NAD C375BEE Integrated

[MusicOne]

Rumour has it that this amplifier is a giant killer. Anyone here using the C375BEE? I've been told that it will even drive Quad 57s successfully and indeed that it competes very well with amps costing thee times as much.

 

Would appreciate any views and experience from users.

 

Edited March 28, 2014 by MusicOne

[comfortablynumb]

I have the previous model C372

 

Certainly is a bit of a beast.

[Phantom]

I am probably in a small minority here but I am not a fan at all.

A mate of mine had one for a while and although it definitely had power to spare and could probably drive just about anything likely to be paired with it. I thought it was all muscle and no finesse.

It went loud, had good bass control and never cracked a bead of sweat playing anything and if that's what you are looking for then fair enough, but if you want something tonally balanced and open sounding I would look elsewhere.

Not saying it's a bad amplifier by any means, but IMHO, it's a one trick pony.

 

My 02.

[wis97non]

Totally disagree Phantom, as I have one. However, mine is not stock. Its a Rowen Swiss power version with improved preamp stage and negative output impedance on the power stage.

 

The stock version got a Stereophile class A rating, no?

 

www.rowen.ch

Edited March 28, 2014 by wis97non

[MusicOne]

This amp received an excellent review in Stereophile : http://nadelectronics.com/articles/Stereophile-Reviews-C375BEE-C565BEE

 

Well worth a read.

[tallman5353]

I managed to get hold of one second hand with only about 50 hours on it a couple years ago.

I have a pair of Krix Esoterix Mk2's and it powers them beautifully!

I am yet to go over 12 o'clock on the dial. Very loud!

The first thing i noticed (after coming from a Onkyo 8190) was the drums are much more present. The detail is very good and neutral.

 

Does get very warm however (Class A+AB) so give it plenty of ventilation.

[MusicOne]

I managed to get hold of one second hand with only about 50 hours on it a couple years ago.

I have a pair of Krix Esoterix Mk2's and it powers them beautifully!

I am yet to go over 12 o'clock on the dial. Very loud!

The first thing i noticed (after coming from a Onkyo 8190) was the drums are much more present. The detail is very good and neutral.

 

Does get very warm however (Class A+AB) so give it plenty of ventilation.

 

If it gets that hot, it must be running in pure class A, at least for the first 10watts?  I think its got a class A pre amp...do you have any specific info?

[tallman5353]

Not 100% sure, but there is some info floating around on the net, i think the pre-amp is class a and the power is AB

Edited March 31, 2014 by tallman5353

[wis97non]

http://www.rowen.ch/en/negimp.php

 

and

http://dynavox.ch/fr/rse.php

 

NAD C 375 RSP amplificateur stéréo

• circuite de préamplification amélioré
• étage de puissance modifié
• impédance de sortie négative
• extrême stabilité du courant, parfait contrôle des membranes
• détails de l'appareil de base: NAD C375
• exécutions:

Translation;

NAD C 375 stereo amplifier RSP
â–  improved preamp circuits
â–   modified power stage
â–  negative output impedance
â–  extremely stable current, perfect control of drivers
 

[MusicOne]

http://www.rowen.ch/en/negimp.php

 

and

http://dynavox.ch/fr/rse.php

 

NAD C 375 RSP amplificateur stéréo

• circuite de préamplification amélioré
• étage de puissance modifié
• impédance de sortie négative
• extrême stabilité du courant, parfait contrôle des membranes
• détails de l'appareil de base: NAD C375
• exécutions:

Translation;

NAD C 375 stereo amplifier RSP

â–  improved preamp circuits

â–   modified power stage

â–  negative output impedance

â–  extremely stable current, perfect control of drivers

 

 

Thanks mate....that's very interesting.

[wis97non]

You are most welcome.

[MusicOne]

I took delivery of a NAD C375BEE on Wednesday. I'll post a report when it has had a chance to burn in.

 

Meanwhile, could someone clarify the pre-outs on this amp....there are two, but one of them (Pre 1) is linked to the Main In , the other one has a volume control attached. I've never seen an amp configured in this way. I need to drive a powered sub woofer and I'm not sure which pre out to use....illustration attached....anyone have any clues?

 

8 PRE OUT 1.pdf

Edited April 4, 2014 by MusicOne

[CryptiK]

Use the pre out 1's to your active sub. The preout 2 should be left with the links in place unless you are running an external decoder etc. Sounds like some kind of HT bypass type thing and you control the level to match them through that volume knob on the back.

[MusicOne]

Use the pre out 1's to your active sub. The preout 2 should be left with the links in place unless you are running an external decoder etc. Sounds like some kind of HT bypass type thing and you control the level to match them through that volume knob on the back.

 

I see the problem now....the amp came with the links set between pre-out 1 and Main In....they are not in the correct place....should have been positioned between pre-out 2 and main in. I don't know why I didn't see that myself. Thanks Cryptik.

