Stark simplistic design, straightforward controls, a multitude of inputs for any situation, clean sound in 2-channel mode, stunning theater in 5.1 mode

Remote
Lack of usable remote
Did I mention the remote?

NADs "music first" approach to design really shines through in this model. I understand based on their literature that this unit has replaced the older T770 as their flagship model, with more inputs, better resolution DACs, and yet still remaining less expensive than the T770. (I have not heard plans to release a T771.) This unit performs admirably in any setting. 2-channel stereo is amazingly dynamic and clean, with full bass, strong midrange, and crystal clean and powerful highs. Movies thunder and whisper as the sound engineers desire with no loss of clarity on either end of the dynamic spectrum, or frequency range. The video quality is good, though not as important to me - but I don't see it lacking in anything.

As my priority is sound, this unit is perfect for me. If you like bells, whistles, and tons of environment (as if you'd want to listen to a CD through such extraneous digital processing) then this is perhaps not for you. If you can't live without a huge remote that controls the kitchen sink and your wife needs two hands to lift and call you over every time she wants to raise the volume, then this unit isn't for you. (I do understand that NAD will replace the remote that ships with this unit when they finish developing their universal programmable remote - keep your eyes out for this if you do purchase this unit.) If you do like pure, clear sound, by all means give it a listen.

The unit is easy to set up, easy on the eyes, as it blends in nicely to the background of my home theater shelves, almost as if it was made to fit anywhere it is placed. The simple front and front controls are a refreshing change from the mass market Jap units that seem to have more buttons than my PC keyboard. The digital readout is spartan, giving you the information you want to see without the bar graphs and matrix charts and confusing pictures you need to squint to read from your seat across the room.

There's a headphone jack on the front of the unit! This was missing in some of NADs earlier receiver models. The sound through my Sennheiser HD580's is truly a joy to listen to. Power is adequate for these phones, which need a bit of punch to drive.

In summary, in my system, this is a great receiver. Don't let NADs conservative power ratings steer you away from it. Realize that the mass market Jap crap is OVER-rated and a 200W receiver may only put out 40-50 Wpc when driven simultaneously. This unit puts out the FULL power rating through all outputs, simultaneously, easily, and without distortion. Get one. Listen to one. Buy it if you like it!

NAD 761
NAD 515 5-CD changer
Sony DVP-S550D DVD player
Tannoy Mercury M5 mains
Interconnects and speaker wire are Nordost

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TEAC POS-9100, Sony

Try this site.
http://www.unitedonlineshopping.com/

Hard to determine at this point as I can't get it to work in surround mode using digital cable in from digital cable box to digital in

Will not work in EARS surround mode on Stereo FM, or in Dolby Digital surround mode via Video 3 digital input. Also, NAD should be embarassed to sell such a poor remote. The batteries don't fit in the battery compartment snugly, therefore you have to continually remove the battery cover and reposition the batteries.

I have had this product for about 2 weeks now and have yet to get it to work properly. Manual describes its features, but does not explain in detail what to expect out of each feature. E.G. in FM mode, will EARS send an audio signal to each of the 5 speakers? Cannot get 5.1 sound out of the Video 3 digital in from my digital cable box - only provides 2 speaker digital sound.

I would be interested if anyone else was having similar problems and what they did to correct.

New Remote - Shift key used to select Secondary components (Very minor)
Receiver - Binding post too close together.

I received my NAD HTR-1 replacement on 11 May 01. It has a nice ergonomically designed shape and has backlighting. I too share Dave Dorey's disappointment regarding the need to use the shift key in combination with the 4 buttons to select and control functions for VCR, TV, CABLE & CUSTOM Component. Overall, I think the remote is quite an improvement and the need to use the shift key to select the previously mentioned components will become second nature over time. I'm still in the process of exploring its learning capabilities. The manual did require a second reading due to its references to the T 761 manual for certain functions and features. I feel it should have contained illustrations (graphics & text) inserted from the T 761 manual, where it makes reference to that manual. I maintain my 5 Star rating, as my unit still performs in an exceptional manner.

I applaud soundseller.com for their prompt shipment of my replacement remote!

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Pioneer, Technics

Has anyone with this unit had any luck getting it to work with a universal/learning remote? I have tried the OFA Cinema 7, the RS 15-1994, and now the Sony VL900. No problem with the NAD 550 DVD, but none of the above can learn from the 761. NAD says they are sending out new remotes in 2-3 weeks! I am hesitantly optomistic that this will solve my five remote dilemma!

Elegant, uncluttered, "music-first" approach to design. Excellent 2-channel sound which translates into equally excellent surround playback. Good quality DACs.

Quality control issues. Lack of user-interface refinement: simple should not mean lack of functionality. A few questionable design decisions.

