i just replaced my Nad 314s amp with a classe audio seventy. There's more bass, volume and a larger sounstage with the audio seventy, but besides that, there is little difference between the two. New, the audio 70 is about $1400 while the 314 is about $400. The 314 is definately one of the best values in hi-fi, and it drove my Hales Revelation twos(3-way) quite well before being replaced. If your looking for an pre/amp combo in the thousand dollar range, save your money and buy the 314. five stars for great value

A decent little amp for the money. Clean but a little soft on highsand dynamics are a bit restrained. Build quality is average. Good
starter amp for the hi-fi enthusiast.

The NAD 304 integrated amp is one of the best deals around. Superb sound. The 304 is now available as the 314 amp

System: NAD314, Marantz CD67, Paradigm Atom, cables from Taralabs.
I bought my system about one year ago and I'm very pleased. The 314 is a great sounding amplifier. It produces a nice, warm sound with tight, natural bass.What more can you ask for. It's one of the cheapest, kickass, allround amps I've ever listened to.

At first I used the cables that went with the CD-player, geez, I might as well have used shoelaces. When I switched to the TaraLabs cables I was stunned. The sound coming from the speakers was crystal clear. No white noise, no hum. Nothing. Instead, the music, the whole soundstage was lifted, all the transients where heard, the music sounded the way it was meant to sound.

I think my 314 is doing a great job, I recommend it to anyone.

I recently bought a 314 and instantly fell in love with it.
This amp images very well and provides very good sound for the money. NAD's rating of only 35 watts per channel seems VERY conservative. If you are looking for a good amp but don't want to spend mega bucks, you should seriously consider a 314.

I have recently listened to the NAD 314. I found this to be a good sounding integrated for the money ($399, I think.) I am most impressed by the lack of grain in the sound. Most solid state amps hurt your ears when you turn them up, but not the 314. It excels in the midrange frequencies, but lacks a little in the treble range. The bass, unfortuantely, is weak with this unit, even with the soft clipping off. Reproduction of good bass is expensive, however, so the trade off for clarity and solid midrange is worth it. Imaging is decent, but very linear. There is little depth to the soundstage. I think the Arcam Alpha 7 is a better buy at $450. Better dynamics in the highs and lows and better soundstaging depth. The trade off here is thinner midrange and increased graininess. It's worth it in this case (my opinion).
If you are just getting in to high end stuff, and are on the strictest of budgets, both the NAD and the Arcam are good choices. If your budget has some flexibility, however, give the Jolida 302a a listen. It is $850, but sounds better than anything I've heard at $2000. You might decide you don't need the more expensive speakers.

Until this summer, I had been listening to music using an old Kenwood receiver, Electrovoice Interface "A" speakers (without the "box" equalizer), and a cheapo, mid-eighties, Sony CD player. My dad then gave me his old, original large Advent speakers, which were in excellent shape other than foam rotting around the woofers. I promptly had them refoamed. The Advents improved the sound, but the system wouldn't "sing." I needed new electronics.


I went to Saturday Audio Exchange, where I purchased an NAD 304 amp and 513 CD Player. The improvement was immediate. The system was very smooth and musical. The harshness vanished. But the longer I listened, the more I missed the dynamics of the music (I mostly listen to classical). I was tweeking one day and decided to try the system with the soft clipping turned off. Bliss. It restored the crispness to the sound, without compromising the smoothness and musicality. The attacks had a natural energy similar live music.



I bought the NAD stuff on closeout sale at Saturday Audio Exchange in Chicago (www.saturdayaudio.com). The 304 was $270 and the 513 was $230. I understand they are still selling the 304, but the 513's are gone. The price is right, but best of all, the people at Saturday Audio are straightforward, and they have liberal return, trade-in, and trade-up policies.



The electronics get a "5" based on performance and price. But remember to TURN OFF THE SOFT CLIPPING.

I bought my NAD 314 new in the box for $249! I think I got one of the best deals possible for an int. amp. below $1000. NAD 314 is very good for classical music having a great musicality and good definition. For the starters is a must buy!