Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

42.0. "NAD CD Player" by PYRITE::WEAVER () Wed Nov 07 1984 22:37

I recently was helping a friend A/B some equipment that he was thinking
of buying, he was using the NAD CD player as a source.  After using my
Sony CDP-101, I found the NAD's control's to be ackward, and its display
annoying (the default display was track and index numbers, rather than
track and time into as with my Sony, this may be a rather picky point).
The mechanical construction of the unit seemed cheap, the
door closing sounded like it wouldn't last too long.  Sonically, the
NAD came across as well as my Sony, although I was not A/B'ing my Sony
against the NAD, so I cannot say which one sounds better (if there is
a sonic difference to be heard).  I really didn't spend much time
trying to figure out why I found the control's to be ackward, as the
purpose of our tests were comparing two amplifiers and two pre-amps.

By the way, Dave Grusin's album from Sheffield Labs "Discovered Again"
has some excellent stereo imaging in the second track on the disc (or
was it the third?), that we found to be excellent for comparing amps
with.

In case you are wondering about the results of the amp test, the
battle was between the Harmon Kardon 100 watt amp with hk pre-amp
and the Tandberg (200 watt?) amp with Tandberg pre-amp with the
comparison at normal listening levels (the 11:30PM testing prevented
us from comparing at high levels).  First I used my dbx switcher to
be able to switch the pre-amps between a single amp (both pre-amps
were tried with both amps) and the NAD as the signal source with
the output levels matched.  Neither of us could hear any differences
between the two pre-amps (I was expecting this, my friend was surprised).
With the pre-amps deemed equal, we decided to use the Tandberg pre-amp
with Tandberg amp and hk pre-amp with hk amp to compare the two amps,
as the pre-amps seemed identical.  We then set up the dbx to switch
the NAD between the two pre-amps DAD inputs.  The problem was we only
had my friends single pair of Polk Audio speakers (the model number
escapes me).  So I got a pair of microphones, and using his tape deck
VU meters, set up the two amps to equal volume levels using pink noise
from my "Digital Domain" Warner Bros CD.

Now, remember, this test was done in an apartment at normal listening
levels.  The result:  My friend thought the two systems sounded identical,
the imaging seemed the same on both amps.  I gave a slight edge to the
Harmon Kardon, it seemed to respond more quickly to the quick dynamics
of Dave Grusin's music.  Considering that the Harmon Kardon amp and
pre-amp together cost less than the Tandberg amp, my friend easily
chose the Harmon Kardon system.  To be fair, the Tandberg would probably
outperform the Harmon Kardon at above normal listening levels, but he
is unlikely to ever need that kind of power with the Polk Audio speakers.
More inefficient speakers might have produced more of a difference
between the two amps.

So much for this highly subjective review, I'm outa here (its getting
late)!

					    -Dave

Please clarify the term 'ackward'!

Brian l.

Recently I heard some very positive comments regarding the NAD CD Player from 
what appeared to me to be a knowledgable salesperson.  His comment was that 
he felt the NAD had better imaging than other comparable models.  He 
attributed this to NAD's analog filtering - versus digital filtering.  Some of 
the other CD playters this Chicago based retailer deals in includes names such 
as Technics, Luxman, Hitachi.  I might add that recently I purchased the NAD 
7140 receiver.  You may have read the sparkingly write up it got in Sterio 
Review - not long ago.  Naturally, I take what Sterio Review has to say w/ a 
grain of salt but I must admit that after hearing the NAD 7140 I was equally 
impressed - I can't say the same about their speakers.  At this point in time 
I am still researching CD players - one model I am impressed w/ is Marantx 
CD54 (I believe thats the correct model number though I may be wrong).  
Any opinions pro or con on this model?

J.B.

  [re imaging]
  
  hmm...  I heard it the other way around..  CD players with digital filters
  were less likely to get the channels out of phase than those with analogue
  filters..  You get better stereo imaging if the channels are in phase..
  
  read that somewhere..  not sure where.. comments from the experts?..
  
    ..Paul
  

What nearly all CD players suffer from is garbage "passive" electronic
components, especially in the line output stages.  Cheep electrolytic
capacitors and noisy carbon film resistors is the most common way to
produce that harsh high-end "transistor" sound that "consumer" audio
possesses.

Even with analogue filtering, newer CD's are using phase delay compensation
schemes to try and patch things up.  I don't know what side effects they
produce however.

Mark