Price Paid:  $900.00 from Commercial Electroni

Summary:
NAD will list their favourable reviews ad nauseum, and there is no doubt their products sport excellent tech specs. The AV 716 is no exception. Decent power, useful features - I particularly like the ability to play different inputs over main and remote speakers. BUT, and this is a huge but, use them over a number of years and you're in for disappointment. I own three NAD products including this one, and all exhibit similar characteristics. In a nutshell, how do they do it, you ask, such great specs for so little (relatively) money? I suspect they cut corners on components. My AV 716 has become virtually unusable over the years because speakers cut out, or fizz, continuously. Two attempts to get help from NAD's electronic support team resulted in (after lengthy delays, maybe they were all on vacation) one virtual non-response and, finally, an explanation that my "relays are carboned-up". Last time I had this kind of problem was more than thirty years ago with my first amp, a very cheap product in the early days of stereo. I'm not about to lay out the cost of a new amp to get this one serviced, so I have to write it off to experience. But I'll say this: I've owned all kinds of hi-fi equipment over the years, including several products rated at, or near, the top in their class (e.g. Quad Electrostatic speakers). My NAD products are by far the worst I have purchased. Never again.

Strengths:
Great specs. Nice features.

Weaknesses:
Terrible performance. See one of the reviews of the NAD C352 for a similar experience.
Also, the instruction manual is probably the most convoluted I have ever used, and I own several Japanese products

Similar Products Used:
Quad amps and pre-amps.

Price Paid:  $750.00 from chicago audio

Summary:
Just to say this is the best A/V I have had i love it more then my nad pre amp and amp .the sound is great!

Strengths:
Very clean power and nice tight bass great looks easy to use and lots of opps on it.

Weaknesses:
NONE

Similar Products Used:
Adcom and rotel

Summary:
I agree with Mark that the 716AV certainly has bass, lots of it, and both very tight and controlled. If anyone finds it lacking, it can't be the amp! Owners of this NAD classic will understand how much they are missing when they move up to other Dolby Digital receivers. The 716AV offers good clean sound and a powerful dynamic range. The rating of 55W is really a misnomer because this receiver really packs it in. I'm using the 716 as a second HT set in my room, feeding it with my older LD collection. There should be plenty of second-hand 716s out there in the market. You can't go wrong picking it up. It's excellent value.

Strengths:
Great in stereo. Excellent in Pro Logic. Lots of reserve power. Drives any speaker load.

Weaknesses:
You can't upgrade.

Similar Products Used:
Sony Prologic receivers

Summary:
I'm just about to upgrade to DD but its been hard to find a reciever that offers no frills great sound in both the video and music domain. I've been spoiled by my NAD 716.
I find "hall" mode on the 716 a bit cheesy in sound and dont really like the delay on the rear speakers. Surround modes in the off position in normal stereo mode however is magic.
I disagree with some reviewers assessment that the bass is weak. Perhaps one should invest in a fuller range speaker. The full audio spectrum is delivered real accuracy. With bags of power (real power) in reserve. I like my music moderately loud (according to my wife) and find I rarely find the need to crank this amp up over 25% power on the volume control.
Bottom line is this reciever maybe antiquated by todays standards but if you can pick one up at a bargain price it will do great justice as a stereo amp or as a second room prologic stereo amp.
Value wise I have to rate it lower due to the advances in features (note features not nesseccarily sound) over the last couple of years. If you find a 716 second hand or cheap BUY IT.
Overall rating based on sound quality.

Strengths:
Great Sound In BOTH Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic. Build Quality.

Weaknesses:
No Pre outs. Lack of upgradability. Clip speaker connections for rear and center channell.

Summary:
I had the chance to listen to this receiver on an extended basis in my home.I would not buy one because of the severe lack of bass frequencies that are not produced by the amplifier section of this receiver.
Before buying one a trial tryout is recommended, especially if you like some bass in your music. this is a british amp and ike a lot of british products they are light in the low end.
Build Quality is a-1.
Features and reliabity are also A-1.
Three stars.

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