The "Official" NAD T 747 Owner's Thread - Page 37

By the way, if anyone here is using Pure Music to drive their T747, Rob just posted the new 1.8 version on the website. (Literally, 3 minutes ago!

Might want to check it out if you are interested.

-Paul

I am having problems accessing the OSD. I am sure I am doing something stupid so please help point out what that is. We don't have cable but hook up the cable directly to the TV in order to get normal/HD network tv. The Bluray player is hooked up via HDMI to the HDMI 1 input on the receiver and then the monitor out HDMI on the receiver is connected to the TV. When I turn on the TV and go to source 2 I can not access the OSD. If I go to source 1(Bluray) I can sometimes access OSD but it only seems to cycle through the radio and XM radio options. Any help would be appreciated. Finally got some nice speakers(Totem Rainmakers) and want to try them out. Thanks.

i'm not using any analog inputs right now. everything is hooked up with hdmi. this must be why i dont see it. i thought the gain would control all the individual sources.

when i got my t747 i could get into the osd but couldnt get back out. turned out the left direction pad on the remote didnt work properly. the only way i could back out of the osd was squeeze the left d pad hard as i could. i exchanged it for a different one and it worked perfect.

I may have the opportunity to buy a used NAD T175 preamp (not the T175HD but the original T175) for not much less than the current sale price of the T747.

I already have the NAD T763 receiver with a 100WPC that has 6 assignable amp channels (pre-out to main-in jumpers). I am trying to weigh my pros and cons for the following four choices:

Choice 1: Stay with T763 and quit buying stuff and enjoy what I have.
Choice 2: Buy a T747 and sell the T763
Choice 3: Buy a T747 and use the T763 as a pure amp for 5 channels. Use T747 for the rear 2 channels (even though I don't have speakers yet for those).
Choice 4: Buy a T175 and use the T763 as pure amp for 5 channels.


Cost:
Choice 1 - no expenses
Choice 2 - net cost of about $300 assuming I can sell the T763 for $300 Choice 3 - $599
Choice 4 - $550

Features:
Choice 2, 3 - Four HDMI with all HD audio support
Choice 4 - Four HDMI with PCM 7.1 audio support
Choice 1 - Rely only on 7.1 analog input

Audio Quality:
Choice 4 - T175 has Burr Brown DACs (5 x 2 channel DACs), Audessey Room Correction with custom curves developed by NAD/Paul Barton, better noise isolation with toroidal transformer.
Choice 1 - Seems to have a good DAC. 7.1 channel input sounds great (even though it only has 6 amp channels).
Choice 3 - DACs of T747 combined with the amp of T763
Choice 2 - T747 doing the whole thing. I can used it this way before and I was not too happy!

Other features:

NAD T175 comes with a nice remote
HTR-2 remote that comes with the T763 is nice
I don't care for the remote that comes with the T747
T747 has 2 year warranty and is new
T747 seems to be a solid product
T175 has had glitches with pops and cracks when signal format changes through HDMI. Less of that with T747. None of it with T763 since there is no HDMI

Anyone have any ideas

I am currently using a Sony S5000ES BD player with multi channel analog for Bluray. So I don't need HDMI for that. I could use my Gen 1 PS3 through HDMI for multichannel SACD though - which I cannot do with my T763.

While the T175 seems promising, I found that it has too many issues from design as well as manufacturing. I am going to pass on that now and not get into frustrations. May be I will just choose option 1

My vote (not that you asked for it) would be 1 or 2. There is something to be said for simplification along with quality. Sooner or later you'll probably want the 7 channels, need/want the HDMI, and of course the eventual external amps. All of that becomes simpler if the receiver/pre-pro is 7 channel capable & HDMI to begin with.

I realize option 1 doesn't solve any of that but it does buy time until you sort it out and is "free" which is always a good thing.

I just don't see you picking up that much with option-3 except a lot of RCA cables for a little more power (which you will eventually get when you buy that power amp anyway).

You've ruled out 4 which I completely agree with. The original 175 did have some issues and it still leaves you with the amp issues. Just my humble opinion.

I saw that HK has released their newest receivers. Even their $1000 receiver (HK AVR 3650) has no multi channel analog input or pre-outs. Ouch. They also claim 100WPC. Looks like their conservative rating is no more and they have become a me too product. Hope NAD never makes compromises in these regards.

I remember reading a review from either cnet or zdnet, the reviewer said that the hk2600, rated 65wpc, drove miserably his modest speakers at high volume.

I used to own a HK AVR 745 until two months ago and it was powerful and it was more conservatively rated at 85WPC 7 channels driven. It was massive and had 60 Amps of instant current. I cannot believe HK says the 3650 is rated at 100WPC when it is in the 3xxx family compared to the 7xxx.

Since the current discounted price looks very attractive, I am planning to buy it from US and ship to India. Is it a good idea to use NAD T747 with a step down transformer of sufficient power? Will it result in poor sound quality? Or are there any internal changes that I can make it to work in Indian 230V/50HZ power supply - Because this model is sold in other parts of the world I was wondering whether it already supports other voltages.

Anyone knows whether the T747 has a multi-tapped power transformer so that one can just change the wiring to use it at 230V? I have read in another forum were the poster mentioned that a NAD amplifier had such an arrangement.

My understanding (and I could be wrong) is that the most common use of multi-tap transformers in audio equipment if for 2, 4, 8 Ohm loading. They allow different winding "sections" to be used on the "output" side of the transformer. They are usually accompanied by a switch (manual or software controlled).

On the input side which I believe you are concerned with, I don't believe it would be called a multi-tap. I think they are just referred to as multi-voltage or just "auto voltage sensing". The NAD manual says the 747 is NOT an "auto voltage unit". There may be an external step-up voltage converter converter you could find.

