2. amps-preamps
  3. 174801-97135

Bought powerful/expensive Amp+Speakers but plan to use an old preamp , am I crazy?

Please hear me out.

I got back into the hi-fi game after a hiatus and chanced upon some gear I have always wanted, for a great price, so I jumped on it... which resulted in no budget left for a pre-amp!

Purchased gear, yet to arrive:
Amp: McIntosh MC-452
Speakers: Paradigm Persona 3F

Sources that I already own:
Analog: Linn Sondek LP12
Digital : Oppo UDP203 / Bluenode 2i

 

I have an old NAD-1155 Pre-Amp lying around that i simply love!! It has one of the best phono stages I have come across among all the pre-amps I’ve owned. So I’m hoping I can use the NAD as an interim arrangement, before I can save up for a better pre-amp.

My question is rather simplistic, would the NAD cause any problems when paired with the Big MAC, in terms of compatibility and/or sonic abilities?

Besides it being a dirt cheap component (relatively speaking), nothing tells me it can’t be used, but I need someone to chime in and tell me I’m not being too naive or optimistic!

 

Edit: Link to the Preamp - https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/nad/1155.shtml

 

bugsnest
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,543 posts
 

452 looks good but I've heard it many times and just not musical IMHO.

Don't fall for the neurotic belief that spending more and more gets you a better preamp! 

My Big Mac was very flat sounding and not in a good way. I was much happier with my Parasound but others have had good luck so I'll reserve my opinion until you get everything working together. The NAD might work for you in this set-up for now, with the NAD sound being a little warm but don't be fooled a new pre-amp is in your future, good preamps are way better than an old low-line NAD

bugsnest OP
33 posts
 

Thank you all for chiming in... It sounds like the consensus is I don't risk damaging anything in the chain using the NAD... but I ought to be saving up for a better/improved pre-amp in the future :)

fiesta75
1,378 posts
 

+1 for preamp should be fine!

invalid
1,250 posts
 

I would try the NAD, but I would not expect great sound. I tried using my Adcom preamp with my krell amp and it sounded horrible, bought a new preamp and now I have great sound.

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 

op

your to-soon-arrive speakers are pretty darned resolving and your big mac amp is very good

my guess is you will hear a notable difference (improvement) in sound quality going from the nad (which will work just fine, as has been said) to a higher level linestage, whether it be a higher order solid state unit or one that runs tubes

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