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October 1, 2007 - 7:33pm
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Rotel and Cambridge Audio are also worth considering.
There is a new NAD C372 on AudiogoN for $759. http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1195405110
You also might want to check www.dmc-electronics.com. I believe they can come close to your price point on a new C372, and they offer factory refurbs at about $700.
I got a new one from them, and I am well pleased with both the amp and their service.
Regards,
Bert
Spearit Sound also has refurbished C372s for $700.
http://www.spearitsound.com/nad/C372.asp
Up until recently I was a diehard Creek integrated fan. Still am, but I moved up to Krell. Any of the Creeks are great gear for the bucks! Detailed yet smooth, and a well balanced mix.
You are going to love those Dynaudio speakers. From 50 Hz on up they sound like $3000 speakers. The best part is they will work well with whatever you decide to partner them with and with any music. An underappreciated jewel if ever there was one.
I don't think you have to be very picky about amplification. They can handle quite a bit of power and continue to maintain composure where many stand mounts start to fall apart at high volume levels. If anything, they are just a tad sweet, yet extended and so you can partner them with top notch amplification and benefit or stay in budget territory without revealing too many warts to be enjoyable.
I've partnered those things with 15 watt tube amps and 200 watt solid state amps and they were right at home with either.
I just can't decide which way to go. I have decided that I can not spend as much as I originally wanted. I found a used Onkyo 9555 that is about $450 delivered or Outlaw has a B-stock RR2150 for $499, I don't know what shipping costs are with the Outlaw. Both got good reviews on this site.
Money aside, I would buy the NAD but I also need a tuner so that combo is more money than I want to spend. I can pick up a used Onkyo tuner cheap and the Outlaw is a receiver so it comes with it.
Which is the better way to go?
Well, I haven't heard either. However, Stereophile has reviewed the Outlaw and Fremer really liked it. If I were in your shoes, it would be a no brainer in favor of the Outlaw.
The Dynaudios like power and the Outlaw has gobs and gobs. I suspect it will also retain much of its value should you eventually want to change.
Seriously, the Outlaw has been widely reviewed and praised by people who know audio and it's priced right. It has the features you are looking for and is backed with a good warranty from good folks. I think you would love the combination.
Thanks Monty,
I was leading up to the same conclusion but the write-up on the Onkyo piece was pretty good as well, at least it sounded like it would have been a good piece. It does keep things simple, one unit. And yes about the 52"s, I have not been exposed to a lot of high end home audio but when I heard the regular 52"s, I figured the 52 SE's must be very good. I actually bought them without listening to them, I bought them on-line as B stock for $750. They sound good with my Onkyo receiver so I'm sure I will be impressed when I can get them some good power, plus I have an excessive length of speaker wire going to them because the speakers are in another room. If you are still in a helping mood, what would you recommend for a multi play CD player, 5 disc player? Obviously price is important.
Thanks again for your help.