Found both the NAD 712 and the c740 on the cheap -- which receiver is better? I strongly preffer the look of the 712, but it is a bit older than the c740. I plan to run 2 channel stereo, not surround.

Also found the NAD T535 DVD/CD for less than $300 -- but know absolutely zilch about this machine. Good or bad experiences, anyone? Perhaps I am better off using a dedicated audio CD player, since my primary goal is listening to music.

Since I am fairly new to the NAD family, I'd love to learn from your experience.

All I can say is I have a Nad power amp and I like it alot.

NAD Gear sounds great and is good equipment for the price . I have a C-370 Integrated Amp I use for Music only listening running Paradigm Studio 60 Speakers and Rega Apollo CD player.
The combination of these components sounds great to me ears.

I also have A NAD T-752 for Home Theater and it is a nice receiver although My remote sensor recently died , so my remote is not working with it currently.

I have a used NAD 7020 receiver and it may be the best sounding receiver that I own. The only repair it has needed so far was to replace the tuning dial lamp which was very simple. I have heard of some folks having reliability issues with NAD products, but no problems here. Sweet sound!:music:

I ran a 1020 / 2155 combination for about 18 years and quite enjoyed it.
It provided years of reliable service, even though it was used when I purchased it from a pawn shop.
It now resides with a cousin of mine, who got it from me last year.

My only nag about NAD is the sound is, as one AKer has put it, "very polite".
Meaning, it always sounds good.
It is never too bassy or bright.
Is this really a bad thing? :)

Ironically, I discovered an NAD 7150 receiver approximately 1 week after my cousin got his "new" NAD.
IIRC, this has the same power section as the 2155.
Also, the phono section is really good on this unit!

NAD has always been known for almost across the board qulity, value and sound...its good gear at a good price and used can be a virtual no brainer.

My only nag about NAD is the sound is, as one AKer has put it, "very polite".
Meaning, it always sounds good.
It is never too bassy or bright.
Is this really a bad thing? :)


I generally agree, but I think with the amps the bass does have a slightly "muscular" quality, and the highs tend to lack a bit of "air" found with nicer gear. For these reasons I would have reservations about recommending it to a total classical music head.

NAD stuff I own:

1155 preamp
2155 power amp
3150 integrated
502 CD player

NAD is polite, almost dry sounding. Easy to listen to. I am not enamored with their reliability long term. They are either very fine or troublemakers requiring frequent repair visits. I like their older components best in the build quality department. Their CD players are especially repair prone.

I've been running my 3155 for a good while now, and it has some really great features, and sounds very sweet. It has loads of headroom, has a fantastic phono section, and has not had one reliability issue. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

I own a 7100 and a 3020 love em both great sounding machines. I have also used 2 NAD cd players the model numbers escapes me though but still nice players

I on the other hand have never had a NAD unit that didn't have at least one problem, but then they were all purchased "used".

I've owned two NAD 502 CD players and an NAD 7020 receiver, all of which came to me used. The CD players sounded great when they worked, but I ended up scrapping them because keeping them running through one breakdown after another took more time and patience than I had. The 7020 blew the drivers and outputs in one channel, but the receiver sounded so good before it broke that I spent the time and money to fix it with the correct OEM-grade parts. It's singing again and sounding terrific.

FWIW, the build quality on the 7020 is light-years ahead of what I saw on the CD players. It's a solid, well-designed receiver.

I agree with you about the NAD CD players and their well documented reliability issues. I’ve owned three NAD CDPs (C-525i, C-525bee, & C-542) all purchased used, and although they sounded very good for the price, every one of them had one problem or another. As a result I no longer own NAD CD players.

I may own one again, if the price is right, but I’ll do so with extreme skepticism.

The 740 is a much better sounding unit. More modern architecture. I have 2 2100's, a 2600A, 2400, 1700, 5000, 515, PP-2, S100, and the venerable 6100 cassette deck. I also sell the stuff and I can tell you there have been issues but not with the 740 receiver. Mostly in the digital theater arena.
Best...Dan

I've never owned NAD so can't say for sure, but I always thought it was ugly and didn't do anything sonically for me when I tested it out pretty hard in a couple of showrooms when I was younger. But that was with speakers I didn't know (EPI if I recall at one showroom, or whatever the brand was in the 80s that had inverted dome tweeters in every model?).

Still, some people rave about the pres etc. I expect it's all quite well engineered.

I have had three individuals tell me that their nad cd players mistrack terribly over the past few months, so that can't be a coincidence. But cd player mechanics don't equate to preamp and amplifier design skill at all.

But I'd say that "ugly and didn't do anything for me sonically and cd players mistrack" pretty much sums up my experience.

Is that a strong enough opinion for you? totally biased and individual also LoL

but please take it with a grain of salt. Like most people who trash talk a brand, I don't own the brand and much of what I say about NAD is from limited or no personal experience ;-)

I have a bunch of NAD stuff from several eras and find it quite good. The 3020 is still a heavy hitter at home for me, dusting lots of way higher dollar stuff for tone. It's got a great first couple watts.

The 2200 are horses and sound decent for a now $200 amp. They have relay problems that could make them unusable when they finally go. I have several of them for different systems. The 1155 preamp sounds flat out great. You really have to spend closer to $1000 to get a preamp that sounds as better than this $200 box.

The most modern NAD CD/DVD player I have sucks. I don't remember the number. The D/A converters are just average. As transports they aren't bad. I use a C660 at work with a Theta D/A converter that sounds pretty good.

I think the older used stuff is a great audio value if it's still in good enough condition you don't have to spend money on it.

If you buy any CDP buy it NEW with a guarantee. I have had mine for a few years with no problems - after it was repaired under warranty twice!

Otherwise a great sounding product. Mine was replacing a Luxman. Big shoes to fill and it did do it well. But again buy it with a warrantee or expect nothing but trouble.

charles

I had a NAD 7100 receiver and missed so much when I sold it I bought another.

I can vouch for the 2200 power amp being a horse. I used one for a couple of years, and although it had a couple of capacitor failures, I loved it. Tons of clean power.

I really like my extremely reliable NAD 1130 preamp.

I had a NAD 7100 receiver and missed so much when I sold it I bought another.

I also sold my 7100 years ago then went out and bought another one:music: Have owned a few NAD CD players all had issues :thumbsdn:

Unfortunately I have to agree with airtime after my bad experience buying two C521BEE CD players. Both had to be replaced when new and one is still finicky with CD-RW's.

I do love my 3020 and 3120 integrateds, still great sounding, after many years they still get played regularly.

I have a 1130 pre amp like Flatwounds, I keep it around for the times my Foreplay linestage develops a loose connection. The phono stage is clean & flexible, and has MC capability.

1130 and 1020 - both have been great for me.