NAD M2 with Sonus Faber Cremona Ms

Rlwainwright - Please calm down.I like NAD gear. This unit has good specs, although from the specs I cannot tell how it handles a 4 ohm load, which is what the Cremona M specs give for its nominal impedance. I would just like to see a spec other than >150 for both 4 and 8 ohms. Just did some looking. According to Stereophile, it does 165 watts at 8 ohms, 250 watts at 4 ohms, which is good but not great for 4 ohms. I did find some references to some people having concerns with the unit when impendence dropped below 4 ohms, which may well happen with the M. I believe this has a Class D power stage.

The NAD is undoubtedly a very good unit. But the Cremona M are very fine speakers. My conjecture, and that is all it is, is that something like an Ayre VX-V would bring out more in the Cremona M than the NAD would, although, as I said, I have not heard either. That does not mean the Cremona might not sound pretty good with the NAD. I just think you can probably get somewhat better performance with some other gear.

Note that we are talking about integrateds, not power amps. The sound it produces with the M depends on more than just ability to deliver current.

I have a lot of SF speakers, although not the M. My experience is that SF is often somewhat finicky about electronics, although the M was designed to be less finicky than previous speakers. When I got my amp for my Cremona I tested several before finding the one I liked. And they were all high current amps.

I understand that lesser priced equipment can preform very well. But, without some real comparisons I would not automatically assume, based on its specs, that it would bring out the best in the M. If it in fact sounds as good or better than $10K integrates, that would be great.

On the side, if you want great specs at low prices, try Emotiva. A lot of poeple like them. You can get 250 watt at 8 ohm and 400 ohm at 4 ohm for $389 per monoblock. But I am not sure I would put them up against the likes of Ayre, BAT, Conrad Johnson, Levinson, etc. for driving the Cremona M.

Eventually I do want to get better electronics but right now the $2,500 price range is all the budget can afford. I may end up waiting a while till I can afford something more.

This may be the best advice, so maybe you have answered your own question.

I have to agree with Rlwainwright. What does price have tondo with it?

Donjr - First, the OP did not originally say that $2,500 was his price point. He just pointed out what he was considering. I doubt he set that point based on optimal sound but rather on financial considerations. Which is fine. I doubt he compared the NAD to the top end Ayre, for example.

What do specs have to do with it? Do all amps with the same specs sound the same? Not in my experience. Exactly what specs for the NAD make you believe it will be a good match with the Cremona M?

As a generality, higher priced components often sound better than entry level products with high end speakers. Not always, but often. If you have different experience, please share.

It is all about how it sounds. My experience is that some of the equipment I listed above often sounds better than the entry level NAD equipment. If you have experience to the contrary fine.

I have experience matching electronics to my SF Concertino (original and home), Concerto (original), Grand Piano (home) and Cremona. My experience with them is there is a lot more than current ratings to making them sound their best. The Cremona M are a newer design, but from what I know, their still respond differently to different electronics.

The NAD will probably drive the Cremona M well. But, as I said before, if the OP wants to get the most out of them, I recommend he looks beyond the NAD, if and when possible.

If you think the NAD is a great match, or even the best match, for the Cremona M, lets hear your reasoning.

Lets not high jack this thread any more. It does the OP no good. We need to talk specifics about specific equipment.

NAD may have made their name with budget products, but the M2 is not and does not sound like a budget product, IMO. It was an all-out assault on the reasonably-priced high-end, using a new technology that has many advantages. It's not your grandfather's digital amp.

The M2 has received near universal praise from professional reviewers (TAS, Stereophile, Hifi News, 6Moons) as punching way above it's price class. The trickle down has the 390DD performing similarly, but with less power and a cheaper price tag (and maybe somewhat smoother/ softer in the highs). The M2 will have no problem driving your SF speakers and can be found used for just a little over your budget.

I use an M2 in a system with $35K speakers, and find it a good match. Like many SF designs, these speakers (Peak Consults) are elegant and slightly warm through the mids and a little soft on top. The M2 replaced a well regarded $4K amp and gave me more of everything I value. It's quiet, dynamic, neutral while allowing for good tone, and controls bass lines with an iron fist. No, it doesn't sound like a tube amp, but it should be kept in mind that these NADs are (true) digital amps taking a digital input, and the volume control does not lose bits or affect the sound quality in any way I can determine.

Whether it will float your boat (or anyone's) or match with your speakers in the way you like is a different matter. But I'd be hard pressed to recommend a similarly priced integrated to try that obviously betters it. Maybe the Modwright or Pass or Hegel or Ayre will give you a take you like better, and if you already have a really good digital set up, or want to spin vinyl, the NAD may not be your best option. But otherwise, I'd consider giving it a spin.
And FWIW, I've had no problems with mine....