First views on Nad 320BEE

Hey Benkenobi,
What the room size,in which Wahrf 8.4 are used?
For a smaller room size(10X12 Feet),would it sound(Any floorstander)boomy?
Thanks.

Try a dedicated CD Player. You may be surprised even more.

Sanjay

Hey,

I've been running in my NAD320BEE for a week now. It gets mellow after a while and sounds better!!!!

Or maybe, it's running me in, and I am acquiring the taste for it!!!

Roshan.

roshan,

You probably are right....this breaking in phenomenon is quite questionable. Paul Barton, designer of PSB speakers says there is nothing like break in. He measures virtually no change in speakers out of the box or after the golden 100+ hrs.
But the hi-fi equipment does tend to sound better with time so why does this happen ? Paul Barton atributes it to your ears/brain getting used to the new sound and subconciously filtering out irregularities you dont like.

I have spoken to a few electronics wizards on this phenomenon and they were very amused. They did admit that cables, caps and coils do take a few hours(8-10hrs) to stabilize and work optimally but a few hours is enough. They are firmly of the opinion that audiophiles and people who sell equipment make too much of this burn in thing, maybe a trick to keep the equipment longer with the customer so that he does tend to get used to the sound. Who knows ?

Then the question of speaker driver breakin, rubber surrounds do get a bit more supple but only in the first few hours(10-15hrs)after that not much.

You maybe right ! I'm keeping my mind open to both theories.

Need to do more research on it.

Manek.

well, ihave been listening to the Nad for a while and this is what i feel.
u see the Nad plays very well when the volume is set at proper listening levels say around 15 to 40 % of the volume knob.
but below that and above that i see differnces in teh sound being produced.
first of all, the highs and the mids become shrill and quite frankly a bit irritable once u have crossed the 45% mark of the volume knob.
above that there is more of mids and treble and the bass seems to stagnate.
i listened to the same song with my Yamaha with more or less the same loudness level and teh sound seems to be more balanced however the sound was a little less accurate.
the Nad just seemed to amplify teh vocals and the highs a lot more than the bass after the volume knob cross a certain lpoint.
at lower volumes also there is imbalance of the mids, highs and bass.
that's what i have heard so far.
maybe it needs some more time to break in.
maybe...maybe..
Benks

Use good cables obi wan. Put the soft clipping switch off. Get a good quality pre-out to main-in jumper cable. Press the tone defeat/ source direct switch.

The 320bee sounds best with my speakers with volume around 11-12'oclock. Give it about 15-20 playing hours.

Do remember all amps have an optimal working range.

Manek.

hey Manek,
i have put the soft clipping circuit off and have engaged the tone defeat switch.
what do you mean by good quality.
another pair of VDH? or will an ordinary pair be enough.
how much willl i have to spend?
yeah, i know i willl give it some more time to play and then check it out again.

Benks

ben,

I wrote about interconnects becuase I read that you were using a some other interconnects...vivanco and another make.
The vdh's are just fine.

I was also refering to the metal jumper behind the amp. you could try out murthy's jumpers. I use the the same d102mkIII for jumpers. Makes a bit of a difference.

Please dont spend money for the sake of it. Listen to your system for about a month and then tweak it to your liking. You could anyway try out the jumpers. If you are in bangalore you could get pair from prithvi on trial.

Manek.

Manek,
the Vivanco cable is the subwoofer cable and not the interconnect.
the intercoonnects are VDh from source to Nad . also using Vivanco connectors for the speaker terminals.
yeah, the speaker cables are a US make called Wasatch though i'm using their lower end cables their higher end go upto 4000$for a pair of 8ft speaker cables!!.
they are supposed tobe good.
anyway, how much would those jumpers cost.
who is Murthy by the way?
will keep u posted.
Benks

Benks,

Don’t worry too much about the NAD, give it a little time to break in, and you will be fine. Your ears are presently attuned to the Yamaha sound and you are using that as the reference level, which is very normal.