Hi all,
Currently I have an old Yam S795, which only play original CDs and DVDs, connected to my T747 via optical. I also have my PS3 connected via HDMI.

I was thinking about buying a CD changer. I want to have something that play my albums continously. Today I thought that I could skip buying anything new, by ripping my CDs into lossless and play files via my PS3. I did try to rip a CD into .WAV format, stream it to my PS3, and play it with on PS3. I also played my original CD on the S795 at the same time to do an A/B comparison.

I noticed that the sound coming from PS3 was clearly inferior than from the DVD player. The high and mid were less defined, and the bass was also less punchy.

Therefore my PS3 solution does not work. Why can't I have the same SQ with lossless files played on PS3? Should I buy a CD changer now

Agreed! However, there are a lot of things that the Oppo offers and I don't need:
- 7.1 analog out (I think the T747 DAC is pretty good already)
- Blu-ray play (alreay has PS3)
- SACD (I do not have any)
- Netflix, BD-live and those

So I'll pay for a lot of things I don't really need.

Did you connect your Yamaha using optical? So you are using the 747 DAC.
Did you use HDMI for PS3? I wonder if the HDMI is the culprit. Can you try optical from PS3 and see if that changes anything? You could try something like a Logitech Squeezebox and stream music from your PC/Mac to your 747.

For me convenience has become very important. I have a ton of my CDs imported as Apple Lossless into my iMac. I was using the optical out of my iMac to my NAD T763 for music. Right now I am trying out a Musical Fidelity V-Link Asynchronous USB to SPDIF converter that is going into my T763.

I lost the ability to play surround SACDs when I sold my HK AVR 745 and bought a used NAD T763 but I realized I have only 5 SACDs and hundreds of CDs ripped into my imac. If your computer is in a different room, you could use something like a Squeezebox. I used to use one but sold it on ebay recently.

The only inconvenience with oppo is you have to turn the display on to navigate to play your music. I wish they had a remote like an iOS app similar to apple remote or even logitech squeezebox app that lets you navigate without display.

If Desperadude's only real goal is "to have something that play my albums continously" then there would be a number of less expensive options than the Oppo (although it is a world class machine. I would start with bommai's suggestion to experiment a little with the PS3 (different cable, check settings, try optical) but ultimately it may not be the box for the job.

There are any number of inexpensive boxes like the WD Live Plus ($80) or similar (I use the NEO550 for the movie + music capabilities). I do like the Squeezebox stuff but it is a little overpriced for simply playing music (in my opinion).

This a little bit off topic but several of you that frequent this thread could probably help. Using my T763's coax digital (I dont think it matters if it is optical) to listen to musicfrom my iMac is a little bit problematic. When I use iTunes it seems ok. When I use decibel I get a little popping noise. Either the v-link is at fault or decibel or the 763 has some issue. I am going to test it with digital output from my ps3 as well as Sony s5000es BD player. Analogy put from the Sony players is flawless. I am wondering if the DSP/dac in the 763 is finicky. Has anyone noticed anything with the 747's digital inputs.

I love the power of the 763 but this is making me a little annoyed.

LOL!

#1 or #2 is what I would suggest to be honest. The only reason to move up from what you have now (to a T747 that is) would be to get the HDMI and HD formats. That's especially so since you were not that happy with the T747 last time you played with one.

Do you listen to a lot of music? If so, and you are just dying to spend money, put it towards either a high end DAC or upgraded speakers, or both. The Cirrus DACs in the machines are good - very good in fact. But put about $1000 of DAC in there, and the difference is going to make your jaw drop. (I settled on a Wavelength Proton, as I like the sound from it better than anything else in the price range.)

-Paul

Hi Paul - I sent you a PM regarding the V-link. Thanks for your suggestions. I think I am probably leaning toward option 1. I don't really have money to burn, so I should probably save it. I missed a Marantz DV8400 (SACD/DVD-Audio) player today on ebay. It sold for $78. Yikes.

If I really want surround SACD support, I should buy the Oppo 93 and sell off my Sony S5000ES. But I want to compare the two before I do that.

I think if you pick up the Squeezebox Touch and plug a USB HDD into it, it's one of the nicest additions to any hi-fi available, regardless of price. I have all my music ripped to FLAC with accurate tags and so on, and it's honestly the best way I can imagine to play music unless you have thousands to spend on a Sooloos.

The popping noise is probably related to the V-Link not getting enough power. The simple answer is to put it on a powered USB hub, and the popping will almost certainly go away.

-Paul

Humm... So far I have been lucky with my t747. I am using coax, optic and hdmi and all work. The sound from each is pretty similar if same media are played.

All your proposed solutions are good. Thx. However, I'm still a dinosaur in the sense that most of my music are on CDs, therefore I think the best solution for now is an inexpensive cd changer (I am using optical so supposed to be OK).

I'm surprised to find some OK cd changers going for less than 150$ brand new. The problem is how to get them shipped to Canada. Here I'd have to pay double or sometime > 2.5 times the prices in US.

If I did not have any disk players yet, I'd go for the Oppo.

You do of course know, a Mac Mini with Pure Music on it will not only rip your CD's, but when attached to the DACS in the T747 will probably outperform most CD Players out there. (grin) Put a nice DAC between the Mac and the T747, and it will most definitely outperform any CD player out there.

In my opinion of course.

Did I mention you would also get to listen to those CD's without the annoying real time error correction (the one that fails a lot) even the very best CD players have to deal with?

I know, I am being a bit evil, but it's true, and not only that, you can build it up piece by affordable piece.

-Paul

(A PC with J. River Media Center can work nicely too. )

Where are you in Canada? I am driving all the way from Florida to Toronto next month