First impressions: NAD T778

[Naks]

original post

Hi everyone,

I received my new T778 on 21st October 2021 and spent the past 2 hours setting it up and testing.

Firstly, a massive thank you to Morne, who fielded my numerous queries and phone call to discuss the issues with this model. Having read about the many issues from owners, I knew what I was getting into, but I am happy taking the risk to get that NAD sound. So I ordered a unit from him, and he even made sure of the build date (May 2021).

Unboxing was quick and painless - Morne did a whole video on this, so I won't elaborate:

Setup was quick, but I don't like the speaker terminals being at the bottom, because it means that I can't push the unit all the way back in my stand. All connections were quick and easy, except for the supplied 2-pin power cable, which just refused to go into the socket. Found a 3-pin kettle cord with the same rating in my box of cables, and off we went.

First I ran the software update, and minor snag when the unit rebooted in Polish or Czech. Sorted that out with the help of Google Translate, and then I started the setup. Being familiar with the NAD system, this was quick.

Queued up my test playlist, and as expected, the quality of the sound is just amazing. I don't think the sound is better than the T777v3, but it certainly is punchier, which is surprising considering this model is almost half the size and weight.

Loving the screen, as it shows cover art and metadata, negating the need for the TV to be on. This screen is so easy to use that having the unit at the bottom of my stand now makes no sense, as it should rather be on top to make it easy to use.

Initially my BluOs app wouldn't find the unit, which was weird, since the unofficial NAD remote app found it fine. A quick data and cache clear, and the app found it, and playback started.

Much like the T777v3, this unit runs very cool, my Aircom cooler only went up to 27C. No fan noise that I can pick up.

I must still run Dirac, but that needs to wait until tomorrow when the Mrs is at the optometrist.

I will keep this thread running with further observations, and hopefully, no issues to report.

 

[Naks]

21st October 2021

Ran Dirac earlier, and not sure if I'm doing something wrong, but the NAD curve made the sound flat and subdued.

update 1:
Ok, this was during a movie. I just queued up my test playlist in 2.0 setup, and OMFG, the Dirac correction is mind-blowingly good I'm also finding that MQA/more recent Tidal tracks are really affected by the Dirac correction, but older songs are not.

update 2:
I then forked out the $99 for the Full Dirac version, and that was even more impressive once the full range had been corrected.

 

[Naks]

8th December 2021

It's been almost two months now, and still amazes me how good the sound is on this NAD.

The BluOS integration is also seamless, and so is the Tidal Connect: I can queue up stuff on my phone, laptop, chromebook, etc.

I've also stopped using the physical remote in favour of the unofficial NAD remote app (Android), although the only nag about this app is that you can't switch the unit off.

Other than the niggle of the HDMI Arc, it's all going swimmingly well.

oh no, I've gone and jinxed it now

again, I must thank Morne for his patience and advice when I was in the market, top man! :thumbs:

 

[Naks]

3rd March 2022

First major snag with the unit

Ok, this is a weird one:

Earlier I received the Brothers in Arms SACD I ordered (https://www.takealot.com/dire-straits-brothers-in-arms-20th-anniversary-edition-sacd/PLID903751), so I started playing it on my Oppo 203, which is set to output DSD as PCM Multichannel.

Something about the sound didn't seem right, so I moved to the back of the room and realised that there's no sound out of the surround speakers. A bit odd, so I check the speaker setup, settings, presets, etc., and everything looks 100%.

I then switch to a multitrack album from my PC, and yep, no surround sound. I queue up a movie, and again, no surround sound.

So I switch off the T778, wait a couple of minutes, and switch it back on. Nope, same thing.

Then I switch off the T778 at the back (hard switch), test the surround speakers with a battery on the terminals, and they're fine.

Switch everything back on, and boom, surround sound is back.

A bit weird, but whatever.

Queue up the SACD again, and this time I'm on the stepladder with my ear by the surround L speaker. The track starts, and there is surround sound, and then about 2-3s later, there is a faint click, and no more surround sound.

No problem, I know how to get this sorted, so off I go re-doing the previous steps: hard off, test speakers, switch on.

Except this time, there's still no surround sound. Uh oh, what now?

Try the same steps once more, this time also resetting the HDMI connections. Still nothing.

I then also reset the HDMI input in the T778 menu, no effect.

So then I decide to test the speakers themselves, so I swap the centre for surround L, and boom, the latter has sound, but the centre is dead.

Unplug the speaker terminals again, give it some time, plug everything back in, and success, surround sound is back!

Now at this point I'm done trying the SACD if I have to go through this process again.

I've done a hard reset, but that didn't resolve the issue.

So my conclusion is that there's something in that SACD PCM stream that causes the surround amp/circuit to freeze

 

[Naks]

4th March 2022

After contacting AV imports, the unit was sent back to them for repairs, it seems quite a few of these suffered from surround amp failures.


16th March 2022
Feedback from AV Imports:

We only found the Surround left and Right channel to be faulty
The amp is 100% now for you.

