522
Compact Disc Player
• Budget entry level CD Player with Remote Control
• Burr-Brown 20 bit SigmaDelta Digital to Analogue converter
• Low output impedance
• Separate power regulators for analogue and digital sections
• Informative display with switchable track, time and repeat
• Repeat mode for single track or entire CD
• Random play
Background
Over the years NAD has built up an enviable reputation for building fine CD players offering outstanding
value for money. The Model 522 will further enhance this reputation with its excellent performance and
ease of use at a very keen price.
As always, sonic performance is the first priority at NAD. Rather than adding many seldom used features
or going for “overkill” on a single aspect of the design, the NAD engineers have concentrated on the
design itself to offer the best performance possible at the price. Behind the deceptively modest front
panel lies sophisticated circuitry.
Features and Circuitry
RANDOM gives the listener a random selection of all tracks on the disc in play and REPEAT allows repeat
playing of the disc or individual tracks. Individual tracks are easily accessed by SKIP (Forward and
Back). SCAN (Forward and Back) gives an aural précis of individual tracks, giving the listener the
opportunity to reach specific sections of the track.
The understated yet comprehensive display gives the listener all the vital information required to access
and enjoy the selected music. The track number is displayed and for those who regularly transfer CDs to
cassette tape, the button displays the current time elapsed or remaining for complete CDs or individual
tracks. A “calendar” type section in the display gives immediate visual information how many tracks in
total there are on the CD.
The Model 522 comes supplied with a full function remote control, offering all of the features described
above from the comfort of your listening chair. On top of that, the remote control handset gives you
direct track access as well.
Separate power regulators for the digital and analogue sections isolate the two electrically, and
furthermore, careful layout of the PCB tracks around the Digital-to Analogue converter helps to contain
RF interference.
For the NAD 522 a Burr-Brown 20 bit SigmaDelta Digital-to-Analogue converter chip was chosen for its
excellent low level linearity. Metal film resistors and polypropylene capacitors are used in key areas to
ensure a highly accurate frequency response. Unusual at this price level, high quality 5532 op-amps are
used instead of the much lower grade and type normally found at this price level and higher. Apart from
the single output capacitor, no other capacitors are used in the signal path.
The output impedance is very low at 120 , making the NAD 522 less sensitive to cables or the ancillary
equipment it is partnered with.
Truly excellent sound quality is difficult to find at this price, let alone with the added convenience of
remote control. Anyone interested in a high performance CD player without frills should put the NAD
522 at the top of their shortlist.
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