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809NOLA

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  1. I haven't had a chance to listen to the NAD + Paradigm Studio 10 combination but I will say that placement means A LOT with these LS50s. I had the on stands about 3 feet from the wall but then we purchased a new solid wood media center which didn't leave any room for the stands on either side. So instead they are sitting at the far left and right edges of the media center (plenty of stereo separation for our small living room) sitting on their rubber feet about two feet from the wall. I inserted one of the plugs in each rear vent per the LS50 manual and the sound changed considerably. If anything, I needed to to take some edge off of the high end and this did the trick. I instantly appreciated the difference in sound and it became less fatiguing. The original setup seemed a bit harsh at times depending upon the source but this new one is just really smooth. That said, I'm debating buying a small subwoofer but haven't made the decision. I hate the effort involved in integrating those things. Craig New Orleans
  2. Bill, I really, really enjoy this NAD C390DD/KEF LS50 combo. It took a few weeks to grow on me but I believe the pairing is a keeper. I have added a Sonos Connect for streaming my local music and Spotify, Pandora, etc. I may eventually move to a computer/server but this is fine for now. I also have an old Edge Audio (now Aperion Audio) subwoofer connected but I'm not sure I like it. I plan on getting a REL T-5 or R-218 just to put a little fill to the bottom end but I don't think it's required. I can't believe how great the low bitrate Pandora and streaming radio sites sound with the NAD/KEFs. Just blows my mind every time I sit to listen. I highly recommend the NAD. I bought mine through Crutchfield with their 60 day money back deal. Absolutely no regrets. If you were in New Orleans, I'd say come on over and take a listen. Craig
  3. So just to update this thread, I gave a good college try with a very nice Cambridge Audio Azur 851a integrated amp coupled with the amazing Oppos BDP-105 as a DAC. I guess over the last week I'd gotten use to the stunning transparency and musicality of the NAD C390DD. I recognize that the CA/Oppo combo produced excellent (smooth and easy to listen) sound but this NAD C390 is just a revelation. The other stuff went back and I'll be keeping the NAD. Some day I may invest in a good sub, along the lines of the REL-218 or something like it. But getting a sub to play well with mini-monitors may be more trouble than it's worth and the KEFs produce fine bass for my smallish listening room. So maybe I'll splurge on new speaker cables and then put a Mac Mini on the birthday wishlist so I con't have to keep using the MacBook Pro. I do believe that this "direct digital" path that NAD has taken with the M2 and C390DD is the future. Now I can begin researching the ins and outs of using the Mac Mini as my music source and that entails. Craig
  4. Bill, Funny you should ask. I'm home right now waiting for UPS to make a delivery with a Cambridge Audio Azure 851a integrated amp and an Oppo BDP-105. I just wasn't in love with the NAD. I don't know if that is Class D as a whole or just that machine but I decided upon a different route. I still have the NAD and iNova here so I'll be doing quite a bit of testing this evening. I love the KEFs though and they are staying! I'll update soon. Craig
  5. Good call. I tried to get down to Louisiana Music Factory to buy the CD there in support of National Record Store Day but didn't want to mess with French Quarter parking. May head in there this afternoon. Gorgeous weather here in New Orleans. Craig
  6. Bill, My LS50s are now set up with the NAD C390DD. They are 50 cm from the back of speaker to back wall, 180cm apart tweeter to tweeter and about 180 cm to the listening area. You're right, they do best when they have space around them. Not sure my wife will allow them to stay so forward of the TV for now but I think it looks kinda cool and sounds great. The C390 is really a wonder. No SS sound at all but certainly not tubes. My guess is this is just what the music is supposed to sound like. It's not fatiguing at all and I believe the combo of "break-in" of amp and speakers (which I don't necessarily believe in but...) and brain/ears acclimating to the sound will bring out even more over time. I'm quite pleased. Now in the budget are dual subs, possibly Gallo's because of their size. Bill, what are you driving your LS50s with now? Craig
