Speakers to pair with a NAD 304

stech1 · « **on:** 20 Feb 2006, 03:44 pm »

I have a chance to pick up a NAD 304 for around 185 dollars. It is used, but in excellent condition. I am going to hook it up to a new ocmputer build as a source. I am looking for a good set of speakers. My room is not that big, about 14x16. I need some recomendations on good speakers to pair with it. We have no real HiFi shops here, so listening to any is not an option. My budget is around 300-400 dollars for the speakers. I like to listen to classical piano, modern pop, and accoustic (sp.) guitar. I don't care for allot of bass. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

jkelly · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 04:14 pm »

Way back when I had a NAD 3020 I had a pair of MMG's connected that made wonderful music. They would also fit your music/budget requirements.

Jeff

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 04:39 pm »

I used to have a 304, it's certainly not a bad amp, but you could do better for less. I'd go for a Super T and then buy a pair of Visaton B200 drivers or the Hawthorne Silver Iris and put them in a OB. That would yield world class sound on a soda pop budget.

stech1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 04:51 pm »

Quote from: Wind Chaser

I used to have a 304, it's certainly not a bad amp, but you could do better for less. I'd go for a Super T and then buy a pair of Visaton B200 drivers or the Hawthorne Silver Iris and put them in a OB. That would yield world class sound on a soda pop budget.

I had thought about the Super T acutally. I am not familar with the "OB" terminology. This is my first excursian into the HiFi world. I am tired of spendng money on computer speakers and sound cards just to get dissapointed. Could you elaborate on that term.

The MMG's look interesting. Thanks jkelly for the suggestion.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 06:07 pm »

OB is abbreviated for "open baffle". An open baffle means not enclosed. Here is a link to get you on your way...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=19253

thayerg · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Feb 2006, 11:57 pm »

I'd recommend passing on the 304. I had one and even used it in a passive biamp system until I realized that it just didn't have the resolution the rest of the system was capable of.. The 314 is a huge increase in resolution and overall performance.

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 01:10 am »

I agree with most of the guys where when they say "pass on the 304" I had one, wasn't good, especially for the price. At your price range, i'd be looking at the digital amps available.

Super T - Amp (8 wpc) http://www.si-technologies.com/frontEnd/cm_productDetail.jsp

Teac Al-700p (my personal favorite, 30 WPC) http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1143755476 (sorta steep b/c they went for $100 before)

Also, the panasonic SA-XR (100 wpc) series receivers are good, and they're a decent price.

The Super T amp probably can't drive anything like magnepans, there isn't enough juice to push low efficiency speakers with the super T, but the teac and the panasonic will drive magnepan MMG's decently ( I had the teac/maggie combination, and in a small room, it was perfectly fine)

Another speaker you might wanna look into is at av123.com they have a new speaker coming out the XLS was the name of the speaker if i remember correctly ($200/pair)
Hell, take a look the X-amp while you're over at av123.com as well. Good luck with your purchase. Let us know how it turns out for you.

stech1 · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 02:46 am »

Quote from: beatdownvictim

I agree with most of the guys where when they say "pass on the 304" I had one, wasn't good, especially for the price. At your price range, i'd be looking at the digital amps available.

Super T - Amp (8 wpc) http://www.si-technologies.com/frontEnd/cm_productDetail.jsp

Teac Al-700p (my personal favorite, 30 WPC) http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1143755476 (sorta steep b/c they went for $100 before)

Also, the panasonic SA-XR (100 wpc) series receivers are good, and they're a decent ...

Thanks for the heads up on that NAD 304. That Teac looks like a decent deal. I sent the seller an email. I am thinking about maybe some Athena F2.2's or some Diamond 9.1 I also have a chance at some Onix Ref 0.5. How would any of those speakers stack up with the Teac? Any more suggestions?

mca · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 05:02 am »

The Teac is a great deal and sounds pretty good stock to my ears. I have a stock one driving my VMPS RM30s right now as my main amp is in for some repairs. I was really suprised it can push the RM30s as hard as it does

Makes me really want to try the CIA or Newforce amps out.

stech1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 07:14 am »

I am waiting for a reply on the Teac. I was searching Ebay and come accross and NAD 3220PE for a decent price. Anyone have any experience with this one?

Also, I am pretty sure that I am going to either be purchasing the Epos ELS or the Onix Reference 0.5's. Between these, any suggestions as to which one is better?

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #10 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 10:46 am »

errrrrrr isn't the ref .5 technically an rocket ELT with a better tweeter? Heck, my money would be on the XLS. At the pricerange of $200, it's really hard to not consider the XLS. Sure they're not out yet, but the designer (dennis murphy) is a damn good speaker designer, and I dont think he messed around with the XLS.

Anyway, at the lower price range, i'd tend to stick with the amps listed. But if you wanna try the NAD, it wouldn't be a bad investment, as the resale value would be pretty much the same as you bought it for.

Good luck! and welcome to AC!

Jampot · « **Reply #11 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 11:53 am »

The Teac on Agon definitely looks expensive - the last 2 sold here (between ACers) went for 80 and 60 dollars respectively.

Don't forget the Teac only has one set of inputs and no volume control (other than the rubbish ones on the back)

I agree with BDV about the sound but unless you are using a Squeezebox or your cdp has gain control you may want think carefully before paying $155.

Jim

thayerg · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Feb 2006, 07:32 pm »

The Epos are good--warm and detailed midrange, very good high frequencies. I'm using them in my two channel system with an 8" sub and a tube amp and it's musical enough, although it gets a little lost in the 14' x 30' room I have iit in. In a small room it would be way better than that.

The Kramer industries 903 looks like it might be the way to get the Tripath sound in an amp with multiple inputs. Otherwise the digital receivers look interesting.

NAD has made some great equipment and some real dogs over the years. Pretty much like every other manufacturer in fact...

stech1 · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Feb 2006, 04:33 pm »

The Onix speakers for $199 sure look good for the price. Unfortunately, I want something now. lol

So, I think I am going to go for some Omega TS-3 with a T-amp for now. The pair I am looking at has been rewired with Cardas silver wire with new Cardas speaker terminals. Since I am new at this, what is the advantage of doing that?

Thanks!

stech1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Feb 2006, 05:19 pm »

Quote from: thayerg

The Epos are good--warm and detailed midrange, very good high frequencies. I'm using them in my two channel system with an 8" sub and a tube amp and it's musical enough, although it gets a little lost in the 14' x 30' room I have iit in. In a small room it would be way better than that.

The Kramer industries 903 looks like it might be the way to get the Tripath sound in an amp with multiple inputs. Otherwise the digital receivers look interesting.

NAD has made some great equipment and some real dogs over the years. Pretty much like every other manufacturer in fact...

Thanks for mentioning that Kramer. It looks to be similar in power to the T-amp, but I do like the extra controls to tweak the bass, treble, mid, ect. Now, I just need to decide if I want to spend the extra money. I was planning on just staying with the stock t-amp, instead of the super version. Multiple input sources doesn't really matter. Choices, choices!

beatdownvictim · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Feb 2006, 07:48 am »

if you're still lookin, an al700p just popped onto the market. An AC'er as a matter of fact.

here's his thread
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=25960.msg230740#230740&sid=bd9af2ef96c1d58fbf44fb614d1dd84b

good luck and let us know what you end up with!