Review and Measurements of NAD T758 V3 AVR

[Blumlein 88]

I second that.

You mean like what Marantz does? Rip out the power amps, put in XLR output and increase the price although the parts cost goes down?

I still have my Marantz AV7701 available. It is now a few generations behind, on the other hand the specs have not changed at all - indeed they are identical for all AV77xx and AV88xx so chances are high that newer models perform similar. I could do these measurements

• THD
• Multitone
• IMD
• Jitter
• frequency response
• channel crosstalk

on these inputs

• SPDIF coax
• SPDIF Toslink
• analog line level
• analog phono

in these modes:

• standard (Audissey off)
• direct
• pure direct

Is there any interest? If yes which measurements should I do?

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ntz-avr-7701-dac-measurements.3485/post-84100

I've already done that. Essentially same results as newer ones Amir has tested.

A second test of another unit wouldn't hurt.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Given the startling bang-for-buck of active monitors such as the JBL LSR305, I wonder if we should instead be encouraging manufacturers to revive their PrePro offerings instead? Strip out some of the excess such as poor quality amps and instead support XLR outputs!

If such as the Emotiva MC-700 (https://emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/mc-700) had XLR outputs, and it measured ‘ok’, it could offer a great alternative...

Results of a previous Emotiva pre pro doesn't give me confidence. I ended up with a 2nd hand Marantz for the 305 surround system.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ent-of-emotiva-umc200-pre-pro.3504/post-84508

 

[HayGuise]

hello together,

first at all, thanks for the detailed review. I was close to buying an T758 but im now struggling and have two questions.
Is it safe to say that the DAC wasnt defect?
Does the T777 use the same DAC? (because this might be a alternative for me, or maybe even an arcam AVR 390)

Thanks!

 

[Dj7675]

I just filled out a support request linking to these measurements. To summarize I expressed the following:
-Planning on having two of the T758 V3 in our home
-Did not expect state of the art measurements, but also did not expect to see high noise/distortion measurements
-Asked for them to let me know if they think that the unit I sent in (purchased new from authorized dealer) is defective
-If defective, would they consider replacing the unit with a different unit so it could be retested
-These measurements will impact sales of some customers when they see these poor measurements, so if the unit is defective it is important that the measurements are reflective of a typical unit that is not defective.
-If these are in fact the correct measurements, not only would I not be having 2 units, I would be retuning this unit and selling the current unit I have due to the very poor measurements.
We will see what they say.

 

[Dj7675]

When I moved the unit I had in our theater to our living room and completed setup, I found our typical volume for this room/setup is between -15 and -20 on the volume display. @amirm I am wondering at these volume levels, in this room would the measurements tend to be better?
When the unit was in our theater, the master volume tended to be around -5 to -10. Do the issues tend to be more noticeable the closer you get to 0 on the master volume?

 

[amirm]

Is it safe to say that the DAC wasnt defect?

If you mean that it is broken, no, it is working fine. When I reduced the level, its performance went up so this indicates a design issue, not a broken component. That is, I am pretty sure another unit would measure the same.

Hopefully NAD responds to my inquiry and if so, can tell us if they get better measurements.

 

[amirm]

When I moved the unit I had in our theater to our living room and completed setup, I found our typical volume for this room/setup is between -15 and -20 on the volume display. @amirm I am wondering at these volume levels, in this room would the measurements tend to be better?

That certainly improves the performance. However, it is still much worse than 2-channel products we measure from noise and overall performance point of view. Audibly though, you likely will be fine there as you would be avoiding the worst of the problems.

 

[peng]

There are pictures here: https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/nad-t-758-v3-a-v-surround-sound-receiver-review.3426/

Thank you for the detailed measurements. No surprise though, S&V did measure this the T758 V3's power output and it didn't do as well as the lower priced Denon AVR-X3400H. The much cheaper Denon beat the NAD in both THD and power output into 8 and 4 ohm at 0.1% THD, 2,5 or 7 channel driven.

https://www.soundandvision.com/content/nad-t758-v3-av-receiver-review-test-bench

 

[peng]

Amir, since you did open the box, would you have the specs of the power supply blocking capacitors for this thing? I was shocked to know the older T755 only has 2X8,200 uF albeit rated for 80 V. The T777 does have 18,000 uf X2 so hopefully the T758 V3 would have 15,000 uf 71 V or 80 V.

 

[Sal1950]

I always put NAD a notch below Adcom. Both companies have tried to appeal to both the "mid-fi" and "high end" markets with some of their products (look at each company's preamp offerings over the years), while justifying the old saw "you're paying for the name".