  7. Bill, I did try those tracks with the Onkyo/Aperions and it sounded very good. I think that combination is far more forgiving of poor source material than is my iNova/KEF LS50 rig. That Muddy Waters "The Folk Singer" is known for it's production/recording quality so even the compressed Spotify stream sounded darn good. Sending that stream to my iNova/KEFs just opened it up. It's like I can hear the fingers on the guitar strings and Muddy Water's breath on the mic. Impressive. Bottom line, the KEF's when placed properly and driven by quality amplfication (and good DAC) will bring out the amazing stuff in good recordings and expose all the nastiness of a bad recording. I'll keep them and work at a solution for making the grungy stuff I own sound better. I'm a music fan first and foremost...my plan is not to listen to audiophile reference recordings on a constant loop. I hope the NAD can help with this. It looks like it may not come in today due to a storm in the NOLA area. Boo. Craig
  8. So I replaced my Aperion Audio Intimus 533Ts (amazing value) with the LS50s driven by a 2007 model Onkyo SR-803 HT receiver. Ugghh... Didn't sound that great. 533Ts sound SO much better. I'm thinking crap...what have I done? I'll have to eat shipping and a 15 percent restocking fee to send them back to KEF. So I put the KEFs back in the corner and hook back up to iNova. I start music surfing from MacBook on Spotify to my AppleTV and 533Ts and discover the Muddy Waters "The Folk Singer" album.. Even at 320KB it is mind blowing good sound. I listen for about 5 tracks and then send the audio from the same source over to the iNova and KEFs. WOW! What a difference...iNova and KEF LS50s stuck in a corner too close to the wall and too close together are incredible. I think at this point they aren't the greatest rock and roll speakers ever created but for everything else they're a bit of magic. I think I can live quite happily with them once the NAD C390 shows tomorrow and I've run some Room EQ. Add a sub or two and the Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam may even work. Craig New Orleans, LA
  9. I plan on doing some critical listening over the next several days, especially once the NAD C390 arrives tomorrow. I need loudspeakers that can play everything from chamber music to EDM, brass bands, jazz vocals, indie and classic rock. Everything I throw at them. That said, I doubt many speakers can do all that perfectly. Eventually I'll go with one or two small subs. Hoping the room EQ in the 390 can help. I have to say that so far, with limited listening, I'm very pleased with the sound. Craig
  10. I'll eventually go the USB route. I also stream Spotify and Pandora as well so I like the convienance. According to some reviews, the COAX digital connections on the NAD C390 sound sweetest of all but the only device I can connect to that is my Oppo BDP-83. I could invest in a Peachtree X1 USB to SPFIF converter but I don't have much of a high-rez collection yet. @Wisnon, are you referring to the Zu or KEFs?
  11. I'm not even going to snap a picture yet of my setup after looking at that. I just got mine yesterday but haven't really had much time to play around. They are hooked up to my iNova (sold the D5s) and I'm surprised at how well it's driving them. They are on top of a bookshelf with two foot separation less than a foot from the wall (yes, very bad) but considering this and the lack of burn-in, I'm pretty happy with the sound. I have the NAD C 390DD arriving Friday and at that time I'll place them in their home to either side of my 50" Pioneer Kuro. They will be a dedicated stereo rig and eventually a 2.1 or 2.2 audio/video setup. I'm really hoping the NAD pairs well because I had to sell my soul (err, beg my wife) to spend that much money. I'll be using MacBook Pro->iTunes->ALAC->AppleTV->NAD C390DD->KEF LS50 for now until I can afford incremental improvements. I REALLY want to invest in some Dynaudio Stand 4s speaker stands but we have no dealer anywhere close here in New Orleans. As far as these KEF's "rocking", I sure hope I can get that figured out. I gave up thoughts of Zu Unions to go this route and I don't want to regret it.
  12. This is some great stuff out of North Carolina. Brings to mind Dolly Parton. Here is a local band from New Orleans, Hurray for the Riff Raff performing a track from their latest album live from the Ninth Ward. And this one is a great version of John Boutte and Paul Sanchez doing "At the Foot of Canal Street". Great thread. Craig NOLA, LA
  13. I'll look into the Sanus Natural Foundation's. I thought about the UF series but I don't love the look. I ordered the LS50s last Wednesday and they are still "processing" and I can't get ahold of a human being at KEFDirect. Too bad Crutchfield doesn't sell them.
  14. Bill, I'll let you know. Heck, the Peachtree iNova/D5 combo still amazes me with sound quality so I have no real idea why I'm upgrading but those darn LS50s sound sweet and look so cool. I know that "rose-gold" isn't for everyone and my wife loves the D5 cherry finish but I'll win her over...somehow...I hope. What stand are you planning on using with the LS50s? I want Dynaudio Stand 3s but can't find any vendors near me nor online vendors. Craig
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