Can't Decide on Amp. Nad, Rotel, Rega

[AvailMail]

Hello!

I am planning to buy an amplifier, but I got analysis paralysis :).  

Music I listen to is classic rock, rock, metal.

Let's not take my current speakers into account, because I will be buying new speakers which will match my amp.

 

I found some options for sale: (second hand)

1. Combo of Nad 2400/3020a (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

2. Combo of Nad c270bee/c370bee (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

3. Rotel Ra-1062 

4. Nad C370bee

5. Rega Elex 1 (year 1990)

 

Nad combinations and Rotel price are the same. 

C370 alone is little bit cheaper, but if its worth to hook it with c270, I would spend an extra. 

Rega Elex price is similar to one c370bee.

I won't listen music very loudly, I most interested in the music quality.

 

I'm very lost. I don't know how much of music quality I would get from two hooked up Nads. Because I can save up for Rega Brio or some else amplifier. I'm just mentioning Rega Brio, because I read forum, and reviews were good.

 Nads combo is 350eur, and new Rega Brio is 600eur.  

But I read, some people said that to match combo of nads c270/c370 would take thousands of dollars. But I do not know if this is really true?

 

If Rega Brio would better option I wouldn't mind paying more. 

Or maybe there is some better uses amp for that price?

I could buy used Nad c375/new Nad c368 for the price of new Brio Rega (c368 is little bit pricier, 800eur). But I don't have any knowledge which one would have better music quality. On whathifi website Nad c375 got only 3 stars. Though I'm not saying that they are right, just mentioning.

 

Or maybe I should look at  some other manufacturer?

From reading forum I somehow didn't like

Marantz amplifiers and Cambridge Audio cx a60/ cx a80. But I can be very wrong.

 

I found that Parasound , Naim 5 are good, but they are over my price range.

 

Sorry for the long thread, but I love listening to music and I really want to invest into this hobby and it seems that I want "best amp for the buck".  That's why I don't want to buy any amp that matches my budget.

 

I have no knowledge about amps, my journey just begins

I would be very very grateful for your insights and help! 

What are your opinions on those amplifiers? What would you choose in this case?

Thank you!

 

 

 

[Snoopy8]

Suggest you start listening to something and start educating your ears.  All the reading and analysis is of little use because music is often a personal preference.  

 

Go to HiFi retailer and have a listen. You will soon learn that you have a preference.  

[muon*]

Usually It's done the other way around, speakers you like first, then buy an amp that matches the speakers well for your tastes.

[blakey72]

Yeah as @muon* said, find the speakers you like first and then pic an amplifier to match. The speakers have much more influence on the sound than the amp does. Try to visit some hifi stores and listen to as many speakers as you can. 

[AvailMail]

40 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

Suggest you start listening to something and start educating your ears.  All the reading and analysis is of little use because music is often a personal preference.  

 

Go to HiFi retailer and have a listen. You will soon learn that you have a preference.  

Thank you! Good suggestion!

Though my options are not new, local retailers won't have them. And all those amps are in different cities, I wouldn't be able to go and listen to them all. I could listen to Rega Brio, but I couldn't compare it to bi amped c270 and c370.

38 minutes ago, muon* said:

Usually It's done the other way around, speakers you like first, then buy an amp that matches the speakers well for your tastes.

 

33 minutes ago, blakey72 said:

Yeah as @muon* said, find the speakers you like first and then pic an amplifier to match. The speakers have much more influence on the sound than the amp does. Try to visit some hifi stores and listen to as many speakers as you can. 

 

Yes I understand. But I want to buy amplifier first.

One reason I want amplifier first, because they are cheapier here locally on classified ads than on ebay for example. 

And there is only one ad for each of these options. I mean, 1 ad for c370/c270 and one ad for Rotel ra 1062 and so on.  So for example if I miss c270/c370 combo, It can take much time for it to appear for sale again. Or it could never apppear.

