NAD 1600 (circa 1990)

Not much is documented about the NAD 1600 outside of its introduction and a few contemporary reviews. It was a preamplifier/tuner in NAD’s Monitor Series, introduced around October 1990. Audio (October 1990, p.191) ran a full-page announcement calling it “A New Standard In Value.” That fits the brand's positioning as reasonably priced high-performance gear.

A proper test report appeared in HiFI-Stereo (October 1990, p.38). It gave measured tuner performance: stereo noise of -75.5 dB at 65 dBf and -80.2 dB at 85 dBf and above. Capture ratio was 1.3 dB, AM rejection 88 dB, and image rejection 79 dB. All excellent figures for the period. The same publication's test (p.33) described a luminous front-panel display with large station-frequency numerals, center-tuning indicators, and a bar-segment signal-strength meter. No continuous power rating applies, since it is a preamp/tuner and not an amplifier. No list price has surfaced in the available material.

The 1600 sits alongside the Monitor Series 1300 preamp and 2600 power amp. Its exact production run and discontinuation are not recorded in the sources to hand.

Type: Preamplifier/Tuner
Series: NAD Monitor Series
First documented: October 1990
Tuner section (measured by HiFI-Stereo): stereo noise –75.5 dB (65 dBf), –80.2 dB (85 dBf+); capture ratio 1.3 dB; AM rejection 88 dB; image rejection 79 dB
Display: Luminous numerals, center-tuning indicators, bar-segment signal-strength meter