Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

[stevev]

I am on a limited budget, but wanting a new amp, so my choices are the Nad C316BEE, 40 watts per side, $350, or the Yamaha AS500, 85 watts per side, $399. These are both integrated amps and 85 watts of Yamaha seems to be better than the 40 watt NAD, but just not sure. NAD is known for high quality sound, so how does it compare to the Yamaha sound and quality?

[fjhuerta]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

In my experience, you can't go wrong with those two brands. Pick the one that has the features you like and live happily with it... they'll both be great units.

[[email protected]]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

Hi,
I curevtly own several products by NAD. The Quality in secound to none. In my honest opinion go with NAD. You won't be disapointed.
Gary

[AJ]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

Brand names aside, they both look okay on the inside.

Nad:



Yamaha:



Couldn't find a complete picture of the Yamaha, so it probably uses an ugly EI transformer and they didn't want to show it off. I like the two pair output stage, which reflects well on the rated output power, but they look like Sanken or Toshiba TO3P devices. Typical construction for a company used to making HT receivers.

Between those two I'd probably go with the Nad.

[ThetaOne]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I'm in the home a/v business and have been installing NAD for about 6 years now and they have never failed to impress me. Sound quality and power output has always been very impressive. I have also sold and installed many yamahas and there have been times when I was NOT impressed at all...... NAD build quality has always been great, I only had a few problems with some early 753's but they took care of them. I would hands down go with NAD, especially since that is a pretty low price point. If your looking to spend a little more Integra is the way to go IMO.

[Ken B.]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I'll take an NAD at half the power, anytime.

I used to have two 50 watt units as bridged mono for 100 watts per side with some KEF speakers. wow it kicked ****.

That was many moon ago, however.

[stevev]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

Thanks for all of the comments, I also thought the NAD would be the better choice for quality and precise sound. But why does the NAD cost less than the Yamaha? Why does it weigh less, (12lbs.) than the Yamaha? (21lbs.) I always thought maybe a heavier unit would mean better built unit, but then again, maybe that's not true. Just curious.

[jmik26]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I never had a NAD receiver so I won't comment on that. However, I have been buying Yamaha receivers for the last 15 years and never been disappointed in the sound. First receiver was a RX-V672 then RX-V1000 then RX-V1600 and presently RX-V3900.

All of the receivers are still in service to this day with no problems at all. The RX-V672 is out in a garage in with no heat or air for last 3 years with no problems either. I pretty confident they are built to last.

My ONLY complaint would be the media player they put on the AS and RX-V lines are not that good. Sure they play music but there are limitations. For example, I tried to put about 200 MP3's on a thumb drive and load them into the receiver and it wouldn't? I never bought the receiver to be a music server so I was not that bothered by it. My HTPC handles music much better and in any format I want. I mention this because you are thinking about getting the AS line which is geared more towards networking, ipod integration, etc... If your buying the receiver based off that I would demo the 700 in a store first and ask what the difference is from the 500... Jeff

[jclin4]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I have an NAD C325BEE and Yamaha RX-V800. The former is for two-channel listening (50WPC) and the latter is a low-end HT receiver (100 WPC), so the comparison may not be fair. Both are clean sounding, but I prefer the NAD as it seems more powerful, with more punch, even at the lower power rating.

Note that NAD puts no effort into cosmetics, with plastic in the buttons and face. Maybe that is why it weighs lighter. They are known for putting effort into components and parts that affect SQ.

[kevinr]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

This month's issue of Stereophile has a very positive review of the NAD in the column by Stephen Meijas who covers affordable hi-fi gear

[fjhuerta]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

This month's issue of Stereophile has a very positive review of the NAD in the column by Stephen Meijas who covers affordable hi-fi gear

Stereophile has never known a product they didn't like. They even had a positive review of the terrible (objectively) Femont Escalante speaker. I wouldn't trust their subjective reviews - at all.

[fntn]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I've personally owned a Yamaha AX500 for about 20 years. It's proven itself as a source of clean power without any problem whatsoever over that period. It's easily as durable and well built as any of the Crown, Kenwood, Threshold, and Accuphase amps I've owned since the early 80's. I've also owned NAD amps and haven't experienced any issues with them. Given that, I'd opt for the unit that produces the highest number of clean watts per dollar. An amp that isn't stressed to provide sufficient power will last longer usually with less trouble. Personally, I'd stick with the Yamaha.

[lunchmoney]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

Does the Yamaha have YPAO? (auto eq)

If it does, and the NAD doesn't have the equivalent (Audyssey or similar), I'd go with the Yamaha.

[Applesauce]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

I've always been pleased with NAD products. I scoop up older ones whenever I get the chance: I have a 302 as my main amplifier, with a 501 CD player, and am currently sitting on a 7020e... Not sure yet what I'm going to do with it.

[Face]

Re: Help me, NAD or Yamaha?

Stereophile has never known a product they didn't like.

That's not always true, check out Fremer's review of the Bryston 7B SST2.