IMHO, Yamahas generally produce a clean warmish sound which can be quite relaxing, whereas NADs are punchier. I have felt the same way many times over when I owned a Yamaha DSP A2 and a NAD power amp together. The DSP A2, in stereo, would be quite soothing, and upon switching, the NAD would be more attacking. A few tracks later, my ears would adjust to the higher detail of the NAD, and I would not want to go back to the DSP A2.

Don’t try to compare too much just yet, let the amp and your ears both settle in!

benkenobi schrieb:

Manek, the Vivanco cable is the subwoofer cable and not the interconnect. the intercoonnects are VDh from source to Nad . also using Vivanco connectors for the speaker terminals. yeah, the speaker cables are a US make called Wasatch though i'm using their lower end cables their higher end go upto 4000$for a pair of 8ft speaker cables!!. they are supposed tobe good. anyway, how much would those jumpers cost. who is Murthy by the way? will keep u posted. Benks

Murthy is my friend who makes the FINESSE, products. All the NAD amps that I sold to clients have been upgraded to his jumpers ( Rs 750/- a pair). IF you want them then pls ask me as I have them in stock. Never heard of Wasatch!!!!!!!!!!!
Rgds

Prithvi

hey prithvi,
this id their website.
http://www.wasatchcableworks.com/
is there a noticeable diffenrence with the new jumpers.
what are they, gold plated or something?

would you be willing to lend me a pair for trial .
BTW what is FINESSE? What kind of products do they manufacture?where are they based?

Sachi
P.S:sure ,let them burn in and u set the date which we all can agree upon and we'll be there.

hey big ears,
yeah , iwill listen to the Nad for some more time before judging it the next time. but as Manek pointed out someplace i think our minds get tuned to the sound and psychologically are not able to distinguish between good and bad sound over time.
Benks

Hi! Ben,
Would love to lend them to you but>>>>>>>>>>
Just remember that all things in life cannot be lent, U cant try out ur wife before getting married! WOW ! Imagine if that would have been possible!

If my wife sees this I am going to .

Sometime you have to believe in someone and take a risk, just like getting married. Either u make it together or u dont?

Well, small things do count and they dont come cheap. A lot of labour and love has gone into making the jumpers especially Murthy being Murthy! This is his passion and not full time business. I had to push him into to it, so I am too blame.

Rgds

Prithvi

no probs Prithvi.
what about the audioquest or tara labs jumpers.
how do they perform and how much do they cost? do you get them in India?
What has the feedback been about the Finesse jumpers from ur customers? what kind of difference did they observe(highs,lows..)?
is there any way i can check these out in action(against the stock ones) at ur place?
Regds
Benks

Ben,
Stop fooling around, cause ur wasting time, effort and money. The Taralabs, Audioquest jumpers will cost you the earth. Like the Cardas will cost you about AED 500/- pr Thats 6500 rs in Dubai, then add freight + customs duty.

For once listen to a person who has 15 years of professional experience and has convinced customers to even buy a 10lac CDP even without knowing, hearing, seeing the brand.

Start learning from the NET and never ask questions if a LINN can play MP3!!!!!!!!!!! Its like asking a FERRARI showroom guy what mileage a ferrari gives.

Wake ben, I am here to help you! This is a very serious message, cause ask any one member (blore) and they know my demo for a 2-ch will be not less than 3-4 hours. (listening, questions, answers, advise, consultation etc).

If you dont know professional stuff or have the knowledge then dude learn from others who have it atleast. I still learn every day, from the net, from colleagues around the world, books, etc. Remember its never too late to learn. Just be patient and learn for yourself. Thts important. Why do you think I invite you guys to come for demo's??????? Not to sell, yes if you like it and can afford it then I wont stop you! But basically to hear good hi-end products, the more systems you hear the better you get & understand the subject.

Will inform you about the D15s, they have sounded better today after a day's burning in. They will take more than a week to burn-in.

