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For a relative: What about the NAD L73 5.1 receiver w/ built-in DVD? Is it reliable? Looks very nice, $1k MSRP.
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916 multichannel amp in daily use for 5yr before I sold it after an upgrade.NAD 7060 receiver connected to my computer, sees several hrs of use per day.
NAD 7020 receiver used by my daughter for a few hrs per day and more on the weekends.
NAD 3020 integrated used for a few hrs/month as a headphone amp.
Plus other NAD components over the years- NEVER a problem here.
Best,
I've been using NAD products for quite some time, but only their integrated Amps. I have a 7140 and a C350. I had a 304. I got the 7140 used and repaired. It's still working flawlessly. The 304 had to be repaired, but it worked flawlessly after. I got the C350 new (I needed a little more juice). The C350 wouldn't come out of protection mode and was repaired under warranty while the 304 was back on duty. The C350 has been operating flawlessly since coming back.I'd buy NAD again, but only refurbished or used and previously repaired. They're an AMAZING deal at used/refurbished prices considering their performance. They probably won't break again after the repair shop gives it the QC the factory should have. The warranty is pretty good for that.
The other "budget" manufacturers just don't cut it at the same price point.
I've owned 3 NAD products. The first was an integrated amp which I replaced after several years simply as a major upgrade. It replaced an older, much better amp which died at a time when I simply could not afford to replace it, and the NAD provided quite good results and worked flawlessly until I was in a position to replace it with a much better product around 3-4 years later.The other 2 products are still in use. One is a NAD FM/AM tuner, now close to 4 years old, and the other is the L73s 2 channel sibling, the L53, which I bought in October last year.
I can't comment on the L73 since I've only seen them, but I'm very happy with my L53. It does a good job playing movies and it delivers reasonable sound. I'm not really a home theatre person and it definitely doesn't play music at anywhere near the quality that my audio setup does, but it does do a quite satisfying job.
A friend who bought a NAD receiver and separate NAD CDP as part of a small stereo system is also quite happy with her NADs which drive a pair of Quad 11s.
I think NAD makes very good entry level audio products which provide good value and, in my experience, good reliability. They won't satisfy serious audiophiles, though their higher price range may do much better at that, but they do deliver a level of performance that is more than satisfying for someone who wants reasonable music/video reproduction and isn't interested in chasing perfection or spending large amounts.
As a basic 1 box system, I think the L53 does a very good job and I have no doubt that the L73 is a similar quality performer for a 5 channel system.
My only reservation would be to ask if your relative needs a surround sound system or whether they would be satisfied with a much simpler 2 channel HT setup which would allow them to have better speakers for the same total outlay.
unreliable. at least all 3 NAD products i've owned eventually turned to crap. you'll likely get many pros and cons here. notice that few equipment manufacturers are so polarizing, not necessarily for poor sound, but poor build quality and poor customer service. an inexpensive reciever does no good if its repaired 3x in a year, despite if it sounds good.
A friend owned a hi-fi shop that sold NAD and I have owned a number of their products including the C162 pre at present. The problem- previously-but much less often now-NAD seemed to be with a specific model in their line and its reliability. This could often effect a large proportion of that particular model until-usually-a replacement model took its place. The rest of the line's reliabilty , at the same time, was, at least , on an industry standard. This cycle seemed to have happended a number of times.
The good news is this seems to be mostly in the past. Having owned numerous high end brands, and being exposed to others at my frieds store, I always considered NAD-sound wise- an outstanding value -unless you prefer an upfront,slightly bright sound which is typical of other components in their price range.
Reliability in the high end is not a sure thing regardless of price. Some very expensive components, reliability wise, are no better than NAD.
My C320BEE and C521i are both going strong, and have been for over three years now without a single problem.
-never again. No NAD for me ever.
Why do you seem to believe that bad experiences with NAD are the norm?I had problems with 3 successive Creek CD players once, my original and 2 replacements under warranty. The first replacement was even a newer model than the one I originally bought, and the second was also the newer model. While the experience turned me off Creek, I've also never heard of anyone else having the same kind of problems with their gear. I wouldn't buy another Creek myself, but I also don't consider that one person's bad experience is enough to label their products as unreliable.
You say that someone whose experience of NAD has been good is "one of the lucky few" so where's your evidence that the majority of NAD customers have had bad experiences because that's what you're saying. You've only given your own experience and mentioned no other bad stories. That proves nothing other than you had a bad run, hardly enough to demonstrate that the majority have a bad run and that only a few 'get lucky'.
My experience of NAD is limited to my 3 purchases and a couple of friends, but none of us has had problems.
nt
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