Hi,
I've been looking for a new amp to connect to my TV. Speakers are Kef Q150. Sub is a BK Elec P12-300SB-PR.
Requirements:
Usage :
The NAD was great. 'Only' 60wpc @ both 8 and 4 ohms but went cleanly up to 80dB on my SPL at my listening position which is the loudest we'd need (and only occasionally that loud). That was at around -20db on the amp (so the unit wasn't being driven to it's limit).
I've narrowed my search to the title devices which meet my requirements.
Reviews often state the Powernode sounds better than the Sonos, without much further explanation. I'm wondering if that's with a hi-res source i.e. irrelevant in my usage, or because it has better components (the HybridDigital amp similar to the NAD D 3045). Better engineered in some other way. Or maybe paid ads serving as reviews(!).
The device that intrigues me most is the H/K Citation amp. Plenty of power for this segment and the ASR thread is full of people excited by the technology (coming clean many of the technical details go over my head). However the reports of the unit running hot are concerning, I'd like this device to last 10 years+ like my Denon did (in the ASR thread one owner actually drilled holes all around his case).
Some headline specs that may help (or not, as they're not all equally disclosed...):
I guess my question is - is there is any clear technical advantage to any of them for my use case. I'm currently leaning towards the Sonos due to price, user facing features, power and no heat issues. Worst case I guess I can return it and see if I can get another NAD. Would love to try a Powernode, but I can't see why I'd pay that much (assume BluOS jacks up the price - nice features I don't really need).
I've been looking for a new amp to connect to my TV. Speakers are Kef Q150. Sub is a BK Elec P12-300SB-PR.
Requirements:
- Connect via HDMI utilising ARC (CEC is important for family friendliness - single remote).
- A high pass filter (I like removing the low-end weight from the fronts, leaving that to the sub - I find this improves dialogue for TV use).
- Don't want a hulking great AVR to keep the wife happy (had a Denon 2312 previously). Last/current amp was a NAD D 3045 (which has an issue and is sadly to be returned). It matched the Denon's sound output (to my ear) whilst being cheaper, cooler and smaller so want to stick with small box class D.
- [Nice to have, not a deal breaker] native AirPlay support allowing music playback without requiring to turn on the TV.
Usage :
- Mostly TV and movies with music thrown in. 80/20 split at a guess.
- Source is an Apple TV 4K - both streamed content and rips played from a NAS (music and video).
- I don't have a need for hi-res audio support (none of my sources support it).
The NAD was great. 'Only' 60wpc @ both 8 and 4 ohms but went cleanly up to 80dB on my SPL at my listening position which is the loudest we'd need (and only occasionally that loud). That was at around -20db on the amp (so the unit wasn't being driven to it's limit).
I've narrowed my search to the title devices which meet my requirements.
Reviews often state the Powernode sounds better than the Sonos, without much further explanation. I'm wondering if that's with a hi-res source i.e. irrelevant in my usage, or because it has better components (the HybridDigital amp similar to the NAD D 3045). Better engineered in some other way. Or maybe paid ads serving as reviews(!).
The device that intrigues me most is the H/K Citation amp. Plenty of power for this segment and the ASR thread is full of people excited by the technology (coming clean many of the technical details go over my head). However the reports of the unit running hot are concerning, I'd like this device to last 10 years+ like my Denon did (in the ASR thread one owner actually drilled holes all around his case).
Some headline specs that may help (or not, as they're not all equally disclosed...):
Feature | ||||
Power | 60wpc @ 8 or 4 ohms | 125wpc @ 8 ohms | 125wpc @ 8 ohms, 200wpc @ 4 ohms | 80wpc @ 8 ohms |
THD | 20Hz – 20kHz <0.003% at 2V out | 20Hz to 20KHz < 0.005% | 0.05% | 0.008% |
SNR | >100dB (IHF, A-weighted, ref. 500mV out, unity gain) | 116dB | >110dB A-Weighted | -100dBA |
DAC/DDFA (link to technical specs) | AKM AK4490EQ | Qualcomm CSRA6620 | Axign AX5689 | TI PCM5242 |
Wireless playback | Bluetooth | AirPlay 2 | AirPlay 2 | AirPlay 2 |
Price | £699 | £699 | £529 | £849 |
I guess my question is - is there is any clear technical advantage to any of them for my use case. I'm currently leaning towards the Sonos due to price, user facing features, power and no heat issues. Worst case I guess I can return it and see if I can get another NAD. Would love to try a Powernode, but I can't see why I'd pay that much (assume BluOS jacks up the price - nice features I don't really need).
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