October 31, 2001
I have read your review of the Cambridge Audio
A500 integrated amp. I have previously purchased their D500 CD player and I am quite
satisfied with it. I also have B&W 602 S2 speakers. I am now wanting to replace my
aging Luxman LV111 integrated from my university days.
I wanted to ask if you think the Cambridge amp
might be a good match for my B&W speakers. I am also thinking about the NAD C370 amp.
Sanjay Chugh
There are several other factors you should
consider in addition to an audition that may help make the decision easier. First, what
size is your room? The NAD is about twice as powerful as the Cambridge. This should not
dictate a decision by itself, but if your room is fairly large, the extra headroom may
make a difference. Secondly, what type of music do you listen to? If you listen to loud
rock, pop, or alternative music, the extra power may be beneficial as well. If you
primarily listen to small-scale jazz on the other hand, the Cambridge may be the ticket.
Lastly, consider the dealer you may be buying from and what type of service and return
policy they have in case you are not satisfied or something breaks.
October 30, 2001
I just want to let you know that your website
is a big help to music lovers. I would like to ask you if a three-way speaker is better
than a two-way speaker. If it is better, in what way and what are the advantages? Thank
you, and more power to your website.
Joel
The short answer is that the design and
construction of the speaker, regardless if it is a two- or three-way, will dictate the
performance. You will encounter excellent examples of both at many different price points.
Now, it is true that a two-way is simpler to build and possibly design, and therefore has
the potential to offer a lot of bang for the buck. There is simply less to go wrong, and
fewer parts mean generally lower cost. A larger three-way speaker offers, theoretically,
an advantage in power handling and dynamic capability, but is typically costlier and more
complex. There are simply no hard-and-fast rules here, I'm afraid, just generalizations.
The best advice is to just listen to speakers within your budget and forget about the
number of crossover points. If a speaker reproduces your music the way you like it, then
you've cleared the right hurdle.
October 29, 2001
The review of the nOrh 4.0 speakers really
interested me. I checked the speakers out on the nOrh website and found that nOrh lists
the power handling at 100W. I have an NAD C370 amp with a continuous output rating of 120W
to each channel. Does this mean that the nOrhs are too small? Or perhaps do the speakers
have a higher maximum power handling, with 100W being their RMS? I also have a Yamaha 100W
x 5 receiver. Would 100W be too much for the nOrhs as well? If the nOrh speakers are too
small for my application with the NAD amp, then would perhaps the Axiom M3Ti speakers
(also reviewed) be a better choice? Any help would be appreciated
Tate
It's a typical misconception that the
amplifier's rated output and the speakers rated input need to match. As a general rule, a
more powerful amplifier will have more headroom and therefore clip (distort) less often,
which in turn means less likelihood of damaging a speaker's tweeter by sending it a
distorted waveform. An amplifier with more power is therefore safer for a speaker as long
as the speaker is used within its limitations. The NAD amplifier would therefore be a good
match from a power standpoint with either the nOrh or the Axiom speakers you are looking
at.
October 28, 2001
Would the NAD C370 amplifier drive a pair of
B&W CDM 1NT speakers?
Claudio
Your question is a good one because
B&W speakers seem to thrive on power. Fortunately, the NAD C370 has plenty of it. It
will deliver substantial amounts of power (450W peak) even into demanding speaker loads,
according to the manufacturer's specification. It is always advisable to try an amplifier
with the intended speaker to really know for sure what the limitations are, but from what
I can tell looking at the numbers, you stand a better-than-average chance of succeeding in
this case.
October 26, 2001
I just purchased a Nomad Jukebox and am now in
search of a pair of high-quality headphones. The specifications on the manufacturer's
website list an output of 100mW. I would like to know what sorts of headphones that the
Jukebox could power efficiently (for less than $300). I primarily listen to classical
music and have been considering the Sennheiser HD 580 and Sony MDR-V900. Any suggestions
would be greatly appreciated.
Nate
The folks at HeadRoom are the world's foremost
experts on all things headphone related and would love to help. Not only that, they also
have special pricing on many headphones, including, I believe, the Sennheisers.
October 25, 2001
First of all, thanks for the great site. I
appreciate the emphasis on affordable high-performance audio.
I'm new to hi-fi and purchased an NAD L40 CD
receiver, which I'm using with Paradigm Mini Monitors connected with standard Monster
Cable. I find the sound fatiguing. The system sounds better when the volume is turned up
to the 10 o'clock position or so, but I do most of my listening at low volume levels while
I do other things like work, cook dinner, and clean the house.
I like the sound of my friend's system much
better. She has a Denon receiver (AVR-1700) and Denon CD changer (DCM-270) working with
Monitor Audio Silver 5is. The sound seems much more full, open and less strained. What can
I do to make my system sound this way, or do I need to start from scratch and get some new
gear? And if so, what might you suggest to suit my tastes? I've been considering the NAD
C370 and C521 paired with KEF Q35.2s.
Thanks for the help.
Brock
Without hearing both systems, I can only
guess at what it is exactly that is appealing to you. Based on your description, I would
say you are using a speaker that is probably too small for the intended room, with the
music you prefer. It sounds as if the larger Monitor Audio Silver 5is are playing more
effortlessly and with greater dynamic range and frequency response. If this is indeed the
case, you have a couple of options. You could add a powered subwoofer to remove some
strain from the Paradigms (while filling in the low bass), or you could simply move up in
the Paradigm line. A larger, more efficient speaker will sound fuller at lower volumes,
and with less strain.
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