Review for NAD C372

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Hello,

I have been searching for the What Hi Fi review of NAD C372 Amplifier. I could only find some references indicating that it was a low rated amplifier (two stars?). What are the areas where the C372 fails to perform?

Could anyone please help me by posting the review of NAD C372 done by What Hi Fi (I do not remember the date).

I am using NAD C372 with NAD C542 CD player and Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 floorstanders.

Also could somebody please throw some light on the below points.

1. How does NAD C372 compare with Cambridge Audio Azur 840A V2?

2. Would Monitor Audio Bronze BR5 give a better performance that Wharfedale 9.6, when paired with the C372?

3. Could the C372 perform well with pricier speakers like DALI Ikon 6 and Monitor Audio Silver RS 6?

4. Would bi amping by adding a C272 improve the performance considerably?

Would highly appreciate expert views from fellow forum members on this.

 

[Anonymous]

I had the NAD C370 the version before the 372. For the price it is not a terrible amp but I found when I upgraded to an Arcam FMJ A32 the base tightened up considerably and the music had more punch. Bare in mind that the Arcam was in its day a lot more expensive £1200 (bought for £700).

The best thing to do is to take the amp along to a dealer and listen to the speakers, reviews are just a guide and subjective.

Might be worth looking at speakers by Rega (new range is out soon).

 

[Anonymous]

When I ended up buying my Nait I auditioned this, and right up the road the CA. I have to say I found the C372 a bit muddy, it was a fine amp but not for the price. The 840a was the clear winner in between the two. Much tighter and controlled, and not as sterile as the lower CA models.

I'd have to say I don't think you'll be all that sated if you switch to Br5s. To me, if you're doubting the sound of your arrangement right now it's because of the 372. It's an astonishingly far-miss for NAD.

And as for the DALI Ikon 6 or RS6's, any amp is going to sound better with them versus Wharfy 9.1s. Not that the 9.1 is a bad speaker, but those particular two are thumping good speakers. Especially when you consider their price.

 

[nads]

very happy with the 372 which replaced my old 3130 and i am using it with the C542 as well. started of with some relativly low value speakers even though i auditioned them with some B&W 704's. well the old speakers had to go.

I then auditioned the 372 with the 272 bi amped with the 703's and some Dali's and some others.. sorry cant really remeber all the others.

well spent the cash on the 372 and the 272 and B&W 703's

love the sound with CD's and vinyl and compared to the NAD BEE range i find these amps more to my likeing.

 

[Ajani]

Ah the NAD C372... one of the most interesting amps around... It has such split reviews... in the UK it got such a trashing that you don't even see UK reviews for it on the NAD website... yet across the pond in Canada and that country just below Canada, it has been hailed as pretty much the best mid-priced amp available... I'm not a big NAD fan based on having owned the C352, but the issue is really whether or not you like the NAD sound... I think the RS6 would be a good match for the NAD... and if you still want to make a change after that, you can always upgrade the amp to something better...

I doubt that biamping is going to make you like the sound of the NAD, if you don't already like it... In your position, I'd opt for speaker upgrade and then maybe amp upgrade...

 

[Anonymous]

Ajani:
yet across the pond in Canada and that country just below Canada, it has been hailed as pretty much the best mid-priced amp available...

That's true, North american press really loves this thing. But in my experience the man on the street (and I am a true HiFi shop prowler) doesn't seem to care for it. Nad seems to be falling out of favour all-round in Canada with the Likes of Cambridge and the Revitalized Audiolab nipping at it.

I will say this, I am a fan of the Nad sound. I really enjoyed my recently flogged NAD cd player, it's loss was a necessary evil unfortunately. But the 372 just rubbed me the wrong way. It was just too Nad sounding. Like a stereotype of NAD (no pun intended). All in all I think the reviews of this thing are either too pro or too anti. It's a decent machine to be sure, but its eccentrically cliche sound bars it from greatness.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your replys and inputs.

I had changed to NAD C372, from an old Technics SUV85A, and it was a big positive change in performance. Also, replacing the preamp-power amp metal jumpers with good interconnects, and changing to a specialist power chord had improved the sound and drive of the NAD. Still I am not sure if it attains high standard for the price.

I have not auditioned the CA 840A V2, which was a 5 star winner. Shall try to.

 

[Anonymous]

So what is the "NAD Sound"? Can anyone describe it?

 

[nads]

Stereolad:So what is the "NAD Sound"? Can anyone describe it?

a very very good question, Even though i bought my first NAD amp back in '85 (i think) i am not sure how i would call the NAD sound.

All i can say is that when it came time to replace that amp i went out looking with my ears as i considered changing and hopping and getting what i wanted that would do me for lets say another 20 years.

Listening to stuff out there i came away most of the time with a feeling of apathy, exaustion or what the F*** was that. I was looking at amps in the value range of the C 372.

Any way move on a few months and i manage to get down to the localish NAD dealer to have a listen and for some reason the sales person conected the 372 up to some 704's and i was back 20 odd years it was the sound i wanted. Big, bold,full (a bit like a red wine) but to me still had the detail) well i bought the amp and the NAD CD player as mine was dead. got home and it was great but the speakers were... well lacking but by then i had already decided to upgrade the speakers.

still very happy and at times find myself still listening to music when i should really be getting ready to go to work.

 

[Anonymous]

nads:
Stereolad:So what is the "NAD Sound"? Can anyone describe it?

Big, bold,full (a bit like a red wine)
Yep, that's about it. Well said nads.

 

[nads]

raypalmer:nads:
Stereolad:So what is the "NAD Sound"? Can anyone describe it?

Big, bold,full (a bit like a red wine)

Yep, that's about it. Well said nads.

and that is the first time i have tried to use any words to describe anything HiFi

I used to hate red wine aswell, thankfully i found a few i like.

 

[Anonymous]

Good answers! I personally really like the "NAD sound" although I've no idea how to describe it. While my system isn't perfect, I have heard systems costing twice as much that to my ears didn't sound any where near as involving.ÿ

 

[biggus_1961]

Welll i know nads is not a fan of the bee range but have you listened to the latest amp the 355bee....i did and liked it so much i bought one, it is a good match with the c542 cdp.Sounds good with older speakers like mine and also newer ones such as the bw 600 series..plays all types of music well........

 

[nads]

Oh it is fun reading old threads.
when you find them via google when looking for something related.

 

[spooks1982]

Loved my C370 (never heard the C372) when I owned one. Also had the C542 - good CDP from memory and was my first proper system. Things have moved on just a bit since then though!