M Jarve
Audio Geek and NGE Freak
After work today, I looked through the local CL for giggles and saw an ad for a "Audio Dynamics Component Stereo System". First thing I thought was that it was some sort of white-van scam, but the picture looked dead-on NAD. I figured that perhaps someone had just fumbled the name. If indeed it was NAD the asking price was stupidly good- $50 for a matched integrated amp, tuner, and CD player with all the original documentation and remotes.
I responded as quick as a bunny and found out that the guy lived only a block away. I toddled over and sure enough it was Audio Dynamics but the gear just screamed NAD.
He told me that he bought it from Montgomery Wards back in the 90's and that he had gotten a swell deal on the set- apparently there was a matching tape deck as well, but he did not want it at the time. All the equipment itself if dated 1988.
Anyhow, back to the kit. All the components were in like-new condition and the build quality was very good.
The integrated amp features 4 toshiba output transistors per channel, a very good sized toroid transformer and a bank of 4x 10,000µF caps. Power output, as per the manual, is 100WPC continuous @ 8Ω, 120WPC continuous @ 4Ω. It also gives a distinctly "NAD-esqe" dynamic power output: 150WPC @ 8Ω, 225WPC @ 4Ω, and a whopping 325WPC @ 2Ω. With the listening I've performed with the Infinity Quantum 3, it seems to have no issues whatsoever with low impedance or demanding loads. Additionally, the phono section can be attuned for either MM or MC carts, and uses FET's.
The tuner is very simple inside and contains a so-called Schotz Noise Reduction system, which, I have to say, is quite effective with my local MPR classical station. It does not collapse the image as does the high-blend on my Sony ST-5950D. I have not checked the ability to pull in distant stations yet.
The CD player is pretty high quality. The transport slides out of the chassis and features something akin to the Pioneer Stable Platter system. It uses a single Burr-Brown PCM56 DAC, and the analog output stage looks to be very well made. I have not connected it up yet, nor checked to see if it can handle burned discs.
The integrated amp features a remote that was apparently designed to control the whole series of components, with the amp controls up top, followed by the tuner, CD player, and tape deck. The remote itself is a bulky affair, and has a large, peculiar capsule shaped IR emitter window that continues over the top of the remote. Quite interesting, and it takes 4(!) AA batteries.
So, I guess I'm curious as to whether these are indeed, as I think, rebadged NAD kit, and if so, what models they appear to be based off of.
I responded as quick as a bunny and found out that the guy lived only a block away. I toddled over and sure enough it was Audio Dynamics but the gear just screamed NAD.
He told me that he bought it from Montgomery Wards back in the 90's and that he had gotten a swell deal on the set- apparently there was a matching tape deck as well, but he did not want it at the time. All the equipment itself if dated 1988.
Anyhow, back to the kit. All the components were in like-new condition and the build quality was very good.
The integrated amp features 4 toshiba output transistors per channel, a very good sized toroid transformer and a bank of 4x 10,000µF caps. Power output, as per the manual, is 100WPC continuous @ 8Ω, 120WPC continuous @ 4Ω. It also gives a distinctly "NAD-esqe" dynamic power output: 150WPC @ 8Ω, 225WPC @ 4Ω, and a whopping 325WPC @ 2Ω. With the listening I've performed with the Infinity Quantum 3, it seems to have no issues whatsoever with low impedance or demanding loads. Additionally, the phono section can be attuned for either MM or MC carts, and uses FET's.
The tuner is very simple inside and contains a so-called Schotz Noise Reduction system, which, I have to say, is quite effective with my local MPR classical station. It does not collapse the image as does the high-blend on my Sony ST-5950D. I have not checked the ability to pull in distant stations yet.
The CD player is pretty high quality. The transport slides out of the chassis and features something akin to the Pioneer Stable Platter system. It uses a single Burr-Brown PCM56 DAC, and the analog output stage looks to be very well made. I have not connected it up yet, nor checked to see if it can handle burned discs.
The integrated amp features a remote that was apparently designed to control the whole series of components, with the amp controls up top, followed by the tuner, CD player, and tape deck. The remote itself is a bulky affair, and has a large, peculiar capsule shaped IR emitter window that continues over the top of the remote. Quite interesting, and it takes 4(!) AA batteries.
So, I guess I'm curious as to whether these are indeed, as I think, rebadged NAD kit, and if so, what models they appear to be based off of.
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