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power amp recommendation for nad m66

S

Shhh

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So I'm going to drop some money into hifi, and the m66 preamp seems to tick all the boxes for me.
The other parts of the system are KEF r3 meta, and 2 REL t7/x subs ( and a large 70m2 open plan room).

After the expenditure on the m66 and recent speaker purchase -- I want to put the brakes on a bit.

-- If for example I got a Rotel 1582 ( https://www.rotel.com.au/products/rb-1582-mk-ii-stereo-power-amplifier ), rather than the nad m23 power amp I'd save $4000 AUD.
-- I don't mind that it's a large box -- it will be hidden away in a cabinet.

would the sound difference be significant? Can't find any measurements of the Rotel power amp.


thanks
 
Some specifications (not very comprehensive) here: https://www.hifix.co.uk/rotel-rb1582-power-amplifier-mk2?gad_source=1

If I wanted to put the brakes on spending though, I think I'd get a couple of the little Fosi V3 monoblocks and use those for a while. Then later on if I fancied the Rotel or NAD I'd insist on a trial first to compare them with the Fosis - most probably you wouldn't hear any improvement but you might like the more expensive amps for other reasons.
 
I know the fosi 's get a great review.
I have a v3 and it's fine I guess, but I preferred my 25w nearly 30 year old Cambridge Audio class A/B.

I do want to put the brakes on spending, but I think I'll spend more than the fosi.
 
Shhh said:
So I'm going to drop some money into hifi, and the m66 preamp seems to tick all the boxes for me.
The other parts of the system are KEF r3 meta, and 2 REL t7/x subs ( and a large 70m2 open plan room).

After the expenditure on the m66 and recent speaker purchase -- I want to put the brakes on a bit.

-- If for example I got a Rotel 1582 ( https://www.rotel.com.au/products/rb-1582-mk-ii-stereo-power-amplifier ), rather than the nad m23 power amp I'd save $4000 AUD.
-- I don't mind that it's a large box -- it will be hidden away in a cabinet.

would the sound difference be significant? Can't find any measurements of the Rotel power amp.


thanks
Click to expand...
In the late 80's I had a Rotel integrated amp. I really liked it; it sounded very good, was solidly constructed, and was a good value.

Recently I got a Hypex Nilai500DIY stereo amplifier for around $1,200. It was very simple to assemble (no soldering, mostly just screwing things together and plugging in the connectors) and it sounds fantastic. Alpha Audio tested it with the KEF R3 meta speakers and really liked it. See their discussion of the R3 meta in the below video - they did not like the R3 meta much with a Pass Labs amplifier, but their thoughts on the R3 meta greatly improved after they tried it with the Nilai - their opinion was that the Nilai and KEF R3 meta speakers are a good match:


Also, see Amir's review of the Nilai here:

www.audiosciencereview.com

Hypex Nilai500DIY Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Hypex Nilai500DIY class D amplifier module with PS500DIY power supply. Parts were provided by the company and member @Rick Sykora was kind enough to assemble it: As indicated, the single channel amplifier is on the left and the power supply on...
www.audiosciencereview.com www.audiosciencereview.com
 
Last edited:
@terryforsythe, I mean a NAD integrated, like M33. Overall you'll be cheaper off. What features are needed from the M66 that the M33 doesn't have?
 
Last edited:
terryforsythe said:
The KEF R3 meta speakers are 4 ohm. I looked up the Rotel 1582 and all of its specifications are for an 8 ohm load. I found no information indicating how well it handles a 4 ohm load. You might want to check to make sure that amplifier still performs well with a 4 ohm load. Some amplifiers don't.
Click to expand...
It will do 4R just fine:

Testergebnisse

www.stereo.de www.stereo.de
 
voodooless said:
@terryforsythe, I mean a NAD integrated, like M33. Overall you'll be cheaper off. What features are needed from the M66 that the M33 doesn't have?
Click to expand...
I did consider the m33 -- but the m66 has Dirac live base control and ?art in the future. the dac is supposedly better and it has MC input, and an analogue pass through (though I'll probably not use that).
 
Last edited:
terryforsythe said:
The KEF R3 meta speakers are 4 ohm. I looked up the Rotel 1582 and all of its specifications are for an 8 ohm load. I found no information indicating how well it handles a 4 ohm load. You might want to check to make sure that amplifier still performs well with a 4 ohm load. Some amplifiers don't.
Click to expand...
the us rotel web page has this ... 323w into 4ohm


Screenshot 2024-05-13 at 7.38.50 pm.png
 
Shhh said:
So I'm going to drop some money into hifi, and the m66 preamp seems to tick all the boxes for me.
Click to expand...
I'm in the same boat as you, with the NAD M66 as a very likely purchase in the next month or two. Regarding power amps, I've jumped the gun and already bought the Atma-Sphere Class D mono amps.

My current electronics consist of the excellent NAD M33 so I had the choice of M66 plus M23 or M66 plus another power amp. I've never considered the M23 as particularly good value when compared with the M33 that costs £1000 or so more buts includes so much more - streamer, DAC, Dirac, preamp, touch screen, IR remote, etc. The M33 is a true bargain!

Getting the AS monos instead has one or two advantages and I'm hoping that its sound quality will prove better, but perhaps I'll only be able to judge once the source is improved via the M66. Comparing the AS with the Purifi amp in the M33, it's difficult to hear any difference - they are both first class amps.
 
Shhh said:
did consider the m33 -- but the m66 has Dirac live base control and ?art in the future. the dac is supposedly better and it has MC input
Click to expand...
The M33 also has an MC input, which works very well for me, and will also get DLBC and maybe DLART.
 
pogo said:
The M33 also has an MC input, which works very well for me, and will also get DLBC and maybe DLART.
Click to expand...
Ah, but will it? Have we seen this in writing from NAD - with a release date? But I agree the M33 is a great box of tricks. It offers switchable MM / MC whereas the M66 offers both with their own phono sockets, so 2 TT users can have both types connected.

The DAC chip in the M33 is the 9028, whereas the M66 has the top-of-range ES9038PRO. I wonder if we'll be able to hear the difference - I hope so.
 
Hear Here said:
It offers switchable MM / MC whereas the M66 offers both with their own phono sockets, so 2 TT users can have both types connected.
Click to expand...
Add up to four Bluesound HUBs and you have one MC input & up to four MM inputs.
 
Doing a quick search (USA products and prices), as if I were looking for what you are looking for, I would be hard pressed to find something better than the Rotel you mentioned for an A/B amp at a given price and with relatively good measurements. At the price point, I am seeing lower S/N ratios and higher THD from other options.

Given a 10 minute search, I am sure I am missing things. So grain of salt and all that.

If I were looking for an A/B power amp, this would 100% be on my list. I'm not, having just went the purifi route, but if I were.
 
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