Using an RA 971 as a power amp?

[daveyboy]

Hi guys just wondered what your thoughts were. I had been using my NAD C352 as a power amp via the pre outs to the Beresford modded.

[DSJR]

Why not? Rotel did a pretty fair power amp version themselves, didn't they?

[daveyboy]

Well I guess I was a little concerned about it only being 60 watts per channel vs NAD C352 80 watts.

[hifi_dave]

You need to try it. The RA971 was/is a bit lightweight.

[daveyboy]

Ah, good thing I lost that bid then :)

[hifi_dave]

Reliable though. Back in the 80's - 90's, I sold hundreds of them to a record shop chain for use as headphone amps.

[daveyboy]

Cheers Dave, my first ever hi fi was a Rotel RA 931 mK11. it had it's qualities but the frequencies sounded terribly strained when I raised the volume. I presume that because it was only 30 watts per channel stereo amp. However light weight is definitely a way of expressing the sound from that too. Perhaps I should stay away from that older range of rotel's. The exception might be the dedicated rotel power amps of course.

[Stratmangler]

Hi guys just wondered what your thoughts were. I had been using my NAD C352 as a power amp via the pre outs to the Beresford modded.

If you're send your NAD pre outs to your Bereford DAC then it's no bloody wonder that you aren't getting any sound out of the rig.
Go and double check your cabling :doh:

[daveyboy]

Hi Chris, I don't understand? I have been using NAD in that way for ages. Using the beresford to change volume. However I have eliminated this possibility too by connecting amp straight to tv and still nothing.

[Stratmangler]

If you read this through you'll see why I responded in the way that I have.


I had been using my NAD C352 as a power amp via the pre outs to the Beresford modded.

With the way you've written that it won't work.
If you've followed that train of thought with your cabling then it won't work.

[daveyboy]

Hmmm, still confused lol, connecting a cable from the pre outs of the NAD to the variable output on the back of the Beresford, renders the Beresford as the pre amp and the NAD as the power does it not?

[Stratmangler]

Hmmm, still confused lol, connecting a cable from the pre outs of the NAD to the variable output on the back of the Beresford, renders the Beresford as the pre amp and the NAD as the power does it not?

No.

[Stratmangler]

If you connect cables from the variable outputs on the Beresford DAC to the poweramp inputs on the NAD then you might well find things working.

[daveyboy]

Where are the power amp inputs on it for future reference?
Unfortunately it's still the amp though as having connected straight from aux to tv audio output, still no sound.

[Stratmangler]

Where are the power amp inputs on it for future reference?
Unfortunately it's still the amp though as having connected straight from aux to tv audio output, still no sound.

Look at the picture
http://www.avforums.com/forums/attachments/hi-fi-systems-separates/136997d1252011664-nad-c352-how-earth-c352.jpg[/QUOTE]

Look at pre out 2 - there is a jumper bar. The other end of the jumper bar is the poweramp input.

[daveyboy]

Ah thanks haha, so all this time I have been using the NAD as a pre amp and the Beresford :lol:. Ironically I preferred it to simply the NAD doing everything. Without tone defeat it was too bassy, with, too flat. Though I assume that I was adding to the signal path and therefore degrading the sound quality?

[Stratmangler]

Amp now working fine?

[daveyboy]

S:rolleyes: - The eye rolling is directed at myself. It is indeed working now, it's been months since I used the amp. God I am such a dumbass, didn't even think. Feel free to laugh very hard and it is indeed working now so thank you very much.

[The Grand Wazoo]

It's a very special system that requires two preamps & no power amp!

[daveyboy]

LOL i read the pre out to mean the pre amp signal would be sent to the beresford.:oops:

[Stratmangler]

Something you might like to try is to use the NAD as an integrated, but instead of using the jumper bars between the stages (pre and power) try using an interconnect cable instead.
I have made up a couple of short cables that I use in the same position in my NAD amp, and I think that it sounds better than when I use the jumper bars.

[daveyboy]

Hi Chris, thanks for suggestion, have you used the NAD as a power amp and modded Beresford as pre amp?
Coupled with the AE Neo 3's, it sounds, in my opinion anyway to be WOW, I doubt I can get anything too much better for under a grand.

[Stratmangler]

Hi Chris, thanks for suggestion, have you used the NAD as a power amp and modded Beresford as pre amp?


I used it like that for a good while.
I'd say it sounds different, but not necessarily better.
I prefer the sound I get with the NAD preamp in circuit - music has greater drive and coherence.

[daveyboy]

Well, my own experiience is that the NAD has plenty of oomph but sacrifices the decay of the notes, the more ambient sounds got a little lost in the process. When I switched tone defeat on, suddenly although more detailed, the sound went very flat. For me this current combination is the happy medium. Always open to suggestions regarding how I can improve it though. Note to self in future don't connect a pre anp to preouts and expect sound :)