 

 

I have speakers Technics cs65 8ohms.

For a while I will use them. They are not good speakers, but  temporarily it will suffice.

 

Thank you for your answers!

[buddyev]

What is your budget for an amp?

[Snoopy8]

33 minutes ago, AvailMail said:

 I could listen to Rega Brio, but I couldn't compare it to bi amped c270 and c370.

Do have a listen, to educate yourself.  At this stage of your music journey, a comparison is not as important.

[AvailMail]

39 minutes ago, buddyev said:

What is your budget for an amp?

Currently I was looking at amps for 350euro, but if it's worth I can spend 600euro

[J.D.]

Have you considered AMC?

[AvailMail]

On 13/10/2024 at 1:49 PM, J.D. said:

Have you considered AMC?

Hello, no I didn't. Didn't know this manufacturer until now!

[andyr]

On 11/10/2024 at 9:13 PM, AvailMail said:

Hello!

I am planning to buy an amplifier, but I got analysis paralysis :).  

Music I listen to is classic rock, rock, metal.

Let's not take my current speakers into account, because I will be buying new speakers which will match my amp.

 

I found some options for sale: (second hand)

1. Combo of Nad 2400/3020a (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

2. Combo of Nad c270bee/c370bee (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

3. Rotel Ra-1062 

4. Nad C370bee

5. Rega Elex 1 (year 1990)

 

Re. what you wrote above (which I have high-lighted in red), as it might influence your choice ... please be aware that biamping spkrs but still using their internal passive XO - does not generally bring about any sonic advantages.

 

You need to replace the passive XO with an active XO (analogue or digital) to get the real benefit of using more than one stereo amp.  

 

And if you bridge a stereo amp - to turn it into a mono amp with double the power ... the amp is then unable to handle 4 ohm spkr loads.  So you need to make sure you have 8 ohm spkrs.

 

[THOMO]

if you really want the best sound for your money and are not brand obsessed you probably should consider some of the Chinese copy preamps and/or power amps.The FM155 copy preamp for example.Which are cheap but sound absolutely fantastic.They have truly high end sound for not much money.That paired with any decent power amp will give you much better sound than the mid fi sort of integrated amps you have suggested.

[TigerScent]

On 11/10/2024 at 8:13 PM, AvailMail said:

Hello!

I am planning to buy an amplifier, but I got analysis paralysis :).  

Music I listen to is classic rock, rock, metal.

Let's not take my current speakers into account, because I will be buying new speakers which will match my amp.

 

I found some options for sale: (second hand)

1. Combo of Nad 2400/3020a (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

2. Combo of Nad c270bee/c370bee (to use as power amp, pre amp combination or bridge or bi amp)

3. Rotel Ra-1062 

4. Nad C370bee

5. Rega Elex 1 (year 1990)

 

Nad combinations and Rotel price are the same. 

C370 alone is little bit cheaper, but if its worth to hook it with c270, I would spend an extra. 

Rega Elex price is similar to one c370bee.

I won't listen music very loudly, I most interested in the music quality.

 

I'm very lost. I don't know how much of music quality I would get from two hooked up Nads. Because I can save up for Rega Brio or some else amplifier. I'm just mentioning Rega Brio, because I read forum, and reviews were good.

 Nads combo is 350eur, and new Rega Brio is 600eur.  

But I read, some people said that to match combo of nads c270/c370 would take thousands of dollars. But I do not know if this is really true?

 

If Rega Brio would better option I wouldn't mind paying more. 

Or maybe there is some better uses amp for that price?

I could buy used Nad c375/new Nad c368 for the price of new Brio Rega (c368 is little bit pricier, 800eur). But I don't have any knowledge which one would have better music quality. On whathifi website Nad c375 got only 3 stars. Though I'm not saying that they are right, just mentioning.

 

Or maybe I should look at  some other manufacturer?

