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
bugsnest OP
33 posts
 

@mulveling and @tunehead - that;s how I see it. Not going to spend big to get a "complete" system but over time I can see myself doing that. I can see that the NAD is not in the league of the other systems in my chain so its an interim step in the final picture :) 

limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,471 posts
 

I had a NAD cassette player some one gave me it was really nice ,until it died....wasn't a top of the line .But NAD is good stuff...enjoy 

sokogear
1,100 posts
 

@bugsnest - I used to have some NAD gear (way back) and it is a great value. That doesn't mean it's great. A phono stage with an AB switch from MM to MC is not the same as having a multi option one. I have an excellent highly regarded integrated amp that has an internal switch from MM to MC in its very good phono stage, but when I put in a Sutherland Insight, which I got used for under $1K (and later put in the linear power stage) the difference was distinctly immediately noticeable.

I have come to the realization that many tweaks that you hear about here I just cannot appreciate when I do try them, but the phono stage is a very important piece of the audiophile puzzle and even though you think you have a good one, there is tremendous room for improvement. Don't worry about spending too much on the source - it it the most important part of the system.. 

More to discover