NAD 314 vs. C320BEE

Move up in class means that you may have to spend money, unfortunately. NAD gear is in a class which is built to a certain price level. This is not bad; it is a challenge to a designer and sometimes the solution is very elegant indeed, but the limitations are there all the same. If the designer's budget were doubled or tripled, what would be the result? A unit in a different class.

Since upgrading is expensive, it makes sense to take the biggest step you possibly can. If you can look up from your NAD, as far as to a Bryston, SimAudio or YBA integrated, or perhaps a Portal Panache (which I haven't heard but is said to be good value at its price), these would represent a big step up in class.

Look around here and see what is selling for three or four times the price of a C320BEE. If you have a dealer, ask him for a recommendation. Avoid mass-market gear as a general rule. Have fun hunting!

I am going to suggest you go for the 320BEE. This suggestion is dependent on how much you want to spend. I have had both amps and the BEE is superior to the 314. It has better bass and cleaner sound. Also, and this is a big plus IMO, remote control.

The used price for a 314 is ~$150. You should be able to get a used 320BEE <$300. That is not a significant amount.

If however you have much more to spend, say up to about $600 you can do better. In that case I would concur with the other guys.
Good Luck!

I used the NAD C320BEE in a secondary system for two years and was very satisfied with it. The NAD saw almost daily use for that time. I wrote a review of the NAD here in Audiogon . I felt that the best part of the NAD's sound was that it was very musical and warm sounding ... a nice amp.

To Tobias' remarks ... as good as the NAD was, I still knew that the Musical Fidelity A3 integrated amp that I was using at the time in my main system was better ... more refined sounding and also cleaner and clearer sounding at all frequencies. Since I was using the same speakers in both systems, I was pretty confident in saying that the MF was at least a step or two better than the NAD. Now price wise, there was no comparison ... $400 list for a NAD C320BEE versus $1600 list for the MF A3. I paid $875 new for the MF (it was being discontinued) ... so for double the price, I got three times the amp ... a good deal.

The NAD C320BEE is a bargain though and you will be looking at amps that list at the grand level to better its performance. Once you get past the grand level, tube integrated amps come into play as well. So to Tobias' list, I would add the following integrated amps ... Musical Fidelity A3.2 (discontinued and you may be able to get a good deal); Prima Luna Prologue One tube integrated; Music Hall Mambo (Audio Advisor has this $1500 integrated for $790 new); and Creek A50 or 5350.

Regards, Rich

thank you very much for all ! i really appreciate all your recommendations, this place - AudioGon is like a audio family that I really love, thanks again Kotta, Tobias, Muzicat, Rar1, I wish you all the best upon on the coming New year!

I have one more questions. I just purchase a Denon DVD-910, it has really good picture quality (Fajouda chip), but in the cd quality sound, I don't satisfy much, and I am thinking about the Rotel RCD-855 or something like that. Any advise from anyone would be a big pleasure for me. My budget is $250 or less, thanks again !

I just went about this in another thread here . If you can pick up a Music Hall MMF CD 25 cd player, you will be very pleased. You can find the Music Hall 25 for about $500 new, but obviously less used.

Regards, Rich