I am also looking forward to all we guys meeting up,
Rgds
Prithvi

Whoa !!Where did that come from. hey prithvi, u met me u know how young i am. i'm probably the youngest(i'm just 22) on this forum and the one with the least experience.
i don't have money to throw away. i just wanted to know about the audioquest and the tara's only so that if at all ther was a chance to audition them i would(after all that is what u are trying to tell me, listen and learn).
i highly respect ur views and for that matter anyone on this forumas u guys have listened to more varied setups than me. besides, me being a student has limited my audio collection to mainly MP3s. regarding the LINN playing Mp3 remark. when i said that i meant that i wanted to hear the Proacs playing Mp3s cause i can relate t oMp3 playback cause that's what i listen to 95% of the time.
now i know u guys may think i'm out of my mind for discussing Mp3 on a forum like this but u must understand that's alli can afford right now.

Wake ben, I am here to help you! This is a very serious message, cause ask any one member (blore) and they know my demo for a 2-ch will be not less than 3-4 hours. (listening, questions, answers, advise, consultation etc). i know u guys are here to help me. that's why i spend time on this forum.

If you dont know professional stuff or have the knowledge then dude learn from others who have it atleast. I still learn every day, from the net, from colleagues around the world, books, etc. Remember its never too late to learn. Just be patient and learn for yourself. Thts important. Why do you think I invite you guys to come for demo's??????? Not to sell, yes if you like it and can afford it then I wont stop you! But basically to hear good hi-end products, the more systems you hear the better you get & understand the subject.

again, i admit i did'nt know what real hifi was till i visited ur place and though the visit was short i have been itching to come back to ur palce ever since the time i came out that demo room of urs.
to tell u the truth i want to discuss many things with u in detail as i am very very seriously thinking of going into audio as a career move.(this is the only thing i'm really passionate about, have been listening to Micheal jackson since iwas 4!!)none of my family members other than my father understand my passion for audio.
hope this clears things up.
wow!i must be frank here, i did'nt expect a reaction of that sort but i thank u for it as i can admit to u all that i am much less experienced in this field as u guys are.
i donot question ur experience. the only reason i asked "What has the feedback been about the Finesse jumpers from ur customers? what kind of difference did they observe(highs,lows..)?
is there any way i can check these out in action(against the stock ones) at ur place?"
was because i wanted to know if it would suit my tastes. u see i feel the Nad is very detailed . the highs are realy airy and very much there. so are the vocals its just that i find that there is a tonal(is this the right word to use) imbalance in the mids and the highs and wanted to know how the jumpers affected. i hope u see my point.

anyway, will be looking forward to listen to the D15s.
regds
Sachi

P.S:
I am a HHUGE Ferrari fan. been religiously watching F1 since 1994.

Hey Prithvi,Ben

Dont you guys Sleep or what javascript:emoticon(' ')
javascript:emoticon(' ')
Prithvi are you listening to your D15's
Best regards
Deepu

Ben ,

Where are you put up in Bangalore. I am in Indiranagar

Best regards
Deepu

hey deepug,
i'm up late working on my final year project.(i usualy sleep at around 2-3 at night)
my pad is in Basaveshwaranagar.
my number is 23220842.
Btw what do u do(ur profession)?

cheers
Sachi

Ben

I am working with an IT firm in Bangalore (iGATE) . So this explains my late hours. I am part of the IT team

Best regards
Deepu

Ben

Which college ??

Best regards
Deepu

Electronics and communication ,
8th semester, MSRIT
have been placed in Satyam(got my offer letter) but will not be taking it up(they are asking for a two year bond and i have plans to do my further studies,MS in VLSI)
hope to become a designer of chips and get into Wolfson,Burr-Brown....

Ben,
What a coincidence. I also finished by engg in MSRIT. Passed out in 2004. Same Electronics & Comm

Best regards
Deepu

come on ,
are u kidding me?
then u must know Sameer Nandan.
Who was ur project guide?
Regds
Sachi

Ben

We had Krishnappa as Our Prinicipal. Who is your HOD now?

