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NAD 7600: Come Home To Papa
- Thread starter vintagestereo
- Start date
grateful
Super Member
I have a 1700 tuner preamp. Back in the early 80s when that unit was new, I was very friendly with some of the engineers at NAD. The 1700 was designed to be a no compromise best of breed tuner preamp. No cost was spared or corners cut. They were built at the time when NAD had fixed their quality problems and engineering was at its zenith. All the monitor series NAD units are gems. I think they are undervalued and underappreciated.
theblackknight
Mikes off! No recording!
the 1700/2600A is an amazing combo.:thmbsp:
Clarence said:
Frankly, compared to the Luxman R-117, the NAD is a bit of a disappointment, primarily the tuner. The amp section sounds good and has plenty of "life", almost on a par with the R-117. Bass is tight and solid, quite different from an SX-1980, and does not seem at all strained. The highs are crisp and detailed, without any graininess or harshness. With the exception of the R-117, this is about one of the nicest amp sections in a Receiver that I have yet to hear.
Unfortunately, the tuner is a different matter. It's similar to the faults that I find with the Marantz 2500/2600, where an exceptional amplifier is poorly mated with an only above average tuner. On just about every station I tuned in with the NAD I could hear that dreaded residual hiss in the background. Using the same dipole antenna, and in the exact same location, the R-117 was able to pull in the same stations quite cleanly. The 7600 has an FM Noise Reduction option and using this cleaned things up a bit although it seemed like the high frequency performance and stereo separation took a hit.
Ergonomically, the NAD has a major faux pas in that the balance control consists of two buttons which you have to push to adjust the balance. There is a single green LED to show when it is centered, although even that is not very accurate since you can press the buttons a few times and it will still remain green. So, you have no idea when you have correct balance other than judging with your ears. BAD, BAD, BAD!!!
Was the NAD 7600 worth the $400.00 (yeah, I know, I blew my limit in this one) I paid? I can't honestly say it is. For $200.00, I'd be happy. For $400.00 it's disappointing....especially considering that each of the R-117s cost considerably less.
On the issue of styling, I do like the NAD's over all appearance and the shape and feel of the buttons and switches. Maybe this thing will grow on me....if I ever listen to it.
-- Chris
Clarence
Super Member
hmm ill have to check out that luxman. I just dig the look of the nad.
i am NOT a fan of the tuner sectionin my 7100, OR my much newer c series tuner. thats funny that they are consistantly poor.
if you ever want to part with it, let me know. i probably would be less than thrilled paying 400, but maybe I can "borrow" it for awhile and throw it back on the bay.
They dont seem to come up often.
thanks for the info
i am NOT a fan of the tuner sectionin my 7100, OR my much newer c series tuner. thats funny that they are consistantly poor.
if you ever want to part with it, let me know. i probably would be less than thrilled paying 400, but maybe I can "borrow" it for awhile and throw it back on the bay.
They dont seem to come up often.thanks for the info
Damage
Super Member
Hello,
I find this to be the exact opposite of my 7100. It has excellent sound with no hiss. And the IF Narrow filter on it is the best I have ever seen.
I have a ton of tuners, and two top receivers, the Mac 4100 and Kenwood KR-9600. There is a rock station who's tower is 100 miles from me, 99.5. But there are two local stations, one and 99.3 and one at 99.7.
Using indoor cheap dipole antenna.
The sony 555 ES tuner, won't pick it up without finding just the right spot.
The Yamaha T85, same deal. But has good speration when it does.
Mac 4100, it'll find it, but only with a powered antenna. Will still drop in and out
Kr-9600. Pretty consistenantly picks it up, but stereo seperation is sometimes poor.
But the NAD 7100, no problem. Stereo day or night. Hiss during the day, but quiet as a mouse at night.
I find this to be the exact opposite of my 7100. It has excellent sound with no hiss. And the IF Narrow filter on it is the best I have ever seen.
I have a ton of tuners, and two top receivers, the Mac 4100 and Kenwood KR-9600. There is a rock station who's tower is 100 miles from me, 99.5. But there are two local stations, one and 99.3 and one at 99.7.
Using indoor cheap dipole antenna.
The sony 555 ES tuner, won't pick it up without finding just the right spot.
The Yamaha T85, same deal. But has good speration when it does.
Mac 4100, it'll find it, but only with a powered antenna. Will still drop in and out
Kr-9600. Pretty consistenantly picks it up, but stereo seperation is sometimes poor.
But the NAD 7100, no problem. Stereo day or night. Hiss during the day, but quiet as a mouse at night.
