NAD C542 CD player - any comments?

[Phil Meloy]

I'm going to purhase a new CD player. My old Technics is on the way out as some of you may have gleaned from my earlier thread. Does anyone have any experience of or comments regarding the NAD C542? It'll be combined with a NAD C352 integrated amplifier and a pair of Mordaunt Short 906 Avant speakers. The Cambridge Audio Azur 640C and the Marantz CD7300 are possible alternatives and are slightly less expensive £30 less for the Cambridge and £50 for the Marantz but from the reading I've done I think the NAD might have the edge and may be well worth the extra. Thanks for any advice you might be able to offer.

[xricci]

Phil,

I purchased the NAD C542 back in December--when it first came out.

My current set up is the C542, Classe CA-101/CP-35 Amp/Pre-Amp and JM lab Cobalt 820 speakers.

I think the C542 is a great value and I'm very happy with it. What's the asking price on your end?

I purchased mine here...
http://www.audiolab.com

Can't recall what I paid, but it was well under US$500. I can find the receipt if you like.

[estallworth]

You may want to try audioreview.com, I believe there are comments about the NAD player on that site. NAD products get favorable reviews on most of the audio web sites.

[xricci]

I found a few related links...

http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2004/nad_542.shtml
http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_299770_1586crx.aspx#reviews
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/1/56254.html

[Phil Meloy]

Thanks Mike and estallworth - the NAD is available for £279 from Richer Sounds which is arguably the best place to buy good quality mid range hi-fi gear at good prices here in the UK. That price is pretty much spot on US $500 - things in general tend to be cheaper in the States than the UK. I was hoping to wait until their January sales when I might get it for a bit less but I think the old Technics might struggle to make it till then. Thanks for the links guys - I've already checked out audioenz.co.nz - it's a useful site. I'll have a look at the rest.

[Donny]

The Cambridge Azur 640C at £249 has got some really oustanding reviews, best buy under £500 according to What Hi-Fi. I'm seriously thinking of getting one to replace my aging Marantz CD63 MkII KI Signature.

This month's (September issue) What Hi-Fi has a "shootout" between the Arcam DiVA CD73T, the Cambridge, NADC542 and the Rotel RCD-02. All but the Rotel got 5 stars with the Cambridge winning mainly on price/value for money, but the Nad offered a better midrange and the Arcam topped on sound quality and upgradability.,

[Phil Meloy]

Mike - just one question as regards the NAD. Do you play any CDRs on it? I actually don't even have a single CDR at the moment so it's not a huge concern but there are one or two OOP things that if they don't turn up in the second hand racks sooner rather than later I'm going to have to resort to getting one burnt from a mate. It's just that I've heard a few people have had problems with playing CDRs on past model NADs.

Thanks Donny I'll try and check out that review. Just out of interest what price was quoted for the NAD in the review?

[Donny]

Thanks Donny I'll try and check out that review. Just out of interest what price was quoted for the NAD in the review?[/QUOTE]

The review quoted £330 but these prices are generally the RRP. You can almost always get this stuff cheaper on the net. I recently bought a Toshiba 36" TV package with DVD and Video thrown in "free" for £600 cheaper than sold in local Department Stores/Electrical shops (that's a lot of bread off).

The Cambridge CD player you won't get cheaper than £250 because it's exclusive to Richer Sounds, no competition, no discount.

[Phil Meloy]

Thanks Donny - I picked up the NAD C542 on Saturday from Richer Sounds on the Fulham Road for £280 i.e. £50 off RRP. This was as good as anything I saw on the net in the UK and also avoided me having to pay a delivery charge. The old Technics started skipping again on Friday night as soon as I got home from work and enough was enough so to speak. Have only managed to play the NAD for a few hours so far but I am very happy with it. Here's another review I came across on the net.

NAD C542 (http://products.consumerguide.com/cp/electronics/review/index.cfm/id/26759)

[xricci]

Sorry for not spotting this sooner Phil.


Do you play any CDRs on it?

That's an affirmative. I just played one on it this morning.

[Phil Meloy]

Hi Mike. Yeah the above review also states that it is HDCR, CD-R & and CD-RW compatible but it's reassuring to hear from someone with first hand experience. Thanks for your advice.

[Donny]

Phil

Let me know how you get on with it as I'm in the market for a new CD player and have looked at the NAD as a distinct possibility.

[Phil Meloy]

Will do Donny.

[Donny]

Will do Donny.

