NAD C162 Preamplifiers

NAD C162 Preamplifiers 

DESCRIPTION

  • Pure “Class A” Discrete Amplifier Modules
  • Independent Headphone Amplifier
  • Bass and Treble Control
  • “Blue Velvet” Alps motorized volume control
  • Input switching
  • NAD Link
  • 12V Trigger Output

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-8 of 8  
[Feb 15, 2024]
kalylcie


Strength:

The preamplifier features bass and treble tone controls, melon playground providing users with the flexibility to adjust the audio frequency response according to their preferences and room acoustics.

Weakness:

The C162 offers input switching functionality, allowing users to select between multiple audio sources connected to the preamplifier, such as CD players, turntables, media players, and more.

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Jan 19, 2024]
chaples19


Strength:

I went from a vintage Luxman L85V integrated to the MA6500. Needless to say the improvement was immense. The Mac is super quiet with low distortion so detail is extreme with no listening fatigue.....zero! My brother has the MA6900 and both amps sound very similar but not the same. One thing to consider is the 6500 (without autoformers) has a greater damping factor which should control your flabby speakers a bit better than the autoformed 6900 RPM Mobile Mechanic

Weakness:

None , ,

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Sep 26, 2023]
Breana


Strength:

You have a good product! luxury villas in Cabo San Lucas

Weakness:

none so far

OVERALL
RATING
5
[Sep 06, 2023]
cecelia


Strength:

In all these pairings for the 7020, I heard very convincing sound, life-like, vivant, quite detailed, and three-dimensional. It lacks some sparkle in the top end but its bass is quite warm and well controlled. Paired with my 15" woofer JBL 4320 fours, it gave very good sound compared to my usual tube combo (Audible Illusion 3D preamp, and four Ampex 6973 mono blocs, which together has the best bass and the sexiest top end in my rig). For the money I paid in 2016 ($150 for two 7020, and a parametric EQ unit), it was a no-brainer to decide to buy a 7020. RPM Meridian Towing & Recovery

Weakness:

None . .

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Feb 05, 2022]
Madmardigann


Strength:

Excellent sound. It's on the warm side and the bass is powerful. I use it with the matching C270 amp and it sounds fantastic powering my Polk LSi9 and Klipsch Reference towers. - The Promo Supply

Weakness:

Nothing at all.

Purchased:
New  
OVERALL
RATING
5
[Jun 03, 2010]
krishnan narasimhan
AudioPhile

i am using nad372 with165 preamp and 521 cdplayer alsodualturn table. I have connected to Jamo S708 pair and jamo sb300 subwoofer. i am using subwoofer as i am not satisfied with 372 low frequency response.
so,i have get preamp to improve the system

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Apr 25, 2007]
makin_music
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Once the defective components were replaced and the cheap interconnects supplied with the components were replaced with quality cables, the sound was flawless. And I am sure from this review, you can tell I am a picky guy. NAD needs to put someone new in charge of quality control.

Weakness:

When you get to this price tier, you should not have to put up with the unacceptably low quality control exercised by NAD. I bought a new Music Hall turntable to use with the system. And although the phono section of the pre-amp receives good reviews because it does not require external amplification, I personally think it is not very good. I also have a NAD CD and the relative signal strengths are dramatically different, with the CD signal being much, much stronger. Buyer beware!

I purchased four NAD components including a c162 preamp. Of the four compnents delivered, two were defective including a bad transformer in this preamp. NAD designs their own products but are having them produced in cheap Chinese factories with poor quality control. While I appreciate my local dealer and NAD standing behind their product and replacing the defective units, there is no reason for this to occur at this price point. When you drop several thousand dollars on electronics, the fact that NAD has pretensions to be comparable with very high end systems does not excuse basic oversights and poor attention to detail and quality control. From a practical perspective, the NAD 162 only has direct on off switching if you want to bi-amp for one amp. So, if you want to bi-amp, this creates a problem of how to turn on the seond amp remotely. In their separate amplifiers, they have a 'sensing' state to turn themselves on whenever they receive a source signal from a CD player, etc.. But if you play the stereo at low volume, the amps turn themselves off. Again, there is a very basic lack of attention to detail. Buyer beware!

Customer Service

NAD was honest about the problems with their products. Unfortunately, the local dealer tried to initially talk me into keeping the defective products. Buyer beware!

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
2
[Jun 21, 2006]
final
AudioPhile

I bought this Pre amp to drive my Denon POA-S10 Monoblocs. I have a pair of Final 0.3 electrostats and a Nad C542 cd player. What can I say... its a pre amp. I don't have a lot of spare hifi gear laying around and before I bought this setup it had been 8 years since my last decent system; so I can't really do real world comparisons.
Everything on the pre amp works and has never let me down.
No complaints about it.

Customer Service

Never had to use it.

Similar Products Used:

Technics SU-V6X class A Amp ( 1996 )

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-8 of 8  

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