• 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

Old NAD CD Player Hierarchy: Monitor Series 5000 vs 5100 vs 5300

A

AlexLipowich

New Member
I have a pair of NAD Monitor Series CD players I'd like to have refreshed.

The 5300 is dated 12/1987, the 5000 is dated 9/1990.

I can "guess" by the extra features and buttons, slight extra weight possibly that the 5300 is the top of the line, but it seems older too.

Can anyone tell me which is likely to be better sounding? They both have digital outs, variable and line outputs.

I can not find much reference material to understand which is likely a better sounding CDP, and I really only want to refresh one at this point, to set up a system in a spare bedroom using matching Monitor reciever, and for pure convenience, one remote.

I'm well aware that more modern devices will outperform these items, call it nostagia.

Anyone have links? Memory of this line up?
(for that matter where did the 5100 fall in line?)

Thanks in advance for any comments.
 
Register to hide this ad
I'd love to be able to help but I have'nt found much of any info as to what's inside of the 5300 CDP in terms of DAC ~ transports ~ filters ~ etc. etc.
In the context of the NAD monitor series in general the 5000 would be the basic CDP while the 5300 would be the more advanced CDP.

The 5100 CDP should fall somewhere between the other two monitor series CDPs (5000 & 5300).

That's largely the same for the rest of the monitor series.
ie: The 1000 was the basic preamp and the 1300 was the more advanced preamp.
And the 6100 was the basic tape deck vs. the 6300 being more advanced deck.

Amps were the 2100 @ 50wpc then the 2400 @ 100wpc and the 2600 @ 150wpc.
The 2700 amp was basically a 2600 with a few features added to get the THX rating.

So in the context of the series one could mix & match or go along the general lineage of the series.

Example I have a 1300 preamp with the 2600 power amp and the 4300 tuner.
So the "companion pieces" to that set would be the 5300 CDP and the 6300 tape deck.

More examples:
If one had the 7000 reciever it's companion would typically be the 5000 CDP.
And if one had the 7100 reciever it's companion would typically be the 5100 CDP .

Those both would have the 6100 tape deck as the companion to those pieces.

Where-as the 7400 & 7600 receivers would share the 5300 CDP & 6300 deck as their companions.

Clear as mud,right ???

Date just places when the actual unit was manufactured vs. when the monitor series itself was released.

IMO the 5100 would be the better CDP vs. the 5000.
I say that as I prefer the multibit Burr Brown PCM56P DAC to the Panasonic MN6471M 1bit MASH DAC.
Others may feel the opposite were true,and there really is no "true" winner,as it's all subjective.

As for that 5300 CDP???
Like I said in the begining it's hard to say w/o more solid info on the DAC & transport and such.

If someone here can shed some light on what's actually inside a 5300 CDP I myself would be VERY interested in that info.

FWIW

Bret P.
 
I will open up the unit, and see if I can identify the DAC and the transport. If you send me your email, I can send a high res photo in case I can't tell what to look for.
 
I had a 5300 with a bad laser. My tech, Norm, advised me to scrap it due to the impossibility of finding a replacement laser.

Sure was a handsome unit though.
 
Thank you both for comments. Especially a reminder on the order and quality. I had forgotten how that worked.
I have 2 7600's, one damaged needing repair. I have a 7100 and a 7400 as well. I could have sworn I had an additional monitor line CDP, but in fact the other CDP I have from NAD stacked up, not working well are a tray shuffle player, and a cartridge shuffle player. A old 220 amp, a preamp simple one, and a pair of tuners as well.

At any rate, this website: http://www.marantzphilips.nl/the_complete_d_a_dac_converter_list/#N
seems to show that the Monitor series 5000 and 5100 do not share lasers or transports, the 5000 model lacking some features, but having digital out, the 5100 (oddly I think) having the extra features, but lacking the digital out.

I'm going to open my 5000, see if I can identify the chipset knowing what that website shows, and see if I can ID the transport as well, and compare/contrast to the 5300 I have here. If there is overlap, I may bring both to the repair shop, saying, use parts from the 5000 if need be to get the 5300 up to snuff.

Alex.
http://www.marantzphilips.nl/the_complete_d_a_dac_converter_list/#N
 
OK, so the 5300 has a pair of BB PCM56P on its board, assume Burr Brown.
I can not see any markings on the transport, although the laser section has KTG TM3HB on a board, and 47515095 in ink on it.

The transport and laser are NOT as in the 5000 I have which I can clearly see that D77 mark on the laser section or transport, and have to assume the laser is the Sony one easily replaced.

The insides are completely different with the 5300 having a more robust power supply, and much more complex board(s). There is only one main board in the 5000, whereas the 5300 has one vertically on the side, one under the transport with a Yamaha chip, and one much larger main board. Overall the 5300 seems to "have more in it", but, I guess disappointed it may not have a more common Sony Laser in it. Be interesting to see the inside of a 5100 to compare it to the 5300. I have photos of the 5300 available via regular email if anyone wants to take a shot at ID of the board stuff or the transport and laser. xyobgyn using aol.
 
Last edited:
I think i have some pics of the 5100 internals here somewhere. Same PM56 ? chip as 5300 but digital out is nice to have and a better power supply can improve dynamics and control. Id look for the 5300 but the 5100 sounded ok minus the slight sibalance on some recordings.
 
I have a NAD 5 disc that really sounds great, changes discs lightning quick but it skips like crazy. I tried cleaning the laser and lubing the transport but that didn't help. I wish I could get it going but doubt if I ever will.
 
AlexLipowich said:
OK, so the 5300 has a pair of BB PCM56P on its board, assume Burr Brown.
I can not see any markings on the transport, although the laser section has KTG TM3HB on a board, and 47515095 in ink on it.

The transport and laser are NOT as in the 5000 I have which I can clearly see that D77 mark on the laser section or transport, and have to assume the laser is the Sony one easily replaced.

The insides are completely different with the 5300 having a more robust power supply, and much more complex board(s). There is only one main board in the 5000, whereas the 5300 has one vertically on the side, one under the transport with a Yamaha chip, and one much larger main board. Overall the 5300 seems to "have more in it", but, I guess disappointed it may not have a more common Sony Laser in it. Be interesting to see the inside of a 5100 to compare it to the 5300. I have photos of the 5300 available via regular email if anyone wants to take a shot at ID of the board stuff or the transport and laser. xyobgyn using aol.
Click to expand...
Ok I know this is an OLD thread and this is a bit OT, but...
I've been trying to gather info. on the NAD 5300 and found this:
NAD 5300 LASER AT-D16 Model D-62B.jpg listed as "NAD 5300 LASER AT-D16 Model D-62B" and it looks just like mine. [no affiliation]
(It even mentioned similarity to what was used in Nakamichi which agrees with http://www.marantzphilips.nl/the_complete_d_a_dac_converter_list/#N)
 
For anyone looking: the 5300 remote is unique. Remotes from other monitor series players will work just fine but they don’t have all functions.

If you do happen to find one check the battery compartment. They seem to work fine as long as they are clean inside.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom