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Clearaudio Nano has landed in Australia!

davidro

davidro

Lunatic Member
G'day all

My first separate phono preamp, Clearaudio Nano, has finally arrived!
As far as I'm aware it's not being sold here in Australia yet (i.e. didn't appear on a googling), hence the title. I might be wrong though.

I have mentioned in another thread why I purchased this preamp.
I might restate the reasons as there seem to be a lot of us wondering whether they should get a phono preamp:

  1. Another choice could have been Nad PP2/3. However I have a Nad 3120 and have used its inbuilt MM/MC phono stage for a while (actually this got me into LOMC). Not that I was dissatisfied with the Nad, but I wanted something different this time.
  2. You can change input loading & gain control - pretty rare at this price range.
  3. Another AKer guiller uses the Nano and reportedly likes it very much. His taste in music is similar with mine (classical music) and this was an important consideration as I wasn't able to audition any separate phono preamps on my setup. In fact, I've once purchased a pair of Sony speakers based partly upon guiller's praise of a model from the same series, SS-G#, and this proved to be a good purchase!
  4. I've always wanted to see a glimpse of Clearaudio on my setup. Well I once had a Clearaudio record clamp but something tells me that shouldn't count! :D
  5. The price was pretty good.

Well, let's see some photos:

f0018137_4ceb9c48e4774.jpg

Packaging - pretty basic. No gloss. No frills. Hopefully they spent the money elsewhere.

f0018137_4ceb9c4bcca2d.jpg

What's in it - the amp, a Chinese PSU/transformer, a few impedance jumpers, a brief manual.
Nothing else. Come on, you could've thrown a pair of interconnects?

f0018137_4ceb9c54d7248.jpg

Whilst being pretty 'nano', the chassis is made of solid metal. It's kinda heavy for the size too.
Good damping for the size I'd hope. Not bad.

f0018137_4ceb9c5969b10.jpg

What it looks like when all connected.

Ok, that's it for tonight. I've recorded the output samples from: 1) NAD inbuilt MC phono; 2) Nano on the usual 47k ohm; and 3) Nano on 51 ohm.
I'll post the Mp3 files and matching frequency graphs for comparative studies.

It obviously hasn't been 'aged' yet.
But so far my initial, rough impression is that the adoption of a separate phono preamp has 'conditioned' the output sound rather than changing it.
Has it improved the sound by tenfolds? Well, I'd like to think so. But I'm afraid that I will need some more time before I can be sure about that.
Mr. Lin made me sweat about it. So it could just be his spell.

To be continued...
 
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Congratulations David! Hope it works out as well in your setup as it does in mine. The transformer is just that (not a power supply): AC in, AC out . It' s better to leave it connected all the time. You would need some time to try different loadings. My LOMC Benz Micro Ace likes better the 47 KOhm loading. What is the cart you plan to use it with?

PS: if you dare to open it up, you'll be happy with what you see: high quality components and dual mono architecture.

PS2: thanks for sharing the pictures!
 
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Hey David,

I'll be interested in hearing more...I'm in the exact same situation, using a NAD phono-pre, listening to classical/jazz. I've been seriously considering this as a new addition.

Thanks for posting the photos. It looks like a simple and elegant component.
 
boonie said:
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it, mate?
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vbmagus1980 said:
As Above^
Click to expand...

G'day fellas. I'd feel restrained to link my source as that might potentially dump me into 'Dollars & Sense' forum? But I can tell you I heard (wink*) there's this 'Cheshire Audio' people in the UK (yes, 230V) that does the best deal with this product as far as I could find out :thmbsp:

guiller said:
Congratulations David! Hope it works out as well in your setup as it does in mine. The transformer is just that (not a power supply): AC in, AC out . It' s better to leave it connected all the time. You would need some time to try different loadings. My LOMC Benz Micro Ace likes better the 47 KOhm loading. What is the cart you plan to use it with?

PS: if you dare to open it up, you'll be happy with what you see: high quality components and dual mono architecture.

PS2: thanks for sharing the pictures!
Click to expand...

I'd have thought it was only a transformer too. But I thought I read elsewhere there's a separate PSU with the Nano. Perhaps I was mistaken.

My cartridge is Ortofon Supreme MC-10 which has loading capability of >20 ohms. So I ventured with the lowest one possible, i.e., 51 ohm, to see the difference. I'll further post my review when I get home tonight or tomorrow night!

I don't think I'm game enough to open it but I'll just enjoy your description :thmbsp:

Echoes Myron said:
Hey David,

I'll be interested in hearing more...I'm in the exact same situation, using a NAD phono-pre, listening to classical/jazz. I've been seriously considering this as a new addition.

