Adcom710 or NAD1020: Which is better for my Hafler 500

[tomlinmgt]

I recently aquired a Hafler DH500 that I need a good, affordable pre for. A fellow AKer highly recommended the NAD 1020. I located an individual that has an NAD 1020 and an Adcom 710 for sale. Both units appear to be very well respected and affordable, but the Adcom has a remote (a nice extra).

At the end of the day the remote would take second priority to quality of sound reproduction and reliability. Hoping to get some testimonials from some of you that may be familiar with either of these preamps... preferably the Adcom as I've heard from one already that the NAD makes a very nice companion to the big Hafler.

I listen to rock and jazz primarily, with some old country thrown in from time to time. My source is usually CD, but I'll spin some vinyl on occassion. Speakers are JBL L100T's. I prefer slightly emphasized low end and clean, cohesive midrange as this tends to be where most percussion is (I'm a drummer so I like any percussion to have strong, accurate presence).

As a reference, I have tried an Onkyo Integra 306RS pre and wasn't impressed at all. I have a Carver CM-1090 integrated that has a much better sound that the Integra, so I know I don't want anything that has a similar personality to the Integra. Thoughts?

 

[dumptruck]

Have you tried using the pre-out of the Carver?

 

[tomlinmgt]

As a matter of fact I have....and liked it. Much more so than the Integra.

(Something I failed to mention is that I have yet to hook the Hafler up to any of my preamps. My impressions of the Integra and Carver as a pre were made when pairing each of those with an Onkyo M-501 amp.)

But the Carver doesn't have that midrange clarity I'm after. It has a tone control for midrange, but bringing it up any significant amount gives the mix that "transistor radio" sound. My Sansui 8080DB driving my DCM TimeFrame 600's (bedroom system), on the other hand, has a SWEET midrange (hell, it's sweet sounding everywhere) with great clarity and presence. That's the type of sound I'm hoping to find, but with more power and dynamics than the Sansui and Timeframes can offer (should I be looking at Sansui preamps?).

Besides, I have a friend that is getting' very interested in vintage audio and I was thinking I might pass the Carver on to him to help him get started. It has been a great little integrated, though. It was my first taste of better than decent audio gear and I have it to blame for this whole audio obsession ($:tears:$) I've developed.

 

[dumptruck]

In that case, I suggest you stick with the Carver for now, and look at different speakers, or maybe even promoting the DCM to the main setup and adding subs? You could also try the Sansui pre-outs.

Any decent pre should be relatively neutral, and since you've already tried several I think it really makes more sense to be happy with your speakers first. Full disclosure: I personally dislike the midrange sound of those JBLs, and actually most consumer 3-way JBL for that matter.

 

[tomlinmgt]

Hmm...you make some interesting points. I actually do have some homemade subs (two 10" Onkyo carbon fiber woofers) on one channel of the Sansui with the DCM's on another. Wonderful results...it's become the standard from which my primary system will be compared. But that system will likely stay where it is because the DCMs fit nicely in the spaces I have on either side of my drumset..plus with the tweeters facing to the sides and rear on the DCM's I get a direct shot from them when I'm sitting behind the kit playing along to music.

Now on to your comment about the JBL's. I have had these speakers for close to two months now. I've run them with the Carver alone, with the Carver/M-501, and with the Integra 306RS/M-501. The only other speakers I have hooked up to all of these combinations is a set of Klipsch KG5.5 (with Crites Ti tweeter upgrade). The JBLs have the Klipsch's beat in almost every category. Especially musicality. That Klipsch Tractrix horn is just a bit harsh for my taste (with its bright midrange and top end). However, I must say that compared to the DCM's, the JBL's definitley don't have the midrange sweetness. The top and bottom on the JBL's is fantastic...the middle is a little empty. I've read that a crossover upgrade to L100T3 specs will help this, so I was going to attempt that next. But now you have me wondering if that midrange deficit is simply inherent to the JBL midrange driver.:scratch2:

I can say without reservation, however, that the Integra created the least desirable sound of all three combinations. It fell short on almost every level. So I'm inclined to think that a better, or different, pre will improve things. But I think I get your point in regard to the speakers being a greater factor in the overall sound....if the pre is neutral, then it should not manipulate the sound at all (much unlike most speakers). Correct? Should I expect little change in the way of sound with just a swap of the pre (all other things held constant). You know, I already started a post in General Audio about determining which component has more influence over the quality of sound...amp or pre. This discussion has definitley started to morph into that one.