New toy.....Part 2 (NAD T-773) - Axiom Message Boards

The saga continues. I just took delivery of the T-773. Darn box is absolutely huge to say the least. I will post more later on.

The natives get restless.

Jungle drums echo through the forest. The chants begin...

Open open open

One of these days I want to see Mrs. Neverhappy interviewed. See how she feels about the whole audio world being demoed in her home.

In reply to:
One of these days I want to see Mrs. Neverhappy interviewed. See how she feels about the whole audio world being demoed in her home.

I'm lucky, my wife is a movie lover. When I get it right she is the first to comment on the sound of something!

Initial thoughts on the T-773 are it's got a ton of power! I have heard about the power this thing puts out and I'm happy to say that everything you have ever read about it's power, is true and then some. I thought HK had the under rated power department covered but NAD is right there.

I will post more in the next few day's once I give it a better run through.

I will post more on this AWESOME receiver later but I had to jump on here and say this is maybe the best receiver I have owned to date...............and as most know, I have gone through a few.

The NAD also keeps up with and surpasses the Outlaw pre/pro I had previously.

This is making my choice simpler. It seems NAD may be getting back to its former self.

NH - Thanks for posting this. We need to get our wives together sometime.

When you had the Outlaw pre/pro, what were you using for the amplifiers? You may have posted it, but I don't recall.

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We need to get our wives together sometime.

Anytime!..............but don't ever tell my wife what audio stuff is actually worth. She has ideas but she never asks and I like it that way!

As for the NAD, it's really simple why I like it:

- More power then you will ever need.
- It's a small thing but I like the way it looks.
- Simple to use.
- Fantastic sounding.
- Dolby Digital & DTS is done very well. All channels have excellent separation with nothing overdone.
- EARS is very interesting to say the least. NAD has the right idea when it comes to taking a stereo source and sending it to all speakers. Other then the Denon 3805, this is the only receiver I have owned that does it right.

There are a few small items I would change but not many. One is the pre-set option for settings. You have a total of 5 but you can't rename them. In a perfect world, I would like to have the ability to rename them. NAD gives you the option on the video and audio options but not the presets. Perhaps an oversight on NAD's part. My next gripe would be with the back of the NAD. It's a little cramped but it's manageable. I would also like more optical inputs, but on the good side, there are a ton of coaxial (Digital) inputs. NAD doesn't allow end users to do software upgrades. Your unit has to go back to a dealer. This is just plain stupid if you ask me!

To date my number one choice for an HT receiver was the HK 7300. I would put them neck and neck but the NAD for reasons unknown sounds a heck of a lot better with music. I don't think you would go wrong with either but I just love the power this thing puts out. It never stops coming. I also like the fact that the NAD isn't loaded up with a ton of stuff most people won't ever use. NAD got it right with this one.

In reply to:
When you had the Outlaw pre/pro, what were you using for the amplifiers?

Sunfire Cinema Grand

200 x 5? or 200 x 7?

Either one quite impressive.

In reply to:
200 x 5? or 200 x 7?

425 X 5

I am also a happy T773 owner and I am extremely happy with it's easy to operate remote and menu features. I have it also hooked up to the zone 2 in the living room. The zone 2 remote is a line of sight which requires a remote eye,(fairly cheap to buy) so for the volume adjustments it's a nice to have item. They really did design this for easy operation. This receiver is powerful and very capable, sounds great too.

What software version are you running? Did you do the upgrade?

I just got a killer deal on an Arcam AVR-300 and DV-78 combo to go with the Axiom Epic 80 Package/EP-600.

It will likely be late August before everything arrives - but this is going to be FUN !

And here I was getting all excited about my "new" used Denon 2105 @ 90 WPC!!!! hmmm... It really is much better than my Yamaha-much fuller sound with better channel separation. However it isn't a NAD T773.... Ahhh, I can only drool and hope the wife gets so excited about the Denon that continuing with upgraditis isn't so difficult..snicker..snicker...

Congrats & enjoy. It looks awesome on their website.

The Denon is a great piece of equipment ... congrats on getting it, and enjoy !

