Some advice needed on potential 'vintage' integrated amp purchase

[Alex Santos]

Hello

I own an Audiolab 8200A that will have to be shipped to the UK for a repair and a NAD 7240PE that is on my 'bench' waiting for me to continue working on.

In the meantime I am anxious to listen to music off my loud speakers so I am more than happy to purchase a used NAD integrated amp that I can use in the interim, perhaps even long term. I have a weakness for NAD, I always loved the sound quality of their kits. My first amp was a NAD.

So here is my question and concern. I don't want to go to far back in time and end up buying such an old amp that I am looking at a recap or face other issues that I can't easily diagnose on my own. So basically, what would you all recommend in terms of an integrated amp by NAD, maybe something you might even buy yourself? I find it hard to decide. I have read a few reviews and generally most of what interests me has good reviews. Do you have any favorite NAD integrated amps that you all might recommend?

I will not listen to my music very loud. My speakers are JBL Control 5 (75w) or Dali Zensor 1.

I am not specifically wanting your opinion on these amps below but they all received favorable reviews and the prices are what I am eyeing for. I may go higher in price if there is something you all really recommend. I trust your opinions and thoughts! Oh one more thing, I do have an Audiolab 8200CD which I may use for inputs as it has a nice DAC and feed that to whichever NAD I end up purchasing.

NAD C-350
C325BEE
NAD 306

Thank you so much for any and all replies.

Kind regards
Alex Santos

 

[Alex Santos]

I think I am finally on the right track with a good article. https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/nad-c356bee-integrated-amplifier-tas-210-1/. I was looking for something like this to help me make some sort of an educated purchase. As it happens, posting here always gets me excited and more active.

 

[painttoad]

i recently bought a broken nad 2140 because (i fixed it and sounds great now) i always wanted a nad. i researched it prior and nad was described as great designs with cheap parts.

that being said, i would not buy another unless i got it extremely cheap like i did the 2140.

knowing what i know now, i would not trust a nad without considerable parts replacement prior to use.

my nad has no protect circuit so yeah, i'm being overly cautious but not only were 'lytics out of spec but so were the few mylars and several ceramic caps. when i say i did a full recap on it, i mean every cap was replaced.

 

[rickb119]

Try doing a google search and add audiokarma to it. I.e. *NAD c350 audiokarma*. That will pull up previous threads on that particular item.

 

[Alex Santos]

Thanks for the advice that two of you provided