 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
165.193.46.126
I'm looking at the new C-651 BEE pre-amp. With all it's features like (6) inputs, MM & MC low distortion, $900 low price,etc... It could BEE a big winner if the sound is also good. Anyone have any experience with this particular model? I'm trying to solve my super resolving speaker issue with a very low distortion pre-amp and not spend more than $1000 dollars. Any advice appreciated!
Follow Ups:
If you go for the DIY EZ Linestage, let us know how you like it! :) I'm really tempted to buy it for myself :)
I just bought the C 375 BEE integrated which, according to my dealer, combines the C 165 preamp with the C 275 BEE amp. The specs on the NAD website seem to indicate this is true. I paid $1,100 for it.Assuming that the preamp section of my integrated and the preamp you're considering are indeed the same, I would tell you that, after two weeks of ownership, I'm very impressed. In comparison with my previous preamp, an $2300 (5 years ago) Bryston BP-25, I'd pick the NAD hands down. For less than half the price, the NAD exhibits NONE of the following problems:
1. When turning the volume down on the Bryston, the left channel would attenuate very slightly more than the left requiring adjustment of the balance control. It was slight, but it bothered me that an expensive pre-amp did this.
2. The Bryston pre-amp always "hissed" a bit. ...It wasn't loud enough to hear while playing music, but, again, it annoyed me that it did it.
3.You could hear a tiny bit of bleed through from other sources. For example, if I paused the cd player with the volume turned up > 1/3 of the way, I could faintly hear the tuner playing from an adjacent input. Again, there is no way you could hear it while playing music, but, again, it bothered me that this wasn't dealt with while designing it.
I put up with these issues b/c I had been told that they are inherent in nearly ALL preamps. Yet, at less than 1/2 the price, which also includes an excellent 150w/ch.amplifier, my NAD pre-amp exhibits NONE of these issues. ..In fact, it is absolutely dead quite unless I essentially press my ear to the speaker grill and turn the volume 3/4 of the way. And only then could I hear the faintest bit of his.
Here's something to consider. ..I didn't intend to buy the 375BEE. I intended to buy the C275BEE 2-channel amp to use with a Peachtree Nova. ..However, the dealer informed me that the integrated amp was only $150 more than the standalone amp. ..And that someday, I might appreciate having an intact integrated if I need to move pieces around, etc.. Or if I move it to another room, etc.. So I bought the integrated figuring that I'd disengage the preamp by pulling the pre-out/main-in jumpers and pair the amp section with my Peachtree. However, when I hooked it up and discovered how quiet it is and how understated it appeared (I LOVE the look of the Peachtree, but the NAD is certainly not ugly) I decided to remove the Nova altogether and use the NAD with an outboard DAC.
So, my advice? For just $200 or so more, get the C 375BEE integrated and - if you don't need to use the amp section now - then pull the jumpers and use just the pre-amp section. That way if you should someday need to use the amp section (which is excellent, in my opinion) plug the jumpers back in and you have an awesome integrated ready to go.
Edits: 04/05/11 04/05/11
Do you really mean the C165 pre-amp?
Yes! C-165 BEE Adcom pre-amp. It's my dyslexia! Sorry. It's suppose to be very well engineered. Just a couple pretty good English reviews.
Hmmm. Since it is not on their website, how did you find out about it? I use a C-160 in the garage system which I purchased used. It is quiet, dynamic and works great with a mid-output moving coil cartridge. Resolution is not in the same category as an older Audio Research preamp I also have, but was certainly worth the $300 I have in it.
You might look at the used market.
rw
Assuming you don't need a remote control i'd say there's lot of other options you might want to consider if your speakers are really ultra-resolving. I've found the hard way that the sound of the preamp is even more important than the sound of the power amp itself, and in my system it keeps being the limiting factor, because a really good preamp usually costs a hell of a lot of money (too much for me...)
I'd say go for a refurbished second-hand model from a "higher end" brand, or go for this:
http://www.diyhifisupply.com/node/506
there's also one with "ultimate volume control" and that one is remote controllable.
I have no experience with that particular NAD preamp, I must say. It's probably good enough as a mass market product, but depending on how good the rest of the system is, my bet is it's gonna be the limiting factor too...
just my two cents...
"because a really good preamp usually costs a hell of a lot of money (too much for me...)"
A number of first-rate passive preamps cost under $1k.
I see that it's $720 w/ the UVC included & assembled. Does this sound as good as it looks? Distortion seems pretty low also! I guess it worked for you. Thanks for the advice!
Actually I never heard it, just read some good review and the website is quite famous for the quality products they deliver. If I had the cash I'd order one; maybe as a kit (for the fun of buiding it)
Here's the review:
http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/ez_linestage_e.html
there's probably others.
On technical description and given the quality of parts used, I don't think you can go wrong with that preamp.
Post a Followup:
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
