@mgrif104 Those are really helpful additions. Thank you. And yes, I really do get the point about "tonally dense". I have the XA-25 which I put up against a DIY amp made with a relatively recent Hypex module and, besides the grating upper end, with the Hypex, there was "no ’there,’ there" to borrow Gertrude Stein’s cutting remark about her experience of Oakland, CA. The XA-25 brought that contrast immediately to light.
Comments please on: NAD M23 vs c298 vs. other newer Class D
I'm interested in comments about the new-ish NAD M23 amp. It gets rave reviews on the Absolute Sound channel, by Doug Schneider and by the review at Sound Stage, and by others. Reviews describe not only an even response across frequencies, but layering of the soundstage (left-right and front-back) as well as excellent measurements. Some describe the sound as somewhat tube like in the mids and upper range, others as neutral, but all agree it does not have the harshness which typically characterized reports about earlier amps with this design.
I am not giving up my Pass XA 25, nor my QS Mono 60 tube amps. Or my ST-35 Dynaco. What I'm interested in is a another amp in the stable that can play nicely among different speakers (not all are as sensitive as my main 97db ones), and that might bring that snappy dynamic speed to the sound but without making me cringe from the highs.
If you have some opinion of this Eigentakt design, especially in comparisons to Atma-sphere's Class D or other amps with similar technologies inside, please comment. (PS Audio, Bel Canto, et al.)
If you have some opinion of the NAD M23 vs. the cheaper-but-still-Eigentakt NAD c298, I'm interested in that, too.
I'm NOT interested in super pricey amps. Say, above $8k
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I owned the M23 for about a year and was very impressed with it. I’ve owned pascal and Ice tech class D amps from the likes of Rowland as well as hypex from other makers. The NAD was the first one I could live with long term. It’s neutral but musical. I liked it a lot, better than mono Bryston amps I had on hand. The Alpha Audio online does a review where they compare it to the 298. Obviously you pay more for the fancy casework on the masters series although the internals look a bit different as well. If you need that amount of power it’s definitely a contender IMO. |
@jimmy2615 Thanks. I have read the c298 is a bit lightweight in terms of both casework and the internals are different by a bit, too. I'd trust the m23 more, I think. I'm considering buying it from The Music Room and then seeing how I like it for a month. But the comments about Atma-sphere have me pausing; I'd love to try that one, also, but there are none at TMR at the moment. Perhaps someone in my audio club has one. |
Kirk - did you have comparison time with both the NAD M33 and Coda CSIB V2 comparing back and forth? Likes?, dislikes?, differences? Is there anything more you can share about the comparison and change, and why. Thanks in advance for your reply. |
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