SHARON, MA, Nov. 16, 2007 – International audio-video manufacturer NAD Electronics has for over three decades been acknowledged worldwide as marching to a different drummer always to the benefit of its customers. Now, in one of its most important product introductions, NAD launches the T 765,T 775 and T 785 AV Receivers.
The T 765, T 775 and T 785 AV Receivers are classic NAD, says NAD Director of Product Development Greg Stidsen. “Instead of incorporating brochure-friendly video processing, or succumbing to the wattage wars, we’ve focused on meaningful goals: real-world sonics and power; pristine, non-degraded video, genuinely ergonomic design, and progressive features like our uniquely enhanced Audyssey™ auto set-up and calibration.”
The receivers maintain NAD core values beginning with its Music First design philosophy, which declares that state-of-the-art music recordings remain the truest test of any playback system. NAD’s belief that home-entertainment products have grown far too complex and user-unfriendly also guided the new designs to their simpler, more intuitive user interface.
Advanced HDMI and Digital Video
With digital HDMI connections gaining acceptance, implementation becomes a key feature for next-generation AV gear. Yet here as always NAD has elected to follow the Hippocratic principle of “First, do no harm.” Consequently, while these receivers include HDMI 1.3 inputs and switching, they eschew the chip-based video-DSP ‘upscaling’ that looks so attractive in competitors’ brochures, but which frequently result in video indistinguishable from, or actually inferior to, the original source.
Instead, the T 775 and T 785, with four HDMI inputs each, and the T 765 with three HDMI inputs, perform superb, high-quality HDMI ‘cross-conversion,’ delivering all analog-video inputs (composite, S-, or component video) to HDMI with full quality. They also deliver NAD’s extensive new on-screen menu/display system via all video outputs, including HDMI, permitting a single-cable link to the video display.
These receivers route incoming HDMI signals in their original resolution, up to 1080p, and accept digital-audio via HDMI, simplifying hookup. NAD urges looking beyond the hype to observe that the vast majority of systems derive no meaningful benefit from 1080p signals, and can easily exceed the capabilities of cables or associated equipment. And since most popular flat-panel and rear-projection hi-def displays incorporate their own, non-bypassable scalers, any upstream scaler is largely pointless. NAD’s pure and simple approach avoids the multiple video scaling/processing stages that can actually degrade video performance.
Additionally, the T 775 and T 785 add even more functionality_with audio processing and On-Screen-Display.
Audyssey Auto Calibration and MultEQ XT™
The T 765, T 775 and T785 receivers incorporate Audyssey Auto Set-Up, an easy to use, sophisticated system that balances and adjusts a multi-channel speaker system using the small, calibrated microphone included with each unit. Audyssey automatically detects speakers, chooses ideal crossovers, verifies speaker phase and adjusts levels and delays. The T 775 and T 785 receivers further add NAD’s enhanced Audyssey MultEQ XT Room Correction. MultEQ XT exploits sophisticated, proprietary time-domain digital signal processing to reduce the impact of room acoustics on sonic accuracy, with a unique ability to yield a ‘family sized’ sweet spot and achieve real gains in accuracy.
Equally important, NAD collaborated with Audyssey to develop proprietary ‘target curves’ that yield real-world response that reflect NAD’s commitment to ‘music-first’ and accurate reproduction. In fact, the T 775 and T 785 are the first receivers to support Audyssey MultEQ XT Pro. Using MultEQ XT Pro software and the added processing power of a laptop computer, custom installers can derive even more accurate and extensive room corrections, uploading the results to the T 775 or T 785, whose Audyssey processor will implement them.
Modular Construction
The T 765, T 775 and T 785 share an entirely new electro-mechanical configuration. This places important circuitry on five fully independent, modular circuit cards, including separate cards for digital audio and HDMI, component video, analog video, and 2-channel, and multichannel analog audio. The obvious advantages include enhanced serviceability, expandability, and the easy and cost-effective introduction of new technologies.
For example, if and when the Dolby True HD and/or DTS Master lossless multichannel formats become fully useful standards of high-definition discs or other recordings, NAD will make upgraded processing available. With modular construction (and since HDMI 1.3 pipelines are already in place), this can be practical and affordable.
“Full Disclosure” Performance and PowerDrive
All three receivers also demonstrate anew that NAD’s reputation for engineering real-world performance that outpaces the expectations of conventional specs is well earned. NAD’s designs are conceived under its concept of “Full Disclosure Power Ratings.” The new receivers, like every NAD design, guarantee power production under ‘worst-case’ conditions: actual 4- and 8- loads, driven full bandwidth from the deepest bass to the highest overtones (20 Hz to 20 kHz), with all channels loaded and stressed simultaneously, and performing at a very low (0.05%) distortion level.
By contrast, most competitors measure a single channel, at a single middle frequency, short-term, and at higher distortion – in some cases up to 10 percent! This makes it easier to advertise a 7 x 100 watt receiver, but when measured to NAD’s standards the results are nearly always lower, sometimes by as much as 75 percent. NAD achieves this advantage by solid, conventional engineering, including massive, high-current power-supply design and highest-quality output devices, providing a generous ‘safe operating area’ to ensure clean, dynamic, reliable reproduction at all power levels.
PowerDrive is NAD’s proprietary power-supply arrangement. It holds a measure of current storage in reserve, able to be called upon by the dynamic needs of music or filmsound, both of which routinely make transient demands 10 to 20 times their average power requirements, several times a second.
With PowerDrive, NAD designs repeatedly outperform components rated for twice as much ‘on-paper’ power, and even more. By ‘outperform,’ we mean they play louder, cleaner, with greater dynamic excitement; above all, with more musicality – and without the dynamic compression, flattened imaging, and tinges of harshness audiophiles so often associate with ‘receiver sound.’
Music First, and More
The three A/V Receivers also exploit latest-generation Aureus 7.1 Audio DSP from Texas Instruments to derive their wide palette of surround formats, including the full range of Dolby Digital and Pro Logic IIx, and DTS ES, 24/96, and NEO:6 modes. This powerful processor also performs several proprietary NAD surround modes including NAD’s widely praised EARS mode, providing a natural surround sound from two-channel recordings or TV broadcasts. Top-performing Burr Brown DACs complement four independent stereo 24/96 ADCs each, for state-of-the-technology conversion.
All three receivers include several additional useful features. For example, five independent A/V Presets store channel-level, listening-mode, and tone-control settings (among others) for instant recall, making it easy to custom-tailor a system for different types of program material or listener preferences. These A/V receivers are XM Ready, requiring only an optional third-party XM Mini-Tuner module to gain access to XM’s extensive digital music and talk content, with full system control and display.
Also on board each receiver is a tuner that includes 40 favorite station presets in any mix of AM, FM or XM stations. FM stations that don’t automatically display their name in addition to their broadcast frequency (RDS function), can be given a custom name.
These receivers include a front-panel Universal Portable Media Player input (3.5mm analog jack) to connect iPods and similar portable media devices. In addition, the T 775 and T785 include a rear-panel data port for connecting to an optional NAD IPD-1 Dock for iPod, enabling the A/V receivers to control the player and display its ‘meta-data’ using the NAD Illuminated Learning Remote Control. Custom integration/whole-house A/V facilities span up to four zones allowing for independent source and volume control. A simplified second-zone remote is included with each receiver, and all models offer a range of flexible 12-volt trigger and IR-connection tools.
NAD’s new T 765, T 775 and T 785 AV receivers are available now at suggested prices of $1,999, $2,499 and $2,999, respectively.
