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NAD vs Cambridge audio vs Music hall

I am a college student on a limited budget putting together my first real system, i have found a pair of totem dreamcatcher monitors and have a small sub to go with these speakers, i have posted forums before, asking about cheap tubes vs ss etc. i think at this point i am going to go with a ss just because of the fact that i still have a year of school left and that im not all that experinced and dont know if im ready for the 'maintenance' of tubes right yet. I have narrowed my choice down to 3 budget integrateds, the NAD c320bee ($400 new), the cambridge audio 640a ($479 new), and the music hall A25.2 ($600 new), unfortunately i do not have the ability to demo any of these. I apreciate all recommendations and and experience that anyone has had with any of these amps................ thanks
robferg

Showing 2 responses by dkzzzz

dkzzzz's avatar
dkzzzz
124 posts
 
I own Music Hall a25.2.
It is bright sounding (at least in my system with Rotel phono stage) but very realistic. It takes time to get used to it's sound (it took for me anyway) due to the fact that I was coming from Yamaha separates that sounded muted and bassy.
Music Hall will not impress any heavy metal fan with deep bass. This amp is perfect for classical or pop. It does not have dramatic or colored sound but rather very revealing and quite natural sound indeed.
Some poorly mastered records would be almost unlistenable with Music Hall. But if you have a good CD player SACD or really good record that amplifier would sing and shine.
It is built like a tank.
dkzzzz's avatar
dkzzzz
124 posts
 
Side note: Before buying Music Hall I took home and auditioned Cambridge Audio 840A V2 ($1700.00 retail).
I found CA sound to be veiled with no realism or stage. Sounded like a good FM station on my radio.
Also I was turned of by a number of useless gizmos in that amp and all digital toys, clicks and pizzas that I'am frankly was more annoyed than impressed. Give me $1700.00 worth of components and sound and please keep stupid doo-dadz to yourself CA. Well clearly I am not a target audience for CA top of the line integrated.
So, yea based on sound first and appearance second I chose Music Hall 25.2 at under $599.00
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