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
@mgrif104 i will keep that in mind! (I’m not sure where your cabin it, but we just found out that friends in Chicago whom we don’t see very often just completed what sounds like a very beautiful (appropriate; not McMansion) lake house on Lake Superior (up near Superior, WI, if I understood correctly) on a piece of land that’s been in their family for a generation or 2; so, who knows, I may be up that way next summer….) Looking forward to the thread on the room issue developments ! |
Will do, @mgrif104 . |
Thank You @mgrif104 for the reference. Ralph @atmasphere I will take a look, Thanks. I've been experimenting trying various amps with my custom speakers. If I sell off some of my gear I may be looking to try some other amps, getting ideas, Thx. |
Hi Ralph, @atmasphere I took a look at the last Axpona, and did see your amps, for example, in the Popori Electrostatics room. Thanks, Interesting findings there. 1. Yes, I noticed your Class-D amps on the floor there, and a Coda amplifier at the center of the rack powering those same Popori electrostatic speakers at the same time, possibly bi-amping. Ask: do you know what that was about, more specifically, and why, not just being powered by your Class-D amps alone [what am i missing]? 2. Noted, seeing how your Atma TUBE amps are still in the higher end rooms [mostly] with the high $ speakers and horn speakers and such. Ask: (maybe I'm not seeing them yet), Can you share any examples of tube converts of yours with some of the high $ speakers at these shows who've moved from your tube amps to your Class-D amps yet? [it's also case study in industry shift, if its really there or not, yet, for home audio people]. yes, I've also heard your comments about Class-D in Pro Audio, and all that makes sense. However, I'm more Home Audio focused, fyi. |
