Nad C352
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Bronze Member Username: SkarebPost Number: 36 Registered: Jun-05 | I've the NAD352 hooked up with CD: Marantz CD5400 Speaker: Audiopro Black pearl V2 May I know what other component you guys pairing with the NAD? |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1377 Registered: May-05 | Are you looking to upgrade your current system around the 352? If so, you should look into what works best with NAD rather than what sounds best on it's own. I've generally always followed the one brand amp and sources approach. When mixing traits from different brands, you don't always get the best of both worlds. Sometimes, you get the worst. The NAD C542 cdp is a great match for the 352. In a 352/542 combo, niether component outclasses the other. The NAD 521BEE is good in its own right, but is significantly bettered by the 542. As for speakers, their is a lot more wiggle room here, and everyone has different preferences. I personally have paired both my NAD systems (previous and current) with PSB speakers. They're actually owned by the same parent company. Depending on models and price points, I've found PSB, Paradigm, and Energy speakers generally suit NAD very well for a great price. Totem also pair up well, depending on model, but generally cost a little bit more. I don't have as much experience with NAD and Totem as I do with the others. |
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Bronze Member Username: SkarebPost Number: 37 Registered: Jun-05 | Yea, I was planning to put in a pair of Proac Tablette reference series. But wonder how they'll sound with the 352 |
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Bronze Member Username: SkarebPost Number: 38 Registered: Jun-05 | I was at the HIFI shop to audition the Proac tablette ref 8, clean & realistic sound, good imaging but doesnt impress me wit the bass. The salesguy told me to try upgrading the amp instead. so made an appointment for home audition for Primare I21 and Proac Studio 110. He came this afternoon wit both the item. We tested the amp, first impression for the Primare it lack bass and transparency compared to the C352. But what I gain was smoother sound, better staging, better dynamic and music mmmmmm... much more musical. The vocal with the I21 is more realistic whereelse the C352 was a bit over doing and my system sounded too bright. Then we tested the Proac studio 110, 2 songs and I called it quit, very clean but really lack bass not my taste at all. Perhaps a floorstander would be a better choice but that'll cost me! I test the Studio 110 with both the C352 & I21 same conclusion. So I traded in my C352 for the Primare I21. This review is not meant to say the C352 is bad, I enjoyed the C352 a lot and thought it was time to upgrade. Besides the I21 cost twice the price for the NAD so its not a fair comparison but just for people to know the differences between the 2. |
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Bronze Member Username: Daniel_canadaCanada Post Number: 72 Registered: May-06 | Going from the 352 to the 372 or even better yet the 272 will provide more bass. That's what I found when listining to the three units. All throught a set of Monitor Audio rs6. |
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New member Username: MilpaiPost Number: 8 Registered: Mar-06 | Marantz SA8260 + Quad 21L with NAD C352. |
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Bronze Member Username: SkarebPost Number: 40 Registered: Jun-05 | CORRECTION! I was inform yesterday by CMY audio that the Proac studio 110 they loan me for home audition was not run in properly so my review was incorrect. I'll have to reaudition it again. |
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New member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 3 Registered: Aug-06 | So how did it go? did you test it out again? I wd love to have that combi + my NAD 542cdp. or at least trade in my NAD 320bee for that amp. |
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New member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 6 Registered: Aug-06 | Wharfedale is a v good spkr for the price. absolute value for money for such sound. It's perform so much like Quad 11L just that everything is smaller in scale, esp the soundstage and imaging. I have tried it >1 yr ago with Cambrige one-make and it sounded really good for a newbie like me. but i wanted something that looked good and won't grow tired of so quickly. Nad's have a more dynamic, punchier bass and brighter detailed sound compared to the Cams. Both are excellent for starters depending on what kind of music you often play. |
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New member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 5 Registered: Aug-06 | Hi, I'm using NAD 352 with Kef Cresta 10 bookshelf speakers and a cheap pioneer multi format DVD player, will a real CD player like the NAD 542cdp make a really big difference? |
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Silver Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 765 Registered: Nov-05 | Arnold - the answer is subjective. I have a NAD pre& power amp with B&W 602's. I have a Denon DVD2900 (app retail Aus $1999) and I have a NAD C542 ($699AUD). Even though the Denon plays Cd's very well, I prefer the NAD for a little better in areas such as timing, clean,crisp highs, and bass. A really big difference - maybe not - but different enough to make the C542 purchase worthwhile for me. When playing HDCD's (though there are not that many) there is a really big difference IMHO. |