Phil, it's been ages and I'm desperate to know how good you think it is. I'm a bit compulsive and when I decide to buy some new gear I can't wait (what a sad bastard I am, however when you get to my advanced years you just don't know how much time you've got left, I'm feeling perfectly fit though, although a bottle of malt per week and thirty cigarettes a day probably don't help my prospects).

How does it compare with your previous CD player? Are you hearing more from your CDs than you were before, after all that's what it's all about.

Sorry to hassle you when I know that you are too busy listening to your collection again, probably hearing things that you didn't know were there before (at least I hope you are).

[xricci]

Donny,

I found a picture of your hand on the web...

http://plus.maths.org/issue22/features/medical/cigarettebeerdhd.jpg

[Donny]

Donny,

I found a picture of your hand on the web...

http://plus.maths.org/issue22/features/medical/cigarettebeerdhd.jpg

Brilliant, that's me. I forgot to mention the bottle of wine each night at dinner, I've got less time than I thought.

[Donny]

I'd just like to add that in England we do NOT drink our malt whisky in pint glasses. Well, not often.

[Phil Meloy]

Hi Don - I was planning to get back to you in a few days when I'd listened to a couple more things but I've played the NAD quite a bit now and am very pleased with it. I've been trying to play quite a range of different instruments on it over the past couple of weeks. It's certainly a big improvement on my old Technics. I'm sure it's just not my imagination - the NAD seems a lot better at reproducing the actual sound of the individual instruments. A double bass really sounds like a double bass. It a pity you're are in a bit of a hurry to get a new player 'cause it's likely to be a bit cheaper in Richer Sounds' sale in January but the £280 they have it offer for at the moment is not too bad. One thing I do like about the NAD is that the display is bright and far more readable than on the old player. The controls aren't bad but could possibly feel a bit more solid. Anyway if you use the remote you'll never need to touch them. Why don't you pop down to your nearest Richer Sounds and check it out. I dont know about their branches in Kent but the one in Fulham Road has a listening room where you can audition stuff.

[Donny]

Phil

Cheers much appreciated. It's a very serious contender.

I'm also looking hard at the Arcam which was also in the shoot-out in What Hi Fi but it's £400, hard to justify that sort of money when I'm an OAP. I just missed getting the Arcam on e-Bay. I made a bid of £260 and it went for £280. Damn. Also on e-Bay was a mint NAD which went for £225 which I also failed to secure. The only thing I've been succesful at on e-Bay is jazz CDs got some brilliant bargains, the only thing is, the postage has been more than the CD.

Maybe I should just go to a Richer Sounds and try the various players out as you suggested, taking a few CDs with me of course, I don't want to audition the bloody things with Coldplay or some such rubbish.

[Phil Meloy]

Here's a review of the Arcam Don.

Arcam DiVA CD73T (http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_2/arcam-diva-cd73t-6-2004.html)

[Donny]

Here's a review of the Arcam Don.

Arcam DiVA CD73T (http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_11_2/arcam-diva-cd73t-6-2004.html)

That was very helpful, thanks.

[Donny]

I eventually decided what to get. I bought the Cambridge 640C CD Player at £249 from Richer Sounds. Before I purchased, I gave my Marantz 67 Mk II KI Signature a good listening to with a wide range of music from symphony orchestra to solo piano.

I auditioned the NAD and the Cambridge and went for the Cambridge. The difference between the Cambridge and my Marantz is quite marked, from the moment I got it out of the box and plugged it in (and the Marantz cost £500 when I bought it) and despite the fact that reviews on the net said that it really needed at least 3 days running in. I whipped through a selection of music both through the speakers and headphones. The difference was incredible, music opened up, a veil over the sounds gone. I thought it was pretty good with the Marantz but the difference is astounding. After auditioning the Arcam at £400 I think I've got the better buy AND at a vastly reduced price.

Tomorrow is going to be spent whizzing through as many albums as I can manage, to hear my Cds unveiled.

[Dave Ferris]

I found this old thread searching for reviews of the NAD C542.

Anyone have any experience with this CD player now that it's been out for awhile? . The online reviews of the 542 haven't been that great regarding the laser and reading of discs.

I have the older NAD 5000. In its day, it sounded good but the last 5 years it has been hit and miss has far has reading discs. It has gotten to the the point of playing maybe 1 out of every 5 discs without failing. I guess the laser has finally bit the dust.

Anything else that has come out in the past year or two in the $500 range that is comparable or even better?

Thanks
Dave