After a few months of hard-core researching, I concluded that the 761 was for me. Today, 2 months after backing up this decision with hard-earned cash, and despite problems originating from poor quality control, I am still convinced that this is the absolute best value in the sub-1000$ market. Nothing at this price point can rival its quality or sound. What a revelation to see a company prize sound quality over useless features in the incredibly competitive and lucrative AV receiver market!

Now this product is not perfect:

1) It's fairly rough around the user interface and this has no reason to be. In fact, it is almost inexcusable in today's market.

2) NAD has some serious quality control demons to deal with.

Let's talk about quality control first: I am on my 3rd T761 unit in 2 months! On my first one, the left front and surround channels would occasionally cut out during surround playback. When using the noise generator, the sound from those channels would be either partially or completely muted. In stereo mode from a digital source, the left would crackle. No left channel problems when playing through the tuner. However, the tuner would not play in EARS mode. And it is supposed to (anyways it does on my new unit). The second one worked nicely for 3 hours and then the center channel amp just exploded (I mean BANG!) and the unit powered down. The center channel never worked again. My third and last one (if you know what I mean) has been working beautifully. However, there still is no subwoofer output in stereo mode from the tuner. This is a design flaw, not a defect.

Needless to say, the NAD distributor and the people at the service center thought that I was crazy and implied that I was somehow responsible. I was a total of three weeks without a unit and I actually had to pay shipping charges to cover one of my replacements!

I truly wish that I could blame this on my incredibly bad luck. But others on this list have also expressed concern about defects. Considering that there are only about 20 reviews on this list, I can't help thinking that there is an unacceptably high percentage of sub-par units leaving the factory. This will no doubt hurt the NAD name. I hope they thoroughly test the units going out for review.

Advice to NAD: Have your units made in an ISO certified factory next year, not in China. And work on your custumer service.


Now assuming that quality control can be improved, let's address those little user interface quirks also known as NAD ideosyncrasies. The weaknesses that I am about to list are very very minor and can easily be lived with. However, it is important to list them as there is no reason for them to exist. Most could be corected in future versions at almost no cost to the company.


1) No dimmer on the display. Minor annoyance.

2) No way to switch off the on-screen volume display. Moderately irritating to the audience.

3) The digital inputs are assigned to video inputs (i.e. optical 1 is assigned to video 1, coaxial 1 is assigned to video 3). Not a big deal. However because my DVD only has a coax out, I can't plug it into video 1 or video 2. I use video 3, one of the record loops. Solution: make them user assignable, OR put a coax AND an optical on every input. Actually, I would be happy if I could simply name my inputs (i.e. call video 3 "DVD" for example)

4) Can't assign a name to an input (i.e. DVD, VCR, etc.) Minor annoyance. But honestly, how hard would this be? Sure would make my girlfriend's life easier.

5) Only ONE component in (and one component out)! If you can't afford to put in at least TWO inputs, don't put any at all!! Who is responsible for this? The engineering department (I hope not) or the marketing department (most likely)?

6) Let's not even go into the useless paperweight of a remote control (which can't even control an NAD DVD player!) since NAD will be mailing out replacements soon.

7) No standby button on the receiver, only on the remote control. Annoying. Don't lose the remote.

8) Useless instruction manual. Fortunately setup is very easy. Yet a manual is always important for figuring out the little illogical things.

9) No main in. I know you don't get main-in's at this price range. However a main-in would be a lot more useful to me (would allow me to use the high pass on my sub) then a 12V trigger and a single component in.

10) The only surround mode available for stereo sources could benefit from a little more flexibility. I hate DSP soundfields and I am glad NAD does too. EARS mode, however, works suprisingly well. Vocals hardly bleed at all to the surround speakers. However, I find that it relies too much on the center channel. This would make sense if it was designed for movie playback. But it is designed for music. I would like the option of disabling the center channel in this mode.

11) I prefer faceplate buttons for each input (like on the 751) over two buttons allowing to cycle through the inputs. Again, very minor. But easier to ease and not any more expensive to make.

12) A little more control over bass management. This is perhaps too close to the line between gadget and functionality so I won't insist.


If NAD addresses these minor issues, I believe that it would have the perfect AV receiver on its hands. It already has what is probably the best sounding receiver at any price. I love the "keep it simple" design philosophy and I am all for it if fewer gadgets equal better sound. However, what I want is not gadgets, but a little more user interface refinement to match the truly refined sound.

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Stereo Sound. Power. Looks

Background Noise when playing DVD.

I have only had this Reciver on loan for a week, while my Dennon AVR 3300 is in for service (yes, the fan problem !) I experienced exactley the same problem as Mattias (from sweden) described. A strange background noise while playing a DVD through the Coax. optical input ! That said, this amp. sounds FANTASTIC when playing a CD on my Dennon DCS 10, lots of definition very "open" and deeeeep bass !
The speaker terminals are not very easy to get to. Not a big problem though.

