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Speakers with only an Amp?

490 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by starcycle, May 18, 2006

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · May 16, 2006

Quick question:

Got the Paradigm 60's hooked up and they sound great. Only have them hooked up to an amp though; no pre/pro. The amp is a 2-channel NAD C320BEE.

Currently, the dvd player is going directly to the amp and I have all my "other" sources going through the tv-out into the amp.

Without having a receiver or pre/pro mixed into the system am I missing anything sound-wise that I could be getting? The speakers DO sound good but i'm just curious if i were to add a receiver or a pre/pro into the situation if things would sound noticably different?

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1 - 16 of 16 Posts

PULLIAMM

· #2 · May 16, 2006

How do you control volume? If your amp has a volume control, then it is an integrated amp which means it has a preamp built in.

An HT receiver would give you the option of simulating surround from your 2 speakers. This is hardly a "purist" approach, but some of us like it.

dsmith901

· #3 · May 16, 2006

How do you control the volume? A receiver would control volume as well as allow the speakers and amp to be used with other sources, such as TV, VCR, radio tuner, phonograph (some) and also let you to add speakers for a full surround system, including a subwoofer (with crossover options).

Andrew535

· #4 · May 16, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logic_BomB
Quick question:

Got the Paradigm 60's hooked up and they sound great. Only have them hooked up to an amp though; no pre/pro. The amp is a 2-channel NAD C320BEE.

Your NAD is an integrated amplifier. It combines a pre-amp with a power amp.

You have a good 2 channel system. I ran my TV audio through an audiophile stereo system for nearly 20 years. I just changed to a home theater reciever recently.

What you dont have with your setup:

2.1 , 5.1 or 7.1 Home Theater Sound

AM, FM, or XM radio.

Video Switching

Extra Features like iPod docking, internet radio, on screen display

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Jim Swantko

· #5 · May 16, 2006

I ran my CD-63SE (has built in volume) directly to a pair of Marantz MA-500 monoblocks - then on to my Linn speakers for many many years until I could afford the Pre/Pro I wanted.

The sound quality was staggering for the $ invested. Keep as many artifacts out of the signal path as possible IMO.

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 16, 2006

Yes, totally forgot it's an integrated amp. I keep forgetting that.

I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing out on something major that would effect sound by a noticeable margin. After dropping that amount of money on this simple set-up I want to make sure i'm not making some stupid mistake or ommision that could be bottlenecking me since this is my first "real" system.

Thinking of getting an FM tuner now for radio. I was looking at the NAD c422 but it seemed a bit pricey just for radio abilities although I haven't found a solid price listed for that tuner. Any idea for simple but decent tuner?

Thanks!

starcycle

· #7 · May 16, 2006

i think you might be missing out on some SQ. the reason i say that is because i just bought that same amp, and in my research for it i found that a lot of people didn't like the pre-amp section that much. when pre-pro'd from an A/V receiver you might get nicer sound, not to mention a lot of other benefits, including the home theater effects (multichannel sound, pro logic/II, etc.), built in tuner, etc. i can't say for 100% sure because i don't have it yet, but if it were me, i would search for the lowest cost A/V receiver i could find with pre-amp outs, preferably a local demo somewhere that you could return if you didn't like it. or maybe some places would allow you to bring in the amp to test with their equipment.

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 16, 2006

That was origonally my plan - get a receiver with a seperate amp. I guess I can always keep my eyes open for great deals and when one comes along or I see a blow-out at an audioshop I'll see what I can do. To be quite honest I haven't really pushed my system that hard so I don't even know what it's capable of yet. I've not listened to any bass-heavy movies and only listened to 2 or 3 things thus far (queen's greatest hits, radiohead's kid A, some eagles concert dvds...). Mostly it's been tv-only until i get some time invested for critical listening.

Thanks for the input

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 16, 2006

Oh that was another question I had while surfing - Would a simple receiver with the ability to calibrate according to the room either manually with an SPL meter or an included microphone make a huge difference?

I know it's good practice for the best sound but is it a black and white difference when listening to a calibrated system vs a non-calibrated one? I'm sure in my apartment living room with nothing on the walls i might as well be listening in a house of mirrors...

PULLIAMM

· #10 · May 16, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logic_BomB
Oh that was another question I had while surfing - Would a simple receiver with the ability to calibrate according to the room either manually with an SPL meter or an included microphone make a huge difference?

I know it's good practice for the best sound but is it a black and white difference when listening to a calibrated system vs a non-calibrated one? I'm sure in my apartment living room with nothing on the walls i might as well be listening in a house of mirrors...

I have yet to see an HT receiver that can't be calibrated manually. As for the ones that calibrate automatically, I don't think they give better results than doing it manually.

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 16, 2006

Poor wording on my part I admit, I just meant, in either scenereo of manual or automatic, are the differences very clear?

I'd be willing to drop another few hundred for the ability to get much better/clearer sound and go "whoah" but if the differences are arguable and very marginal than I'll be content throwing that money into my savings account instead.

starcycle

· #12 · May 16, 2006

i'll be able to tell you in a day or two, when my NAD should be here. i can test the amp both standalone, and with my yamaha HT receiver as a pre-amp (which is how intend to run it). so if you can wait a couple days, there might be a clearer picture to help you in making a decision.

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 16, 2006

Oh that would be awesome. Thanks!!!

starcycle

· #14 · May 18, 2006

hey Logic_BomB -

i just got the amp today. i won't go through a whole lot of review details (since you've already got it, you pretty much know how it sounds

-- super clear and neutral, sounds great as you know), but from what i can hear i don't think the receiver preamp makes much difference in the SQ. if anything, it sounds better on its own (although it's not totally calibrated yet, etc.) but if it were me, i would just add separates as needed. hth

Logic_BomB

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 18, 2006

Cool to know. I just got the chance to crank up the speakers for the first real time (we try to be considerate to our neighbours). I love how I hear little things I didn't know were there. The deep breath queen takes each time before the begining few lyrics of "fat bottom girls" from their greatest hits cd for example. Maybe it was always there but these didn't take much effort to bring out the little things like that. Same with the cymble taps mid-way through the song. Very crisp sounding.

I wish I had more speaker auditioning experience. I almost think it's hard to really appreciate what you have when you don't have a few benchmarks to compare it to. In time I suppose, in time. Thanks for the reply

I was going to get the Nad C422 tuner to add to the system. Almost 3-400 canadian for the pleasure of listening to the radio? Ouch... Maybe after my commision check comes in... maybe.

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starcycle

· #16 · May 18, 2006

if all you want right now is a tuner, try looking for an old one on audiogon or ebay. check out the tuner information center -- they have reviews for tons of new and vintage tuners, sometimes including what prices the tuner you're looking at has gone for in the past. you can probably get a good one for $50-100 (US), if not less.

if you definitely want a tuner *and* the HT/dolby/surround capabilities, etc. it might be easier and less expensive overall to just get an HT receiver with preouts all at once. you could probably get that used, too, and save a bundle. later you can just sell the receiver when you're able to get the separate components that you want.

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