NAD C 542-burn in? Where's the bass?

univera

So Fed Ex just delivered my NAD C542 cd player. I bought it from the original owner who says it was a second room player with about 30 hrs. playtime. I searched some older threads concerning "burn in" and see that is a debateable issue within this site. First thing I noticed is that my low end (which this unit is highly acclaimed) is not as punchy. Definitely tight, but not hitting hard. I am using the exact cables (nothing fancy) as I was with the early Toshiba DVD player this replaced. It has been powered and playing for a few hours. It seems to have punched up a bit, but nothing groundbreaking.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I am willing to allow that the Toshiba could have been a bit sloppier and maybe that was perceived as hitting harder, but it is definitely not all there. It is being supplied by an NAD 7600 receiver with more than ample power and headroom on SRS's. I plan on leaving it playing all day long for several days.

univera

I know this topic has been beat to death, but I truly don't know where to start. While the NAD is certainly more refined, the older Toshiba DVD seems to center the vocals a bit better and has a bigger sound, which I guess one would describe as "bright" or "forward." It's seems that the Toshiba plays louder at the same volume setting, but I guess this is the affore mentioned brightness/forwardness?

In any event, why would a far superior piece not center or image as well? The Toshiba is an older 3109 with HDCD which has always sounded nice, but I can't believe it would hang with a nearly new model. Are higher end pieces more sensitive to cables/cords? Any assistance/suggestions appreciated.

dkg999

I have the NAD C521BEE CDP and the NAD bass is pretty soft around the edges, smooth, and doesn't have the hard-edged punchiness of some other CDP's. I happen to like that, but your ears may appreciate something different. My Jolida 100 CDP has much tighter and punchier bass.

Roy Munson

I have a NAD 542 and the vocals are dead center! I have gone through several cdps lately and have yet to find one that really does it for me, although the NAD is a good buy imo for the money especially if you find a good used one! Next up for me will be either a Jolida or a New Tube.

danger boy

it may take some time to get used to the new lack of bass. I use an two older models of NAD CDP's. and both have slightly different bass. the newer one having a bit more bass then the older one.. there are late 80's and mid 90's units. i know yours in much newer.

give it some time.. it might grow on you.

univera

danger boy wrote:

it may take some time to get used to the new lack of bass. I use an two older models of NAD CDP's. and both have slightly different bass. the newer one having a bit more bass then the older one.. there are late 80's and mid 90's units. i know yours in much newer.

give it some time.. it might grow on you.

Thanks for the input from all above. FYI-all the reviews, both professional and otherwise, have said the bass on this piece is much better than the previous models. I read one audiophile reviewer that highly recommended changing the power cord, but he didn't recommend one as far as a brand. I had been leaning toward an Audio Refinement player, but I couldn't actually audition one up front. I was familiar with NAD sound, so I went this unit.

univera

Roy Munson wrote:

I have a NAD 542 and the vocals are dead center! I have gone through several cdps lately and have yet to find one that really does it for me, although the NAD is a good buy imo for the money especially if you find a good used one! Next up for me will be either a Jolida or a New Tube.

Roy, what kind of interconnects are using? I would tend to think that could be the "problem" with vocal imaging but the Toshiba does it well. Again, maybe I am used to listening to a forward sound for 5-6 years and my ears need to burn in...

Roy Munson

Uni, I'm currently using Signal Cable Analog 2 cables. If I were to describe the sound of the C542 I would say that it is detailed and a bit forward not laid back at all on my system. YMMV The bass is good and I would classify it a bit on the tight side. I like the NAD but I'm looking for something else as I feel most of the cdps I've listened to recently are just to dry for my taste..maybe it's something else in my system, but I'm looking for a tube player, either a Jolida or New Tube.

univera

Roy, upon all day listening, bass is nice and tight. Not huge, but tight. I figured out that the biggest thing that seems to be lacking is midbase. If I am describing it accurately, it is the part where an acoustic guitar would have some natural oomph on the deeper cords. Definitely not there. I can switch the two players out immediately and notice a difference. That damn Toshiba is not suppossed to sound so good. I was looking for a night and day difference. Its not there. I don't know if that is an NAD characteristic, but its lacking. Messing with the tone controls and adding a bit just to see gave me what I wanted, but I'm not a fan of using active tone controls. Maybe this is just a dry piece. By the way, does your drawer open with a bit of a thud. That seems to be an issue mentioned. The Toshiba's very smooth, but not as fast.

joeparaski

Oh come on Uni! Live a little, use those tone controls, that's what they're there for.:D Be brave, be on the "tone control comeback" just like turntables are making a comeback.:p

organ

I have the C541 and noticed the same thing about the bass. It's there but not as prominent as I wanted it. I guess it's just the cdp's characteristic. But it's a damn good cdp that can do everything well.

shack

Some of the bass people get used to is bloated, overdone bass...more common in lesser gear (because it is what the masses want!). Maybe for the first time you are hearing what was recorded.

univera

Shack, that's possible, although I have always been a fan of tight bass, not that boomy sound. Again, my ear may be used to marginal equipment, although Toshiba is known for being a decent player as far as DVD's go. Will update down the line.

heiney9

When you start upgrading certain pieces in the audio chain they have a tendency to be more faithful in reproducing the recording and you will tend to find that on many pieces of music the lower octaves of bass just aren't there on the recording. (atleast the bolated overdone kind). You are probably used to a heavier looser bass which is a coloration the Tosh gives. Give it some time and listen to alot of your fave music; over time you may actually prefer the way the NAD sounds.

FWIW, I never bought into the whole Tosh DVDp being the giant killer everyone said it was. I had one and it sounded like a$$.

I had a similar reaction when I added the DAC to my system. I actually had to rearrange the whole listening room to get everything optimized and boy am I glad I did!!! What a difference. I take the DAC out of the chain once in awhile for $hits and grins and I get sick (literally) listening w/o it.

Give it some time and see if it's right for your system, if you just can't get into it move it in the FM and move on to another piece.

H9

steveinaz

shack wrote:

Some of the bass people get used to is bloated, overdone bass...more common in lesser gear (because it is what the masses want!). Maybe for the first time you are hearing what was recorded.

Exactly my thoughts. Univera, you're hearing a more controlled, less distorted bass out of the NAD. Same effect often happens when people go to a seperate power amplifier for the first time...

I had a similar situation when I replaced my $129 5 yr old Panny DVD with a Denon 2910. The Denon's bass sounded weak...but it was in fact overly-bloated bass reproduction that I had gotten used to with the Panasonic. After a couple weeks of listening I grew to understand/appreciate the difference.

danger boy

Univera, so what happen to the bass on your NAD afterall?