So, which amp should I go for?

[MeisterMuSk]

Hey all.

I just bought a pair of Dali Ikon 6 MK II from the Danish company "Dali", and now I am concerned of which amp I should buy.

I kinda narrowed it down to these (well, these are just the ones I've been looking at:

- NAD C356BEE (835,57 $) however, I will need to buy a DAC so I can plug in my optical for Airport Express which is about 174,08 $.

- XTZ A-100 D3 (905,20 $), this is from a Swedish company which is also being sold in Denmark where I am located.

I also have a stupid question: Does the thing about class A and AB mean that is class A is for quality and AB is for playing loud (It is probably way more advanced than I lay out here).

On a sidenote: I hear A LOT of quite music, so I am looking for something to give me that distinct discant that really filters the voices I never listen to R&B, mainstream pop and such, mostly acoustic sessions

Hope you can help! Merry Christmas!

 

[bikemig]

The NAD 356 has a dac module with a usb and digital input which is pretty good value for money: C 356BEE DAC Stereo Integrated Amplifier - NAD Electronics
I'd get the combo.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I'm picking NAD here.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

Even the NAD runs 2x 80 at 8 ohm and the XTZ runs 2x 110 at 8 ohm? Thanks for your replies

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Even the NAD runs 2x 80 at 8 ohm and the XTZ runs 2x 110 at 8 ohm? Thanks for your replies

Yup. I don't think there's a right/ wrong here, just personal preference.

I prefer the brand NAD.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

Hehe okay. Well, I don't think the XTZ is so famous and recommended as the NAD brand. And with NAD I am pretty sure of what I'll get.

 

[ImcLoud]

A friend of mine has them same speakers he uses a quad 909 and it sounds really good...

 

[bikemig]

The nad 356dac runs $900; the nad356bee runs $800. That is a lot of added functionality for $100; the dac module has both a usb and a digital input and both inputs do hi res. The usb input is async. The hi res won't be that helpful with the AE express since it only does redbook but you can do hi res by connecting a computer directly or you may replace the AE express one day with a streaming device that does hi res. This is a nice combo; your AE express will sound noticeably better using the digital out.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

"This is a nice combo; your AE express will sound noticeably better using the digital out."

Do you mean by using a mini toslink to toslink (the optical port in the amp right?)

 

[bikemig]

"This is a nice combo; your AE express will sound noticeably better using the digital out."

Do you mean by using a mini toslink to toslink (the optical port in the amp right?)

Yes; this provides an audible improvement over using the analog out from the AE express.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

I can see that the XTZ can run class A and the NAD does not - what difference does that make? Will I be able to hear with my speaker or does that require more high end speakers?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I can see that the XTZ can run class A and the NAD does not - what difference does that make? Will I be able to hear with my speaker or does that require more high end speakers?

Class A is NOT efficient. They get pretty hot and waste a lot of power. You don't want that. I would avoid class A amps.

But you probably won't hear any significant difference in SQ. I was going to say that you will NOT hear any difference, but I wanted to sound more politically correct.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

Hehe, It seems that the majority have spoken and voted the NAD as a winner. I feel that their is a lack of options with the XTZ (as far as I can read). Don't get me wrong - i LOVE plug and play as much as anyone, but still. Furthermore, when I bought the speakers and cables the guy told me that i should run them "bridged" - but is it even possible with the two amps I've listed? I cannot seem to find anywhere where they mention it.

Cheers!

 

[PENG]

Hehe okay. Well, I don't think the XTZ is so famous and recommended as the NAD brand. And with NAD I am pretty sure of what I'll get.

I tend to avoid amp manufacturers that apply their proprietary/special features or whatever you want to call them, in this case the so called "power drive/soft clipping/constant power into 8/4 ohm" thing. Most likely nothing wrong sonically but I just don't like any artificial/intrusive thing done to my gear and I am naturally a fan of "pure direct".

Regarding class A, if you are like me, someone who don't listen to level louder than that in unamplifiered concerts (i.e. mostly classical concerts), it may be a good thing. So I prefer amps that run their first (or more) watt class A and then AB. That is not a special feature as it is just basic bias control technique that many amp manufacturers do anyway. My Marantz VU meters spend most of their time swinging in the fractional watt range but sound quality is very good with the amp running quite warm producing those fractional watts.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

Thank you very much. Well, i can only agree - As a guy who assebled a lot of computers from scrath I tend to avoid phrases such as "ULTRA HIGH DEF +++" and so on - I am sure you know what I mean. I think a good way to illustrate my music is by linking two of my favorite tracks, I guess that gives a prety good idea of what music that will be on most of the time. Also, I do consider myself a low-volume guy. I know that might sounds wierd but i never high music to blow my brains out, hell, the world do that fine already on its own.

Anyway, here is the tracks:

Anouk - Lost
Anouk - Lost - YouTube

I love her voice, and it really helped me picked the speakers I love.

Lissie - Everywhere I go
Lissie - Everywhere I Go - YouTube

And yea, sorry for the Youtube quality

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, if you listen to low volume, why do you even need an amp? Most AVR will sound great (in direct modes) for music.

 

[MeisterMuSk]

Well, low volume was the wrong phrase I get - I do not listen to very power requiering music I guess

 

[PENG]

I got curious and took a look of the XTZ's specs. For what they published, the specs look too good to be true, given their price point. I guess it has to do with the fact that it is made in China. For $900 (is it Euro $?), is it worth a trial? I don't know..

 

[MeisterMuSk]

The price is in American dollars

 

[High Fidelity]

Hey all.

I just bought a pair of Dali Ikon 6 MK II from the Danish company "Dali", and now I am concerned of which amp I should buy.

I kinda narrowed it down to these (well, these are just the ones I've been looking at:

- NAD C356BEE (835,57 $) however, I will need to buy a DAC so I can plug in my optical for Airport Express which is about 174,08 $.

- XTZ A-100 D3 (905,20 $), this is from a Swedish company which is also being sold in Denmark where I am located.

I also have a stupid question: Does the thing about class A and AB mean that is class A is for quality and AB is for playing loud (It is probably way more advanced than I lay out here).

On a sidenote: I hear A LOT of quite music, so I am looking for something to give me that distinct discant that really filters the voices I never listen to R&B, mainstream pop and such, mostly acoustic sessions

Hope you can help! Merry Christmas!

New Quad QSP sounds very good