NAD Showcases Flagship A/V Preamp/Processor, Multichannel Power Amp In Silver Series

8-Sep-00

DVD or DTV use comprise the S150ís input/output complement.A Zone 2 Multi-Source stereo output accommodates whole-house expansion, while an RS-232 serial port and three independent 12-volt trigger outputs provide for systems control. The S150 also incorporates NAD-Link for hard-wired remote operation, and is equipped with an ergonomic full-system remote controller.S250 Multichannel Power AmplifierThe S250 features five fully independent 125-watt channels.The S250 employs monoblock construction for each of its five channels. NAD says that every element of each channelís circuitry, sans the power transformer, is fully independent. A large version of NADís ""Holmgren""-type power transformer works in concert with five monoblock amplifier sections, boasting over 60,000 microfarads of storage capacitance. NAD showcases its THXÆ Ultra-certified Silver Series S150 surround preamp/processor and five-channel S250 power amplifier at CEDIA EXPO 2000 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The S150 offers DolbyÆ Digital and DTSÆ Digital Surroundô, and also THX Surround EXô. S150 Surround Preamp/ProcessorThe S150 combines Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro LogicÆ, DTS Digital Surround and THX Surround EX processing, decoded in the digital domain, in a THX Ultra multichannel preamplifier that is said to bear sonic resemblance to the original Silver Series S100 Preamplifier.The S150 has a fully upgradable digital processor on a separate plug-in circuit board. NAD boasts a specially engineered, ultra-low noise switch-mode power supply.""Silver Series models are designed to achieve the highest possible level of musical performance,"" says Greg Stidsen, Director of Sales and Marketing for NADís U.S. operations. ""With the S150 and S250, we wanted to allow unparalleled flexibility of system design, with all the sophisticated control options required for todayís most ambitious home theatres, yet with a simplified user interface, once the system is configured."" The S150 and S250, crafted in the U.S.A., are assembled on the same type of impressive heavy-gauge all-alloy chassis as earlier Silver Series models. Each bears the Silver Seriesí characteristic gleaming finish, a result of their fabrication in heavy gauge, sandblasted aluminum. The chassis are reportedly engineered to be anti-resonant, and not promote external magnetic fields.The S150ís audio circuits employ the latest FET operational amplifiers. The output muting is performed via gold-contact relays, and gold-surfaced connectors are used throughout.The S150 employs the latest generation Motorola DSP with 24-bit/96kHz capable D/A converters for all channels. NAD says that all digital circuits are run from a single, high-precision master clock. Also featured is NADís proprietary Enhanced Ambience Recovery System (EARS), which is stated to route ambient content that is ""encrypted"" in virtually all natural-acoustic recordings to the appropriate main, center and surround speakers.Six digital inputs, including a pro-type BNC connection, plus three RCA-jack coaxial and two optical ports are freely assignable, while two digital outputs are included for recording. All digital inputs and outputs are buffered and transformer-coupled. Thereís also a 5.1-channel analog input to accept the future addition of an outboard surround processor, such as DVD-Audio and/or an SACD component. Four analog inputs and no fewer than eight video paths (all with S-Video), including a component video input/output for fully integratedEach section features a differential pure Class-A input and driver stage circuits, and a high-current output-stage design, employing the same output devices as used in the S200. NADís proprietary (and defeatable) Soft Clipping circuit is also included.The S250 also features individual gain adjustment for each channel, as well as an integral 12-volt trigger turn-on response, which NAD says features a ""zero crossing"" triad, rather than the more common mechanical relay, to promote long component life and reduced turn-on surge. The S150 Surround Preamp/Processor and S250 Multichannel Power Amplifier are available this fall from NAD dealers, and are retail priced at $2,499 and $2,499, respectively.

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