From reading forum I somehow didn't like

Marantz amplifiers and Cambridge Audio cx a60/ cx a80. But I can be very wrong.

 

I found that Parasound , Naim 5 are good, but they are over my price range.

 

Sorry for the long thread, but I love listening to music and I really want to invest into this hobby and it seems that I want "best amp for the buck".  That's why I don't want to buy any amp that matches my budget.

 

I have no knowledge about amps, my journey just begins

I would be very very grateful for your insights and help! 

What are your opinions on those amplifiers? What would you choose in this case?

Thank you!

 

 

 

Having been (and still am) a Nad, Rega (turntable), Rotel owner/user...I would google search for a used Rotel 990BX which puts out 200RMS...nice to have some muscle there if needed, and the sound will be cleaner at lower volumes., plus it likes to be modded with solid silver wiring

 

A good turntable to consider if you are looking for one is a Denon DD...likenthe DP-3000 on a budget  and a DP-80  if you want close to the best from Denon...in used classics.

...the DP-3000 some Sota Saphire users have said it outperforms the sapphire...

 

I don't bother with the NAD except for surround amp, and using a good classic I have owned since new, the 7150, relegated to the workshop....and the 2150 I modded to use as a 240v EMS device...the 12v versions are underpowered IMO and end up just being felt like a tickle...

 

So, to get max grunt with quality and clean sound, the Rotel 990BX is hard to beat...I use mine with a chi-fi valve  preamp which is surprisingly good.

 

On the Denon TT (I have a DP-3000 and 2 DP-80's) I find on the DP-3000 the Rega-Acos R200 arm works very well, when adjusted properly height, as does the RB250 with Iceni low slung counterweight.

 

This will compliment the Rotel 990BX beautifully. I would not bother with any cheaper less powered Rotels, this one is a classic, and the 993 has 3 channels...

 

You might as well get something good esp a used classic that is virtually bulletproof, and just keeps going and going and going...

 

Happy hunting

[J.D.]

For something out of left field, would you consider the Fosi V3 mono blocks?

 

They can be bought in a pair but they have a shared power supply but it is generally considered better to get a second and power them separately.

[David A]

$429USD + tax/shipping, 10w Class A or 50w Class A/B - https://fosiaudio.com/products/tube-class-a-amplifier-bluetooth-5-0-hi-fi-parallel-single-end-fy29-829b?_pos=1&_fid=b3496afc9&_ss=c

 

[gemini07]

Hi Janis,

 

You seem to be in a bit of a hurry to spend money - always a dangerous situation. Perhaps discipline yourself to take the time to listen to, and enjoy, a variety of equipment and work out what YOU really like.

 

Would you buy secondhand tyres before you even know which secondhand car you might like? What if they don't suit each other? Do you then replace the car, or the tyres, or both? That budget suddenly becomes a problem.

 

When you are starting out, you are building a complete system - the amp on its own has no real sound and sits between your source (the start) and your speakers (the end). You get the amp that maximises the potential of your speakers. If you don't know what those speakers are, it's the first step into the rabbit hole (we've all done it...)

 

Also, don't underestimate the importance of getting the best source possible. If you don't get that right, no amp is going to fix it.

 

All the best.

[J.D.]

I agree. Of course the thing that makes the most difference (after the room) is the speakers.

 

I'd suggest auditioning some speakers and using that as a starting point. That will at least give a good idea of where to start with the amp. But as you say, the source is critical. The more accurate the reproduction from the start, the better the chance of getting an accurate reproduction at the end. With CD or streaming that is a lot easier than it is for vinyl and the choice of source is a lot simpler

 

The one thing that I have found is that there is no right or wrong answer. There is only the one you like. For that reasons I'm usually a bit sceptical of generalised recommendations. Even reviews can be misleading as it's unlikely that many people will have the same set up or same room as the reviewers and may not have any interest in the music used for testing purposes!

Edited November 3, 2024 by J.D.
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