[RockandorRoll]

The amp is configured correct. Pre Out 1 is a fixed output that needs to drive the Main Input. The only reason to disconnect these is if you want to use the am ONLY as a Pre Amp or ONLY as a Power Amp. You cannot take out the jumpers and have the amp operate as an intergrated amp

 

The Pre Out 2 is the variable output. This is what i would use with a subwoofer

 

If you wanted to use this in a home theater system, you would need to insert a switch box between the Pre Out 1 and Main In. This is what i do with my Luxman

[MusicOne]

The amp is configured correct. Pre Out 1 is a fixed output that needs to drive the Main Input. The only reason to disconnect these is if you want to use the am ONLY as a Pre Amp or ONLY as a Power Amp. You cannot take out the jumpers and have the amp operate as an intergrated amp

 

The Pre Out 2 is the variable output. This is what i would use with a subwoofer

 

If you wanted to use this in a home theater system, you would need to insert a switch box between the Pre Out 1 and Main In. This is what i do with my Luxman

 

That is not what is shown in the illustration above...it quite clearly shows the links are set between main-in and pre-out 2 and further the text says quote:

 

10 PRE OUT 2: Connections to an external power ampli!er or processor, such

as a surround-sound decoder. In normal use, this should be connected to

the Main In sockets with the links supplied. To connect your NAD C 375BEE

to external processor or ampli!er sections, remove !rst these links. Use a

twin RCA-to-RCA lead to connect the left and right “Audio Input†of a power

ampli!er or processor to the PRE OUT 2 sockets.

Edited April 5, 2014 by MusicOne

[RockandorRoll]

Hmm, well colour me confused. why would you put a variable volume control on the main pre out? I suppose for matching power amplifier inputs???

[MusicOne]

Hmm, well colour me confused. why would you put a variable volume control on the main pre out? I suppose for matching power amplifier inputs???

 

It's all a bit confusing...the picture you have posted, shows the links in a different position to the illustration in my owner's manual....see above. Buggered if I know mate.

[MusicOne]

Well, the proof is in the pudding....using the pre-outs the way NAD indicates in their owner's manual, simply doesn't work. I tried putting the links the way the manual describes and all I got was a bit of noise from the sub....nothing from the main speakers. So I put the links back the way they were when I opened the box, and Voila!! it works.

 

I will now contact the distributors and inform them that the NAD owner's manual is in error...should make NAD happy.

[RockandorRoll]

i was going to suggest the manual may be wrong, i have written a few for work so its easy enough to make an error. Didn't think this would be one of them though

 

Good to see it all works now. Its a great feature have a variable Pre Out, should make sub integration a bit easier

[Damhooligan]

Well, the proof is in the pudding....using the pre-outs the way NAD indicates in their owner's manual, simply doesn't work. I tried putting the links the way the manual describes and all I got was a bit of noise from the sub....nothing from the main speakers. So I put the links back the way they were when I opened the box, and Voila!! it works.

I will now contact the distributors and inform them that the NAD owner's manual is in error...should make NAD happy.

So you got the sub connected to pre out 2?

And this works all good now?

[goldiver]

Well, I'm glad you got that sorted...! Yes, the manual is wrong.

 

I've been a happy 375-BEE owner for six months now, and as your typical tweaker I tried a few things to find improvements, including 'high-grade' fuses, 'high-grade' power cords, and a number of replacements for the preamp-main u-shaped pins. 

 

I can save you a lot of bother here: there's only one essential upgrade. For $100 the Jena Labs Super Jumper is one of the very few components that delivers on its promise. A must, I believe, to get the most out of this amp. 

[MusicOne]

Well, I'm glad you got that sorted...! Yes, the manual is wrong.

 

I've been a happy 375-BEE owner for six months now, and as your typical tweaker I tried a few things to find improvements, including 'high-grade' fuses, 'high-grade' power cords, and a number of replacements for the preamp-main u-shaped pins. 

 

I can save you a lot of bother here: there's only one essential upgrade. For $100 the Jena Labs Super Jumper is one of the very few components that delivers on its promise. A must, I believe, to get the most out of this amp. 

 

Thanks goldiver.  Do you know if there are any Aussie made jumpers of equal quality, which might fit the bill?

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

The best jumper is no jumper at all. IOW: A hard soldered connection, performed internally. Whilst that connection can be reversed, it is not as easy as replacing a jumper.

[goldiver]

Hi MusicOne - I'd simply slap $100 down on your credit card and get the Jena Labs... I tried all the specially made preamp jumpers, and various 0.5m interconnects, and nothing came close. In fact, everything else detracted from the sound quality. The Super Jumper is also favoured by McIntosh owners...

Edited April 6, 2014 by goldiver