Relatively uncultured and in need of some advice--

[dylanclark112]

Hello!
Here's to my first post.

So, I'm in the process of building two towers and a small active sub. The towers will be utilizing these drivers http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=264-813
They will be playing a large variety of music--everywhere, from jazz to hiphop.

I am going to need an amplifier to run them (don't necessarily need a preamp yet, as I'll be running most of my music as lostless files off of a computer, still haven't build up enough of an ear to mind music off of my computer). I like to listen to my music at a decent volume, but every once in a while I'd like to crank em.

I've been looking at used NAD amplifiers, and have been spending time in the local secondhand audio shop.

Does anyone have any amplifiers in mind in the sub-300 dollar range? I'll probably be buying a used system off of audiogon, ebay, or from the local shop.





Note: I really don't know much about audio now, but am trying to learn. I haven't been able to spend as much time as I would like to be on my new hobby, as work and college don't afford much extra time for such pursuits.

[destroyer X]

The problem is that exists thousands of options... hard to suggest not knowing your listening place...your type of music, the speaker audio (quality - balance)... your personal preferences.... the money you have to spend.

100 dollares equipment means 100 dolares quality
1000 dollares equipment means 1000 dolares quality.

This also happens... not always...but happens too.

The answer is so complex that even you is unable to answer this.

Also.... everyone of us are searching for the "Paradise" sound... we go trying, spending money, trying new combinations, new circuits, new speakers.... we are also trying.

I am trying those last 46 years... since 9 years old i turn sick....and the guys here are all them crazy too... the same as me.

To answer, or suggest something, you we will need to start a very long conversation.... maybe 50 hours latter we will have an idea what would be interesting to suggest you.

People decided to make silence.... this question, to us, maniac fanatics is the same question someone can post about the dawn of the Universe.

Difficult question my dear.... NAD is good.... but people do not respect too much.... it is not very expensive... there are folks that dislike....so...... difficult to enter.

Welcome..... this is my effort not to let you completelly alone.

I hope people will try, from now on, to prove they are not crazy, not fanatics, not NAD resistant and enter to tell some to you.

On time.... reading once again, your text inform that NAD is really a good option of price and performance...so... you gave to yourself, already, the answer...maybe because of that people have not entered.

I have problems to read english...so...i have misunderstood... your choice was already made...you are searching, already, for NAD.

regards,

Carlos

[jnb]

NAD make good amps. This would be a good starting point for your system. Don't overspend on them.

[dylanclark112]

Yeah, I guess asking for a place to start was a better idea.

So I guess the point is, the question I'm trying to ask, is the same question a lot of you out there have been asking for many years. I guess that's what this whole game is about--

Thanks for your help.

Dylan

[jnb]

Originally posted by dylanclark112
So I guess the point is, the question I'm trying to ask, is the same question a lot of you out there have been asking for many years. I guess that's what this whole game is about--

Hehe...

It's worth to take note that the Tang Band doesn't need much power. Not because it plays loud with little power but because it just can't handle large amounts of it. (This is not a reason to avoid this driver). The point is that your amp needn't supply masses of power. It is sometimes the case that small amps sound very good.

[dylanclark112]

But it still is a good idea (or at least not a problem) to get an amp that exceeds the power the drivers are rated for, right?

Also, if i were to include a passive subwoofer into the system, that would have an impact on the wattage the speakers were getting right?

I was reading up somewhere (can't remember where now...) but they recommended having an amp that could provide twice the rated wattage rms, just to handle the peaks and avoid ever clipping.

I've heard that NAD is fairly conservative with their rms ratings... But there would be no harm in getting something like a NAD 3080 (I think 80wpc), would there?


By the way, am I using "rms" correctly? RMS means the constant power output w/o clipping, right?

[jnb]

It is reasonable to get a larger amp than necessary, and yes, if you cross to a sub you'll get more volume out of the Tang Bands using less power.

To put RMS into the simplest terms, it means "average" Watts (but average actually means something a little different so just use it as an idea). The signal is constantly varying up and down and the RMS value means that the AC will produce the same amount of heat into a resistor as a certain quantity of DC would of the same number of Watts. It is typically quoted at full steady output and is half of the peak output power (which happens just at the tip of the waveform).

[Gordy]

It may be wise to consider something from the pro-amp boys, maybe a base model from Tapco or QSC, etc.