Power Probs with Nad T175 & T973...

I have been driving my beloved Dali Euphonia Ms4's with an old but descent Yamaha receiver (RX 659, 5.1 75w), the sound was great but I wanted more umph and even better dynamics, especially in the 2 channel mode. Having read a zillion reviews I decided on a used set of NADs, the T175 pre-amp and T973 amp. I thought 7x 140w and all the nice things said about the T175 -- how well they match each other -- and the fact that Dalt recomends Nad for their speakers meant that I was preparing for paradise... Shock is the only way to describe my current state: weak, blubbery base, shrill high ends and NO POWER and no midrange. I have to turn the volume past 90% to get any real sound at all and it is simply not impressive even at full steam. The overall sound simply hurts my ears, I barely recognize some of my favorite audiophile recordings!

I refuse to believe it is the NADS, but I have changed my speaker cables, checked the phase, removed all the settings from the T175 to get simple stereo and nothing really helps: no power, no midrange, ugly highs and flubby base. Am I alone in this confusion... Please help me (my first post so be gentle!).

PS I am aware of the problems with firmware (I have 1.16), the clicking and popping, the faulty HDMI 1.3 and thew problems with HD... Nowhere do I read about wimpy power and bad sound.

test

Great one about the firmware -- should have known i was a few versions back... but what do you mean by "THX"? The gains switches on the amp are all at max, if that is the point. Done the audessy trip twice and like a fool I sold the yamaha to finance the nads.

It must be that these particular units are defective, as I can comfortably sit 12 " from the speaker at 90% volume -- I mean comfortably, as I am careful with my hearing. I will check out the firmware and get back (I understand that NAD doesn't like us upgrading the firmware all by our lonesomes so I will enjoy the task!)

Have looked on the web for the latest firmware with no luck... Sent a request to a dealer and directly to NAD... we shall see what happens now.

Thanks again for the help:

firmware updated to 1.28, no probs with the installment.
the thx knobs are all maxed
switched out all the cables (speakers, hdmi and the interconnects (non directional))
the cables are attached from the preout to the amp as they should be

Still no power until i hit 90% of the volume knob and even then nothing to write home about. I will listen a bit and get back about the sound...

You are very helpful and I really appreciate your comments and suggestions

bido2, sweden (7 time zones east of the windy city!)

The sound is completely, absolutely completely different! No complaints there and that seems to eliminate the T175 from my list of problems. But still no power that I assumed a NAD T973 could/should deliver. 50% barely audible, 90% background+ sound, 95 % loud, but lots of hiss and obviously at its upper limits -- not crazy loud, but it would wake the neighbors in the next apartment. What I expected was 50% serious sound, 75% too loud but clear as a bell in Tibet, and anything above that would simply be bragging rights...

Maybe the fact is I should move to an old 208 which doubles the watts which would give at least 10-15% more umph. But I am in need of fidelity, crispness and depth of stage -- I don't care if that means only listening to very good recordings. I want, I want, I want -- sounds like a spoiled little child!
bido2

I think you are both right, it's just that I don't want it to be so.... I wanted someone to say "oh, simple mistake, push button ex and the power will be restored!"

Thanks again for the help and support!!! I will end this thread, but count on a few new ones as I explore the problems and magic of the T9175. I will also be trudging back to my local dealer praying for a cheap and easy fix...

bido2