Receiver NAD C 720BEE

[DanielT]

I took some pictures of a NAD C 720BEE I bought yesterday. It lacks a remote control, but I will get one, a remote control that is.The model of remote control is NAD SR5. It says Zone 2 on my NAD. I suspect that there are different types of NAD SR5. Am I right about that? Anyone who knows?

Anyway, It works as it should. Sounds ok. For those who are interested, the schedule/service manual is here:

NAD C720BEE Stereo Receiver Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

I will mainly use it as a pre amp. I'm a little curious if sub out is active even in pre amp mode. I'll probably notice that later today.

Electrolytic capacitors in the power supply. 15000 uF, 50 V.

Edit:
However, this NAD as integrated with subwoffer, hm. With the right type of speakers, it can probably get decent Hifi from it too.
I can take the opportunity to ask that. Is it possible to split the sub out so can can drive two active subwoffers? The signal strength sub out then becomes ... hm ... I do not know.

In any case, it is an excellent extra amplifier / receiver. If you do not want to go "all the way" and buy a vintage 70's reciver, I recommend this. There is still "gunpowder" left in it ..

Personally regarding my view of Hifi and appearance. In terms of appearance, it is beaten by many vintage amp / receiver. But being a NAD, I do not think it is too ugly (compared to much other old NAD).

Edit 2:
Aha, Zone 2 was about Record Out. Whatever it is.

 

[DanielT]

I took some more pictures.

 

[DSJR]

Good luck

By this time, we stocked only the separates (amp, tuner, CD player) and I don't readily remember the receivers of this era. I thought all of them were rather better than the cheapskate bland grey looks but wasn't aware so much of the 'eye-fi' vibe that dominates almost all the hobby side of music reproduction domestically (maybe pro's too, but I'm giving benefit of the doubt here )

 

[DanielT]

Thanks!

Then you can do "the old school Hifi". Right now I'm fixing to an FM antenna.
It works well the NAD. Flexible with pre out. I now run NAD (as pre amp) together with:

Power amplifier Fostex 600?

(not mine in the picture, same modell) Anyone have experience with, know anything about a vintage power amplifier Fostex 600? https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/fostex/600.shtml Got it very cheap this summer. It's right with my friend for a recap operation now. I'll see how it turns...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[DanielT]

Okay, game on. Provided not too large listening room, normal listening volume, speakers at least 87 dB sensitivity (preferably a few dB more but it should probably go perfectly ok anyway), absolutely no demanding music. Little normal pop ... Sure.. lets go. Throw in any other amp.

Not because this NAD is anything out of the ordinary. Which is the thing, it's not weird this NAD. Just a normal sensible amp only.

Hifi Vintage DIY fair with pictures

I visited this fair yesterday! DIY & Vintage meeting in Mölnlycke Here is a short report. When: 6 November 2021 Where: Country: Sweden City: Gothenburg I took pictures myself BUT most were so damn blurred so I borrow pictures from this thread, taken by other participants. Pictures taken from...

audiosciencereview.com

Edit:
Or to be a little more on the safe side. I can throw in my HK 670. No monster but ..+/- 75 amps..

 

[Doodski]

Okay, game on. Provided not too large listening room, normal listening volume, speakers at least 87 dB sensitivity (preferably a few dB more but it should probably go perfectly ok anyway), absolutely no demanding music. Little normal pop ... Sure.. lets go. Throw in any other amp.

Not because this NAD is anything out of the ordinary. Which is the thing, it's not weird this NAD. Just a normal sensible amp only.

Hifi Vintage DIY fair with pictures

I visited this fair yesterday! DIY & Vintage meeting in Mölnlycke Here is a short report. When: 6 November 2021 Where: Country: Sweden City: Gothenburg I took pictures myself BUT most were so damn blurred so I borrow pictures from this thread, taken by other participants. Pictures taken from...

audiosciencereview.com

Edit:
Or to be a little more on the safe side. I can throw in my HK 670. No monster but ..+/- 75 amps..

Hehe. I did a couple of rough calcs and that HK at 2 Ohms would need +/- 150 VDC rails @ 75A and would be outputting ~7955 WRMS peak.
Cough cough... Somebody is fudging the numbers here...lol

I checked and the power supply has +/- 50V rails at best.

 

[DanielT]

Hehe. I did a couple of rough calcs and that HK at 2 Ohms would need +/- 150 VDC rails @ 75A and would be outputting ~7955 WRMS peak.
Cough cough... Somebody is fudging the numbers here...lol

I checked and the power supply has +/- 50V rails at best.

Hehe, well I do not really know what applies. Here are some links:

Harman Kardon HK670/2 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

Nice amp anyway. I can recommend it.

 

[Doodski]

Hehe, well I do not really know what applies. Here are some links:

Harman Kardon HK670/2 Stereo Integrated Amplifier Manual | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

Nice amp anyway. I can recommend it.

Ahhh... it is a mark 2 version with +/-48VDC rails... so same calcs apply.

 

[DanielT]

Ahhh... it is a mark 2 version with +/-48VDC rails... so same calcs apply.

Wait .... I do not know the version I have ... Must check it out. Brings it out tomorrow.

Ha, NAD 720BEE, the amp part, is this. By the way:

Amir:
"Personally, I think 67 watts is not enough for home listening. Today's speakers have become smaller in size and shrunk in efficiency, needing fair bit of power to get them to produce proper dynamics."

Review and Measurements of NAD C 320BEE PWR Amplifier

This is a review and detailed measurements of the NAD C 320BEE power (speaker) amplifier. It is on kind loan. The C 320BEE is a vintage product, dating back to 2003 I think. The BEE designation is apparently a reference to Bjorn Erik Edvardsen who was one of their designers. Can't tell if he...

audiosciencereview.com

Well lets se..The interesting thing if we use NAD 720BEE in the test is of course how far do you get with so few W ?!