 

[Naks]

18th March 2022

AVR just arrived back, a few minutes after I had the TV mounted on the wall - I wanted the T778 to be up top where the LCD could be more of a feature.

Surround channels are back

I must still tidy up the now empty bottom shelf - maybe I'll put some Lego there, just to mask the void.

 

[Naks]

29th Nov 2022

Been a while since my last update, nothing to report other than zero issues & many hours of enjoyment

 

[Naks]

26th Feb 2023

For the T778 owners, NAD has now made the OSD available via a web brower. From your PC/laptop, go to the IP/osd, e.g., http://192.168.0.123/osd/

 

[Naks]

found a bug after the BluOS 4 update:


pretty prompt reply from NAD Support:

"Hello Nakkiran,

Thank you for contacting the NAD Electronics Support Crew regarding your T778!

In regards to the issue, we were able to replicate it here in our labs. Our engineering team is looking into this further and will provide a fix for this issue in a future firmware update. ... "

 

[Naks]

*sigh*

for the past week or so, there have been random pops/clicks when it's in operation - the sound is a bit like when you pop bubble-wrap. Some of them are very faint, some are loud, and once or twice they have been very loud.

I've done the usual power cycling, unplug & replug everything, etc., but this has not resolved the issue.

Additionally, it has refused to switch on remotely on two occasions: once it had to be switched on manually, and the other time even that did not work until I did a hard power cycle.

For a week now, we thought the roof of our living room was creaking, turns out it was the amp. Just now there was a very loud *POP*, and it switched itself off.

According to this owner, this does not bode well: https://www.avsforum.com/threads/th...23286/page-160?post_id=63318956#post-63318956

 

[Family_Dog]

Might be a Cap that popped, but most likely a power supply problem. I wonder if Nad uses a Switch Mode PSU or Linear?

Hope it is still covered by Warranty Naks.

 

[Naks]

Might be a Cap that popped, but most likely a power supply problem. I wonder if Nad uses a Switch Mode PSU or Linear?
Hope it is still covered by Warranty Naks.

unfortunately out of warranty since last Oct...

It was switching off as soon as the POPS happened, and then as soon as I switch it on, it pops and switches off. So I left if off for a night.

It worked fine the next morning, then started doing the same thing on the 2nd day of full running. It's almost as if it's a capacitor(s) that cannot discharge normally, and after a while it causes a circuit overload.

Left it off again (with every unplugged) last night, and this morning it won't even switch on with everything unplugged.

I'm hoping it's the PSU and not the amp modules, because those hypex modules are kark expensive

AV Imports are also not being very proactive about the situation...

 

[Family_Dog]

Shamil Albertus @Albertronics would quite likely be able to assist you, he is excellent with his repairs. Also in Cape Town.Drop him a PM.

-F_D

 

[Naks]

if I wanted to offload the load to an external amp, what are my choices?

 

[johanhp]

I would say a 5 channel amp from Rotel or Nad. They do come up second hand hand.

You can also use multiple power amps but I would then go for the same model or at least the same brand. Even DIY power amps will work well if you can find enough channels.

 

[Naks]

I would say a 5 channel amp from Rotel or Nad. They do come up second hand hand.
You can also use multiple power amps but I would then go for the same model or at least the same brand. Even DIY power amps will work well if you can find enough channels.

Thanks, I might look for a 7-channel amp as I have the fronts bi-amped.

 

[johanhp]

Thanks, I might look for a 7-channel amp as I have the fronts bi-amped.

Then a 7 channel power amp or a 5 and a 2

 

[Naks]

Based on what other owners have done to mitigate any further failures, I am looking to offload the load from the unit to a power amp.

My setup is quite simple: pair of PSB Imagine T2s in bi-amp mode, PSB Image C5 centre, Monitor Audio Bronze FX surrounds (bipole), and an SVS PB-1000 sub

Based on what others have done, this is the list so far for 7-channel amps: Emotiva Bas XA7, Arcam PA720 , Rotel RMB-1587 MKII, McIntosh MI347 7, AudioControl Savoy G4, NAD M25//7/8, Primare A35.8

If I can't get a 7-channel, I will undo the bi-amping on my T2s, and go for one of these: Rotel RMB-1555/1585, Anthem MCA 525 GEN 2, AudioControl Pantages G4, Parasound Halo A 52+

I'm looking for advice/recommendations on the following:
1. Is it worth offloading all 5 channels, or just the fronts?
2. I don't know anything about matching amps to speakers

If anyone has any advice for me, that would be much appreciated

 

[johanhp]

I think it is important to drive all the channels with amp that has the same sound signature. I would rather offload all the channels, even if it's on a 5 channel amp than have them play on different amps. I think having a dedicated power amp will make a bigger difference than bi amping so don't let that deter you.

Don't think you can go wrong with any of the amps on your list. I have heard the Nad and Rotel and they should work well. The Emotiva and Parasound are popular and all of them are from well established brands.

If you can audition the amps before hand that would be first prize. I have gone as far as taking my speakers with on an audition to listen how they sound an amp I bought.

 

[Naks]

I've been offered a NAD M27 for R35k, I think I might go with that for starters