NAD 1020A vs. Sanyo C55 Plus preamps

[Raynald]

I just remembered one well known issue with that series, bad power switches. They arc and generally misbehave, apparently made worse by plugging things into the switched sockets at the rear. One of the pieces in my stack had the problem, might have been the pre. Beautifully built besides that under spec switch.

 

[Sam Cogley]

I've had both. C55 by a wide margin. Judging from comments above, people don't know Sanyo took a stab at High End. They succeeded. The C55 was a triumph.

Sanyo took three stabs at the higher-end audio market. First with their big JCX receivers (like the monster JCX-2900K), then the Plus line, and finally with a sub-brand called Ultrx. All are quite worthy.

 

[holyman772]

I just remembered one well known issue with that series, bad power switches. They arc and generally misbehave, apparently made worse by plugging things into the switched sockets at the rear. One of the pieces in my stack had the problem, might have been the pre. Beautifully built besides that under spec switch.

I've read about the misbehaving power switches too. Luckily my C55 had not developed this issue during the time I've owned it. And I am using a power conditioner/sequencer to turn everything (including the pre) on/off as to not put any undue stress on the switch or the switched sockets. So far so good.

 

[bimasta]

Deleted: incorrect

 

[superdog]

I haven't heard the NAD but I have a c55 paired with a Yamaha M50.Good stuff.I also have the Hafler but have yet to try the Sanyo with it.

 

[welchie]

Sounds really good. I was enjoying the system today cooking Thanksgiving.

 

[Guest127]

I had a Sanyo preamp many years ago,which I recall was a very smooth,quiet unit. It looked very similar to the C55, but all of the lettering for the controls was gold colored ,and if memory serves me,correctly ,I don't think it had 2 tape loops. I believe it was labeled as a "Gold" series. I was kind of curious if anyone else has ever had one.I have never seen another like it,since ('86 maybe?)

 

[leftfielder]

I do own a NAD 1020a and so far through the other preamp I've owned the NAD wins out. I've had both Onkyo P-301> Onkyo P-3150v ( basically the same model just in a boxier unit, a Dynaco Pat-4 and an overly complicated Sony es-2000 surround processor w/ pre/outs that became a pre/amp. What for me besides the Onkyos were lacking a working remote. I have heard good things about the Sanyo 55 and a Nikko model that looks very similar. If I were to ditch the idea of a remote poll taken which is better by how much and why?......Lew

 

[ChicagoTom]

So you Sanyo C55 owners, how do you listen to headphones with the C55? Would I have to buy a headphone amp to connect to the Pre Outs every time I want to listen to cans? Or is there some other solution?

(I hope the OP doesn't mind my threadjack, it seems he got what he was looking for).

 

[bimasta]

The C55 is a high-end preamp from the early 1980s. I don't recall if it has a h'phone socket — most high-end units didn't, though some mid-fi units did. Remember, headphones used to be a niche market until, I guess, the iPod appeared — only then did 'phones become a mass-market must-have.

The NAD is an exceptionally good mid-fi preamp. It sounds terrific for what it is.

Look inside the C55, check the quality of the internal parts and the precision of the circuitry — even the pots are highest quality. Then compare it to the NAD's internals.

I would take the Sanyo every time... and I'd love to have the NAD in my closet for interim use if the C55 ever has to go in for maintenance.

And as I wrote above, I've owned both.

 

[welchie]

The C55 has no headphone out as there's no amplification. I was into the whole headphone scene some years back. That is a huge niche market. There's a plethora of product out there specifically designed to drive headphones well.

I'm doing just that bimasta. I moved the NAD and BGW 50A out to the garage to drive some Cerwin Vega AT-80 speakers. I have a small weight gym out there. Wow!! The garage rocks. Lovin it.

 

[welchie]

So my interest in preamps has increased. My main system in the living room/tv room uses the c55 plus and a Hafler DH200 amp. I run the speaker wire into a speaker/zone selector to drive 4 speakers. two Cerwin vega M-100 and two DCM Time Frame 600. The M100s have had the crossovers upgraded and has had the tweeters replaced with Polk peerless tweeters and of course been refoamed. Fabulous sounding system. Ironically a Hafler DH 220 amp with a DH-110 preamp have come up for sale for $160.00. That's a heck of a price. I'm going to go look and hear them this evening. I may use them for my bedroom system. I've read several of the reviews on them and see that many folks upgrade them (musical concepts) Any thoughts/opinions? Thanks.

 

[62vauxhall]

In addition to a DH220 and among other pre-amps, I own a DH110 and a DH101. No mods, but new electrolytics in both and my preference is the DH101. I think it sounds better. It's push button selector switches are cheesier but I like the volume control more because it is continuously variable and not stepped. Cosmetically though, no question - a DH110 looks nicer.