NAD amplifiers

DollarDave · July 2008

I would like some education on NAD amps. Two channel and multi-channel.

What models are desirable and which ones to avoid?

And, which models are older and which are newer - it doesn't seem to go by model number at all?

DollarDave · July 2008

Someone needs to tell me all about their NADs.

hoosier21 · July 2008

which models are you looking at?

shack · July 2008

I have had pretty good experience with NAD 2 channel gear from the last 8 years or so. The C270 and it's successor C272 are excellent and will drive most speakers easily. If you are looking at an integreated, the C370 and C372 which are esentially the same amps with the NAD pre section and are equally good performers . Some have used a combo of the integrated and its corresponding amp and bridging each one for a dual amp stereo rig. Some of the integrated amps are near legendary. The C350 and the C320BEE come to mind. They are high current amps delivering everything stated and more in term of power. They are excellent perfomers at reasonable prices .

AndyGwis · July 2008

I've had 3-4 in my time. Decent build (but ugly, IMO, with the dolphin grey). Ran all kinds of speakers well. Ran pretty cool, IIRC. Solid way to get into power / stereo amps.

BLACKHAMMERJAMM · July 2008

DaveMuell wrote: »

Someone needs to tell me all about their NADs.

Well my NAD's are unbalanced:)

Oh you were talking about amps. I have the NAD T975 and it's very nice. It has good power and a nice tone. Most of my experience with electronics were with guitar tube amps from the late 60's to the early 90's. The search for the perfect tone is like the search for the perfect woman. what I can say is this NAD T975 is a good first catch.

polkie4life · July 2008

I'm currently using a NAD216THX. Its the 1st power amp i have ever owned, and the only piece of NAD equipment i have.

I really thought Denon was the best partner with Polk speakers. The NAD just blows me away how it combines so well with Polk, dynamic, musical, and a warm natural sound.....

polktiger · July 2008

I have a 2200PE (not being used since I got the Sunfire in my sig). It is a powerful amp, but it is also confusing as the "PE" in the model number makes it completely different than the regular 2200. I think it is officially rated as a 100 watt amp, but it is generally considered a 200watt amp. Peaks, it can hit 600 per channel! The thing is also bridgable. While I am not using it, it is still hard to sell becuase it is such a strong amp.

DollarDave · July 2008

hoosier21 wrote: »

which models are you looking at?

I have a 2100PE that I wasn't using at all. But, as of last weekend it is in my office system with my CRS+'s and my new (to me) B&K pre-amp. I am extremely surprised by the amp and wanted to know where it fit in their line-up. I presume it is older than the the three digit model numbers?

I've had a chance to listen some more since I started the thread and it makes me want a couple more NADs. To please the wife, I will have to part with a couple of HKs that I have.

As I continue to build out my HT, what NADs are good multi-channel amps?

I had never really paid attention to the ugly looking NADs, but beauty is only skin deep it seems..

shack · July 2008

Check them all out here.

http://nadelectronics.com/product-info

Polkitup2 · July 2008

I've been using a NAD c370 and C270 for the past three years and am happy with them.

Conradicles · January 2009

Is the NAD C272 refurb @ $399 a good deal?

I would use it to power my SDA-2B's in my 5.1 H/T set-up.

Thanks in advance, Eric.

shack · January 2009

Conradicles wrote: »

Is the NAD C272 refurb @ $399 a good deal?

I would use it to power my SDA-2B's in my 5.1 H/T set-up.

Thanks in advance, Eric.

I think so. I paid $375 for a used C270 a few years back.

Conradicles · January 2009

The NAD T955 looks like a killer amp and on sale for $799.

Wish I could afford that one.

kve777 · January 2009

I have 5 NAD 2200's, four are 2200PE, can't hear the difference. Two are bridged for my RTA-15tl's, the others go to RT-35's, CS-400 and a pair of Wharfedale Modus One-Six's, one channel is open. I highly recommend the 2200's for stereo or surround. Bridged if your speakers can handle it. Very deep, open sound IMHO. No sub needed with the RTA-15tl's, I had a Velodyne 18", but sold it, overkill. 2200PE's are cheap, available and sound great. My 2 cents.

Conradicles · February 2009

DaveMuell wrote: »

Someone needs to tell me all about their NADs.

Tell me more. I just read a bunch of online reviews and I am really excited about the NAD C272.

shack · February 2009

IMO NAD makes solid gear, at a fair price that meets or exceeds it's stated specs. I have used NAD gear for many years (amps, preamps, CDPs, DVDPs, integrated amps and phono pre amps). There is not a single piece of gear I've owned that I have been disappointed in or would not recommend to a friend.

reeltrouble1 · February 2009

They were one of the first to bring high current power to market at reasonable cost. I have used the 2600 and 2700 from the PE series and these amps are 150W stereo work horses with a a slightly warm sound, the amount of headroom you get for transients is really the thing that seals the deal, also have soft clipping, I drove SDA with these (6 ohm) 1C's bridged to extreme levels and they never once clipped.

