Price Paid:  $200.00 from 1999

Summary:
Stay away from this one! Although the sound isn't that bad, the player has problems with any disc that is not just perfect. The time it takes in order just to recognise a disc is ... annoying. Slow in changing tracks too. It once was repaired after a month, and just recently I've repaired it myself. Mechanically it is just a disaster. In one of the reviews someone mentioned that the mechanics are from Philips. Well, except for the earliest CD players of Philips, their mechanics are the worst I've ever seen.
There are a lot off CD players (for less money) that do have a much better error-correction and mechanics.

Strengths:
Sound?

Weaknesses:
No digital output; mechanics; slow tracking; error-correction is far below normal.

Similar Products Used:
Several Sony CD players, Philips CD players.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Finland - second han

Summary:
Very good sound quality, clear and warm (or how I should describe it?). Works great with original cd`s. Nice design!

Strengths:
Good quality. Very nice looking.

Weaknesses:
Dont play burned cd`s.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Hi-Fi Klubben

Summary:
I would LIke to take this oppertunity to advise everyone who might read this to AVOID BUYING THE 522. My 522 only worked propperly for 6 months before it started giving med error messages. The chance of the 522 actually playing a CD all the way through with out an error is slim to none. How the 522 actually sounds is beyond the point NAD has no right to sell faulty CD-Players.

Strengths:
If you manage to buy a working one i bet they ar a lot of value for money, BUT DON`T TAKE THE CHANCE

Weaknesses:
DOESN`T PLAY CDs, so what is the point in buying this CD-PLAYER!

Similar Products Used:
NAD 5325 (MY fathers whitch has worked fine for several years exept that the display doesn´t work).

Price Paid:  $280.00 from Canal Audio

Summary:
NAD has always been known for a no frills exterior design approach while concentrating on inner design. This CD player still impresses me with the way details are presented. The musical soundstage has both width and depth. There is no merging of instruments or vocals. Highs and lows sound very natural and have a straightforward characteristic to them. The mid's are just wonderful. Vocals sound as smooth as silk. And instruments sound realistic without a synthesized timbre to them.

While a digital output would have been nice to have, the analog output sounds clean. NAD seems to have taken care of ensuring that the D/A converters do their job in an unobstrusive manner. I think vinyl lovers would really appreciate the sonic qualities of this CD player which I am tempted to say almost has a tube-like quality to it.

There seem to be some good deals on used 522's (EBAY, etc.). I have not experienced (even once), the mechanical difficulties listed by other reviewers. And in fact, this model has no problems reading music CD-R's that I have recorded. Actually, even my 16-year-old Denon (DCD-1500) can read music CD-R's. If you're in the market for a basic, no-nonsense CD player and want to keep the cost down while enjoying audiophile qualities, the NAD 522 would be a gem for the money.

Strengths:
Detailed soundstage; fairly accurate musical reproduction.

Weaknesses:
No digital output.

Similar Products Used:
Denon CD Player.

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Hifi klubben

Summary:
I would not recomend this CD player, it's not worth the price ( relativ good sound, but too many drawbacks) go for denon insted in this price range.

Strengths:
Good price, nice and clear sound with good recordings, neutral look.

Weaknesses:
Major functional problems, slow track search, very harsh and digital sound when you play loud music. CAN NOT read anything else than perfectly mint and non-damaged cd's.