Thanks for posting the photos. It looks like a simple and elegant component.
Click to expand...

G'day mate. Glad to see another classical music listener. Please do join us at the 'Today's Classical music Playlist' thread at the Music forum. I'll do further review later :thmbsp: And that will of course come with nice pics and mp3 files!
 
davidro said:
I'd have thought it was only a transformer too. But I thought I read elsewhere there's a separate PSU with the Nano. Perhaps I was mistaken.
Click to expand...

Hi David: according to the manual, the Power Supply is quoted as 16 V AC (< 500 mA) (external power supply). ( http://www.clearaudio.de/eng/pv_nanophono.html ). I guess there is a rectifier inside the preamp box itself. Do you remember where did you read that comment? Perhaps it was meant that there is a separate little black box that has to be plugged in?

PS: regardless of the specs of your Ortofon cart, please take the time to try all the load settings before deciding. Try also the two switching possibilities of the AC plug for the power source.
 
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guiller said:
Hi David: according to the manual, the Power Supply is quoted as 16 V AC (< 500 mA) (external power supply). ( http://www.clearaudio.de/eng/pv_nanophono.html ). I guess there is a rectifier inside the preamp box itself. Do you remember where did you read that comment? Perhaps it was meant that there is a separate little black box that has to be plugged in?

PS: regardless of the specs of your Ortofon cart, please take the time to try all the load settings before deciding. Try also the two switching possibilities of the AC plug for the power source.
Click to expand...

I think you're right. I didn't really mull it over critically. It'd be weird for that little cheapish black box was anything more than a transformer.

I'll definitely play with the loading settings. It's not like I've borrowed it or anything so I have a lot of time to see how I like different loadings, which was one reason why I chose the Nano over its competitors.
 
Guiller is absolutely correct about experimenting with impedance settings for a given cartridges, IMO. You know by the instructions the ball park you should be in, but the exact setting is something to do by ear.

If you opened it up there probably wouldn't be a lot in there, and most of it would be surface mount components, I would think. But that preamp has a good reputation so I'm sure it's all quality, and the case is definitely nice.

Give it time - which I gather is what you're doing already - sometimes it takes a bit to really appreciate the benefits of a new component.
 
kcc123 said:
Hi David,
Congratulations!
It is tiny. How does it sound?
Click to expand...

It's as tiny as 'nano' :D
I'm getting to like it more and more. I'll do some review probably tonight.

Mr. Lin said:
Guiller is absolutely correct about experimenting with impedance settings for a given cartridges, IMO. You know by the instructions the ball park you should be in, but the exact setting is something to do by ear.

If you opened it up there probably wouldn't be a lot in there, and most of it would be surface mount components, I would think. But that preamp has a good reputation so I'm sure it's all quality, and the case is definitely nice.

Give it time - which I gather is what you're doing already - sometimes it takes a bit to really appreciate the benefits of a new component.
Click to expand...

Well that's what I plan to do. Nano's a fun piece of equipment that goes well with the idea of 'analogue'.

KeninDC said:
Have fun with it. I enjoy my Nano and find it unobtrusive and quite clear.

Ken
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Thanks man. Actually your assessment pretty much sums it up I think.

guiller said:
:tresbon: Definitely, one of the best general advices one could give!
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I'm happily being patient here :music:
 
I have two NAD amps and a NAD T775 reciever and im a huge NAD fan.I have owned the PP2 and sold it month later.I did not like it all that much and thought the Cambridge 640P ran circles around it.Clearaudio makes some great stuff and I own the Concept Turntable,Maestro Cartridge (being retipped as I busted the stylus last week UGGGG) and the Quatro Clamp.Anyway let us know how the Nano is after breakin.I owned the Clearaudio Pus $600 but had to return two of them becuase of defectd and now own a Musical Surroundings Super Nova.
 
scottyh777 said:
I have two NAD amps and a NAD T775 reciever and im a huge NAD fan.I have owned the PP2 and sold it month later.I did not like it all that much and thought the Cambridge 640P ran circles around it.Clearaudio makes some great stuff and I own the Concept Turntable,Maestro Cartridge (being retipped as I busted the stylus last week UGGGG) and the Quatro Clamp.Anyway let us know how the Nano is after breakin.I owned the Clearaudio Pus $600 but had to return two of them becuase of defectd and now own a Musical Surroundings Super Nova.
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That's actually interesting about PP2. I guessed it'd be similar with phono stages in other Nad amps (e.g. my Nad 3120) but you found it to be different?
 