I also have an 1130 pre which crushes Adcom then jumps on top of the pieces, grinding and smashing them into the earth until they become an enviromental hazard, These pre's featured a fantastic sounding phono section, tone defeat and a very smooth gain control, nice preamp that was actually featured in the very first Polkfest hosted by the Rooster RussMan.

NAD=New Acoustic Dimension

RT1

nooshinjohn · February 2009

DaveMuell wrote: »

Someone needs to tell me all about their NADs.

wrong place for this discussion....

j/k:p

mhardy6647 · February 2009

There was a time that the reliability of NAD equipment was pretty suspect. Some folks felt that the name was an acronym for Need Attention Daily. That said, the focus of NAD was always on very good value -- excellent sound for reasonable $... and that still seems to be the case.

Otherwise, I can't help much.

I do have a couple of pieces of older NAD gear, but they're dump finds.

Conradicles · February 2009

Is it true most all of the NAD Power Amp models are "common ground" and can be used with SDA's?

sucks2beme · February 2009

Like many other brands that went to Asian production, quality had some problems.
Almost everyone had trouble with inconsistant QC(or lack of).
Most of the big guys have go it under control now. The older NAD
standards like the 2200/2400/2600 were fine. The real problem now is
those models are getting old. I had a 2400 for a while. It was a pretty good
amp. The 100 WPC rating at 8 ohms with the ability to provide short term
peaks at a much higher wattage without distortion made it able to hold
it's own against much bigger amps. It crushed a Denon POA2800 at 200 wpc.
I haven't spent any real time with the newer series NAD amps, but hear good things about them.

George Grand · February 2009

I had a couple of 2200PE's Dave, rated at 100wpc with that Power Envelope stuff and they were brutes. Nice sounding too. I also had a 50wpc 2150 quite some time ago. I still have a couple really low-powered NAD power amps around here somewhere.

Marty913 · February 2009

+1 on the 2200's. I drove 2.3tls for years with a pair of them (A-1 needed) and they truly were brutes, and a very sweet sound to boot. All the newer NADs are common I believe and I did hear rumblings about quality issues in the late 90's, early 00's. Been getting good reviews lately however. Someone on here (nspindel, I think) is using 2200's and just had his rebuilt / refurbed. The 2200 - 2600 are getting a little old.

DollarDave · February 2009

Update - I now have three NADs. A 270, a 2700, and a 2150. I really like my NADs.

They are driving my CRS+'s, a pair of LS-50s, and a pair of ADS 520s.

Would a NAD pre sound "more laid back" than my B&K PT-5? If so, tell me more and I will swap some stuff around.

mhardy6647 · February 2009

George Grand wrote: »

I still have a couple really low-powered NAD power amps around here somewhere.

I suspect your perception of "low-powered" and mine are about an order of magnitude different, Mr. G. :-)

Speaking of NADs... I actually dragged out my NAD receiver (model 7155, IIRC) last night to test (and to listen to) a pair of (don't laugh) Pioneer HPM-1100 speakers whose woofers I refoamed last weekend. The NAD (which was a dump find) is a nice sounding (and decent looking) piece of hardware. The only glitch -- the volume and balance controls need to be cleaned. I took off both the top and bottom covers of the receiver, and in no way can I figure out how to get to the pots.

mhardy6647 · February 2009

Conradicles · March 2009

Silly question...but are all of the NAD the same shade of gray?

I see some of newer models are black, but looking on the net I see all kinds of different shades of the color gray.

Could that just be the pictures taken do not reflect the real color?

heiney9 · March 2009

Bump.....looking at getting a NAD C325Bee for the computer rig. I've read all the literature about how it continue's the legendary lineage.

I'm looking for comments from NAD owners, etc. I'm not well versed in NAD and what's good vs. what's stellar. I was going to go seperates with the computer/office rig, but for my purposes I think the expense would be overkill based on my listening habits and the size of the listening area, etc, etc,.

H9

P.s. I realize the C325 has been replaced with the C326Bee. I can get the C325Bee at a great close-out price so I'm not really interested in the C326Bee.

CRESCENDOPOWER · March 2009

A Sherwood stereo receiver is the answer.

POST#12

Conradicles · March 2009

Well, looks like I will be getting these NAD goodies today for my two-channel rig:
NAD 317 integrated amp
NAD 522 CD Player
Aslo got a NAD 4155 tuner on the way from e-bay.

This will be my 1st try with NAD components. I'll give a noob review and pics of them in a week or so.

Anybody had good synergy with NAD gear from a particular speaker cable company?

NAD amplifiers

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