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New member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 6 Registered: Aug-06 | Thanks Rantz, I would really love to be able to test a real CD player like the NAD 542 with my setup to really appreciate the difference,but unfortunately, nobody that I know of has such an equipment for me to borrow, I am an expat here in Malaysia and know only a few people here which are not into Hi-Fi things...You have any idea how much is the 542 now? How does this compare to marantz CD5001 or CD7300? thanks |
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Bronze Member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 11 Registered: Aug-06 | Arnold, My Rantz is right. 542 is anytime better than a DVD player. 2 years back, I had the opportunity to hear Primare a20 amp with Pioneer and Hebrook spkrs. Horrible. Wasted the amp. I have the 542 and for the px, it's worth it. I believe it's abt SGD$700+. In my opinion, it's more dynamic, detailed and punchier than the warmer 7300 which is also v capable. Both will beat a similarly priced DVD player flat out, simply cuz it's a specialist device. |
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Silver Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 768 Registered: Nov-05 | Arnold, The Aud rrp for the C542 is $699, and the CD7300 is $899. I have not been able to compare the two. I also have a Cd4300 (multi disc player) about $549 here and soundwise it represents very good value. Quite a bit better than the 5001 I have heard. |
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New member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 7 Registered: Aug-06 | Thanks Rantz and Raymond, I'm decided to have a dedicated CD player, just need some time to convince the missus Have you guys tested the C352 + Cambridge Audio 540c, will this be a good combination? |
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New member Username: OliverCuernavacaMexico Post Number: 1 Registered: Sep-06 | HI, I'd like to upgarde my equipment and would appretiate very much any advice. I have a c352 connected (though a RSS-900 Rotel speaker selector) to a pair of B&W VM-1 speakers. I listen to music from my computer connected to the AUX input, but i feel somenthing is missing. I love how the speakers sound, but I don't think they "fill up" the room (13' x 16' area)Could it be teh speakers? the source (mp3's through a vaio computer) or the acoustics in the room? |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1448 Registered: May-05 | The source. mp3 isn't intended to be hi-fi. It's a convenience format at best. Use a dedicated CD player like the NAD 542 or even 521BEE and it'll sound completely different. |
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New member Username: OliverCuernavacaMexico Post Number: 2 Registered: Sep-06 | thank's Stu, now: I was hoping to upgrade by adding a Nad power amp, or even some B&W 602 s, but i haven't tried the system with CDs, do you think any CD palyer will show improvment? Now, speaking of soemthing different: what experiences do you have with Line Conditioners,like Rotel's RLC-900? |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1453 Registered: May-05 | Sorry I haven't been around for a while... I don't know your room acoustics, computer program, and so on. I'd be willing to bet that you'll hear a very big improvement with a dedicated CD player. The rest of your system sounds like it's very good. The first thing I'd look into is a CD player. The NAD 542 should blow away your computer, unless of course you're using some very high end software and hardware, which I don't know much about. I don't have much experience with line conditioners. I've tried a couple with mixed results. I got the best results from an APC UPS (uninterruptable power supply) believe it or not. It does noise filtering and voltage regulation. I think the biggest determining factor for line conditioners is the quality of power in your home. If it's very good, the conditioner may not have any effect. If it's bad, then it probably will. Also, some people say that line conditioners close or narrow the soundstage, and limit dynamics. I haven't noticed that with mine. So... Before you start thing about amps, speakers, etc., I'd suggest trying a CD player first. If your sound quality isn't good coming from your computer, it doesn't matter what equipment you have. Garbage in = garbage out. |
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New member Username: OliverCuernavacaMexico Post Number: 3 Registered: Sep-06 | tahnks again Stu. I'm going to try it with the NAD T514 dvd/cd palyer I should be receiving soon. And what's your opinion on head'hones? any suggestions? |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1456 Registered: May-05 | Sorry. I have no experience with good head phones. Their is a popular forum for head phone users, but I can't remember the name. |
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Bronze Member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 15 Registered: Aug-06 | Finally, I bought the C542, I was just wandering what interconnects you guys are using with your C542 and C352... |
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Bronze Member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 16 Registered: Aug-06 | straightwire symphony..not too bad. |
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Silver Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 874 Registered: Nov-05 | I have humble Monster 4100MK11. I tried some older QED (model?) but went back to the Monster. The QED just made the music less involving to my ears. |
