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Receiver NAD C 720BEE

DanielT

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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:


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.:)
 

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DanielT

DanielT

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I took some more pictures.:)
 

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DSJR

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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 :) )
 
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DanielT

DanielT

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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:

 
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DanielT

DanielT

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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.:)


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

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Doodski

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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.:)


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.
 
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DanielT

DanielT

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DanielT

DanielT

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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."


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.:)

 

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Jungstar

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

 
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DanielT

DanielT

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

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.
 
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DanielT

DanielT

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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.:)
 
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