Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Can someone help me with an amp question??

I have purchased a NAD 352 integrated amp for two channel stereo and it is just wonderful. Paired with my m60's, the sound is just incredible, even on poorly recorded CD's. My question is about connecting a separate amplifier from NAD with it. I don't know what words like "bridging" means though I think it's related to this question. I have spotted a very well kept NAD amp with 150 watts of power in mint condition fairly cheap. (Under 200 dollars} I have read very good reviews of this "older amp". My questions are is it worth it to add an additional amp? The integrated is 80 watts. I know some would say this is overkill to add an amp, but I have also heard there are benefits to it. Also, my main question is how do you go about hooking up the integrated to the amp and which would you plug the speakers into or both? Thanks in advance.......

I don't think you'd get a $200 improvement in sound. They're both NAD amps, and the 80 wpc is plenty for the M60's...they're an easy speaker to drive.

Spend that $200 on some sweet cd's and enjoy your new toys.

btw...here's a nice pic of your new toy to share with friends.

C352

Todd,

I would have to agree with Spiff on this one.You can check this Spl calculator and see the difference would be minimal.

Todd, I agree with Craig and Rick; your 352 is plenty. Rather than being overkill so much, the 150 watt amp would be surprisingly little extra kill. The difference between 80 and 150 watts is only 2.73dB in additional peak sound output(e.g. 112.73dB compared to 110dB on a peak of split second duration), which it's likely that you'd never get any benefit from. The connection between the two amps would simply be two cables with RCA connectors on each end from the pre-outs of the 352 to the inputs of power amp, but don't waste your money; spend it on something that would make a real difference.

Incidentally, no, bridging has nothing to do with what you were considering. Some two-channel amps(including some NADs)have a provision for connecting both amp channels to one speaker in a special way(bridging)which results in twice the voltage driving the speaker. Since Ohm's Law states that power is proportional to voltage squared, doubling the voltage would theoretically increase the power four times(rather than just doubling it). In practice, losses result in roughly a tripling of the power. So now you know that, but don't worry about it.

from you all on here. Sometimes I wish I would have never found this place because I always seem at a quest for better sound. Though without this place, I would have never gotten my 22's or my 60's and certainly not the NAD {thanks Badger}. I am so happy with both my systems now {Onkyo 501/M 22's for HT and my NAD 352 with the 60's for pure stereo}. I'm sure I'll be back with other nagging questions for you all. By the way, the NAD I got for only 399.00 {open box} and saved 200.00 dollars. I would have never taken that chance without reading your comments on open box and refurb items. I got it from YAWA a NAD dealer. In ending, if you love two channel stereo this NAD is incredable. I don't know any other adjective to explain. It completely blows away the HK/DPR101 which I bought and returned. Thanks again......

You are weclome!

Just when you thought it was done..........All NAD's are not created equal and there is more to consider then just rated power, what amp are you looking at? Amps as in overall current would be the first thing I look at. If your integrated is doing 25 and the other amp you are looking at is doing 45 or 50 you may want to take a closer look. The wattage may be irrelevant to some but there is more to consider then just watts. What kind of volume do you like to listen to your music at?

Sometimes I wonder..............................I get going on amps vs wattage and I get 2 PM's telling me I don't know what I'm talking about! Really? Amps or current have no bearing on sound at all? Take a good old Parasound or NAD or B&K or basically anything from a manufacture who pays attention to current vs wattage. Then take that amp that is a few years old that pushes 125 watts a side with 25 peak amps and then take one of the newer 125 watt a side amps that push 45 amps of current. Listen to both and then tell me that current doesn't make a difference.

The NAD 2600. 150 Watts per channel into 8ohms. I like my music loud by the way.

NAD 352:

Supplies 80wpc of continuous power with both channels driven at rated distortion into 4 or 8 ohms. Dynamic power is listed at 240 watts from the C 352, into 2 ohms. 27 amps of peek current.

NAD 2600:

Supplies 150wpc of continuous power with both channels driven at rated distortion into 4 or 8 ohms. Dynamic power is listed at 375 watts from the 2600, into 2 ohms. 53 amps of peek current. Best part about this amp is you can flip into bridged mode and get 375 watts with 1200 watts of dynamic power.

In a nutshell, don't be so quick to walk away from the 2600. It brings a lot to the table that the 352 doesn't. Bigger power transformer and a host of other things. You like it loud, get the 2600. It will drive you places the 352 won't go and keep better control while you get there.