding better". It's just a way to waste your money. If you want an amp, at least make it worth it by getting an amp that will drive anything to any level.

Honestly though, until you've got speakers that will benefit from an amp, you're just really throwing money away. Those tritons won't benefit from an amp.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I recommend these extremely robust Face Audio amps from Kevin Haskins' website:

http://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?cPath=146&products_id=671.

He needs to make a 5ch & 7ch amp, though.

Buying 3 of those stereo amps will cost a few.

 

[GranteedEV]

He needs to make a 5ch & 7ch amp, though.

Buying 3 of those stereo amps will cost a few.

Why anyone would need more than 25wpc for their surround speakers, is beyond me.

I doubt mine even draw 5wpc at the loudest volumes i listen at.

 

[3db]

Why anyone would need more than 25wpc for their surround speakers, is beyond me.

I doubt mine even draw 5wpc at the loudest volumes i listen at.

Agreed with movies but multichannel audio WILL draw more depending on the mix.

 

[slipperybidness]

Accudeftech, that ATI you reccommended, it can be upgraded to 7 channels later if I want to? That is something a mid-skilled consumer can do?

 

[GranteedEV]

Agreed with movies but multichannel audio WILL draw more depending on the mix.

If a 7 channel receiver can do 60wpc into 4 channels, and the separates amps handle the fronts, I honestly fail to see the point in a separates amps for surround channels.

 

[3db]

If a 7 channel receiver can do 60wpc into 4 channels, and the separates amps handle the fronts, I honestly fail to see the point in a separates amps for surround channels.

My comment was made on your generalization of surrounds using 25Watts/channel...not considering that mulit channel audio mixes will place greater demands on surrounds than movie soundtracks.

I'm confused with your above response again since his room is rather large 20x30' with a vaulted ceiling. He will need some muscle even if the speakers are fairly efficient. The NAD for $700 seems like a good purchase.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Accudeftech, that ATI you reccommended, it can be upgraded to 7 channels later if I want to? That is something a mid-skilled consumer can do?

No, you have to send it back to the factory to upgrade from 5ch to 7ch.
That is what ATI rep told me.

I don't see ATI selling separate amp modules either.

You might be able to get the AT1807 for $1,800 after you haggle them:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1316799605

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Why anyone would need more than 25wpc for their surround speakers, is beyond me.

I doubt mine even draw 5wpc at the loudest volumes i listen at.

True. I agree.

But still. Some people will want it.

 

[GranteedEV]

I'm confused with your above response again since his room is rather large 20x30' with a vaulted ceiling. He will need some muscle even if the speakers are fairly efficient. The NAD for $700 seems like a good purchase.

Room size doesn't matter except for deep bass gain. Distance to speaker is what matters and he said

House is an open floorplan, the couch has to be about 7' from the speakers.

In other words, he doesn't need a separates amp in general. But if he wants a separates amp that'll be worth it forever, why would he get a 100wpc 5 channel amp instead of augmenting the fronts with some real 2 ohm stable power on the order of 1kW+? Fronts are where power is mixed, whether that's a movie or MCM. If he's got a receiver, it's probably got enough power for him anyways, but if he wants to improve power, he should be looking at an exponential increase in power, not just better ACD performance which is useless.

Not only that, but if you do add a separates amp for the fronts, the built in receiver amps get a huge load removed off of them.

But still. Some people will want it.

So do I if I have an ostentatious budget. But not at the expense of the power going to the front speakers. In that scenario it's just a useless spending for the sake of spending.