Opinions of the NAD 705 receiver?
Felix Y Lui
I'm thinking of purchasing one and was wondering if anyone
has had any experience with it or has listened to it.
Thanks! =)
Felix Lui
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st20...@brownvm.brown.edu Feli...@brown.edu
Lee Jun Wah: The Man Formerly Known As Henry J. Lee
Y Lui) wrote:
:Does anyone have any opinions on the NAD 705 receiver? (Good or bad?)
I have serious questions about the quality control of NAD (take a look at
the 502 CD player for example). In exchange for good sound at an
affordable price, they seem to cut a lot of corners. One of my friends has
the NAD 705 receiver. It's 1.5 years old and is currently in the shop for
the fourth time (failed minutes after we turned it on for the first time
since we got it back from the third repair) . I have reason to believe
that there's some sort of design flaw in the amp section. This is how it
failed all four times. Protection light goes on, power to speakers cut
out. Seems like a standard overload problem so far but in addition, the
earphone jack don't work (this is not normal). Headphone jack should work
regardless of an overload on the speaker outputs (so it says in the
manual). Plus I'm sure it ain't an overload. If it was it would work again
once we allow it time to "cool off".
Just to make sure if speakers, wires, etc were the culprit....we checked
(for damage) every inch of the speaker wires, interconnects...we hooked up
another receiver to the system. That worked fine (he's using it now that
the NAD is in the shop again).
Oh, I have a 12 yr. old NAD 7150 that died exactly the same way. Amp
section's dead. Headphone jack don't work. Pre-amp out and main in jacks
are dead. It too has gone through 4 repairs (but in the span of 12+
years), with all being this same recurring problem (as the 705). All the
line level jacks work just fine, though. I currently use it as a makeshift
Aux switch box for my main receiver to add on extra components. Gotta be
resourceful...I'm a college student damnit! =)
To play devil's advocate to myself, it's possible that whoever's been
doing the repairs are incompetent idiots (for both receivers over a span
of 12+ years). However, IMO, four times is a lot. It shouldn't fail even
once, esp. for a relatively new receiver.
In conclusion, I like NAD for their sound quality (I do like the NAD 705
in this respect), but not their reliability. Personally, I have decided to
stay away from NAD as reliability plays a major factor when I go looking
for equipment.
Currently I'm in search of an amp/pre-amp combo and leaning towards Rotel.
You should consider taking a look at them too. They're in the same price
range as NAD. Though I haven't done any head to head comparisons, I really
liked the Rotel stuff I auditioned (in particular, the 980 pre/power
pair). I'm sure some people will say otherwise but even if NAD (or some
other company) do sound better, I can't tell much of a difference to
matter much...plus Rotel's 5 year warrany is hard to beat.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me...
Good luck,
Henry
ps. Regardless of how you look at NAD now, do audition their stuff if you
have the opportunity. Judge the sound quality for yourself. Reliabiltiy
wise, do you feel lucky (this applies to all brands, not just NAD)?
--
Henry Jun Wah Lee | Intern, Asian Americans United
aka Mr. Diaper Rash | CornHell Student Currently On Leave
Fan mail and merchandise inquiries should be sent to:
hj...@cornell.edu
Second hand toilet paper and wet panties are not usually appreciated
by mail carriers so please refrain from sending any.
Werner Ogiers
: To play devil's advocate to myself, it's possible that whoever's been
: doing the repairs are incompetent idiots (for both receivers over a span
: of 12+ years). However, IMO, four times is a lot. It shouldn't fail even
: once, esp. for a relatively new receiver.
I think this is a widespread problem in the USA: the qualities of the local
service stations.
In Europe we have, of course, each our own national distributor. And when
that distributor sells a good product, and is devoted to his task, his
service will also be of some calibre. Repairs are made quickly, correctly
and cheaply. A case in point is the distributor for Quad and Nakamichi, who
ensures that over 90% of all devices he sold over the past 25 years are
still fully operational. The local NAD departments try to mimick this
style of working.
Again on the NAD 705: from an engineering point of view it looks like a
nightmare to me. The thing is too complex and not very well built. The new
214 power amp I have currently under scrutiny, on the other hand, is an
exercise in simplicity, both in its design and in its implementation.
The electronics are neat, small, modular, and without the wire mess of, say,
the 705. Sound is gorgeous, maybe just a tiny little bit on the cold side of
things.
Werner
Alan M. Warhaftig
had no problems whatsoever. Two other friends have the 705 and theirs
are also going strong.
Alan--
HCM AUDIO
with them. They have been one of the most reliable NAD pieces in the line.
I'm also using one myself in my workshop. Works great.
-Harry
HCM Audio
Steve Schlesinger
If you don't need the tuner, the NAD 304 Integrated Amp is supposed
to be considerably better than the 705 receiver.
--
===============================================================================
Steve Schlesinger 619-485-3528 VoicePlus 440-3528 FAX 619-485-3010
AT&T Global Information Solutions Enterprise Solutions Division
17095 Via Del Campo, San Diego CA 92127 steve.sc...@SanDiegoCA.attgis.com
Peter Sabin
I discovered yesterday that the U.S. distribution for NAD will be
handled by Kinergetics (sp?) Holding, the same people who bring KEF and
Celestion to the market. Should be interesting since KH America is run
by Robert Heiblim (ex-Denon) and Jim Sullivan (ex-a/d/s/). Look for new
products once these two get 'on-line'.
Peter T. Sabin
Marketing Manager, Consumer Division
Audio-Technica U.S., Inc.
Internet ........ pet...@en.com