Listening
What's inside the NAD C 372 matches…
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Once you're used to the remote, it's easy to find the Volume and Mute controls in the dark—a remote's most important feature, in my opinion. But the remote is multifunction, designed, apparently, to control a range of NAD components, which means it's busier than it needs to be if you use it to control only the C 372. It doesn't seem to be programmable. In an all-NAD system, the remote's versatility would probably be appreciated, but it wouldn't work with my Marantz SA-15 SACD player, so for me, the extra complexity was a mild annoyance.
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Solid-state, two-channel integrated amplifier with seven line inputs. Rated maximum output power at clipping: 180W (22.55dBW). Continuous average output power: 150Wpc into 8 ohms (21.76dBW) within rated distortion. Dynamic power: 220Wpc (23.42dBW) into 8 ohms, 340W (25.31dBW) into 4 ohms, 460W (26.62dBW) into 2 ohms. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.3dB (–3dB at 3Hz and 70kHz). Damping factor, ref. 8 ohms, 1kHz: >150. Input impedance (R, C): 20k ohms, 470pF. Input sensitivity, ref. rated power: 770mV. Signal/noise (A-weighted, ref. rated power…
Sidebar 2: What Is Powerdrive?
Like most industries, hi-fi has its share of empty marketing slogans—so many that it makes sense to regard manufacturers' claims about their equipment with a certain degree of skepticism. I kept this in mind as I pressed Greg Stidsen, NAD's director of product development, to explain to me just what the company's PowerDrive technology is.
A lot of what makes high-end monster amps powerful and expensive is the extra balls required to drive a difficult loudspeaker load—one of very low impedance, perhaps in combination with a large phase angle—at…
Sidebar 3: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega P7 turntable; RB-700 tonearm; Rega Bias 2, Elys 2, Exact (old and new versions) cartridges.
Digital Sources: Marantz SA-15S10 SACD player, Benchmark DAC-1 D/A converter.
Preamplification: Whest PS.20, Rega Fono (MM) phono stages.
Integrated Amplifiers: Arcam A75 Plus, Exposure 2010S.
Loudspeakers: Vandersteen 2Ce Signature; Mackie HR824, Event SP8 powered nearfield studio monitors (using C 372 as preamp).
Cables: Interconnect: Chord Chameleon Silver Plus, Chord Chorus, Monster Cable M550i, Mogami XLR balanced. Speaker:…
Sidebar 4: Measurements
I preconditioned the NAD C 372 by running both channels for 60 minutes at one-third the measured continuous clipping power into 8 ohms. With the amplifier cold, the THD+noise percentage was 0.0037%; it had risen very slightly after 60 minutes to 0.0046%. The top panel was also quite hot at that time—just under 60°C—but I could keep my hand on it.
The maximum voltage gain into 8 ohms was 38.1dB, 29.05dB of this coming from the power-amplifier section, 9.05dB from the preamp. Neither section inverted signal polarity; ie, the amplifier as a whole preserved…
Robert J. Reina wrote about the NAD in January 2007 (Vol.30 No.1):
I compared the Creek Destiny ($2395) to my own Creek 5350SE integrated ($1495). John Atkinson also sent along NAD's C 372 integrated ($899), which Jim Austin favorably reviewed in the October 2006 Stereophile.
The NAD C 372 had a sweet, delicate midrange, but revealed less detail than the Destiny, and vocals were not as holographically presented. The NAD's highs were less extended and airy, while the Destiny revealed more hall sound and ambience. The NAD's midbass, too, was warmer and not as defined as the Destiny'…
Last summer, John Atkinson and I were playing a jazz gig poolside at my local club, and during a break we began discussing equipment. As JA adjusted his microphones and I became increasingly nervous about the running, jumping kids splashing chlorinated water on his Nagra digital recorder, he asked me if I'd like to review the Z1 loudspeaker from BG Corp. "It's an interesting little bookshelf speaker featuring a ribbon tweeter." Hmm—an affordable bookshelf speaker matching a ribbon tweeter to a dynamic woofer? Very interesting. "Sounds good," said I, and resumed my ivory duties.
Company…
Sidebar 1: Specifications
Description: Two-way shielded bookshelf loudspeaker. Drive-units: Neo3 PDR ribbon tweeter with a neodymium magnet, 5.25" aluminum-cone woofer. Frequency range: 55Hz–30kHz. Sensitivity: 88dB/2.83V/m. Impedance: 8 ohms. Power handling: 100W.
Dimensions: 13" (330mm) by 7.1" (180mm) by 9.5" (240mm). Weight: 13 lbs (5.9kg).
Finishes: "Hardwood" veneer.
Serial Numbers Of Units Reviewed: 001001/2.
Price: $499/pair. Approximate number of dealers: 125.
Manufacturer: BG Corp., 1780 Forrest Way, Carson City, NV 89706. Tel: (775) 884-1900. Fax: (775) 884-1276…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV turntable, Immedia RPM tonearm, Koetsu Urushi cartridge; Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood & Aurum Beta S cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, California Audio Labs Icon Mk.II Power Boss, Creek CD53 Mk.II CD players; Pioneer DV-333 DVD player.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research VT100 Mk.II.
Integrated Amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Epos M5, NHT SB-3, Nola Mini.
Cables:…
Sidebar 3: Measurements
My estimate of the BG Z1's voltage sensitivity was 88.5dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the specified 88dB figure. This speaker will go surprisingly loud with relatively low-powered amplification, but it is fair to point out that for a speaker this small to have this high a sensitivity, it invariably will have restricted low-frequency performance. The Z1's impedance is higher than normal, with a minimum midrange magnitude of 6.4 ohms at 244Hz and a value that drops below 6 ohms only in the top audio octave (fig.1). This speaker will work well…