NAD 116/216 THX Amplifier
Today authority of the NAD brand among lovers of high-quality sound with modest (by their measure) income is high enough in the world. Particularly NAD Company succeeds in low frequency amplifiers, which are the rightful pride of the Company. The preamplifier NAD 116 and the power amplifier NAD 216 THX are ones of the best and the most perfect models. Let's get to know with them closer. The preamplifier NAD 116 is a good quality device with pretension to semi-professional level, as evidenced by presence of XLR balance output on the back side to connect a power amplifier in addition to usual RCA single-ended output. As is known, the XLR balance output is applied in the High End class and professional equipment, therefore its presence speaks volume. True, we have been a little bit surprised, that in the tested set of amplifiers the NAD 216 THX has not a balance input that has disabled us to evaluate advantages of balance connection in comparison with traditional - unbalanced connection. Apparently, the other power amplifier by NAD Company must work together with NAD 116 to realize all the benefits of balance connection.
The amplifier NAD 116 has an integrated adjusting amplifier for turntable with two types of pickup - MM type and MC type. The preamplifier also has a remote control, which can control not only an amplifier functions, but all NAD audio equipment. The amplifier confirms receipt of command from a remote control with friendly "wink" of power on indication LED, and current position of volume control handle is easy followed due to brightly glowing LED embedded in it. What is absent in the preamplifier, it is a tone controls, but the preamplifier does not need them, because NAD sound is notable for excellent frequency balance.
The power amplifier NAD 216 THX is a "bird flying high", as expressively evidenced by the THX logo on its front panel. And really, it is made rather good and competently: constructively the power amplifier represents a fully symmetric construction. The boards of power amplifier are fixed to heavy cooling radiators and located on each side of a case. All is competent; there is nothing to complain of. There are a big toroidal mains transformer in the center of a case, on which "NAD" is proudly written, and huge "jars" of electrolytic capacitors. And surely, in the circuit of power amplifier the firm feature of the NAD amplifiers - "soft limiting" of an output signal is used. New types of screw clips to connect acoustic systems are used in the amplifier satisfying current electrical safety requirements. There are no questions to safety, however, we could not connect our standard acoustic cable with "banana" type connectors, therefore we had have to test this amplifier with other piece of Monitor Cobra Silver cable, connecting it by old Cossack way - squeezing a cable skinner in a connector. The NAD sounds just excellent: sound is impressive, dynamic and very detailed. High frequencies are also impeccable - they are clear, ringing and transparent. But surround sound is especially amazing - it seems that all the instruments just are physically tangible. Both micro- and macrodynamics are practically perfect, the strings sound just heavenly. What has seemed not good, it is a little bit excessive sharpness of copper brass instruments, but it is already cavils. On the whole this set has demonstrated excellent tone. This pair of amplifiers will be suitable for audio complexes of very different levels, but even in the complex of very high class it won't let down.
