help! Denon PMA-255uk vs NADC320

[oneade]

I'm thinking of upgrading my JVC integrated amp for something better. Currently looking at either the Denon PMA-255UK or the NAD C320. I'm looking to spend AUD $500 - $700.

Does anyone know how these two compare?

Any other recommended amps (around the same price)?

Thanks!

 

[dngl]

I haven't heard the Denon, but the NADs all have good price/performance ratios and headphone outs.

 

[MacDEF]

I haven't heard those specific models, but in my experience owning and auditioning both Denon and NAD components, NAD products are better than Denon products at the same price point.

 

[markjia]

You might what to get the NAD C350. It's within your price range, and I hear it's an exceptional amp. I was going to get one, but I think I will build my own (an AKSA 55W int. amp kit).

 

[oneade]

Is the C350 actually better than the C320? I remember reading somewhere that the C320 actually has better sound than the C340.

 

[MirandaX]

The C350 is extremely similar to the C320, based on the same design from what I've heard. The C370 is more different from the C350 than the C350 is from the C320.

I have a C350 and can vouch for its ability to drive headphones well. In particular, Sennheiser HD600s sound great with it. Grados and Etymotics sound above average (but not perfect) with it. The C350 is also a satisfying integrated for driving speakers. I found that adding a Melos SHA-1 as a preamp (using the C350 as a power amp) brought the sound to another level entirely. The C350 is flexible this way; if you're considering the Denon PMA-255, make sure it has pre-out/main in so you have a decent upgrade path if you decide to upgrade in the future.

 

[oneade]

the PMA-255UK doesn't have pre-outs. What is the purpose of pre-amp though? I was under the (wrong) impression that preamps were just used for switching audio sources.

 

[MirandaX]

There's a certain set of people who believe that a preamp should just switch inputs and control the volume, but do nothing else. This type of thing is called a "passive" preamp. This is a nice concept in theory, very "pure", but in my experience such devices in the real world are not as lively or as realistic as "active" preamps. An active preamp performs voltage (and often current) gain before the signal meets the power amp. The argument for an active preamp is that a preamp can deal with far less powerful signals than a power amp, and so can handle them in a more refined way.

Tuberoller started a pretty good thread on this board about two weeks ago about how combining a vacuum tube preamp with a solid-state power amp is the most cost-effective way to get the refined, sweet "tube" sound. My experience with the SHA-1 would agree with this.

Even if you never intend to upgrade your preamp, "main in" jacks are useful for adding things like home theatre signal processors. "Preamp out" jacks are essential if you ever intend to add a subwoofer. A 50 watt power amp does not have enough power on its own to adequately drive a set of main speakers and a subwoofer from the speaker posts. You would need a powered subwoofer, and it would connect to "preamp out".