Edit:
Note it is possible that we hear the difference. I have no preference or desire for either one or the other, hearing difference or not that is. . I am just curious.
If W and /of the amp quality is not enough, I know it and it's good to know, but what I mean is that I will not be sad if that is the case.

Edit
Today I can not open up the catalogs from HK but there you can read pm what they call "High instantanius current capability". How long time it lasts this instantanius I do not know.

Harman Kardon Home HiFi Product Catalogue | HiFi Engine

www.hifiengine.com

 

[Jungstar]

Did you notice it runs much better as a power amp in Amirs review on page 2....

Review and Measurements of NAD C 320BEE PWR Amplifier

Nice to see such review, but it is unfair to compare 1:1 measurements of old amps. The heat inside cause solder joints to erode, capacitors get out of specs (if stored for years in a high humudity area) and the amp can lose stability without load. I had some old Pioneer amp and wanted do...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[DanielT]

Did you notice it runs much better as a power amp in Amirs review on page 2....

Review and Measurements of NAD C 320BEE PWR Amplifier

Nice to see such review, but it is unfair to compare 1:1 measurements of old amps. The heat inside cause solder joints to erode, capacitors get out of specs (if stored for years in a high humudity area) and the amp can lose stability without load. I had some old Pioneer amp and wanted do...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Yep, and I've tried that. In fact, I've run a combo with NAD C 720BEE as a pure power amp together with the DAC Topping E30 (which has volume/gain control). Works really well with a pair of 87 dB sensitive speakers.
I have that solution now in the bedroom.

 

[DanielT]

Addition,
The NAD C 720BEE is, in my eyes, a good amp. Nice watts, reasonable low distortion and so on BUT it is quite large, physically large, in relation to the watts, the power it can deliver. That even compared to other class AB amplifiers

NAD C 720BEE is probably too young to be considered vintage. If vintage receivers are defined based on the looks. I'm thinking typical 70's receiver now. It doesn't have that kind of look. The looks, a matter of taste, of course, but an advantage is the second-hand. The price of a NAD C 720BEE is then probably relatively low. In fully working condition I imagine you could pick one up for around $80, maybe $90.

 

[3m3rson]

The NAD C720BEE Stereo Receiver is my daily driver with an all analog signal path (no DAC/ADC). Tonally neutral, runs cool for a Class A/B amp, and dead silent if quality interconnects and clean power are used. Great connectivity features with 5 RCA inputs plus a TAPE LOOP/ZONE 2 that I use as an optional effects loop when the source warrants it and also to feed my outdoor patio amp a different source from the NAD’s preamp section. I use the SUB OUT as well, which in combination with a passive Hi-Pass Filter on the PRE OUT/AMP IN, leaves the 50W continuous (110W dynamic @ 8 ohm) / channel amp section plenty of room to work. It has a respectable AM/FM (RDS) tuner. Being a mid-1990s product it won’t need service for another decade. Made in China.

Older NAD remote controls work with this machine. The Zone 2 remote is not that helpful it only allows you to change the source.

There is also the NAD C725BEE. This unit is much the same but with an RS-232 connection for AMX/Crestron control.

It is a tremendous value at ~$200 used that you won’t need to upgrade until you got > $10K invested in other parts of your system. If I were to start a little company and produce affordable analog stereo receivers, I would model it after this NAD with the only addition being a decent phono pre-amp built in.

 

[DanielT]

The NAD C720BEE Stereo Receiver is my daily driver with an all analog signal path (no DAC/ADC). Tonally neutral, runs cool for a Class A/B amp, and dead silent if quality interconnects and clean power are used. Great connectivity features with 5 RCA inputs plus a TAPE LOOP/ZONE 2 that I use as an optional effects loop when the source warrants it and also to feed my outdoor patio amp a different source from the NAD’s preamp section. I use the SUB OUT as well, which in combination with a passive Hi-Pass Filter on the PRE OUT/AMP IN, leaves the 50W continuous (110W dynamic @ 8 ohm) / channel amp section plenty of room to work. It has a respectable AM/FM (RDS) tuner. Being a mid-1990s product it won’t need service for another decade. Made in China.

Older NAD remote controls work with this machine. The Zone 2 remote is not that helpful it only allows you to change the source.

There is also the NAD C725BEE. This unit is much the same but with an RS-232 connection for AMX/Crestron control.

It is a tremendous value at ~$200 used that you won’t need to upgrade until you got > $10K invested in other parts of your system. If I were to start a little company and produce affordable analog stereo receivers, I would model it after this NAD with the only addition being a decent phono pre-amp built in.

If you just accept its physical size and appearance, it's a banger its functions and the power it delivers.

I personally think it is much better to buy a used amp and thus have a decent amount of money left over in the wallet to spend on the speakers. Speakers, there it really makes a difference.
__
Regarding a new amp, or power amp, this is the only one I can think of now because the price for the nice watts is so good:

"Bamboo Project" : Dual Mono 3E Audio 480-1-29A Amplifier

Hi amigos, Following the ASR review of the 3E Audio 480-1-29A Module, I decided to roll up my sleeves and show you that with a little elbow grease, you can create a very beautiful amplifier based on these nice 3E Audio modules. I called this project, "Bamboo"> the pictures will speak for...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[sfg]

The C720BEE came out in 2004. I bought mine in 2006. It came with two remote controls: SR 5 and ZR 3 (see attached photos)
Strengths: provides low distortion peak power, handles low impedance loads well, features toroidal power transformer, very good FM reception, runs cool.
Weaknesses: no phono preamp, remote volume control increments are rather coarse (goes from too low to too loud in one step), physically large.
I still have mine, but not using it.

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