Hello all, looking to take my first steps into somewhat serious hi-fi sound. Right now I need everything, but trying to take things one step at a time. I want to build my own amp (gainclone, P3A or AKSA, haven't decided which yet) and was figuring on making a pre-amp also. However, I could get the hi-fi ball rolling more quickly if I used an existing pre-amp while I got the parts together to build one.
I found an NAD C160 for sale, bundled with some other stuff. Here are the NAD C160 specs:
NAD C160 pre-amp
Would this be an "acceptable" pre-amp to drive one of the above amps? Unfortunately I know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be smart 🙂 Will the loads from the C160 be OK with the 3 amps I mentioned above?
The added bonus of having a remote control would significantly enhance the FAF of upgrading the system, not too mention I wouldn't complain either, as the system will be used for everyday TV sound reproduction also.
The C160's didn't seem to be exactly cheap when new. The guy is selling a 218THX, C160, C420 and C523 and asking $1100 for it all. What would be a fair price for just the C160 if he will split the lot up? I might consider buying it all if we had not just purchased a house and we are trying to built up some cash reserves before closing, so dropping a grand+ right now is not going to happen without some serious tongue lashing, lol.
So:
1) Should I even consider buying the C160?
2) Will it play well with the amp I intend to build?
3) What's a fair price?
Many thanks,
Mike
I found an NAD C160 for sale, bundled with some other stuff. Here are the NAD C160 specs:
NAD C160 pre-amp
Would this be an "acceptable" pre-amp to drive one of the above amps? Unfortunately I know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be smart 🙂 Will the loads from the C160 be OK with the 3 amps I mentioned above?
The added bonus of having a remote control would significantly enhance the FAF of upgrading the system, not too mention I wouldn't complain either, as the system will be used for everyday TV sound reproduction also.
The C160's didn't seem to be exactly cheap when new. The guy is selling a 218THX, C160, C420 and C523 and asking $1100 for it all. What would be a fair price for just the C160 if he will split the lot up? I might consider buying it all if we had not just purchased a house and we are trying to built up some cash reserves before closing, so dropping a grand+ right now is not going to happen without some serious tongue lashing, lol.
So:
1) Should I even consider buying the C160?
2) Will it play well with the amp I intend to build?
3) What's a fair price?
Many thanks,
Mike
You will decide between a glass of Vinager, or a glass of water with suggar, and
a glass of Wine.
they are very different, this way, i am scratching my head to know the one you will decide.
Will not influence you, but please, let us know, or at least, please, let me know your decision.
Depending your choice, worries with pre amplifier will reasonable or not.
The analogies i wrote above, are not, necessarily, in the same sequence of the brands presentation you made.
Good luck, between those three, you will have 33 percent of chances to find one very good.
A bicicle, a Honda 50cc or a Kawasaki 1000?
Congratulations, RD or RZ or even RDZ350 or 360 (seventies) are rockets!
regards,
Carlos
a glass of Wine.
they are very different, this way, i am scratching my head to know the one you will decide.
Will not influence you, but please, let us know, or at least, please, let me know your decision.
Depending your choice, worries with pre amplifier will reasonable or not.
The analogies i wrote above, are not, necessarily, in the same sequence of the brands presentation you made.
Good luck, between those three, you will have 33 percent of chances to find one very good.
A bicicle, a Honda 50cc or a Kawasaki 1000?
Congratulations, RD or RZ or even RDZ350 or 360 (seventies) are rockets!
regards,
Carlos
Carlos, your reputation precedes you! 🙂 It is not difficult to tell which of the 3 amplifiers you would choose, lol! While I was researching each of the above amps you appeared in *many* posts.
The reason the gainclone is on the list is that I can buy a complete kit cheapy, and start listening to a "real" amplifier quickly. I do like the challenge of hunting down all of the components to build the P3A amp. The AKSA is obviously a bit more expensive, but it is mostly all there. I suppose I may find that by the time I find all the parts for the P3A and pay for shipping from various sources it will work out to a similar cost to the AKSA, I don't know. I'll make estimates before I actually choose btwn the AKSA and P3A.
So..... let's say I build a gainclone to "hold me over" for a while, will the NAD C160 be OK? The other amp can come later, as well as a DIY pre-amp.
Speaking of these amps, I am now looking for a higher-end DIY speaker set to build. I was seriously thinking of the ProAc 2.5 clone. Will any of the 3 amps I mentioned have problems with that speaker? And, have you heard that speaker, and what is your opinion?
Thank you very much,
Mike
The reason the gainclone is on the list is that I can buy a complete kit cheapy, and start listening to a "real" amplifier quickly. I do like the challenge of hunting down all of the components to build the P3A amp. The AKSA is obviously a bit more expensive, but it is mostly all there. I suppose I may find that by the time I find all the parts for the P3A and pay for shipping from various sources it will work out to a similar cost to the AKSA, I don't know. I'll make estimates before I actually choose btwn the AKSA and P3A.
So..... let's say I build a gainclone to "hold me over" for a while, will the NAD C160 be OK? The other amp can come later, as well as a DIY pre-amp.
Speaking of these amps, I am now looking for a higher-end DIY speaker set to build. I was seriously thinking of the ProAc 2.5 clone. Will any of the 3 amps I mentioned have problems with that speaker? And, have you heard that speaker, and what is your opinion?
Thank you very much,
Mike
Well, people already discovered that i am AKSA fan
Yes, i am...no doubt the guys are rigth about me.
I am alike Henry ford...you can buy my ford model T painted the color you want, but your choice will be black.
All amplifiers are good to me, beeing Aksa in special.
there are others impressive...but Aksa is the one.
Good luck man, all choices will produce fun...be happy man!
regards,
Carlos
Yes, i am...no doubt the guys are rigth about me.
I am alike Henry ford...you can buy my ford model T painted the color you want, but your choice will be black.
All amplifiers are good to me, beeing Aksa in special.
there are others impressive...but Aksa is the one.
Good luck man, all choices will produce fun...be happy man!
regards,
Carlos
beady said:
Hi beady,
Sounds like you have it pretty well sorted out. I think you will be happy with any of these amps. It a little hard to compare them directly because there a lots of different Gainclones configurations, there is probably no two P3As built the same but the AKSAs will be reasonably consistent because they are all supplied by Hugh. The AKSA will probably end up a little more expensive than the P3A but that depends on what components you buy for the P3A. I find the main effort involved in building amps is the case work so they all require about the same effort. Obviously, stuffing the GC PCB will be a little easier than the other two.
I've built all three of these and use them all on a regular basis. I do have my favourite but I am pleased with all of them. I think as you get better quality speakers and differences between these amps may become more pronuounced.
I can't see any issue with your pre-amp idea but personally I either use a passive pre-amp or a tube buffer with my amps, so I can't say for sure.
Re: You will decide between a glass of Vinager, or a glass of water with suggar, and
I'd say its like comparing a Honda NS400, a Suzuki RG500 and a Yamaha RZ500. 😉 Gee I'm showing my age. 😱
destroyer X said:
I'd say its like comparing a Honda NS400, a Suzuki RG500 and a Yamaha RZ500. 😉 Gee I'm showing my age. 😱
The AKSA and the P3A IMO need an active pre to get the best from them.
With the chipamp.com Non Inverted GC you can get away with a passive pre and just put the pot 10K-50K and selector in the same box as the power amp.
Like this as this uses a GC kit from chipamp.com
With the chipamp.com Non Inverted GC you can get away with a passive pre and just put the pot 10K-50K and selector in the same box as the power amp.
Like this as this uses a GC kit from chipamp.com
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