stercaland

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 5.00 votes

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Underground Sound in

Summary:
I've owned my NAD 214 for about 10 years now, and I can certainly say that I'm more than pleased. After 10 years it is going strong, so build quality and reliability certainly has not been an issue. Although NAD no longer makes the 214, I'd feel confident of getting a well-made product if I were in the market for one of their current products. A good used 214 often can be had on Ebay for $200 to $300, and this, of course, speaks volumes of NAD's resell value. In fact, I'm currently in the market for a second one so that I can bi-amp it with my original one.

While it may be true that there are better sounding amps out there (i.e. Bryston, Krell, Conrad-Johnson, Audio Research, etc.), the NAD comes in at only a fraction of the cost of its higher-priced proteges. Yet . . . I'd venture so far as to say that the 214 delivers 90% of the performance of the "price-no-object" amps. Audiophiles with deep pockets and a bit of the old "audiophilia nervosa" syndrome will gladly shell out a few thousand dollars more to eek out a bit more detail, a wider soundstage, or transparency, but I'll save my dollars for other essentials in life.

Adcom, Marantz, and Rotel deliver NAD some stiff competition in the same price range, but my loyalty has always been with NAD and will probably remain firm. Aside from the spartan, dull-grey facade of the amp (which I've grown to love), there's nothing "wrong" with this amp. Similarly-priced competitors offer only a prettier chassis and often for a few hundred dollars more.

Without a doubt, this amp is true to its British heritage. By this, of course, I mean the jolly old "British" sound that is best described as laid back. You know, bass extension that is tight/punchy and controlled but a bit rolled off towards the bottom end. Upper frequencies are transparent although a bit rolled off as well. The midrange----ahhhh yes, the most important midrange----this is where the NAD delivers the goods. True, a Bryston does it better, but you won't hear a more refined midrange from another amp in this price range.

Strengths:
Value for the dollar, superb sound for the price, long-term reliability

Weaknesses:
Okay, so it's not a Bryston 4B, but at one-fourth the price it can't be beat!

Similar Products Used:
B&K ST140

Belgarchi

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Don't remember

Summary:
Excellent power amp for the price. Very well build, heavy, superb toroidal transformer. It sounds very good, especially in the midrange. Not the deepest in the bass nor the most fluid in the highs, but to have something clearly better, you must spend more than $1,000.

Strengths:
Sound/Price ratio, clarity of midrange, build quality

Weaknesses:
None at the price

Similar Products Used:
Rotel, Adcom, Parasound, Creek, Quad, Bryston

Price Paid:  $375.00 from E-BAY

Summary:
I bought the NAD 214 off a on-line action ebay, it came new in the box so I let it burn in for two weeks before I would give my opinion on how it sounds. After the two week burn in I played a verity of music rock, jazz, classical, the amp played all of these with ease and with finesse, the 214 is towards the neutral side but with warmth the bass is very tight and controlled and this amp has killer dynamics for it's 80 wpc this is due to it's high current design. The NAD 214 sold new for $500 and was made from 1995 to 2000. I have listened to many NAD amps and the 214 is by far one the best amplifiers that I have heard from NAD it's that good and I have been buying and selling audio for the last twenty eighty years this amp will become a all time classic as did the 3020 intergraded. I love this amp and will be keeping this one for a long time to come, if you can find one of these go for it it's definitely a great amplifier. Claudio Martini CM Audio

Strengths:
Speed, detail, musical, dynamics.

Weaknesses:
Could be a bit more lquid on the top, but for the price it is vet very good.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from 2tal

Summary:
hello I bought this amp half a year ago, and it replaced a one year old NAD C300 integreted amp, which i thought was great. I bought it in a local hifi store. The only reason for replacing my "old" amp was that this one was so cheap that i just couldent leave it. I was surpriced over the tight bass, and the clear mid-range. Compared to my old amp, all my music sudently sounded better. I play it with a pair of B&W dm22 speakers, it sounds just lovly. A lovely amp, which i will strongly recomend to others who wants great sound, without paying a fortune.

Strengths:
Tight bass. It's got a great power supply. It is fairly cheap.

Weaknesses:
A slightly cold treble, but apart from that none

Similar Products Used:
NAD C300 2x25W integreted amplifier

Price Paid:  $250.00 from RAF

Summary:
Picked this fella up second hand and I think I'm going to buy me another one on Monday. I'm currently playing my entire CD collection one-by-one to hear what I've been missing for the last 15 years. Unbelievable. You'll be in tears.

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
Will make everything else from now on sound like crap.

Similar Products Used:
NAD 3225, Sony DB840QS