2. amps-preamps
  3. 187320-186532

Is my amp good enough?

Hello everyone. New here and looking for some opinions.

My system comprises of mostly NAD components. The pre amp is the C165BEE and the amp is the C275BEE. They are currently driving an older pair of Monitor Audio Silver 8's. I have always been rather happy with this set up.

I am now looking at upgrading the speakers to a brand new set of Monitor Audio Gold 300 5G speakers and I am wondering if my amp has what it takes to get the best out of the incoming speakers. I am not sure if I would get an honest answer from a salesperson as they might convince me I need a $6000 amp to drive the speakers.

I have included the specs on my amp and the speakers I am looking at. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Some details:

NAD C275BEE

OVERALL SPECIFICATIONS

FIXED IN, SPEAKER OUT

Continuous output power into 8 Ω and 4 Ω (both channels driven) >150 W (ref. rated THD, 20 Hz – 20 kHz)

Continuous output power into 8 Ω (Mono, Bridge mode) >330 W (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz, <0.02% THD)

Rated THD (250 mW to rated power, CCIF IMD, DIM 100) <0.008 % (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz)

Clipping power (4 Ω and 8 Ω) >170 W (ref. 1 kHz 1% THD)

IHF dynamic power - 8 Ω 250 W

4 Ω 410 W

2 Ω 600 W

IHF dynamic power (Bridge mode) - 8 Ω 800 W

4 Ω 1200 W

Peak output current >50 A (ref. 1 Ω, 1 ms)

Signal/Noise ratio >102 dB (A-weighted, ref. 1 W)

>123 dB (A-weighted, ref. 150 W)

Damping factor >180 (ref. 8 Ω, 50 Hz and 1 kHz)

Frequency response ± 0.1 dB (ref. 20 Hz - 20 kHz)

3 Hz - 100 kHz (ref. -3 dB)

Input impedance (Fixed IN) 10 kΩ + 200 pF

Input impedance (Variable IN) 100 kΩ + 100 pF

Input sensitivity 1.2 V (ref. rated power)

Voltage gain 29 dB

Minimum input level for AUTO TRIGGER 10 mV at 1 kHz

Time to power OFF at no signal in AUTO mode <10 minutes

POWER CONSUMPTION

Normal operation 312 W (ref. 230V AC 50 Hz; 120V AC 60 Hz)

Standby power <1 W

Idle power <100 W

 

Monitor Audio Gold 300 5G:

Specifications
System Format 3-way
Frequency Response (-6 dB) 30 Hz – 50 kHz
Sensitivity (1W@1M) 90 dB
Nominal Impedance 4 Ohms
Minimum Impedance 3.5 Ohms @ 1 kHz
Maximum SPL 117 dBA (Pair)
Power Handling (RMS) 250 W
Recommended Amplifier Requirements 100 – 250 W
neversatisfied
neversatisfied OP
70 posts
 

I am no different than most of us here. It’s an addiction. No doubt further upgrades will happen. But I will spend some time with the new speakers first, letting them break in. Then we will see.

I may add a slightly higher grade of speaker wire to go with them even though something in my brain still wonders if that’s snake oil. I have a set of Audioquest Type 4 on my Silvers now. Maybe bump them up and move the old Type 4 down to my Focal towers in my home theatre setup.

yyzsantabarbara
4,829 posts
 

The NAD M22 V2 which I think was their top amp fairly recently was the only amp I bought that I quickly returned. I have had a few cheaper amps than that which I thought were better.

  • D-Sonic Class D using Pascal module (pretty good)
  • LSA Voyager 350 GAN (not a bass monster but a very good amp for the price)
  • PeachTree GAN1, love this amp AFTER I got it modded by tweakaudio.com. Even in stock form I liked it more than the NAD.

I still have the PeachTree since my modded unit is as good as $10k amps I own (given a not too demanding speaker). However, the GAN1 is for people who only stream digital music. No analog sources allowed.

GaN 1 | Peachtree Audio

BTW - speaker cable is the one cable I will spend money on. I like WyWire and Audience. You can get some good deals on WyWire on USAM.

soundscapemd's avatar
soundscapemd
8 posts
 

You don't need a more expensive amplifier to "drive" your speakers. You can benefit from a better amplifier now. In my decades of being in the audio business I have often been surprised how much difference a better amplifer can be heard on an inexpensive pair of speakers, speaker that sell for $300 at pair. There is no doubt that the attributes toward more believable sound contributed by a superior amplifier are not attributes that a better speaker will offer.

grossman616
123 posts
 

Like those guys said- never been a fan of NAD but to each their own...

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