CD-player NAD C525BEE
As is known to all self-respecting audiophiles letters in the name of BEE NAD models indicate that to them a hand Bjorn Erik Edvardsen himself (Bjorn Erik Edvardsen). He began working with the company in 1970, creating a legendary amplifier NAD 3020. He now holds the position of director of development, and under his leadership, implementing new ideas in the field of reproduction and sound reinforcement. The only principle of the company, which does not change over the years - equipment must not contain anything superfluous or in construction or in design. It is not surprising that many people find the style of NAD's too much harsh but consolation may be the realization that here every penny (or more precisely, the Canadian cents) is embedded in the sound.
Model C525BEE is considered the successor of the 521th, which was attended by all the awards and Star audiozhurnalah on both sides of the ocean. The design is really strict - identical in shape and almost the same size of the display window and boot plus two rows of buttons on the name-gray front panel. The display shows the mode, calendar grid of 16 tracks, the number of the currently playing and its duration.
Behind - only a coaxial digital and linear outputs. Optical absent. Perhaps this is correct - as experience shows, in this price segment connecting an external DAC on optics is hardly justified.
About circuitry player is little known. Manufacturer reports that it is built on 20-bit sigma-delta converters, the digital filter is made of 8-times oversampling, and the output set operational amplifiers Burr-Brown. In Scheme applied metal film resistors and capacitors on the basis of polypropylene. Soldered it all with a special alloy, which does not lead, but there are additions of silver. This is useful for the environment, and sound - in a complex audio equipment, where the number of rations in the thousands, the quality of the solder can confidently assess hearing. Furthermore, provided the separate power supply for the digital and analog circuits.
Advanced mechanism reliably reads hybrid player (CD/SACD) and rewritable discs of audio formats, as well as a CD with copy protection. The latter, however, is not sold very many (glitches when playing gave rise to numerous lawsuits), but care about their owners touches. Provides programmable playback 20 tracks, Random Mode and scan disk on both sides. The device is supplied with a remote CD-6, giving other than those listed modes, direct access to all tracks of the disc.
In a press release NAD noted that the model developed C525BEE so as to correctly reproduce all musical genres. To test this, I picked up three quality disc with very different music. Let's start with the classics. Immediately drew the attention of the lower register. He is agile, fast and big - it seems that in the big hall really moves the air. In fact, many believe that the source depends mainly middle and high frequency range, but I have heard, as a replacement of only one capacitor in the power supply DAC revolutionized bass. At 525th he purebred, soft and unobtrusive. Subsonic frequencies not (and in principle they are not in every room), but actually audible bass - beyond criticism.
Now the example of a symphony orchestra's see how the player builds spatial picture. In my opinion, it is 70% dependent on the player and only 30 - from a bunch of amplifier/speaker/room. If the scene is not in the source, it is not going anywhere. Scale orchestra rendered correctly, although some groups of instruments a little strapped to the middle. Triangle in "The Dance of buffoons" in its place - right rear, at a height of about two meters above the floor (despite the fact that the height of our speakers MA Gold Reference slightly more than 90 cm). It talks about the right building tract for the player such price fixing imaginary sound source is exemplary. Depth of Field is quite sufficient for the disposition of three distinct plans. Tonal balance, I would have rated four-plus due to the presence of color in the upper middle of the characteristic of most of the sigma-delta DAC. Microdrivers slightly above average: sonic nuances and reverberation a lot, but still not enough for a perfect recreation of the atmosphere. But do not forget that we still listen to the device for $ 360, so that you need to approach it with the relevant yardstick.
Put "Laibach". Convincing, powerful and, most importantly, with the most legible saturated spectrum. Maybe just a little harder than necessary. On the other hand, the music and is not intended for relaxation. Correctly transmitted pace simplify rhythmic basis is minimal. Drive pressure, aggression - all in place.
Tonal nuances could not be better spelled out on the album Cassandra Wilson. According to this parameter C525BEE, perhaps quite a bit to lose a top class source. Yes, slightly simplified percussion voices and not enough "velvet" in the voice, but you will notice it only when compared directly by the method of ABA, ie alternate listening to player. So for such prices are very good.
In the audio one of the areas of progress can be regarded as the transfer of circuit design and high-quality wireless components of the high-end segment in the budget. This is possible due to the emergence of new low-cost chipset with high performance and optimization of production processes. So player C525BEE is not really as simple as it might seem.