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Silver Member Username: James_the_godDoncaster, South Yorkshire England Post Number: 316 Registered: Jan-05 | How would the c352 rate with my wharfedale diamond 8.1s. I desperately need an amp and was looking at the c320 but apparently doesnt have much detail. Detail is important since I listen to primarily metal and rock. I WILL be taking this amp to university with me next year and wont be using a subwoofer since it'd likely annoy everyone in the building! The c352 betters the cambridge audio 540a? My fear is that the nad with my wharfedale speakers could sound boring? Thanks |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1472 Registered: May-05 | Raymond - I never believed in cables until I A/B'ed AudioQuest against Monster in my system. To my ears AudioQuest sound very good with NAD. |
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Silver Member Username: My_rantzAustralia Post Number: 877 Registered: Nov-05 | Thanks Stu - I've been wondering about AudioQuest and some others - but the prices make it difficult as one can't get them to demo here. |
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Silver Member Username: Mike3Lewisville, Tx USA Post Number: 193 Registered: May-06 | Too bad Rantz, the Monster chieftan dropped about $25M USD on Best Buy to eliminate Audioquest from the shelves a while back. Some decent 1/2 off sales resulted. Similar to Panamax bumping Monster out of Tweeter. I forget who it was, but I was tipped of on another thread about Audioquest. |
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Gold Member Username: Stu_pittIrvington, New York USA Post Number: 1476 Registered: May-05 | I think I tipped you off Mike. I had a thread about my comparison of the Monster and 2 different Audioquest IC's. I also mentioned that I got them in the Magnolia/Best Buy scandal. |
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Silver Member Username: Mike3Lewisville, Tx USA Post Number: 195 Registered: May-06 | Yes sir that was you. Thank you again. Made for a simple cost effective upgrade. That is one of the beauties of these forums, you go on trying to find out something specific and along the way one is enlightened beyond belief. For example Frank Abela and Ravinder Bains educated my on my Seinhieser 580s so that I was able to upgrade to Cardas wires. That provided me a much desired improvement. Had the cans since they first came out and never knew I could change the wires. That was sweet. Truly my system as it is today would not be anywhere the beautiful beast it is had it not been for the collective and generous assistance of this forum. |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 1 Registered: Oct-06 | Anyone tried the Nad 352 with an cd player 521bee and speakers Monitor Audio b2? Currently i`m using that system but with the Nad 320bee.It sounds good but i want more detail in my sound because sam times i listen Jazz and for that the 320bee is a little dark.I also listen classic music and pop music. Thank you for your help. |
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Bronze Member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 23 Registered: Aug-06 | Hi Carlos, I have no experience with the C352 & 521bee combo but I am currently using the C352 with C542 so I can only comment on the C352...the C352 is characterized as being detailed and accurate, the strength is on the high and mid frequencies but the bass can be less coloured at times...what i did was to complement this with a subwoofer...I am also mostly listening to Jazz pieces and I find the C352 exceptional in delivery and performance in this category...clearer vocals and a more improve picture are evident...but it's only me... But then again, the golden rule in hi-fi applies, "only by listening that you can decide for sure", so here it goes: if you have access to audio shops that carries these brands, go and audition the combo you mentioned or better yet ask for a home demo if possible...use your favorite Jazz music that you are very familiar with, then compare... Also, it might be worth reading the thread where the C352 and C320BEE was compared: https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/113920.html A lot of people shared their views on these 2 amps in the above thread... |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 2 Registered: Oct-06 | Hi Arnold, I appreciate your reply and I`d like to know if you have your amplifier and cd player well placed and individually separated. I ask you that because I had my amplifier placed on my cd player and my sound was harsh and strange but a month ago I separated them,put it in a simple entertainment unit using one shelve for which one and now my system sounds smooth, natural and with more bass. I tell you that because you mentioned above, "the bass can be less colored at times" and I read some reviews about the nad 352 and 320bee where some people said that it had harsh sound with these amplifiers. What I did gave me smooth sound and more bass. I`m sorry for my inglish but it is not my first language. Best regards Carlos |