Neverhappy and I are having fun exploring what can be done with different electronics. Just consider us to be nerds with too much time on our hands, and we have understanding wives ...

I listened to an Arcam intregated amp for the first this weekend while visiting a friend. It was sitting underneith a NAD cd player and at first look I didn't even notice they were from different manufacturers. The styling looked almost identical. The Arcam was a nice, clean, simple design and sounded great.

Paul

I purchased with the version 2 software. Not sure what the upgrade was, but there is always something to improve I guess. Whatever it was it sounds great to me the just way it is.

Troy

interesting. these are the two amps I'm leaning towards, the 773 and 3805. Have you had experience with both, anyone have?

How about onscreen display, does the nad have it? and I think I read that the nad does not have upconversion ( s-video-component etc)

I have now owned both the 3805 and the 773. Both great units. I guess it comes down to what you are looking for? If you want more bells and whistles and some very neat options, get the 3805. If you want ease of use and power out the ying yang, the 773 wins hands down.

can i ask what people in canada are paying for the 773? There is a shop here that sells them, and 2500 is list. Says they have a demo for 1999.99.

I'm more familiar with the denon so I don't know what a good price for the nad is.

is this a 7.1 receiver or not? I see it referred to as a 6.1 many times.

It is a 7.1 unit - you can find all the specs on www.nad.co.uk

I paid $1850 + tax CDN.

I just received an "A" stock 773 and paid $1430.00 delivered to my door from Saturdayaudio

Wow! That is a pretty good price. My local store has a list price of $2,500.00, Canadan. I just bought a C372 and worked him down a fair bit, however there is no way that he would have dropped $650.00. I am thinking that the order would have to include several other goodies to get that price. Sounds like a great deal on a great receiver.

Shane D

Thanks, I think it was a great deal as well. The place I got it from is in Chicago and I live in Louisiana. They told me that it was $1400.00 plus shipping which they charged me $30.00 for. I was planning on paying a couple hundred more for it so I was very pleased to say the least.

well, I just ordered mine. The dealer made me an offer where I can try it out for 30 days. They are paying shipping to me. And if I don't like it, it goes back and I pay shipping back. they are not far from me at all so there really is no risk.

Did you buy it in Nfld? Do you mind if I ask what the price was?

Shane D

1999, free shipping. Considering the thing weighs almost 70lbs shipped, I like free shipping.

I hope I like the sound of this amp, because I would pay for shipping back if i don't.

neverhappy, you mentioned you have had quite a few receivers. Care to list them?

Nice price!

Shane D

I'm sure you will enjoy the 773. NAD has an excellent reputation for sound quality. It is really simple to work the menu, where as it's closest competition, the HK 7300 has a complicated menu to work through. Tonnes of current to satisfy the db hungry. Just ensure it is the version 2 with the latest upgrades. My thoughts are if this is not enough for an individual, the next up the list is Rotel and or seperates. Both a fair bit more expensive. I added a 3 channel MCA3 amp to run the fronts and center. The main reason is that I use the L/R front 773 channels to run my Monitor Audio S8's in the zone 2. That way the wife can listen to music playing off the CD player while I watch a movie using 7.1 surround in the recroom. The MCA3 does boost the stereo listening pleasure of the M80's to a higher level but not everyone likes to crank it that loud.

winter: can you post a link to the MCA3 amp?

TIA!

In reply to:
neverhappy, you mentioned you have had quite a few receivers. Care to list them?

You must be new here!

I don't think I could. To be honest I have gone through a lot of stuff in my quest. Some of my recent stuff has been the Denon 3805, Yamaha 2500, Harman Kardon 635 etc. But honestly that is three out of about 15 that have gone through my house in the last 2 years.

In reply to:
Just ensure it is the version 2 with the latest upgrades.

If you need the upgrade, yes then get it done but the 2.0 upgrade comes with a price. More then one person has reported that the update is increasing the noise floor rather substantially. There are a lot of people out there who are not getting it done as a result.