Best regards
Deepu

Ben,

I think it's not right to continue to use Forum for off topic discussions. Will call you one of these days and try to catch up . I have to hit the sack now, tomorrow need to reach office.javascript:emoticon(' ')
javascript:emoticon(' ')

All the best for your project work

Best regards
Deepu

sure ,
Gnight.
u have my number.
Sachi

Hey Benks,

Dont lose your shirt!

You are lucky to have a proper 2 channel stereo at age 22, I didnt even have a mono tape recorder then!

Enjoy your hobby and take things easy, there are a lot of good things in the world and they will all come to you eventually...

hey big ears,
i have what i have because i have parents who love music as much as i do.
my dad had the first stereo system in Hassan in the very early 1970s.
and yes i'll sure will do enjoy whatever i do.

Benks

P.S: am not wearing a shirt to lose one. (its hot)

Hey Ben,
Dont take it personal. I like to give a few jhatkas once in a while. I remember when I was much younger, same thing happened & guess what, it made me master my love for this subject. Now thats what I want you to do.

Your most welcome anytime, just call b4 u come. The D15s are sound much better but still need atleast 1-2 weeks more to open up.

Have beer dude

Rgds

PRithvi

PS; Remember the more you learn the better for you.

Well Pritvi,

I remember....ask questions to learn.....but too many questions you are moving away from learning and I would conclude that confusing yourself........

Start learning from the NET and never ask questions if a LINN can play MP3!!!!!!!!!!! Its like asking a FERRARI showroom guy what mileage a ferrari gives.

.........let me correct you Pritvi....it's more like asking whether a Ferrari can be gas converted..hehehehe

well, one thing is for certain, the damn thing runs hot i mean really hot(u could probably fry eggs on it). that too only after an hour or so of running(with the volume knob anywhere between the 10 and 12o'clock positions).
have been experimenting with my receiver's speaker cables with Pink Floyd's "high hopes".
could not come to a clear conclusion but there is definiteley a difference between them.(can't put my finger on that,will have to listen more).
the amp does its job with the volume knob in the 1 and maybe2o'clock positions.
needs to break in more.
it has definitely made the highs come alive on my wharfies.
very ,VERY detailed.

well, i guess have to wait about half an hour before i turn it on again, letting it cool off.
will keep u posted.
cheers,
Benks

Hey Ben,
Man the plinius can fry eggs not the NAD. I measured with a temp and its about 70 degrees in Pure Class A. So next time if u want eggs /dosa/chapati then u know wher to come.

So bloody hot, that I too got burnt.
Rgds
Prithvi

benkenobi schrieb:

well, ihave been listening to the Nad for a while and this is what i feel. u see the Nad plays very well when the volume is set at proper listening levels say around 15 to 40 % of the volume knob. but below that and above that i see differnces in teh sound being produced. first of all, the highs and the mids become shrill and quite frankly a bit irritable once u have crossed the 45% mark of the volume knob. above that there is more of mids and treble and the bass seems to stagnate.

Check at any point the power cords are touching or crossing the speaker cables or interconnects?
The power cables should have at least 4" gap with speaker cables and interconnects.

thanks for the tip myriad(and manek for the explanation).
i want to know if the amp is getting hot because my speakers are 6 ohm and manek urs' is 8ohm. could it be?
i mean every hour or so i am forced to turn the fan on full blow for 5-10 minutes before ilet it go again.
considering the fact that i am beginning to enjoy the Nad now, the SQ is very good. but at the same time it makes me wonder how much more wonderful it would sound if i had a dedicated CDp,changed those jumpers,played authentic CDs and place the speakers a bit more away from the wall and finally throw a carpet in front of the speakers.
all in good time.
can't wait for june.can't wait to finish engineering and get out there.
Ben

Ben
maybe your speakers are proving to be a harder load than mine, but then again my speakers were designed to run with tube amps so they would be easy loads.

NADs are made to run 4 ohm speakers with ease so I dont think your speakers would be posing much of a problem to it.

