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Review 2 of 2
Price Paid:
$81.00
from Ebay Summary:
I just received the NAD 3130 and rrunning it through its paces as I type this terse review. It's untimidating to look at by audiophile standards. NAD's standard grey casework offering a very utliitarian appearance. Nothing fancy, yet in its own way a sense of quiet elegance.
I purchased this unit to give my Linn Classik a breather, as well at the tube amplifiers which I use during the cooler months of the year here (I live in the Northeastern part of the United States).
I can already tell you that the 3130 matches up quite well with my late model Linn Kan V speakers. And that is has a better than average phono stage for an integrated which probably sold new in the mid 1980's for roughly $300.
Like Rega, Linn and many other hi-end audio companies, in the modern day NAD has managed to keep its components affordable through more creative manufacturing methods -- however, I have a strong suspicion that the 3130 is constructed better than anything which NAD currently builds within this respective price range (roughly $600 taking into account inflation).
From my recollection the NAD 3130 stands up quite well next to the Naim Nait 1, 2 and 3 series integrated's that I've owned in the past and a fraction of their cost -- even used. Have you seen the prices of used Naim Nait 2's on Ebay lately?
They regularly sell for between $700 and $800, given their cult following.
And while the later iterations may in fact be a tad more articulate in the midrange,
the Nait 2 is certainly not worth ten times the price of the 3130 -- especially when you consider that the NAD has 10 watts more per channel and the addition of a darn good moving coil phono section (along with its moving magnet section).
Simply put, the 3130 has my Systemdek IIX (equipped with Sumiko Blue Point Special MC cartridge) singing at the present moment.
If your a vinyl junkie who wants great sound without going broke, and leaving with you plenty of moolah left to buy vinyl consider this.
The Systemdek, NAD 3130 and Linn Kan V's cost me a total of $1031.50 delivered. In this day and age many phono cartridges cost more than this.
While I could continue to write about how sweet this little NAD is, it would take away from my listening time. So I'll just close by saying that as long as you get
a 3130 that was built by someone at the factory who was careful about what he doing, you may have yourself a unit which will outlast you.
However, NAD has been as much known for spotty quality control as it has for good sounding affordable equipment. So caveat emptor.
Happy listening!
Jim
Strengths:
Good all around performance with a cracking good MC phono section for the price.
Fairly well built provided that you did not get a unit which suffered from quality control problems. NAD has been known to grow a lemon or two now and then. Weaknesses:
At a price of $106.50 delivered, none that I can detect thus far. Similar Products Used:
Linn Classik CD Reciever
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