I couldnt stand it...I hooked up my new NAD 773 to my old (16 yrs) Onkyo floor standing speakers and crappy center channel speaker to listen to while I wait for my Axioms. I cant believe how much better they sound than they did with my old JVC receiver (which they sounded really bad with). I cant imagine how much better the Axioms will sound. Now I am really chomping at the bit to get my new speakers in. This receiver is awesome!!!!!

neverhappy.

Can you compare the sound of the nad to the 3805? which one was brighter?

I'm not sure the term "Brighter" is the one I would use but the NAD is "Warmer" sounding if that matters. If you want something that I find is "Brighter" or "Accurate" whatever term you want to use, get a Yamaha. If you want something on the warmer side, get a NAD, HK or a B&K if money is no object.

if that is the case, I may have the wrong amp on the way.
Oh well, it'll only cost me 30 bucks or so to try it and see.

I like really clear detailed highs, I don't want to miss anything. I like to hear every single thing a source puts out whether good or bad, but
i want to hear it. The sound of the pick hitting the guitar strings, the breath of the vocalist as the breath between words. A cymbal when you hear it in person is harsh and sharp, and that's how I want to hear it on my stereo. That is what I consider natuarl. I spent a lot of time around bands over the years, and that is how I want to hear my music at home, almost live like.

What did you end up buying?

And keep in mind that what your describing will have far more to do with the quality of the recording then anything else. Bad recordings can make great systems sound like crap! I would also say that if you want the true at home live experience, then you best buy yourself some Klipsch speakers and put a big Adcom amp behind it. That combination is about as "Bright" as any I have heard.

In reply to:
buy yourself some Klipsch speakers and put a big Adcom amp behind it. That combination is about as "Bright" as any I have heard.

LOL

If the 773 sounds anything like my carvers, I'll be happy. That is all I am looking for.

I'v heard only a few klipsch's, and I got the impression that after a few hours, i would have a headache. The Axiom m80 are the sound I was looking for exactly. But I have only heard them on my carver amps. I need the carvers for another room before anyone says it.

So, like I said, I'm getting a free trial of the t773. Nothing to lose. If I don't like it, I'll send it back.

The 773 will be a vast improvement over the Carver. I have had a few Carver's and Sunfires and the NAD will hold it's own with all the Carver stuff and a few of the Sunfires.

maybe I should just buy stuff from you when your done playing with it

btw, do you have a picture of the zone 2 remote? Just curious. I spent all last night looking for reviews of this amp, and there are only a few. one of which seems to be copied over and over on various sites. Very litle pics of this thing anywhere.

Yeah there a few here who pm me on a regular basis asking if I'm keeping something! lol

Anyway, as for the Zone 2 remote, all you gotta do is ask!

thanks man. that is quite the simple remote. Exactly what i need. The zone 2 is near where the women will be dancing and stuff when we entertain. So they'll be using that remote. Volume up/dwn, and mute...all i need

Let not forget that there is usually alcohol involved during "entertaining" so the more simple to use the better

Anytime!

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women will be dancing and stuff when we entertain.{SNIPPED} Let not forget that there is usually alcohol involved

I swear, I need to get a life.

The only thing with the remote is it is line of site, which means spending an extra $50 or so for a remote eye so that the volume can be selected from the room you have the other speakers in, but what a great idea.

As far as the site for the MCA3 II Anthem amp I will have to look it up again. I believe Chesseroo gave me the site some time ago. The specs are similar to the Anthem MCA 30 but the amperage increased by 25 or 50 watts per channel. I haven't mastered the drop links or picture add ons yet either, but I'll get back to you on that.

Troy

What exactly is the noise floor. Are you talking about background noise or min volumes?

I was told that there were some initial minor problems found with the first version and the version 2 took steps to correct them. Not even sure what they were supposed to be. Either way the 773 sounds great to me.

Troy

Here are the Anthem MCA3 II sites;

http://www.anthemav.com/OldSitev1/pdf/mcalit.pdf

http://www.anthemav.com/OldSitev1/frames/mcafr.html

http://www.anthemav.com/NewSitev2.0/AnthemProduct/MCASeries/MCASpecs/MCASeriesSpecs.html

Troy

Here's those sites:
1.
2.
3.