Similar Products Used:

Dennon AVR 3300

Sounds great, lots of power. 5.1 output to upgrade to seperate amps.

Current remote, hopefully replacement will be better. Does not maintain seperate memory for different sources. Slow changing digital modes.

NAD built a really good reciever. Misses a few small things. I realize that NAD likes to build simple equipment without all the extra toys you don need.

Two Channel Rock Music Performance

Remote

I like watching DD/DTS movies with the 761, but being a 70's rock fan I'm really into stereo mode listening.

Sounds totally wicked in stereo mode with my extensive collection of Led Zep, Van Halen, Pretenders and The Who CD's/LP's.

Mid and upper bass performance is really rockin - check out Zep's 'Song Remains The Same' - the punch from Jones' Bass and Bonham's kick drum is awesome!!!! It hits ya in the chest! A tech buddy of mine said this is where the high current NAD amps really pay off - they take control of the speaker's bass driver and don't let it flap around after the attack.

For this rocker, this amp is a must have.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Yamaha

OVERALL SOUND QUALITY, EASE OF USE AND GREAT LOOKS IN THE CLASSIC NAD MOLD.

REMOTE CONTROL AND LACK OF ENGINEERING WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEATAILS.

IN MY OPINION THE NAD T761 IS THE BEST RECEIVER MONEY CAN BUY FOR UNDER $2000.00 (CAN). THE SOUND IS SMOOTH, BUT NOT TOO MUCH SO, VERY DETAILED, WELL BALANCED AND NEVER FATIGUING. I EXTENSIVELY AUDITIONED IT AGAINST THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECEIVERS AND HERE IS WHAT I FOUND. COMPARED TO THE DENON3801 IT SOUNDS SMOOTHER, HAS BETTER BASS CONTROL AND IMPACT, HAS A LARGER SOUND STAGE AND REALLY SINGS WITH STRINGS ON CLASSICAL RECORDINGS. THE DENON BY COMPARISON HAS A MESSY SOUND STAGE AND A SOMEWHAT HEAVIER HANDED APPROACH TO MUSIC THAT DOES NOT SOUND AS REFINED AS THE NAD. IT DOES HOWEVER HAVE A GREAT REMOTE CONTROL AND EXCELLENT HOME THEATRE FEATURES. CONCLUSION : NAD FOR MUSIC, DENON FOR MOVIES. COMPARED TO THE MARANTZ SR8000 THE NAD WINS HANDS DOWN IN 2 CHANNEL STEREO. THE MARANTZ SOUNDS HEAVY HANDED AND PLODS ALONG LIKE GEORGE FOREMAN WHILE THE NAD FLOATS LIKE A BUTTERFLY AND IS FLEET OF FOOT. THE NAD EXCITES WHERE THE MARANTZ SENDS EVERY BODY HOME YAWNING. INDEED AGAIN IF STRINGS ARE YOUR DOMAIN NAD WILL NOT LET YOUR VIVALDI DOWN. ALSO WITH STEVIE NICKS VOCALS NOTHING IN THIS PRICE RANGE IS MORE ACCURATE OR SINGS A SWEETER TUNE. BASS EXTENSION AND CONTROL AGAIN IS BETTER THAN ALL OF THE ABOVE. INDEED THE BASS IS MORE OF THE KIND THAT YOU FEEL AS MUCH AS YOU HEAR THOUGH NEVER OVERBEARING. SOUNDS LIKE THE PERFECT RECEIVER RIGHT? WELL NOT QUITE, NAD SHOULD BLATANTLY COPY OR PURCHASE THE DENON 3801'S EXCEPTIONAL REMOTE CONTROL. ALSO I SENSE THAT THEY TEND TO RUSH THEIR PRODUCTS TO MARKET RATHER THAN OVER REFINE THEM UNLIKE THE JAPANESE PRODUCTS WHICH SEEM TO HAVE FEWER GLITCHES COMING TO MARKET. ALL IN ALL AN GREAT AUDIO PRODUCT WHICH TRULY PLACES MUSIC FIRST BUT DOES NOT LET DOWN WITH DD AND DTS. AS FOR THE ONE STAR REVIEW ABOVE, WELL, LOOK IN THE YELLOW PAGES UNDER "AUDIOLOGIST" AND BOOK YOUR SELF AN APPOINTMENT. MY SYSTEM:NAD T761 NAD C540 B&W DM603S2 B&W DM601S2 B&W CC6S2 IXOS INTERCONNECT. KIMBER CABLE SPEAKER WIRE.

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MARANTZ SR8000 / 7000, DENON 3801, ROTEL RSX-972,YAMAHA 795A.