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Cory Greenberg wrote 763 very good words BEFORE he even mentioned the NAD CD player . . . just saying! LOL
Unlike those of the other players reviewed in this issue, the NAD's measurements give us something to talk aboutbut not much. In fig.1 the left channel (solid line) shows a very small HF rolloffdown about 0.4dB at 20kHz. The right channel is a bit flatter, and there's a small (0.25dB) difference between the channels. Fig.2 plots a de-emphasis response which shows a slight rolloff at the top end (slightly more pronounced in the left channel, consistent with the overall top-end rolloff of the machine shown in fig.1). The squarewave response (fig.3) is virtually the same as those given by the other players hereagain, the ubiquitous linear-phase digital filter. And the separation, while slightly different left to right (top curve in fig.4) and right to left (bottom), is outstanding, nonetheless.
The NAD's response to a 90.31dB, dithered 1kHz signal (fig.5) is nearly as impeccable as the best of the other machines here, with only a minor 180Hz left-channel blip, most likely due to very low-level power-supply noise. Linearity (fig.6) is also excellent. The noise spectrum analysis relative to an infinity-zero test-disc signal (fig.7) again shows the small amount of power-supply noise at 180Hzstill below 120dB. And while the HF noise of this 1-bit machine begins to rise much like that of the other 1-bit players, that rise is abruptly tamed at 30kHzpossibly from more vigorous ultrasonic filtration than is used in the other players.
Auditioning the fade-to-noise with dither track from the CBS CD-1 test disc at first seemed to indicate a high-frequency whistle riding with the signal. Rechecking the audible output by playing the blank (infinity-zero) track revealed that a high-frequency whistle, estimated at ca 10kHz, was consistently present. It was well down in level, howeverit can be see to lie at 106dB in fig.7and was inaudible with program material. Ignoring that artifact, the fade-to-noise test was audibly clean.
Fig.8, the waveform of a 90.31dB, 1kHz undithered tone, while perhaps a bit noisier than some of the other players, still shows a recognizable stairstep response. And the 19+20kHz (at 0dB) intermodulation spectrum in fig.9 was as good as that of the JVC player also reviewed in this issue.
The NAD had a non-inverting output with zero DC offset in the left channel, 0.1mV in the right. Its output impedance was 112 ohms in both channels. Its output in response to a 0dB, 1kHz signal was 2.2V (left channel) and 2.25V (right), equivalent to 0.83dB and 1.02dB above the standard playback level.Thomas J. Norton
I will take your word(s) for it!
;-D
I would love to see how a rediscovered new-in-box one of these would hold up for comparison nowadays.
His entertaining writing led to his editorship of Audio magazine last issues, then years as tech editor at NBC Today, last seen extolling the virtues of wet shaving. The trail goes cold. Corey where are you?
I was just about to ask the same- dougpeterson
I began my subscription to Stereophile in 1993 (still a subscriber to date) and really enjoyed Corey's writings as well. I am not clear why he left the Audio press and/or stopped writing?
Hopefully, he is still involved w/ Audio?
Great to read that young new audiophiles come to audioland.
I played my cd collection for years on Philips CD players with much satisfying hours.
Later on i went on collecting NAD equipment and enjoy even more from music. I knew the good sides and bad sites of NAD.
What atracks me to NAD is the sobergrey finish, and than i can forget the equipment and feel the music.
It’s so fine, it kepts me not going into high end. No bling, just good sound.
But if i went on, and when i go to high end, i want it with McIntosh. I heard already a MA5300 with Sonus Faber loudspeakers, and yes it is good sound. But i realy want Dali Callisto. Much cheaper than McIntosh, and a lust for my eyes.
So this review is from 2017 but the NAD was from 1988 or thereabouts. like back to the future. anyway I just picked up one (7 bucks), front drawer had come off and it looked beat up, and had a rattle that turned out to be a CD that has escaped inside. But fixed that plugged it in and oh my, it is really good. smooth and detailed sound, simple to look at. added to my nad 3020e amp from same time. now i just need to replace a set of mission 707s that I blew out.
So this review is from 2017 but the NAD was from 1988 or thereabouts. like back to the future...
This review was posted to the website in 2017, but as the heading also indicates, it was originally published in 1992.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile