Hi,

My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around for
a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in recent
years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very scarce, it's
almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the HK
3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the price
range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me its
more important that the audio quality is good and that they are easy to
use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it


cheers,

- Koen.

Koen wrote:

My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around for
a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in recent
years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very scarce, it's
almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the HK
3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the price
range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me its
more important that the audio quality is good and that they are easy to
use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it

NAD still makes one...

"Koen" wrote in message
...
Hi,

My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around for
a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in recent
years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very scarce, it's
almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the HK
3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the price
range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me its
more important that the audio quality is good and that they are easy to
use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it


Onkyo makes two excellent stereo receivers...100wpc retails $200, 50wp
retails $150. J&R carries the latter, refurbished, for less than $100.
Standard FM/AM, but MM phono stage and excellent, transparent amps.

Outlaw (www.outlawaudio.com) has just brought out a top-line "retro" stereo
receiver that retails for $500 and puts out 100wpc (8 ohms) and 160wpc (4
ohms). Based on Outlaw's previous work, this undoubtedly is a fine sounding
unit...and has many rare features not found on other units, such as:

..USB input for playback of streaming audio output from compatible computers
..both moving magnet and moving coil cartridge phono inputs

..a Processor/equalizer loop

..a subwoofer output that includes analog, frequency-selectable bass
management

..Front panel "speaker equalization" selector which adds a half-octave of
bass boost at a choice of frequencies to improve performance with compact
bookshelf speakers

..Pre-Out/Main-In connections

..IR In/Out jacks

..Amplifier Trigger for use as preamp with external power amplifier

Both brands feature defeatable tone controls and a motorized volume
control/remote control.unit.

Hope this helps.

Koen wrote:

My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around for
a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in recent
years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very scarce, it's
almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the HK
3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the price
range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me its
more important that the audio quality is good and that they are easy to
use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it

Check out the Denon DRA-395 or 295

I bought a 395 about a year ago and while I've got a dozen or so minor
nits to pick about it, I'm very happy with it overall. So much so that
I bought a 295 to drive the speakers in the kitchen. (no phono preamp
on the 295 but since I'm basically using it as a power amp that's no big
deal).



//Walt

In article ,
dizzy wrote:

NAD still makes one...

The C720BEE seems to be the current model on the NAD website, is that
the one you mean? It's a bit outside my budget, unfortunately. Are there
any recommendable NAD receivers that came out a 2-3 years ago, but are
still available (in the US). I found some nice reviews for the C730 and
C740 but mostly from UK websites.

- Koen.

Koen wrote:

In article ,
dizzy wrote:

NAD still makes one...

The C720BEE seems to be the current model on the NAD website, is that
the one you mean? It's a bit outside my budget, unfortunately. Are there
any recommendable NAD receivers that came out a 2-3 years ago, but are
still available (in the US). I found some nice reviews for the C730 and
C740 but mostly from UK websites.

I don't follow their line in detail, but (rumors regarding their
quality-control aside) they should all be decent...

none wrote:

Walt wrote in
:


Koen wrote:


My good old NAD 705 receiver finally gave up, so I am looking around
for a replacement. I guess lots has changed in the audio world in
recent years, because stereo receivers seem to have become very
scarce, it's almost all surround system these days

Two possibilities I keep runnning into while browsing the web are the
HK 3480 and Onkyo TX8511. Both get decent reviews, and are in the
price range I can currently afford.

I don't care about all sorts of gimmicks and possibilities, for me
its more important that the audio quality is good and that they are
easy to use.

Are there any other alternatives (NAD maybe) to the two above or are
these good choices? I don't mind paying a bit more (up to $500- 600),
but then I will have to wait a bit before I can purchase it

Check out the Denon DRA-395 or 295

I bought a 395 about a year ago and while I've got a dozen or so minor
nits to pick about it, I'm very happy with it overall. So much so
that I bought a 295 to drive the speakers in the kitchen. (no phono
preamp on the 295 but since I'm basically using it as a power amp
that's no big deal).


I second the 395, it's a decent reciever and apparently a better tuner
than the 295. Go to www.dakmart.com, they should carry some B-stock with
warranty. Marantz has a nice SR4320 at
http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-...tereoReceivers . Recent
NAD receivers seem to have a quality control problem so I would be wary.

A receiver for the kitchen?

Sure. I drive three sets of speakers from the "control center" - one
pair in the den, one pair in the living room and one pair in the
kitchen. The 295 is basically just a power amp for the kitchen
speakers, mainly so that I don't encounter 2 ohm loads, but it also
gives me a separate volume control and with the 395s multi-zone
capability it allows me to play a CD in the kitchen while the TV is on
in the den.

The 295 doesn't have the multi-zone, is less powerful (50 v 80 wpc) and
doesn't have a phono pre. Other than that it's mostly the same,
including the annoying fact that the remote for either controls both.
(duct tape over the IR sensor on the 295 cures that little problem.)

//Walt

How about fixing the NAD? Depending on its age and whether it uses
modules or discrete components, it should be pretty easy to fix. Cheap,
too.

Otherwise, you might try looking for something vintage rather than
new.... or is it that 'new smell' that you want in the first place (hee
hee)?

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

In article . com,
wrote:

How about fixing the NAD? Depending on its age and whether it uses
modules or discrete components, it should be pretty easy to fix. Cheap,
too.


Actually I am going to a NAD dealer here this weekend, maybe they have a
repair service.

Everyone thanks for the suggestions.

- Koen.

In article ,
Koen wrote:

Actually I am going to a NAD dealer here this weekend, maybe they have a
repair service.


Just as a follow up, the store I went to indeed recommended a repair
store. I brough my receiver there, and got a call back after about a
week that it was fixed. Only I had the remote at home, and the
technician couldn't get it out of mute mode. I went over, and we were
able to listen to it without the mute, and it all seemed to work.
However, he noticed a hum (I couldn't). So he suggested to look at it
again, and after another week, he called me again that it was ready. I
picked it up today, and am very happy. He had to order some parts, so it
took a bit longer than he hoped.

Costs: $125 for parts and labor, which is much better of course than
buying a new one.

And a shameless plug because I am really satisfied - it was repaired at
the Analog Store, in Garner, NC. http://theanalogstore.com.


- Koen.