• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

NAD: Which units are tried and true ones?

I have a NAD C 740 receiver. It's rated at 35 WPC. I prefer its sound to almost every vintage receiver I've owned. You could put it on the NAD keepers list. Especially for how much they sell for.
 
I have absolutely nothing negative to say about my NAD 7240. I'd wanted one of these ever since they came out and last year I located one in PERFECT condition for $75. Wonderful sound, excellent tuner and plenty of headroom.
 
I've got a 3240PE amplifier that came with me when I moved across the Pond. It's one of the "keepers", and not just because I bought it from new. Other amps have come and gone, this one stays because it sounds so good, and it drives difficult loads that have caused other amps to go into protection.

I first heard it at Billy Vee Sound Systems in London many years ago. I spent about 3 or 4 hours in there listening to different amps and CD players. I listened to this NAD amp against the cream of the budget to mid British offerings of the time : Arcam, Creek, QED, maybe even an A&R. Both myself and the dude in the shop (to his surprise) thought the NAD sounded better on both CD and especially phono sources.

Lee.
 
nickrobotron said:
I have a NAD C 740 receiver. It's rated at 35 WPC. I prefer its sound to almost every vintage receiver I've owned. You could put it on the NAD keepers list. Especially for how much they sell for.
Click to expand...

I've got the same receiver. High quality, great sound, no problems, except programming radio stations is a pita. I use mine to power the top end on my late-90s AR-11x's, then run bridged dayton monoblocks @ 175 watts apiece to the built-in subs. Big jump in quality when I made that move.


Sent via mobile using Tapatalk
Please excuse the typos
 
shane2468 said:
I have a NAD C272 poweramp which I am very happy with. ..., this poweramp of NAD has such good tight controled bass.
Click to expand...

I'm looking forward to hearing mine when it comes back from the shop. It went up in flames first time I used it. Made In China. From research it seems early production of this model got dodgy main caps. White caps with black tops (as pictured) were then replaced with black caps with white tops, (I'm told).

All the old stuff from the early 1980s keeps on going with maintenance when needed. Would have to spend more than I can afford or want to afford to better it.
 

Attachments

  • Power Amp internal explosion result 1.jpg
    Power Amp internal explosion result 1.jpg
    104.9 KB · Views: 76
Running a very basic 7120 receiver into some Dynaco A25's, or Rogers LS3/5a's and sounds very smooth. Using same rig to break in some newly refoamed/recapped JBL L19's and actually pretty mellow too. Never had a problem with this unit in 10 years of used ownership. Had also picked up a 3155 integrated amp which has seen duty with my son before coming back to be a bench test amp.

Had a pair of 2200pe amps in the past worked great, the sold them to a fellow who blew one of them about 4 months later, possibly from a low ohm load.
 
I've got a 7155 receiver, 7120e receiver, 3020 integrated amp, and 1020 preamp (ill) currently. I've also had a 7045 receiver that I recently sold because it was unused and lonely and a 2140 amp that went to a friend for a good cause. I've really enjoyed them all. A couple needed some work, the 7120e because I did something stupid and the 7045 because of a nasty power outage/spike.

I'd love to have another amp like the 2140 to keep around as a backup. That thing was solid and at 40wpc gave a great showing as a fill-in for a 225wpc Carver that needed sprucing up.
 
I've owned a number of NAD amps and receivers, the only NAD I have now is my 7155 receiver, it has been one of my favorites for many years. It has not given me any problems, and has outlasted, and outperformed many other highly regarded units. This is the only unit I would put money into repairing, rather than replace it. Klipsch speakers luv it.
 
My first proper stereo amp was the the NAD C370 and it sounded great with my monitor audio speakers but then i sold it for a Yamaha av amp.Then i sold the Yamaha av amp to buy the NAD T744 wich i thought wasnt as good as the Yamaha av amp so sold it for Dennon av amp wich was alot better than T744 .
 
NAD 3150, 2150 and 2150

Here's my little NAD set up. I'm running the 2150's bridged and using the 3150 for a preamp. This cheap setup sound very nice for very little money. On these amps they have dual power supply's, don't know if that makes any difference or not but I sure do like them. Looks like I need to dust.:yes:
007-28.jpg

005-30.jpg
 
I've had my NAD 1600 Preamp/Tuner since 1992 and it still works fine. It's actually very good for what it is. It's got a decent FM Tuner, a good MM/MC phono stage w/subsonic filter, and looks good. It's SQ is good, but not high end by any means. My Onkyo 575x AVR has very close to the SQ of the NAD (The Onkyo is highly rated in stereo though)

The good news is, it an excelent design, it just needs better parts. A Company I stumbled on on the internet can make it near high end for about $400. In fact if you can find the website, it lists what is worth fixing and what should be "Recycled".
 
If you ever have the opportunity - try driving a pair of Smaller Advents with the little NAD 7120 set for 4 ohm operation.
Very pleasant surprise! :)
 
Last edited:
I regret selling my Nad 2700: 150 wpc, soft clipping at 200 wpc, stable down to 2 ohm speaker load, lots of head room...
 
Got a 3300 amp/4300 tuner combo driving a modified set of EPI 150s.

This sounds MUCH better than the Marantz 1060 it replaced.

The 5300 CD player I picked with the other NAD stuff skips on the first track, even after cleaning but has lots of nifty features and sounds pretty good. The 6300 cassette player is also in good shape and plays pre-recorded cassettes well enough.

The components, part of the Monitor series, have been a pleasant surprise for me.
 
7220pe $4.00 SA find!!!!! This one got me hooked on the NAD sound! A little 20wpc reciever took the place of an SX-950 and sounded great driving ADS 710's.

Just found a mint 314 integrated for $50 on CL that makes me swoon; yes swoon!!!!

Both are original (doesn't look like anyone has poked around inside).

I also have a 1000 Monitor series pre-amp that I'm not impressed with. The 314's & 7220's phono is much better.
 
FauxHall said:
Got a 3300 amp/4300 tuner combo driving a modified set of EPI 150s.

This sounds MUCH better than the Marantz 1060 it replaced.

The 5300 CD player I picked with the other NAD stuff skips on the first track, even after cleaning but has lots of nifty features and sounds pretty good. The 6300 cassette player is also in good shape and plays pre-recorded cassettes well enough.

The components, part of the Monitor series, have been a pleasant surprise for me.
Click to expand...


Great system. The 4300 is one of the best digital tuners you can find. The 6300 is an incredible deck. For sound quality it was shockingly close to the Revox B215 we also sold at the time. Nothing like the build quality, but not the same price range. I used to joke it was what you would get if Revox had subcontracted to Mattel.

Your skipping experience with the 5300 is pretty typical even when new and it just gets worse with wear. The amp was probably a winner too but we sold mostly receivers because of the remote.
 
Hey Now,

I still have my 7120 from '83. It has been a great little receiver. It is pulling barn duty in the tack room now. It drove a pair of KEF Reference 103.2s for over 20 years.

--
Finest kind,
Chris
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom