Almost Heaven - NAD T585 DVD/SACD (LONG)

xandra

Yesterday I recieved a NAD Universal Player and wanted to post some first impressions since I found it almost impossible to locate any detailed user reviews for the device and it's currently available for a great price at AudioAdvisor:
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAT585

Be sure to check NAD's page for up to date specs, features:
http://nadelectronics.com/products/dvd-players/T585-Universal-DVD-Player/

Background and Disclaimers: I bought this primarily because I wanted an SACD player with better aud quality, that had some bass management in order to protect my speakers and didn't convert DSD -> PCM. I haven't seriously tested Video features or quality, so no comments on this thusfar. My primary interest is Classical music. My point of reference is not particularly high as I've never owned a hi-end player.

AUDIO HEAVEN: I was instantly struck by how equisitely refined and detailed this sounded without being at all clinical (both on SACD's and CD's). Highs are sweet or pungent (as originally played), - mids and bass equally satisfying. Complex passages no longer sound like cacophony. Where other improvements allowed me to hear things/voicings I'd missed, this player expresses the tone, timbre, and attack of each instrument fully - you almost hear the air move as the sound of tympany ebbs and flows.

DYNAMICS (Almost Heaven):
This is why I said 'almost' heaven. It only just passed my Acid test: beginning of the 4rth Mvt of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony:
The movement begins with a forte Glissasando followed by pianissimoissimo pizzacato theme on violins.
Without SIGNIFICANTLY jacking up volume on my other players, these notes were TOTALLY absent (thus making the remainder of the movement too loud). Not so with the NAD: this opening passage WAS audible, tho just barely- BUT without having to adjust volume.

Tested Music: - improvement over other players (see sig)
(I'll update this shortly to include a broader range and more Stereo CDs)
Beethoven 3rd Symphony (Haitnik)SACD: Magnificent improvement
Beethoven 3rd Symphony (Barenboim/Teldec so-so quality DVD-Audio): major improvement.
Beethoven Str Quartet Op 127 (Phillips CD nice quality recording): HUGE improvement.
Norah Jones (1 SACD, 2 Stereo CDs): negligible improvement
Aretha Franklin Greatest Hits (horrible aud qual): 20% better
Crosby Stills Nash Greatest Hits HDCD: minor clarity improvement in Bass
Have also tested with excellent results: Bach Keyboard Concerto's 1 (Hewitt/hyperion SACD), Heifetz RCA Living Stereo SACD (bach, mozart,brahms)


BUILD QUALITY: TBA, seems sturdy BUT see warnings below

Misc: full compliment of ports, pretty broad range of compatible disks.

Niceties:
You can select the Redbook layer on SACDs (haven't yet tested if this will permit audio out via HDMI)
You can set crossover point down to 80Hz (others I've seen with any SACD bass management only went to 100 or 120!!). You can't however set crossover individually for each speaker.
You can set individual speaker distance. (except sub)
Good remote, nearly comprehensive buttons on main panel.

Minor Quibbles:
The player defaults to Stereo SACD layer even for Multichannel SACDs. (While some may prefer this, there's no way to set a preference.)
Doesn't officially support CD-Text (have yet to test)
Metadata for SACD's only displays by hitting "Title" button. (would been nice if it showed in program list)

Warnings/Cons:
1. This unit is version HDMI v1.? definitely under 1.2 (no SACD via HDMI - which can be handy even if sonically inferior) plus other limitation
2. Quality Control: ??? The first one I ordered was DOA after about 40mins of use. (2nd time I turned on got No Disk message with same disks I'd played earlier) From the sound could tell it was a mechanism issue. Current one occassionally makes questionable sounds when disk loading.
3. You can throw out the accompanying manual (it's a beta edition and info is big time incorrect). Download and Print the PDF instead.
4. At least according to the manual, you specifically need to choose 'DTS' for DTS recordings...
5. It will not output anything above 48 via HDMI with DVD-Audio (theoretically will get full res on multichannel, but no way to test).
6. Thus far haven't achieved acceptable AUTO video communication with Denon via HDMI (tho I'd say same for most devices via Denon - which I need to learn better.)

SUMMARY: If you're looking for an affordable DVD/SACD/CD with top-notch sound, you might want to check this out. This player made by far the greatest audio improvement to my setup. I doubt this would be an ideal DVD player if you haven't haven't another since it's not HDMI 1.3 so handshaking, and features with an 1.3 reciever might minimally require extra menu trips.

Systems

Great review,Im not surprised you like it.NAD always seems to beable to build great sounding stuff.

unbridled_id

I had heard that the insides of the t-585 are basically the same as the M55. NAD is phasing out the T585 and it seems the t-515 as well. They recently came out with the T535 which does most of what the 585 does. Perhaps they are in the process of producing a blu-ray player.

reeltrouble1

always liked the NAD products, mostly the older stuff is what I used, I do miss the big green button.

Thanks for the review, I am thinking of closeting a sacd player for future use and this one would be in the running.

RT1

xandra

Perhaps they are in the process of producing a blu-ray player.

You guessed right, blu-ray to come shortly - But I didn't want to count on SACD support. That (along with AA price) is why I jumped on it.

---

Speaking of Audio Advisor: should mention they were fabulous about return of orig bad unit and some recently purchased cables - no onerous paperwork required, they sent FedEx with pre-pay return form - how cool is that.

xandra

Thanks for the review, I am thinking of closeting a sacd player for future use and this one would be in the running.

reeltrouble: would be interested in knowing what else you locate.

BB3

xandra, thank you for all of your time and efforts for this post. It is greatly appreciated, let alone informative.
Please Take Care, BB3