Full product details
Illustrious. Significant. Stately.
Following past designs of our highly acclaimed CD player line, the C 525BEE steps into the future by offering compatibility of recorded CDs. And yet still remains true to the heritage of previous designs by delivering the unmatched performance NAD Electronics is known for.
The C521BEE was one of the best selling CD Players in NAD’s illustrious history with several 5 Star reviews and awards adding to its fame. So it is understandable that we didn’t want to make major changes to such a successful design. But the engineers at NAD are always looking to add that last little bit of performance. To this end we found a few subtle but important improvements.
Significantly, the C525BEE is lead-free in its construction and meets the strictest environmental standards in effect around the world. NAD’s engineers also have fine tuned the circuit that reads and tracks the CD to improve performance with the latest copy-protected and hybrid CDs. Finally, we improved the audio performance by upgrading the OP Amp to lower distortion and improve musicality and detail.
While some people will gladly spend to get that last gram of musical pleasure, for the vast majority of music lovers the C525BEE offers that sweet spot where spending less gets a lot less, and spending more gets only a small incremental improvement.
As always, sonic performance is the first priority at NAD. We think that even the most critical music listeners will appreciate the fluid dynamics, spacious sound, and refined harmonic textures the C525BEE is able to extract from their favorite performances on Compact Disc. Whether your musical taste leans toward the expansive majesty of a full symphony orchestra, the driving beat and raw energy of rock, or the warm intimacy of the a capella voice, the C525BEE never gets in the way of the musical expression.
C525BEE CD Player Features
• CD, CD-R and CD-RW Compatible
• Burr-Brown Sigma-Delta 20 bit Digital to Analogue Converter
• Burr-Brown OP Amp
• Coaxial Digital Output
• Low Output Impedance
• Separate Power Regulators for Analog and Digital Sections
• EL Backlit Display with selectable Track, Time and Repeat
• Repeat Mode for Single Track or Entire CD
• Program Play up to 20 Tracks
• Random Play
• NAD CD-6 Full Function Remote Control
A Closer Look
Features and Circuitry
Creating one’s own favorite compilation CD-R and CD-RW’s on a CD Recorder is becoming ever more popular, and unlike ordinary CD players, the C525BEE will easily play these discs. We have included a number of additional features to make your listening more enjoyable: RANDOM gives the listener a random selection of all tracks on the disc in play, and REPEAT allows repeat playing of either the entire disc, or individual tracks. Individual tracks can be quickly accessed using the SKIP function (Forward and Back), and the SCAN function (Forward and Back) gives an aural précis of individual tracks, giving the listener the opportunity to reach specific sections of the track.
The Electro-Luminescent backlit display provides clear and understated, yet comprehensive information to the listener. The track number is displayed, and for those who regularly transfer CDs to cassette, MiniDisc or CD-R, 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 of how many tracks in total there are on the CD.
Not all digital outputs are equal. In the case of the NAD C525BEE, careful attention has been paid so that best use can be made of the ever increasing number of products now available with digital inputs (CD, MD recorders, computer sound cards, outboard D to A converters, etc.). Unusually at this price point, the coaxial output is buffered and isolated by a transformer from the converter itself and the output impedance has been carefully tailored to produce a precise 75 ohms impedance to ensure perfect matching. This attention to detail reduces the timing errors (jitter) that could otherwise distort the digital data stream.
The Model C525BEE comes supplied with the NAD CD-6 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 and programming facilities, as well, saving the user’s time when they’re storing preferred song titles. Up to 20 tracks can be programmed. It is possible to delete tracks without using the program function by simply using the delete key.
Separate power regulators for the digital and analog sections isolate the two electrically, reducing interference effects. Furthermore, careful layout of the PCB tracks around theDigital-to-Analogue converter helps to contain RF radiation and interference. The 20 bit high resolution Burr-Brown S-D Digital-to-Analogue converter chip was chosen for its excellent low-level linearity and detail retrieving capabilities. Metal film resistors and polypropylene capacitors are used in key areas to ensure a highly accurate frequency response. High quality Burr Brown op-amps are used instead of the much lower grade and type normally found at this price level. Apart from the single film type output capacitor, no other capacitors are used in the signal path. The output impedance is very low at 300 ohms, making the NAD C525BEE less sensitive to cables or the ancillary equipment it is partnered with.
Not surprisingly, the C525BEE is an ideal companion to NAD’s newest amplifier, the C325BEE. When combined with any one of a number of excellent moderately priced loudspeakers available today, this combination can offer a level of performance and musical satisfaction far beyond what was possible at any price, only a few short years ago.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
CD Player
Disc capacity: 1 x 120mm or 80mm CD-R & CD-RW Compatible
Programming capability: 20 Tracks
Digital-to-analogue conversion: 20 bit Sigma Delta
Digital filter: 8 x oversampled
Analogue filter: 4 pole active
Frequency response: 5Hz - 20kHz ±0.5dB
De-emphasis error: <0.5dB
THD (at 0dB, 1kHz) : 0.0035%
Dynamic range: 98dB
Linearity: ± 0.5dB; 0 to -90dB
S/N ratio, A-weighted: 108dB
Channel separation:
• @1kHz >110dB
• @10kHz >80dB
Wow and flutter: Quartz accuracy
Output impedance: 300 ohms
Output level at 0dB: 2.2V rms
Digital error correction: CIRC, double error correction in C1 and C2
Digital output: Yes - Coaxial
Remote control: NAD CD-6
Physical Specification
Dimensions (W×H×D) : 435 x 70 x 285mm
Net Weight: 4.1kg
Shipping Weight: 4.9kg
* NAD reserves the right to change specifications or design at any time without notice. All specifications are those in effect at time of printing.
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