Speakers for NAD 7030 Solid State Receiver

[Don Thomas]

Hi folks,

I have a NAD 7030 receiver from 1977. I just had it refurbished and it sounds amazing. I’d appreciate advice on what speakers to pair with it. It only puts out 30 watts per channel, so I assume I’ll need to get very efficient speakers. My budget is roughly $1,500 for a pair. The room it’s in is roughly 500 square feet.

NAD Specs:
Power output: 30 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
Frequency response: 5Hz to 45kHz
Total harmonic distortion: 0.09%
Damping factor: 50
Input sensitivity: 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line)
Signal to noise ratio: 74dB (MM)
Speaker load impedance: 4Ω (minimum)

For the past 30 years, it’s been driving a pair of Celestion Ditton 250s, which finally crapped out.

Thank you!

 

[UMRKretread]

Have you considered Tekton? I have never heard any, but they sound like the real deal, from what I have read. Most models are extremely efficient; 30W would be plenty. Not to mention the headroom NAD is well known for (I have a 3155 integrated, bought new, rated 55wpc, sounds like way more). You could pick up a pair of Lore, $1000 delivered.
https://www.tektondesign.com/
Another possibility, probably, is Zu Audio: Omen Dirty Weekend, same comments as above: never heard any, but read lots of positives.
https://www.zuaudio.com/deals

 

[Don Thomas]

Fantastic advice. Thank you. I read about both and they seem like exactly the kind of speakers that I need. Much appreciated, UMRKretread!

 

[Jayrosc]

Dude. That receiver is gonna run almost anything and run them great. Boston's. JBL's, Klipsch,

 

[teal'c]

NAD and Cerwin Vega is a beautiful combo, but like Jayrosc says, it will tend to make even poor speakers sound decent.

 

[Buanadha]

Dude. That receiver is gonna run almost anything and run them great. Boston's. JBL's, Klipsch,

I love the older NAD/Boston combo. I've been running an NAD 7120 (maybe 5 years after the 7030?) with refoamed Boston A60's and it's a great sounding combination. I'm giving the set away to my parents, but have been listening to it a lot lately

I also like KEF's with the NAD's, but no matter what you should be able to find something you like for well under the budget

 

[MaxP]

Another Boston fan here. I have A60s and A200s. I ran the A200s with a 45 WPC Philips for years and the combo sounded great.

 

[mnmmt]

I ran a restored 3020 for years with Boston vr40 and it sounded excellent. I now listen to it through Tannoy S8lr and again excellent sound. Both of these speakers are rated at 91db/watt/1meter sensitivity. I really have to be blasting it to get even the 5 watt leds to flicker.