Maybe the soft clipping switch is still activated for some reason. Switch the amp off and reset the clipping switch to off position.

do you have bad power lines ? unstable power at your home ?

dedicated cdp, jumpers, well recorded cd's and proper speaker placement will do wonders to your sound. No question about it :-)

Manek.

make sure that you amp is kept with enough space around it for heat dissipation !. Class A/B amps are supposed to get warm not Hot !

when you usually play music, at what position is the volume knob ( 0 is 6-o-clock for NAD)

also what speakers do u use ?

Benks,

Where are you keeping the amp? Is it properly ventilated?

just now turned it off. i surely would have burnt my self if i had let it run for another 45 minutes or so.
the soft clipping circuit is off.
power stability is as good as anywhere in bangalore(i'm sure all bangaloreans know how good that is).
it is placed on top of my VCR and nothing on top of the it(so the vents are fully open to air).
the amp sounds excellent between the 8 oclock position(that's what i normally listen to ,very rarely go upto 11 o clock)
the 0 position is not 6 but close to 7o clock.
the speakers are wharfedale diamond8.4s.
sensitivity=86db,6ohms.
ben

is there any risk to the amp by running as hot as it does.

Benks,

Check with Nad.

Shouldn't run so hot.

Hi,
I also have a NAD 320 bee with 8 ohm speakers. I normally listen to it at 8 Oclock position. My music is softer mostly Indian Classical or Jazz but I never found the amp anywhere near hot.
The 6 ohm may be a reason but as someone wrote before its best to check it out.
Vinod

Hi,

I have run the NAD320BEE 6-8 hrs many times. Mostly 2-3 o'clock position. It's as cold as, er..... an unresponsive woman !!!

Any ladies in the forum please over look that sexist comparison. Better still, read "man" instead.

But really, I can't understand this 'frying an egg' kind of heat, being generated. Do keep us posted when you figure it out.

Roshan.

benks...
86db at 6 ohms is not a benign load. Either way it should not be making that amp so hot.

Is there any particular place/side where the amp is the hottest or is the heat uniform ?

You have a house thermometer ? If so can you check the degree centigrade temp of the amp ?

Do you get a burning smell from the amp ? try sniffing the vents. Are one of your speaker terminals on the amp and speaker side loose ? Is the wire in the terminals loose or badly connected ?

Does your main socket/wire get hot also ? Try plugging your amp in another main socket.

I play my amp for 8 to hours a day sometimes continuously but it does not get hot..just pleasantly warm.

BTW, a correction, classical music, especially orchestral music is one of the most demanding forms of music on an amp.

Manek.

hey roshan,
2-3 o'clock position!!. man, that's enough for my speakers to play music for anyone passing on the road in front of my house(its way beyond my usual high listening levels).

Is there any particular place/side where the amp is the hottest or is the heat uniform ?

well, it seems to be particularly hot on the ventsnot so on the volume knob side.

Do you get a burning smell from the amp ? try sniffing the vents. Are one of your speaker terminals on the amp and speaker side loose ? Is the wire in the terminals loose or badly connected ?

no , no burning smell whatsoever. double checked my speaker terminals on both ends. no probs there.

Does your main socket/wire get hot also ? Try plugging your amp in another main socket.

i'll look out for this the next time i turn it on. i have plugged the following things into a spike buster(TV,DVD,amaha receiver,Nad and VCR) which is connected to a digital stabilizer and then to the mains. only the dvd and the amp are turned on and the vcr(almost always) is in standby mode.
will write to Nad later today.
thanks guys,
Ben

WHOOOOPS!!!!!!

I was visualising it upside down.

I play it at 8-9 o'clock position.

I would be totally deaf by now if I had been listening so long, so loud.


Sorry for the error!!

Roshan.

benks
so whats digital about the stabilizer ? first time I'm hearding of one.

are you the one who has put two speaker leads into one set of terminals ? or was it someone else ? How thin or thick are your wires in terms of guage ?

Manek.