IME these "budget" companies do OK with basic amps, etc; but when the gear gets more complicated they tend to fall down. Adcoms amps from the 90s are stellar, delievering great performance and durability, I've owned a bunch of the GFA 5x5 and 5x00 lines since the 90's. Also had a pair of NAD THX 2400's for many years that ran faultlessly as my subwoofer amps for 20 years. On the other hand I went thru a few Adcom multich processors that were complete junk. I had a GSP-560 multich processor that was serviced twice and replaced once and then a GSA 700 for a upgrade to the 560, and it crapped the bed after a couple years. The Adcom 700 processor went in the dumpster when I moved out of my Chicago home.

 

[maty]

The old Denon AVR X3300W

https://audio.com.pl/testy/kino-domowe/amplitunery-av/2717-denon-avr-x3300w

New Denon AVR-X4500H

https://audio.com.pl/testy/kino-domowe/amplitunery-av/3035-denon-avr-x4500h

That is why I sent an email to the Polish magazine, commenting on the great differences in the THD measurements of the AVRs, asking them to review their measurement system. Silence after almost two months.

Well, that, now I doubt all your THD measurements, whether AVR or not.

 

[peng]

The old Denon AVR X3300W

https://audio.com.pl/testy/kino-domowe/amplitunery-av/2717-denon-avr-x3300w

That is why I sent an email to the Polish magazine, commenting on the great differences in the THD measurements of the AVRs, asking them to review their measurement system. Silence after almost two months.

Well, that, now I doubt all your THD measurements, whether AVR or not.

Probably due to different methodologies. Audioholics, like Amir, also use the AP for their measurements so I suspect their methodologies are likely more similar than different.

Take a look of theirs on the AVR-X3300W and the weaker Yamaha RX-A860 and you'll see much different results than that Polish site.
https://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/denon-avr-x3300w-1/measurements

One thing that stand out is, the Polish site use the impedance setting for the 4 ohm test load. That would drop the rail voltage and that's why the output dropped so much for the 4 ohm test. Soundandvision.com, Audioholics.com and Audiovision.de know better to leave the impedance setting at 8 ohm. The 4 ohm setting is a "cya" thing for the manufacturers. I will never use it.

 

[maty]

Sony STR-ZA1100ES

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...d-measurements-of-sony-str-za1100es-avr.7824/

Which are much closer to others Soundandvision's AVR THD measurements.

 

[peng]

Sony STR-ZA1100ES

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...d-measurements-of-sony-str-za1100es-avr.7824/

Which are much closer to others Soundandvision's AVR THD measurements.

Soundandvision.com also used the AP as far as I know and if I remember right.
I just double checked, and yes they used the AP.., see second paragraph.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/how-we-test-audio

 

[maty]

In the email sent different links appeared, one of them to a review of an AVR in Audioholics if I remember correctly.

 

[Dj7675]

@amirm Did you test the roon input since it is a native roon endpoint? Would it test as badly as the coax input?

 

[Sal1950]

It would help if members contacted them too. It my have more weight than me doing it.

I have also just submitted a support request to NAD explaining how interested I am in replacing my Marantz 7703 with their M17 processor but am now having serious reservations after reading this review. I would love to own a reasonably priced processor with Dirac DSP onboard, so far my experience with the Audyssey Editor app has been very disappointing. Asked if this unit was defective would appreciate a response to either myself or ASR. We shall see

 

[peng]

I have also just submitted a support request to NAD explaining how interested I am in replacing my Marantz 7703 with their M17 processor but am now having serious reservations after reading this review. I would love to own a reasonably priced processor with Dirac DSP onboard, so far my experience with the Audyssey Editor app has been very disappointing. Asked if this unit was defective would appreciate a response to either myself or ASR. We shall see

I find the Editor app very useful. I hope Dirac Live could do better and hopefully will find out soon.

 

[amirm]

Amir, since you did open the box, would you have the specs of the power supply blocking capacitors for this thing? I was shocked to know the older T755 only has 2X8,200 uF albeit rated for 80 V. The T777 does have 18,000 uf X2 so hopefully the T758 V3 would have 15,000 uf 71 V or 80 V.

I have not open the case. The pictures were from someone else.

 

[amirm]

I have also just submitted a support request to NAD explaining how interested I am in replacing my Marantz 7703 with their M17 processor but am now having serious reservations after reading this review.

Thanks Sal. FYI an M17 has been offered for review! If all goes well, I will pick it up this coming weekend.