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Question about NAD 320BEE

I am currently helping a friend put together a budget two-channel audio system, and I have been intending to build the system around an NAD 320BEE amplifier. My friend threw a curveball at me today when she told me that she wants the amplifier to be capable of driving a separate, alternative set of speakers in another part of her house away from the listening room (actually outside the house on her deck) when she is entertaining outside.

Can one of you guys with an NAD 320BEE integrated amp tell me whether there are two sets of speaker outputs on the amplifier? If not, does anyone have any creative ideas about how to elegantly accommodate this request (other than the obvious possibility of just changing the speaker cable connections on the back of the amp whenever she wants to switch between the two pairs of speakers)?

Thanks for your help.
cincy_bob
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,792 posts
 
Bob:

The NAD C320BEE does not support two sets of speakers. You would need to move up to the C372 to have that happen.

Other options ... try the Outlaw Audio RR2150 stereo receiver or the Cambridge Audio 540 or 640.

Regards, Rich
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
a second for the outlaw receiver.
pabelson
344 posts
 
If budget is a concern, look at conventional stereo receivers from Denon or Yamaha, which can accommodate two sets of speakers. For your purposes, these units can hold their own with the NAD.
porziob
316 posts
 
Buy a speaker switch box, & you can use the NAD.
cincy_bob OP
270 posts
 
All, thanks for your input. I have a couple of follow-up questions.

First, I should mention that my friend has the ability to buy the NAD products new at a very steep discount from an old friend in the business, so I am trying to stick with NAD amplification given the value that these components represent at this discount level.

Given that, I am wondering if there is a way to pair a second amplifier with the 320BEE to drive the pair of outside speakers. For instance, could the tape out portion of the tape loop circuit be used to feed a separate amp for this other "zone"? There would presumably be some sonic degradation due to the music signal passing through unnecessary circuitry, but we are talking about a ridiculously long run of low-grade speaker cable and a pair of mid-fi speakers in an outdoor situation so I really doubt that anyone could ever hear the difference...

Another thought would be to try to use the preamp out function on the 320BEE to feed a separate amp and these outdoor speakers. However, I suspect that the only way to get a preamp signal out of the unit is to break the link the amplifier section of the 320BEE integrated. Is this true?

Rich's idea of moving up to the C372 might well make the most sense, but, given that the cost of the C372 is more than double that of the 320BEE, I thought I would explore these other possibilities. The speaker switch box is probably the least expensive option, but I hesitate to put a switch in the path of the music signal for the main two-channel system.

Please give me your further thoughts on the above. And thanks for your help and your patience.
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