davidro said:
That's actually interesting about PP2. I guessed it'd be similar with phono stages in other Nad amps (e.g. my Nad 3120) but you found it to be different?
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Yes I did.Hard to put it in words but I was expecting alot more but then again the cost is very low.NAD makes some great and sometimes afforadable stuff but I found the PP2 lacking.I wanted more out of it but it just wasn't there.The Musical Fidelity V-LPS MM/MC Phono Stage
at $149 and Cambridge Audio at $179 are my favorite bargain phono preamps.Great value/bang for the buck.Would be interested in seeing how the two above compare with the $350 Nano.
 
scottyh777 said:
The Musical Fidelity V-LPS MM/MC Phono Stage
at $149 and Cambridge Audio at $179 are my favorite bargain phono preamps.Great value/bang for the buck.Would be interested in seeing how the two above compare with the $350 Nano.
Click to expand...

Before I decided to buy the Nano, I've got a Cambridge Audio 640 P that a friend lend me. I tried later the Nano that the dealer gave me as a free trial. Although I cannot make comments about an objective research on both, I've found the Nano much better in terms of clarity and, above all, naturality (i.e., the acoustic instruments of classical music sounding closer to the real ones). Perhaps this has to do with the fixed loading that the Cambridge has or the fact that it didn't mate well with the cart I used in the test, a LOMC Yamaha MC-7. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cambridge makes wonders in some systems, provided that the correct choice of cart is made.
 
Day 1 - before 'aging'

Taking advantage of the interactive aspects of the AK forum, I did what I could to best share the experience. Rather than simply stating what I subjectively hear and disappear, I also recorded output samples and captured the matching waveform graphs.

The cartridge used is Ortofon Supreme MC-10. 0.5mv output & >20 omhs load impedance. Fed to Yamaha GT-750.

My impression is that, whilst replacing the inbuilt phono stage in my Nad amp with the Nano did not make the output of the Ortofon sound like something totally different (it wasn't like when I converted to LOMC from MM), it certainly refined and balanced the Ortofon output as to bring out more.

The difference between the inbuilt and the Nano on 51 ohms was pretty dramatic. With the Nano the sound is generally subdued, background quieter and somewhat 'dead'. The Nad is livelier to the extent of being frivolous in comparison. The Nad having had eaten up a few more wattages now, I've started to use the 402 ohms clip. This has definitely enlivened the sound.

The headache is, I currently find the appropriate impedance varies between different records. For example, a Decca record of Mahler Symphony No. 3 (Solti conducting London Symphony Orchestra) just doesn't go well with the 51 ohms setting as the 'boxy' sound gets further buried to the ground, whereas with other records the 51 ohms setting gives more stability to the sound.

Another improvement with the Nano was the channel separation. This added to the staging and the imaging (Long live 2ch stereo!).


Now, for your enjoyment,

I recorded how the Nano sounded when it was unpacked for the first time.

The sample music is a Mercury Living Presence record (reissue) - the first 3 mins of the last movement from Dvorak Cello Concerto (Soloist Janos Starker). And here are the samples, both the waveform graphs and the music files (320kbps Mp3).

How I recorded the music files:
  1. 'Record out' of the Nad amp
  2. An Y-cable
  3. 'Line-in' of my laptop
  4. Goldwave software on a PCM recording mode
  5. 'Matched' the volumes between the 3 files using the Goldwave (without clipping)
  6. Compressed to 320 kbps Mp3 files with Foobar2000
The above procedure inevitably takes away a lot of information from the original analogue signal, I'd have thought.

  1. When played on the inbuilt MC phono stage of Nad 3120 (impedance being the standard 47k ohms) - sample file:
    f0018137_4cef82146a9a1.jpg

  2. The Nano without the impedance clips, i.e. the standard 47k ohms - sample file:
    f0018137_4cef823278ec3.jpg

  3. The Nano with the 51 ohms clip on (the minimum) - sample file:
    f0018137_4cef823d4978a.jpg
 
Hi David, many thanks for sharing with us the results of your research. I'll certainly listen to the files whenever I've got the appropriate moment to do so with care.

PS: regarding the boxy sound of the Solti LPs, perhaps it has to do also with the recording itself?
 
guiller said:
PS: regarding the boxy sound of the Solti LPs, perhaps it has to do also with the recording itself?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I didn't mean to say it had to do with the medium, i.e. the vinyl. It's regrettable that the recording sounds rather boxy. But the sound quality certainly improved dramatically when I moved to LOMC.
 
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