| Author |
Thread: NAD vs. ARCAM - Side By Side |
    
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 45
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 12:36 am: |
|
Tomorrow I will take my NAD T763 and my universal disc player to my local Arcam dealer to do a side by side test. I want my ears to be the final judge before I replace another reciever. I will report back on the results of this comparison.
I have also emailed NAD Electronics and described the sound quality problem to them. It will be interesting to see their response. |
|
|
|
Silver Member Username: Landroval
Post Number: 290
Registered: Feb-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 04:26 am: |
|
"...and described the sound quality problem..."
What kind of problems are you having? |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 46
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:57 am: |
|
landroval,
I discovered that the DAC processing in the NAD yeilds very compressed and undetailed sound when compared to the sound resulting from DAC processing in my DVD/CD/SACD/DVDA player. When listening to 2 channel CDs the difference is huge. The signal that I input via the analog inputs yeilds much better sound than the signal input via the digital input and processed through the receiver. This is clearly unacceptable, especially for the caliber of receiver that the T763 is supposed to be.
See my prior thread regarding this matter:
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/51504.html |
Silver Member Username: Landroval
Post Number: 292
Registered: Feb-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 02:10 pm: |
|
Ok, I see. This is not a problem you hear every day. Maybe others dont notice it or your unit is not in perfect shape. Waiting for your Arcam, NAD comparison. |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 47
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 03:44 pm: |
|
This is a problem that I hear every time that I play a CD or a DVD. Unfortunately, it took a while to discover the problem.
Since I discovered the problem, I use only the analog inputs for CDs and DVDs.
I have no reason to believe that my unit is in perfect shape.
|
Bronze Member Username: Markusp
Toronto,
ON
Canada
Post Number: 71
Registered: Apr-04
|
| Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 09:48 am: |
|
I eagerly await your findings as well. I am currently considering Rotel, NAD and Arcam for receiver choices.
Good luck. |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 48
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 10:17 am: |
|
Markus,
My side by side test has been rescheduled to tomorrow (Friday). I will post the results shortly after the exercise.
Thanks,
Michael |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 51
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 04:54 pm: |
|
Today I conducted a side by side comparison of the NAD T763 and the Arcam AVR300.
The Arcam won hands down.
Conclusion:
I will be picking up my new ARCAM this afternoon.
My NAD (purchased on April 23 of this year) is now for sale. |
Bronze Member Username: Markusp
Toronto,
ON
Canada
Post Number: 74
Registered: Apr-04
|
| Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 04:56 pm: |
|
Nice purchase Michael!! Enjoy.
By the way, what was the price difference between the NAD and the Arcam?
Thanks,
Markus |
Bronze Member Username: Jonmoon
Post Number: 62
Registered: Dec-03
|
| Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 05:12 pm: |
|
Michael, can you give more details? On the net saw that the Arcam AVR300 MSRP is $1999 so it is $600 more than the MSRP of the NAD T763. Pricewise the Arcam is more comparable to the NAD T773 which is $1799 MSRP. |
Silver Member Username: Landroval
Post Number: 303
Registered: Feb-04
|
| Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 05:52 pm: |
|
Micheal, did you notice a great overall difference or just when using the digital connection? |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 52
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 08:27 pm: |
|
Details:
The Arcam was smoother, more musical, more detailed, and more open. The differences were apparent within seconds. We did A/B tests using both the digital and analog inputs. The differences were very apparent regardless of which inputs we used.
The Arcam is $600 more than the NAD.
|
Silver Member Username: Johnny
Missouri
Post Number: 364
Registered: Dec-03
|
| Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 12:36 pm: |
|
For $600 more, one would expect it to be better. Like Jonathan said earlier, the Arcam is more comparable to the NAD T773. Did you compare those two units? It isn't really logical to expect the much cheaper NAD to sound the same. The extra $600 has to be spent on something. |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 53
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 01:05 pm: |
|
I am sure that the NADT773 is more comparable to the Arcam. I agree that the playing field that I used in my test was not level. You are absolutely right that an additional $600 should be expected to bring additional performance. |
New member Username: Ojophile
Toronto,
ON
Post Number: 9
Registered: Jun-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 05:38 pm: |
|
Hello, folks. Don't mind my joining in, and I'm not sure if you've already seen this first review by "What Hi-Fi" magazine:
http://www.aslgroup.com/arcam/WHFAVR300.pdf
http://www.arcam.co.uk/downloads/whfavr300.pdf
For more articles on Arcam, see this:
http://www.aslgroup.com/arcam
With all the documented issues and problems with the NAD T7* series, the new Arcam AVR300 seems to be a more appealing alternative albeit prohibitively more expensive than NAD.
Michael, does the Arcam have a fan like the NAD? |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 54
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 05:50 pm: |
|
Yes, it has a fan. |
New member Username: Billybalou
Post Number: 10
Registered: May-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 01:04 am: |
|
Actually you can get a NAD773 for $1400 from authorized dealers but I haven't found the Arcam for any less than retail list price of $1999. The dealer in the San Jose area wouldn't budge on pricing and was emphatic that the Arcam was superior. I made the point that it should be for the extra $500 I would have to spend. Unfortunately that puts the Arcam out of my price range and the NAD773 will be my choice driving 4 ohm speakers. |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 55
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 01:17 am: |
|
There is no question that the Arcam is more expensive. There is also no question that the NAD T773 is a very capable receiver. |
Bronze Member Username: Ojophile
Toronto,
ON
Post Number: 11
Registered: Jun-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 10:25 am: |
|
What about Arcam DVD and CD players? Does anyone have any first-hand experience with these premium models?
http://www.digitalhomemag.com/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=19198&s ubsectionid=1306&subsubsectionid=955
http://www.arcam.co.uk/diva/cinema/dv89.html |
Bronze Member Username: Mgkaplan
Calabasas,
CA
USA
Post Number: 56
Registered: Mar-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 12:22 pm: |
|
Their DVD players are supposed to be outstanding. |
Silver Member Username: Landroval
Post Number: 311
Registered: Feb-04
|
| Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 01:26 pm: |
|
Especially the DV79 HDMI player. |
