Replacement for NAD C352

[Jacdeb6009]

I have a NAD C352 which needs to be replaced. I use it to alternately drive a pair of KEF iQ3's or a pair of KEF LS50's. The source is either a NAD C542 DC player or a Raspberry Pi with a DAC running as an LMS.
The amplifier was bought around 2008 or 2009 and has given me good service.

The amplifier spent several years in a very dusty (house dust plus a lot of dust generate from building activities, ie. cement etc.) and extremely humid environment. Besides being quite grubby, the main board and some of the small "daughter boards" are corroded. The amplifier has developed a nasty habit of randomly generating very loud "pops" or "cracks" something like a miniature whip being cracked. These are quite loud, even at low listening levels. They are also quite random and even when the amplifier has been left turned on for several days, these still occur. My concern is that eventually this will damage the speakers, but they are also very disturbing while listening to music. In addition to this, the remote control (at least the volume control and some of the input selectors) no longer work properly - I common problem I believe.

Getting the amplifier serviced and/or refurbished out here in Vietnam is not really an option and even the authorized dealer seems not to be interested in doing this are trying to sort out the remote. So a replacement is in order.

There are a couple of options available to me here:

- NAD C338
- Roksan Kandy K2
- NAD C368
- Arcam FMJ A19

The above are currently all on offer in the price range of $ 400 - $ 800

The next step up price wise would be:

- NAD C375
- Musical Fidelity M3i
- Linn Majik I
- Arcam FMJ A29
- NAD C388
- Naim Nait 5si

These are in the range of $ 1,000 to $ 1,300

I have owned a variety of NAD amplifiers in the past and always been quite happy with them, but have read some horror stories about more recent models.

And then the million dollar question... Which one to choose.

Some other information. The house is a semi-detached, so I need to be mindful of the neighbours so that really loud / high listening levels are generally not possible. The listening area is om the small side, about 3.6 metres x 3.6 metres. I listen mainly to jazz and classical, sprinkled with some good old rock 'n roll.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Jac.

 

[lasminit2]

"The amplifier spent several years in a very dusty (house dust plus a lot of dust generate from building activities, ie. cement etc.) and extremely humid environment. Besides being quite grubby, the main board and some of the small "daughter boards" are corroded. The amplifier has developed a nasty habit of randomly generating very loud "pops" or "cracks" something like a miniature whip being cracked."

I know that this post is almost a year old, but what did you end up doing?

The C352 is a very good design (the engineers really got this one right, IMHO) and it has received glowing reviews from vintage minded critics, as well as a 5 Star rating from the British Audio Press (What Hi-Fi) back in 2004, or so. It still makes their short list of 5 Star All stars.

I mention this because there are a lot of similarly aging C series amps (325, 326 BEE, 365BEE, 370, and maybe some that I am forgetting) that really just need some basic love and maintenance:
This sounds like a job for DeOxit in all control pots, inputs, etc. and (maybe a Tech could chime in?) a good wash for the main board and daughter boards)....and I don't know what cleaner (Blue Shower, just maybe?) would be best there, but there are plenty of guys here who would ; )

I have a remote for mine that gets the usual abuse (dropped on the floor far too often, lost for a week or so between the couch cushions now and then, romped on by wet dogs, a little coffee and again...you know the drill) and never had a problem....same for the remote for the C546BEE CD Player (I did have to clean the Laser head of debris on the CD Player once / incredibly easy fix). I think we have been using this amp since 2005 (?) or so. It is in good company: Sansui AU-999 and AU-717, as well as a Yamaha CA-1010 and a Marants 2275, and it is a strong enough contender not to disappoint in that solid group.

I wonder which amp you went with? I recently heard a Rotel A-11 MK II ... very nice, and I think in the same price zone if anyone else is looking, it's worth checking out, I think.

 

[kydog]

I have a NAD C352 which needs to be replaced. I use it to alternately drive a pair of KEF iQ3's or a pair of KEF LS50's. The source is either a NAD C542 DC player or a Raspberry Pi with a DAC running as an LMS.
The amplifier was bought around 2008 or 2009 and has given me good service.

The amplifier spent several years in a very dusty (house dust plus a lot of dust generate from building activities, ie. cement etc.) and extremely humid environment. Besides being quite grubby, the main board and some of the small "daughter boards" are corroded. The amplifier has developed a nasty habit of randomly generating very loud "pops" or "cracks" something like a miniature whip being cracked. These are quite loud, even at low listening levels. They are also quite random and even when the amplifier has been left turned on for several days, these still occur. My concern is that eventually this will damage the speakers, but they are also very disturbing while listening to music. In addition to this, the remote control (at least the volume control and some of the input selectors) no longer work properly - I common problem I believe.

Getting the amplifier serviced and/or refurbished out here in Vietnam is not really an option and even the authorized dealer seems not to be interested in doing this are trying to sort out the remote. So a replacement is in order.

There are a couple of options available to me here:

- NAD C338
- Roksan Kandy K2
- NAD C368
- Arcam FMJ A19

The above are currently all on offer in the price range of $ 400 - $ 800

The next step up price wise would be:

- NAD C375
- Musical Fidelity M3i
- Linn Majik I
- Arcam FMJ A29
- NAD C388
- Naim Nait 5si

These are in the range of $ 1,000 to $ 1,300

I have owned a variety of NAD amplifiers in the past and always been quite happy with them, but have read some horror stories about more recent models.

And then the million dollar question... Which one to choose.

Some other information. The house is a semi-detached, so I need to be mindful of the neighbours so that really loud / high listening levels are generally not possible. The listening area is om the small side, about 3.6 metres x 3.6 metres. I listen mainly to jazz and classical, sprinkled with some good old rock 'n roll.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Jac.

My Pioneer SA-9800 & other receivers/ amplifiers that develop this popping problem is usually due to cracked solder joints on the boards, Not surprised due to the description of the condition. I have the same NAD & CDP In my daily rotation, Extremely nice amplifier