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Bronze Member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 24 Registered: Aug-06 | Hi Carlos, my english is also not good as it is also not my first language... I don't think that these 2 amps have a harsh sound, as I said before these amps from NAD are commonly referred as warm sounding, quite detailed and accurate...the reason I said that "the bass can be less colored at times" is mainly because I am using a budget loudspeaker which is KEF Cresta 10, I think these babies are in the different league if you talk about monitor audio bronze v2, dynaudio audience 42/52, Quads... anyway, I have never tried stacking my amp and CDP, I am using a 3-layered rack for my setup(ordinary one made of wood), the first layer from below is where I place my universal DVD player, the next layer is my C542 and the topmost layer is where my C352 is placed...I choose this setup so that the amp will have the most favorable breathing space for heat dissipation... my current setup is far from being perfect and almost everyday after my office, I am experimenting on some things that I read which might improve the quality of sound...at first I was a bit dissappointed with my setup but it's continously improving to date....I started off with the cables, the interconnects, speaker cables and even the power cord, after this I noticed some improvements, although not that big...now I have added my subwoofer and connect it in the speaker output of my amp, the bass gets better and a bit heavy as compared to my previous connection where I get the signal from one channel of the pre-out....last night I tried experimenting on the speaker placement and subwoofer placement...so this is still a continouos process for me... I am not saying that you do the same because it's just me.... But if you got improvement after separating them, then I suggest you to keep that setup...as far as I know there are no disadvantages in doing that as long as the cables are sufficient in length... goodluck! |
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Bronze Member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 17 Registered: Aug-06 | stu pitt, thanks for sharing. cables and interconnects do make a difference. i am using MIT AVT2 biwire speaker cables now. great soundstage, bass, midrange and definition though some may say the sound is coloured by it. in my opinion, NAD 320BEE is never dark. i've owned it for over a yr and instead, i found it a tad bright. great dynamics, punchy bass. |
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New member Username: RabbitgreyPORTO, PORTO PORTUGAL Post Number: 6 Registered: Sep-06 | NAD 352 + DALI IKON 2 w/ ATACAMA NEXUS 6 SPEAKER STANDS. LOW BUDGET, GREAT SOUND ! |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 3 Registered: Oct-06 | Hi people finally today I went to my hi-fi dealer and listened the Nad c352ct with my Nad c521bee and Monitor Audio B2. I`m really impressed, the 352 is better in all aspectos than the Nad 320bee and plays very well jazz. The most relevant for me was that, the music breath easlly and had more clarity. I also listened with my sistem the new Roksan Kandy L.3 and the Audiolab 8000s but in my opinion they can`t match the Nad 352ct because it really plays music. I`m going to by it in February. Thank you all for your help. |
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Bronze Member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 42 Registered: Aug-06 | GoodLuck Carlos!!! And Enjoy your Music! Also have the same setup except I'm using PSB Image B25 and C542 CDP...But the C352 is really worth it... And hey, don't forget to replace the manufacturer supplied jumpers (nickel-plated brass) which link the pre and power sections of the amplifier, and used a decent IC...These will open up the soundstage even more and provide greater clarity. |
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New member Username: RabbitgreyPORTO, PORTO PORTUGAL Post Number: 7 Registered: Sep-06 | Carlos: You did the right thing. You have a latin name. Where do you come from ? |
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Bronze Member Username: All_earsSingapore Post Number: 22 Registered: Aug-06 | Carlos, I am surprised by your comment actually. Kandy or even the 8000s is not as good as NAD352? Sure, it's a great amp and it's surely better than the 320bee. pls take a listen again to confirm. |
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New member Username: QuaintdreamerTrivandrum, Kerala India Post Number: 5 Registered: Nov-06 | Hi, I just brought a Wharfedale Diamond 9.6, but I am still confused about the amp.Can you suggest a good amp for it? I am from India Getting an audition is most difficult for me. Thank you |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 4 Registered: Oct-06 | Hi guys. Arnold thank you for your recomendations. Antonio, I`m portuguese as you. Raymond, when I`m listening music I love when my foot start tapping. |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 5 Registered: Oct-06 | Calvin, take a look at this link, that speakers are reviewed there with 2 amps. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter/153/wharfedale.html |
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New member Username: QuaintdreamerTrivandrum, Kerala India Post Number: 6 Registered: Nov-06 | Hi, Carlos Thank you, I have been considering Nad 352 of course. But before I buy I just want to make sure that I havn't missed something better.Do you have any idea about Onkyo A9555 Digital amp? Thanks Calvin |
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New member Username: Carlos_mGreat YarmouthEngland Post Number: 6 Registered: Oct-06 | Calvin, I haven`t any experience with the amplifier you have mentioned but in my point of view if you want something better you`ll spend a lot more. You should try for example the Naim nait5i. |
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Bronze Member Username: Jingka99Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Post Number: 46 Registered: Aug-06 | Hi Calvin, a few questions: 1. Will you be using this for two channel listening? 2. What is you intended budget? |
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