From: ankan@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Dr. Ankan K. Pramanick)
Subject: Re: Looking for good preamplifier
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 20:25:48 GMT
Reply-To: ankan@hena.kgn.ibm.com (Dr. Ankan K. Pramanick)
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM TJ Watson Research    
Keywords: NAD preamps

                          not necessarily those of IBM Corp.

In article <1992Sep9.104234.1@zodiac.dsto.oz.au>,
st_waldman@zodiac.dsto.oz.au writes:
|> Hi,
|> 
|>      ... 
|> 
|> There is a NAD Model 1700 preamp/tuner that is available for about
|> $995 at Tivoli Hi-Fi. This also has remote control, as well as
|> defeatable graphic equalizer that works in two bands with selectable
|> centre frequencies. This is an unusual feature, but seems to work 
|> quite well in some situations. The NAD 1700 got a good review in the
|> US magazine Stereo Review in June 1988. This is a long time ago, and
|> since the NAD is a good preamp, I am wondering what will replace it.

   I know that the call is for a tuner/preamp, but JIC a preamp
suffices, here's
my own tuppence-worth:

   I recently purchased the NAD Monitor Series 1300 preamp. This unit's
specs are almost identical to the preamp section for the 1700 preamp/tuner.
NAD has stopped further production of the 1700, and when I called them,
they said that the 1300 would also soon be dropped from the line, and at this
time, they have no plans to replace either. It seems that the Model 1000 will
still be in production  for the present, but it is not as impressive as
the 1700/1300s.
I don't know about the Australian prices, but I got my 1300 for US$350 + tax
(It lists in the US for $399). It has quite versatile switching
capabilities, with
connections for two tape-decks with dubbing either way, and an external
signal processor loop (this is downstream in the signal path from the tape
monitors, so you can't use it to process anything being recorded; of course,
you can use one of the tape-monitor loops for that purpose). It also has
that "unusual" 2-band  equalizer, with three selectable center frequencies
in each band --- a feature that does work well for me for a few recordings!
Of course, all tone controls can be bypassed. The phono preamp section
(at least for the MM part) is excellent; suffice to say that I have taken to 
dusting off a lot of old vinyl recently! The line level section seems to be all
the specs claim it to be.  The 1300, however, does not have a remote
control.

    I would definitely recommend checking out the
Model 1300 preamp, if you don't need the tuner functions of the 1700.
As a point of comparison, three other excellent preamps that I had checked
out seriously were the Acurus, Hafler Iris and the PS-Audio 5.6 --- they
were all, and especially the Acurus and the PS-Audio, superb AND  expensive. As
far as I am concerned, the NAD was one of my most satisfying audio purchases,
and IMHO, the best preamp you can get for up to twice its price!

|> Maybe the styling will be improved, as it could definitely do with
|> a face-lift. Can anyone shed some light on what NAD might be offering
|> in the near future?

Actually, I rather like the elegantly simple and uncluttered styling of NAD's
monitor series equipment, especially the preamps!! 8^) 

Cheerio,
-Ankan-
ankan@vnet.ibm.com


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