Clarence said:
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
Chris: I agree with your comments about the amp section, it is powerful and very capable. I still don't like the looks and there are some details that don't fit the image. The black "sunglass" for the display is made of cheap plastic and the knobs are plastic. Some like the industrial grey but I don't, in order to have a matching system, you have to go all NAD and that is annoying considering how cheaply made NAD CDP's are.vintagestereo said:
Tuners seem to be a NAD weakness. I've had several NAD receivers and most have had tuner problems so I am not really impressed. Makes me think it is Not Another Defect. Happily, my 7600 tuner works fine. Working the tuner is tiring without the remote, you have to manually tune if you do not have the remote. The lesser 7400 has scan available from the front panel, why not the 7600? And, where is the seek function?
I owned the 7600 first before getting the R-117. It is lilkely if I had the R-117 first and had the opportunity to preview a 7600, I would have passed on it. Sam.
SoCal Sam said:
Sam -- Happy to say my 7600 works just fine as well...but, when all is said and done, it's just not as good overall as the R-117. The R-117 is one of those amazing pieces that goes from strength to strength without any significant faults. And, you got into the game for next to nothing!
The prevalence of plastic on the NAD does bother me....but, the styling is very "desinger"-oriented and I enjoy that.
Am I sorry I got it? No. Do I plan on selling it? No.
-- Chris
Damage said:
Damage -- That's pretty much what my NAD has, hiss during the day and relatively quiet (mice do squeak from time to time) at night. With the R-117 you won't have any FM issues AT ALL. It is a superlative performer. Why not sell your Mac 4100 and pick up a couple rather than endure the continuing frustration of dropped signals? :yes:
Damage
Super Member
vintagestereo said:
The hiss I hear is because the signal, which again is over 100 miles away, is barely received in stereo. Set to mono, no hiss. How far is the station you are trying to pick up? I don't doubt you, it's 3:1 on this observation. But I stand by the statement the IF Narrow filter is the best I have personally encountered.
:nono:
Because:
1) The MAC sounds better than any other receiver I own. Period.
2) I have an outside antenna.
3) It's a MAC, will last forever and will be worth more than a Luxman ever will be.
4) HD Radio is the future. I plan to dump all but two receivers and buy one nice HD component. Hopefully a Sony ES one to match my other seperates.
And the following is a good reason why... http://users.tns.net/~bb/hdrsn.htm
Damage said:The hiss I hear is because the signal, which again is over 100 miles away, is barely received in stereo. Set to mono, no hiss. How far is the station you are trying to pick up? I don't doubt you, it's 3:1 on this observation. But I stand by the statement the IF Narrow filter is the best I have personally encountered.
:nono:
Because:
1) The MAC sounds better than any other receiver I own. Period.
2) I have an outside antenna.
3) It's a MAC, will last forever and will be worth more than a Luxman ever will be.
4) HD Radio is the future. I plan to dump all but two receivers and buy one nice HD component. Hopefully a Sony ES one to match my other seperates.
And the following is a good reason why... http://users.tns.net/~bb/hdrsn.htm
With all due respect, I don't think a Luxman R-117 plays second fiddle to the MAC 4100 in any way. Personally, I think MAC Receivers:
1) Are way overpriced compared to what they actually do;
2) Really don't sound much different from comparably rated units and certainly not better than the MASSIVELY more powerful R-117;
3) Are not even in the same ballpark with the Luxman lookswise (they look rather crude and unsophisticated comparatively);
4) Probably won't last forever without expensive repairs and maintenance (believe me, I see plenty of 'em at my Tech's with all manner of ills);
and,
5) Are simply not my cup of tea.
But, if you enjoy your's, I'm certainly not going to try to change your mind. I feel equally as strongly about the merits of the R-117.
You pointed out some deficiencies in your 4100's FM performance and I suggested a solution. Just because the 4100 is not something I would choose over a Luxman R-117 certainly want doesn't mean it "is not worthy" of you owning it.
Enjoy!
Happy New Year!
-- Chris
Damage said:heh... well you are the receiver king.I did look at owning an R-117. But price lately starts approaching the seperates I want to collect. I have receivers I want for collections sake though, but that is another thread I'm sure.
No -- yrly is the Receiver King....make that Emperor!
I was just putting some receivers on racks and came to the stunning realization that "I've got WAY too many"....so it's time to thin the herd BIG TIME!
Frankly, the 4100 is a great Receiver and you should be proud for owning it. I'm just an "R-117 freak" and look at the world through A very colored perspective. One day I'll snap out of it. Sorry for the rant!
Happy New Year!
-- Chris
bully said:
With the reputation NAD has established......you'll have no problem!
Happy New Year, Pete!!
-- Chris
SoCal Sam said:
FYI, the R-117 is rated at 4.4 db of dynamic headroom. That's about the most I've EVER seen on a Receiver.