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Help! What to buy? Audio-gd nbf-2? or another route - Audio-gd C-500 amp?

post #1 of 5
5/30/11 at 8:32pm
Thread Starter 

Hello,

 

Current setup is:

 

    PC JRiver Media Centre WASAPI -> USB -> Audio-Gd DI -> Valab NOS DAC  -> NAD c370  -> Mission 782

 

 

Pretty impressed with the Valab NOS DAC for the price - Actually just sold my Marantz CD-17mkII as the PC+Valab sounded better, especially now with the (recent) DI.

 

 

Have a few $$$ to spare, so contemplating:

 

    1. buying an Audio-Gd NBF-2  DAC

 

           PC JRiver Media Centre -> Audio-Gd DI -> Audio-Gd NBF-2  -> NAD c370  -> Mission 782

 

 

or, 2. Buying an Audio-Gd C-400  or C-500 integrated amp now, then maybe nbf-2 next year

 

           PC JRiver Media Centre -> Audio-Gd DI -> Valab NOS DAC  -> Audio-Gd C-400/500  -> Mission 782

 

 

What would give me the biggest improvement?

 

Is there much audio quality difference between the C-400 and C-500 ?  I don’t think I need the extra power, smallish room, quite efficient speakers.

 

The Valab NOS DAC is pretty impressive – will the nbf-2 be a significant upgrade?

 

Any better ideas?

 

Too many choices!  Recommendations gratefully recieved...

 

 Mike


Edited by MikeThin - 5/30/11 at 8:35pm
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post #2 of 5
6/3/11 at 9:27pm

C500 ..no question....

 

Peete.

 

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post #3 of 5
6/4/11 at 3:55am

While at it...

 

Mike if you decide to go for C-500, ask for C-501. It is pretty much the same thing except that is being offered just on Chinese market and that incorporates MJL4281/4302 "the king of transistors" (KingWa's words) as output transistors.

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post #4 of 5
6/8/11 at 5:03am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the advice, guys. I would love the audio-gd c500, but sadly wife has declared "out of my budget" - with shipping and import duties looking at $2200.

 

Tried to order a c400, but kingwa says 'all gone'. Very sad.

 

Current thinking is a jungson JA-88D (80w Class A balanced amp) - a bit of a gamble, but lots of great reviews around. http://www.jungson.com/88d09

 

Then late in the year an audio-gd nfb1wm.

 

Mike

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post #5 of 5
6/8/11 at 3:26pm

I would try upgrading speakers first. That said, Kingwa's amps are amazingly good. I tried the Emotiva XPA-2 for a year and recently replaced it with their C10 and I was very surprised at the improvement.


Edited by tim3320070 - 6/8/11 at 3:28pm
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