NAD 7600 PE Receiver

[Vistance]

Hey guys, I'm considering purchasing this NAD Monitor Series 7600 PE receiver as opposed to a Carver CM-1090 integrated amp. I've heard the Carver and it sounded pretty nice to me, but the NAD is certainly nice too. Seller wants me to make an offer on it and I'm not too sure what a good price would be for it. It looks real beefy, but I don't know much about how it sounds yet. A little older than the Carver but only by a few years. It has Power Envelope technology, though I'm not sure I understand what this really means. It's rated 150 watts at 8 ohms per channel .03% THD, pre-out/main-in loops, remote - it's no slouch.

Here's a few pics snagged just to show what one of these looks like:

I saw one sell for $400 5 years ago, but then eBay shows one just sold the other day for $510. So bottom line, in your opinion - should I go with the Carver CM-1090 Integrated amp and TX-2 tuner or go with the the NAD 7600 PE? What is really a fair price to offer on this monster receiver (Before the seller told me about it, I've nary seen any NAD receivers and never ones this big). According to NAD this receiver consists of NAD’s three finest Monitor Series stereo separates 11300 Preamplifier, 4300 Tuner, and
2600A Power Amplifier.

 

[deep3shot]

I recently purchased a NAD 7600 PE in Northern Illinois for $300.00. The seller was using it to audition a pair of Klipsch Forte's I purchased. I liked it enough to make an offer and he accepted. For the last few months I have listened to it extensively paired with several pairs of speakers and I can confidently say I did not overpay. The tuner is excellent so I am pleased as I love to listen to radio.

This may sound a bit shallow but the NAD's only liability, if it has one, is its styling in my opinion. It kind of grows on you after awhile. In any case go for it as is intended for your ears not your eyes. Good luck and let us know how you do. --Cheers

 

[factorplayer]

sounds like a great amp, I'd pick it up if you haven't already.

 

[Vistance]

I ended up passing on it for another piece. It sounded fine to me, but NAD's Bass EQ leaves a lot to be desired...compared to a loudness button it does nothing, and since most of my listening is at low levels where loudness is needed I dislike that. Also I felt like the NAD had cheap build quality to it - mostly because of the plastic. Things such as the tuning knob felt lightweight and were visibly imperfect (It wobbled as I turned it because the plastic was made that way - just cheap). It had way too many confusing controls on the front and lights - typical of an '80s piece. Maybe good for someone else, but not me I feel.

 

[SoCal Sam]

Good pass. I've owned two 7600's and numberous 2600A's and 1600 preamps, which the 7600 is basically the two together. Didn't really like any of them, they sounded Eighties' competently good and no more. Can't say much about Carver Magnetic Field amps either.

 

[Raynald]

The Monitor series had good sound but sub par construction. There were also some serious reliability issues in the first runs. Some folks are big fans of the 7600 but I sold other stuff alonside that I preferred, the Carvers NOT being in that group so +1 on that one!

I would pick up a 7600 if the price were low, the tuner is indeed outstanding and the rest is at least very good sonically, but they tend to sell for more than I would part with for one.

 

[Vistance]

Oh yeah, not telling me anything on Carver. Their sound is ehh to me - I found one I really liked the sound of, not the typical Carver sound - but it had problems. Seems to me Carver has too many reliability problems, so many problems with different models and they're always typical problems - this amp has a hum in it, this amp overheats, etc etc. I see where they get their ill-reputation, I have to say I honestly wouldn't pay much of anything for a Carver piece anymore and at one point I might have.