NAD Reliability? Specifically T175HD?

msg

Hey guys,
any of you have any experience with NAD gear? I'm considering moving to a T175HD pre/pro, but seem to recall reading something about NAD gear not being so reliable. I've been building my system out piece by piece, and almost always with used gear for the main components. I've been pretty fortunate so far where reliability's concerned (knock knock knock), so just trying to gather some info on whether this would be a sketchy move.

Thanks in advance.

AsSiMiLaTeD

NAD has had a few reliability problems through the years. Most companies have issues, but seems like NAD has had more than their fair share.

msg

yeah, this is what I was concerned with.
thinking about contacting them directly, and/or trying to find reviews and stuff.

any other ideas for determining specifically troubled units or technologies?

pitdogg2

The article I read was on the receivers in the last few years are problematic. Some of their warranty service people will not work on them. I have not heard the same with the separates

steveinaz

I remember some problems with the preamp/tuner combos years ago.

tonyb

msg wrote: »

Hey guys,
any of you have any experience with NAD gear? I'm considering moving to a T175HD pre/pro, but seem to recall reading something about NAD gear not being so reliable. I've been building my system out piece by piece, and almost always with used gear for the main components. I've been pretty fortunate so far where reliability's concerned (knock knock knock), so just trying to gather some info on whether this would be a sketchy move.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know about "sketchy", but certainly carries a higher risk factor. Every manufacturer creates lemons every now and then. Even companies like Cary, Anthem have had their fair share of products requiring more than normal warranty work. Look at the specific model and date made on your research. Hate to paint with a broad brush for any company, but by researching the exact model you can get a better feel on it's reliability.

msg

alright guys, great, thanks, good feedback, all.
yeah, I'll narrow it down a bit and see what I can turn up.

I think it's more the long term reliability I'm concerned with. If I get something that has a warranty for a year and it makes it, I'd like to think I'm good. isn't the general consensus that electronics fail mostly within the first 90 days, or is that an old wives tale kinda thing?

mantis

The Better choice would be going with the T187 which has the modular frame work, sounds amazing and looks much better.
I did a review on mine awhile back , if you search for it you can check it out.

The T175HD if I remember correctly did have some issues, I just don't remember off hand. We didn't sell many of them.

msg

funny you say that, because I just saw the 187 last night while looking up 175 info and see that they're supposed to be the same for audio, but the 187 having all the new video stuff, for not much more considering the price point of the 175.

isn't the 175 also modular?

pitdogg2

Sorry but I call BS..I have seen more than a handful of these units weather NAD, Onyko and one other I fail to remember. I have never seen any new blades on mod units to ever be put into a unit that the manufacture says "upgradable future proof" . In fact my old Rotel preamp was to be upgradable through CD-rom or RJ45 to computer. When the new preamp came out I ask Rotel about an upgrade for my unit to on par with the new unit, they said no way trade it in. Now this was before HDMI so no new connection just firmware upgrades...Future proof laughable.


From NAD site...

MDC - True Innovation

End the frustration of having to replace your entire AV preamp processor just to keep pace with the ever-changing world of AV. Our most important recent innovation, MDC battles technology obsolescence by allowing you to upgrade the T 187 with new connectivity and features as new technology becomes available. Winner of the prestigious reddot Design Award, MDC should be at the top of your checklist.


Good luck but I wouldn't hold my breath on this feature.

msg

I've been speaking with a guy from Audiogon that sells NAD refurbed stuff. he was telling me about these cards. yeah, I've seen provisions for this on other equipment before - the Parasound Halo C2, for instance - but didn't see for this particular model that anything was ever released to make use of it. I think it was supposed to be for HDMI or something.

NAD does currently sell these cards, though, apparently - I was told there was an upgrade for the video/switching on this 175 that was around $300. the current pre/pro model with it already installed - the 187, as is my understanding (?) - was only $500 more than the 175HD. these are refurb models, fwiw. in this case, I would just opt for the newer model and call it a day.

peteypete

The T175HD initially launched with what NAD called the VM-200 video module and AM-200 audio module installed in it. The VM-200 had the Sigma Designs VXP chip which could scale resolutions up to 2048x2048. The board itself as a whole was not HDMI 1.4 compliant, however, so this meant no Audio Return Channel or 3D pass through which were part of the new standard when it released.

NAD did make good on their word and then offered the VM-150 video module which was 1.4 compliant (which revision a,b,c of 1.4 I'm not certain) and still sells this card at dealers. I got mine here in Southern California at a dealer for $599 shipped directly to me. I then took it to another authorized repair center and it was installed for $95 with the new firmware. So in total it was roughly $700 to upgrade when a new HDMI format hit the market. I think things have been quite on the module front recently because HDMI 2.0 is still yet to release. My hunch is when it does, NAD will eventually release a new video card to support the format as well.

The T187 does indeed ship with the VM-150 card already installed but my guess is that used pricing may be higher than the T-175HD since you're building your system from previously owned components. Not entirely certain about this, however.

I've had zero issues my my 175. It's been rock solid since I bought it three years ago.

Hope this helps....