Dynamic, powerful and good sound.
May boost HF a little at extreme output levels.
Measured at almost 500W /chanel 8 Ohms.

Output signal connectors

This 15 year masterpiece (price/performance) is hard to beat
even today. I have changed all component in my system but never had any need for upgrading the power amp.

I have used it along with speakers such as JBL, Rauna, Linn Sondek, Bowers & Wilkins, Audio Pro and Cerwin Vega (not recomendable if you want to keep your nextdoor neighbours happy)and now a home made system with a mix of nice compnents.

I have managed to blow out 2pair of 15inch Cerwin woofers,
suposably to handle 1000w each. But then softclip was turned
off and the amp driven to overload. Once the voice coil broke loose from the cone!

There are better sounding power amps, but not for this price.

Lack of power is not an issue with this amp

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, HK, Denon, Yamaha

Power envelop, tremendous dynamic headroom, clean design

none

I originally purchased the NAD 2200 in the fall of 86 to replace my Kenwood integrated amp. This NAD 2200 was my first power amp and I had been using it until two years ago when I purchased the NAD 218 THX in my quest for deeper bass. It is significant that this amp is still much sought after by audio enthusiasts on Ebay after all these years. I have used my NAD 2200 to power DALI 4, Definitive Tech BP20 speakers with Harman Kardon HK825 preamp and the Carver CT-3 preamp, all to very satisfying results. Regardless of music type, this amp always delivers. In a way, the design of this amp is better than most NAD amps that came after it - its incredible dynamic headroom of +6db. I just do not understand why NAD no longer makes power amp with very high dynamic headroom. The NAD 2200 was introduced at the beginning of digital age and since then both CD's and DVD's have been packing in more dynamics than ever. Power amp today should and can use more dynamic headroom, not less. Another plus for my NAD 2200 is that it was made in Japan, not China or Singapore, hardly any countries I will associate good technology products with. At any rate, I am now considering setting up my very first Home Theater system at my house and am seriously considering using my Tandberg 3003 amp (another legend) and NAD 2200 for my front and rear channels and bridge my NAD 2100 for the center channel to arrive at a 150x2, 100x2 and 100 power confguration. A good 5.1 preamp will complete this awesome setup for the sound source. I do believe there are very few HT receivers on the market that can rival this combo and doubt if any HT separates can do better. Lets face it, most receivers and amps (unless you get into the McIntosh and Krell) today are not as well made, cheap metal and lots of plastic, you name it. At any rate, this NAD 2200 was what got me to appreciate the NAD value for dollars philosophy. My other NAD components include the NAD 218 THX amp, NAD 118 preamp, NAD 116 preamp and NAD 522 (CD player mated to my Tandberg TR2030 receiver, another classic in my study).

Similar Products Used:

none

Clean, clean sound. Brute power.

None to speak of so far.

I have had my full NAD setup running for a little over a month now and I am still amazed by the sound of this setup. I have a new NAD CD player and tuner, but opted for a couple of "classics" if you will from the late 80s. I heard the 2200 in a local audio shop. They had it setup to demo a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel Hot Rods. I walked by, saw those little speakers and wondered what was powering those things. Granted the speakers are top notch, but something great had to be sending that pure signal. It was an NAD 2200, but was already on hold for someone else. So I listened to it on a couple of other setups using different speakers. I was sold, and started calling every audio shop that carried used gear until I found one. It only took about 20 shops before a guy said "yeah, we are listening to it right now, showing off a pair of speakers to a customer."

I asked about the condition of the amp and he told me it was near mint. So since they are hard to come by around here, I asked him to box it up and ship it out. They had it priced at $275, but he said he would send it out for $250 with shipping included.

Matched with my NAD 1130 Preamp and NAD CD player and Tuner it is just awesome. I think it will take alot to ever get me away from being a NAD user. A great value for the performance IF, and I mean IF, you can find one. Ebay is most likely your best bet.

Happy Listening!

Mike

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer 2 channel receiver, not that that counts :)

I have owned my 2200 since 1988 when I bought it new and it has never missed a beat in all that time and it is still cranking out unvieled music even better than when it was new. I am running a NAD 1155 pre which was also bought new at the same time. My experience with this amplifier is that it should be left on all the time. When it is first turned on it sounds kind of brash and thin but once it has been on for an hour it really warms up and smooths out. I will soon be putting B&W 603's and a arcam 7se cd and I will probably never come out of my house again!!!If you can find a good used one I would highly recommend it because you are going to spend a lot of money if you buy "new" any product that will come close to the 200 in sound and power.

I would give it a six if the ratings would let me !!!!!!

Power to spare. Very clean and warm for a solid state amp.

Purchased my 2200 used in 1997 with a couple of bad relays. After replacement this unit has performed without a flaw for the past 3 years. Highly recommended.

Loads of clean power for the $$. Simply pure sound.

Relays cause speakers to "pop" when turned off. Replacing relays fixed problem.

Bought the 2200PE amp in 1987 with the 1155 Pre-Amp. Driving a pair of Paradigm 11 speakers. Sound is great. This could easily be the best 100W/ch rated amp ever made, but now I'm a little biased arn't I. Only problem was the relays "popping" the speakers after 6 or 7 years of use. Had them replaced, but problem came back after 18 months. Took the unit back to the repair shop and found out they had used inferior (generic) relays to repair it the first time. This amp puts out the power and you need heavy duty relays to handle it. Great value for the dollar.

power transparent sound value

Bought Mine New in '86
running strong since.
only problem was in '96,
the Relays went belly up.
This is very minor, and can
be repaired for a reasonably
low cost.
The sound; Very musical and transparent,
especially for a solid state amp
in this price range ($450.00 - 500.00 new)
smooth midrange, solid bass, clean
highs, (a little edgey on the top end
at high volume, on some recordings, but
still very good).

The power; excellent power, endless volume control,
and has overload protection with indicator
light (I have never driven to overload)
power to spare.

the Value; For a solid state amp with comparable
power rating, You will have to dig
deeper in to those pockets of Yours.
to beat the 2200, probably double or
more.

comparisons; amps that I have compared 2200 to
and 2200 is superior;

Denon price; 800.00
Adcom price: 750.00
pioneer price; 700.00
(I don't remember the model numbers)

amps that I have compared that sounded
better than 2200;

Cary monoblocks price over a grand!
(tube)

Aragon 4004 price over a grand

Nuff Said!

Warm Sound with LOTS of head room.

Weight

I've had two 2200 bridged mono for too many years to remember. Bought them new sometime around 84-86. Had one powering a pair of AR bookshelf speakers and passive AR sub. Sounded great. Got into a stereo war with a friend and decided to win, so I bought another. Sounded even better.

The 2200 sounds bright when bridged mono: I happen to like the bright sound. Later I ran the amps with a pair of Manaplan's and the AR Sub w/ a 1150 pre-amp.

Recently I bought a Denon AVR3300 receiver (getting into the Home Theater thing), and it pales in comparison. I'm thinking of running one to power front, the other to power rears and use the Denon to power the center. I would love to find 5 2200's to run all my speakers mono, but the heat from 5 amps would be un-bearable. I used to use these amps to heat my room in college.

One amp does have some problems powering up. Brought it in once a long time ago, and the tech couldn't find the problem. Just found this site, so I'll look into it again.

Overall, this amp sounds great!!!