Life with a NAD C356

[Vishal]

Most welcome to listen to the Titans at my home.. you could get your speakers along and we can put them on my speaker stands and test.

mpw

======================================================

Paradigms have replaced the titans with the Monitors, right ?

 

[denom]

Paradigms have replaced the titans with the Monitors, right ?

Nope, just that the Titan's have been discontinued, the others still continue ie:
Atom & Mini Monitors.

BTW Vishal, have you started auditioning any of the options given to you????
Just asking for views/recommendations is not enough, you need to do the rounds & demo the choices given to you by the FM's here YOURSELF, along with your Music, only after which you will know what you like & what you don't.

Get a move on

 

[Vishal]

I have auditioned the following:

Amps:
NAD's (316, 326, too scared to hear the 356 coz i might like it)
Marantz PM5004

- My choice so far is the NAD and just shopping around for best price. I think I might get these to get a move on

AVR's
Denon 1912
Onkyo


Speakers:
Wharfedale 10.5, 10.6
Klipz
MS Mezzo 6
Canton Ergo
PSB Image 5,6 and Tower T5

I have really liked the NAD + PSB B6 and NAD T5 combo. They had an excellent mid range, bass response and the sound stage was terrific. I am not qualified to provide a critical review but this combination sounded the sweetest.

Plan:
I plan to listen to Paradigm and KEF speakers. I think I've nailed down on the NAD's but am in a dilemma on how to audition the speakers with the NAD for a like to like comparison?

 

[denom]

I have auditioned the following:

Amps:
NAD's (316, 326, too scared to hear the 356 coz i might like it)
Marantz PM5004

- My choice so far is the NAD and just shopping around for best price. I think I might get these to get a move on

AVR's
Denon 1912
Onkyo


Speakers:
Wharfedale 10.5, 10.6
Klipz
MS Mezzo 6
Canton Ergo
PSB Image 5,6 and Tower T5

I have really liked the NAD + PSB B6 and NAD T5 combo. They had an excellent mid range, bass response and the sound stage was terrific. I am not qualified to provide a critical review but this combination sounded the sweetest.

Plan:
I plan to listen to Paradigm and KEF speakers. I think I've nailed down on the NAD's but am in a dilemma on how to audition the speakers with the NAD for a like to like comparison?

Great to hear you have demo'ed quite a few of the gears
Take up FM mpw's offer & go over to his place to hear the NAD/Paradigm combo. As for KEF/NAD pairing, it will be difficult to hear as don't know if any dealer in mumbai deals with both. Best bet would be again pestering another FM having such a combo to let you come over for a demo

 

[magma]

I do not know the science behind mounting BS on stands. If its logical then why are they called Book Shelves. They should be called Stand speakers..

many websites and manufacturers do refer to their smaller speakers as "standmounts" now

 

[mpw]

digging up this old thread again..,

have now bypassed the pre amp section of the C356 and using a Promitheus TVC as pre and the C356 in Power amp mode.

The Promitheus has added quietness ( i can drive louder without the speakers getting freaked out while maintaining control ) and a bit more of envelope to the sound.

I liked the simplicity of the TVC and besides Jaibir was very kind in letting me try the TVC for a few days before i went for it.

I got from Dr Bass a 1 mtr pair of Mogami I/C's with Neutrik RCA termination. This now does duty from the SACDP to the TVC while the AQ Sidewinder delivers the signal from the TVC to the NAD C356.

I used to think cables / Interconn's do not do much but after experimenting with the 2 Mogami's and the AQ.. i find that they do add / subtract an "air " to the sound.. there is a definite cable / interconnect signature too.

This is quite satisfying for me and i think it will keep me going for a few months more

)

The only hitch is that i cannot use the remote of the NAD as the TVC is totally manually operated. But once i got used to it.. it was OK..

rgds
mpw

 

[corElement]

The "air" which you mentioned can make or break extreme setups hehe, it's more to do with the termination than the actual cable from what I've noticed.

Which of the two (Neutrik and AQ) terminations do you find to be darker?

Eichmann bullet terminations don't have any kind of air, very very dark presentation, it let's me push high volumes on my d830 without fatigue.

I tried other more conventionally terminated silver and copper cables and the fatigue was unbearable.

But at the same time, the cable which was unbearable on my setup, is critical to other setups like Atish's ATL's, wharfedale dentons and lyrita's speakers. Without that "air" these setups lose their identity.

But for less extreme setups it's probably not a very big deal.

 

[mpw]

the AQ..

mpw

 

[corElement]

Hmm, is the aq a hyperlitz configuration with 3 single cores by any chance? I can't seem to find the model number of the AQ on the thread.

 

[mpw]

the addition of the passive pre amp had blunted the edginess provided by the NAD pre amp.

The music is now smooth and refined. The speakers are "fearless" ( in a manner of speaking ) to present music as it is.The instrument separation is very good.

Listening to Diana Krall and Norah Jones and tabula Raasa on the SACD besides few other tracks gave us a feeling of relaxed presentation. ( Not laid back at all.. but relaxed.. )

For guys on a budget .. who want to experience pre-power.. the passive pre is maybe the way forward. With the good reviews from Pune about the Pass B1 and combine that with the power stage of a C356.. i think you are set.

My setup needs some more dose of power.. maybe a decent 30W Class A.. and i think i should hibernate for a long time.

May also look for a Power Amp on a decent budget to finish off..

mpw

PS : The road never ends.. or does it ??

 

[alankar1977]

nice one dude...

 

[mpw]

some FM's are building the pass B1 pre-amp.. you may want to link up with them..
Conmtact sachu888 or Denom or Ruenigma ( on this forum )

thanks for reading the post and hopefully enjoying it..

mpw