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NAD Receiver beats LD MKIVse??

post #1 of 191
7/10/08 at 6:56pm
Thread Starter 
Did some testing between my MKIVse and my NAD receiver's headphone out, and I thought the MKIVse would easily win, but I was proven very wrong. They almost sounded identical, but the NAD just sounded a bit more 'lively' and 'musical', hard to explain, it comes down you just don't want to turn it off . Anyway, also tested vs a Rotel receiver, but the Rotel made annoying hiss sound, already audible at very low volumes, and the sound just wasn't even close to the MKIVse and NAD. Anymore people have experience with the big boys beating the specialist equipment??
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post #2 of 191
7/10/08 at 7:00pm
My marantz cdp headphone out doesn't come close to the LD Mk3. I have a Rega integrated so no HP out on that one...
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post #3 of 191
7/10/08 at 7:23pm
Is the LD in series (as in, gets sourced from) with the NAD?
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post #4 of 191
7/10/08 at 7:23pm
Thread Starter 
When I use the tone controls to add a little bass (which the 325i and K701 desperately need imo), then the NAD really is easily the winner. It adds a very clean and controlled bass, just the little boost that they need. I'm really falling for the NAD sound.

edit: I did multiple set-up's. One with source -> MKIVse and NAD, and did sort of A/B'ing (with the headphones, which seems the most fair test. Also added the MKIVse to the tape out + in, so I could listen to the MKIVse + NAD or just the NAD, in which case MKIVse + NAD became a little muddy.
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post #5 of 191
7/10/08 at 9:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nutric08 View Post
My marantz cdp headphone out doesn't come close to the LD Mk3. I have a Rega integrated so no HP out on that one...
Interesting, as the 5001 is reputed to have a good HP out. But then the LD Mk3 is tube, and it may be that you simply prefer the tube sound.
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post #6 of 191
7/11/08 at 10:11am
Don't misunderstand me. The HP out on the cdp is great considering the price, but the LD is simply better in overall terms... And yeah, i LOVE tube sound...
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post #7 of 191
7/11/08 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 
The weird thing is, that like I said in my first post, the sound is almost the same, between the NAD and the LDMKIVse, which gives the NAD a 'tubey' sound. Odd
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post #8 of 191
7/11/08 at 12:55pm
Are you using stock tubes for the LD?

So is your NAD tube like or your LD is solid state like?

Is the NAD objectively better (as in better resolution, extension and etc) or you just prefer the more lively sound signature?

I'm asking because I need another preamp, I planned to DIY one and bought some parts already but my mind does flirt with the LD MkIV from time to time.
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post #9 of 191
7/11/08 at 2:37pm
Thread Starter 
it is the MKIVse, so it is with some pretty good tubes, the 6H30PI's and M8100's. NAD has a very distinct sound which indeed hints to the warm/tubey sound, but not at the loss of any detail. Its like I said, I can barely hear the difference between the MKIVse and the NAD, but the NAD just sounds a bit lively'er, musical, like the sound palette just fits better. Detail is the same AFAI can hear.

From what I know now, I would recommend people to go look for a second-hand receiver (NAD, the Rotel was dissapointing imo, or other brand), because you just might save yourself alot of money. It could offcourse also be that this is just a weird receiver with a good headphone amp, it is the TOTL receiver from NAD (which basicly is the C320BEE amp + tuner).
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post #10 of 191
7/11/08 at 4:04pm
Yeah, I have an NAD c352 amp and the headphone out rocks! No hiss, great impact, resolution is awesome. The only thing I could wish for is a little more control in the bass - somewhat bloaty and uncontrolled - but not terribly so. I haven't really felt the need to by a home headphone amp. What a great situation to be a Hi-fi guy with a good integrated and a Headphone nut!
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post #11 of 191
7/11/08 at 4:17pm
Before I moved some gear near my computer, and bought a headphone amp, I listened a lot with the headphone plugged into my NAD 7020i receiver, and had no complaints at all.
Can't compare, because the set is in the living room, and completely different from my 'private' set.
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post #12 of 191
7/11/08 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
I use the NAD receiver now more than my LDMKIVse, because it sounds a little bit better, and also has advantages like a great EQ and remote control
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post #13 of 191
7/12/08 at 10:47am
Looks like it's tube rolling time! Pull out those M8100's and try something different. To be honest, my M8100's have never gone back in my MKIVse since I took them out. They just didn't cut it.
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post #14 of 191
7/12/08 at 11:23am
Thread Starter 
Dunno, its gotta be a real upgrade, else it might be smarter to just sell the MKIVse. Tbh I'm suprised by the NAD's quality, but maybe also a bit dissapointed in the MKIVse?? For the price it should really outperform the NAD, as it has only 1 task to do.
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post #15 of 191
7/12/08 at 11:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vvanrij View Post
Dunno, its gotta be a real upgrade, else it might be smarter to just sell the MKIVse. Tbh I'm suprised by the NAD's quality, but maybe also a bit dissapointed in the MKIVse?? For the price it should really outperform the NAD, as it has only 1 task to do.
Well, following that train of thought, what driver tubes have you tried already? I might be able to recommend a couple if I knew what you have tried already. Also, was this with all your phones, or just the K701's?
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