jcschlic

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Well I just purchased the NAD 216 THX on eBay to power my mains (Infinity IL60) and I think that given this amps' smooth neutrality combined with my speakers' warm tendencies, the pure clean power of the amp has really let this system shine. For music, this amp has really been what these speakers needed. I consider it a good buy considering I got it for $200.

Price Paid:  $395.00

Summary:
I'm afaid all too often midfi budget gear is often evaluated by some people that have no idea about sound quality, no wonder, most audiophiles wouldn't give this a second look because of price. Several years ago I could of easily been one of those people. I came across the NAD 216 THX by mistake and very glad I did! Years back, I owned some of the older NAD amps and always thought they were very average in sound quality, they just didn't do it for me. This amp is a different story! (NAD power amps are getting much better). I put the Adcom 565 preamp on this amp because I thought it would be an excellent match. I was right! The sound produced by the NAD 216 was amazing, offering a powerful quality transparent 3D sound with a very huge soundstage! I AB'd it against my expensive Threshold power amp and although the Threshold slightly edged it in the midrange, I discovered I could easily live with the NAD 216 in my main system if I were an audiophile on a budget! NAD has got a clear winner on their hands here. Strongly recommend!

Strengths:
Transparency, huge soundstage, powerful. The real beauty lies just beneath its cover which would reveal an excellent build quality, very impressive!

Weaknesses:
None at this price point. I give it top marks considering price versus performance.

Similar Products Used:
Bryston, Music Fidelity, Threshold, McCormacks, Adcom, Precision Fidelity, PS Audio. Conrad Johnson and etc.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from private

Summary:
This amp is very good. I use it to drive the bass on my cerwin vega dc-15`s and it handles the bass well! And I use a Nad C370 to drive the midrange/tweeter..no problems with them, but the 216thx becomes very hot when I play REALLY LOUD for a long time....and sometimes it "disconnects"..my plan is to install a coolfan in or on top of the amp, so it stays cool

Strengths:
powerful! loud! musical.pretty tuff design!!

Weaknesses:
it disconnects........

Similar Products Used:
sony cd-player pioneer dvd-player NAD C370 Cerwin Vega DC-15 (1000watt) MIT cables

Price Paid:  $400.00 from New

Summary:
When looking for a new amplifier to replace my dated and underpowered NAD 3020i intergrated amp, I listened to every thing available under $2000 ($900 US, this price also had to include a preamp)at the 2 closest HIFI stores to my town. Brands included were Cambridge, Rotel, other NAD prodcts, BOSE(laugh) and the list goes on. I even listened to some used equipment with very good reputations. All comparisons were done with my own system right down to interconnects and speaker cable. Listening to the NAD 216 through my Paradygm monitor series speaker I found it to be easily the best performer across the sound spectrum and with power to burn. Reproduction is very accurate and with no colouration as experienced with some other brands. The Nad also performs very well at all power settings unlike others that require to be cranked to insane levels to really start sounding good. I have also compared this product to my fathers QUAD 405 an extremely highly acclaimed product in its day and still well respected. Suprisingly it stacked up quite nicely, noticably not as full through his much more expensive Proac speakers but actually better through my paradygms. Not much in it at all. All in all I am rapt with my purchase. I have no doubt there may be better a few better products (very few) in the price range depending on your application but to one reviewer who said there were many better, wind your head in pal, that's just ignorance, arrogance or stupidity. The years of experience of those who have written good reviews far outway those of the bad and we're not all idiots. In short I think you cant really go wrong with this product or it's big brother the 218THX.

Strengths:
Value for money man, very hard to beat. Very accurate reproduction. Awesome power. Looks tough.

Weaknesses:
Very few, compared to more expensive products a bit thin in the upper mids, but this can be partially attributed to colouration of other amps.

Similar Products Used:
Listened to most low end amps available at time of purchase.

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Covian

Summary:
Great amp in all senses . Great highs , mids and lows . Music flows , soundstage is superb. Everything is great . Endless power , it just scares me the volume it can reach in my little bedroom, the walls are shaking!!!!! My neighbours hate me , but that´s why God created RNR for ;) Play it as loud and warm as you can . My gear: NAD 160 PREAMP PIONEER STABLE PLATE CD PLAYER MAGNAT VINTAGE 350 SPEAKERS

Strengths:
Just everything

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Technics crap, Pioneer crap