NAD 4150 (1985–1988)

Name: NAD 4150
Brand: NAD

The NAD 4150 is a stereo tuner produced from 1985 to 1988. It covers FM (87.5-108 MHz) and AM (522-1611 kHz). Audio (March 1983, p.58) put a provocative cover line on it: “Better Than Carver’s?” The same magazine's equipment profile reported FM mono sensitivity of 5.0 dBf and stereo separation of 50 dB at 1 kHz. Separation still held at 49 dB at 10 kHz, where many tuners fall off substantially.

Beyond those measurements, the documented record on the 4150 is thin. The fact sheet gives FM sensitivity of 1.5 µV, selectivity of 65 dB, signal-to-noise ratios of 74 dB (mono) and 68 dB (stereo), and distortion of 0.15% (mono) and 0.3% (stereo). No design details, circuit topology or original list price have surfaced. The tuner measures 420 × 92 × 295 mm and weighs 4.4 kg. A later Audio profile (December 1984, p.75) covers what appears to be a related or updated version. It documented a 50-dB quieting sensitivity of 13.2 dBf in mono and 32 dBf in stereo, with mono S/N of 82 dB.

What little else is known comes from period advertising. High Fidelity (November 1982, p.81) carried NAD's announcement of the 4150 as “the first stereo tuner ever to use” some then-new technology. The available text doesn't say what that technology was. If you own one, or have service documentation, the Archive would welcome the details.

Type: Stereo tuner (FM/AM)
FM tuning range: 87.5–108 MHz
AM tuning range: 522–1611 kHz
FM sensitivity: 1.5 µV
FM selectivity: 65 dB
S/N (FM): 74 dB mono / 68 dB stereo
Distortion (FM): 0.15% mono / 0.3% stereo
Frequency response (FM): 30 Hz–15 kHz
Dimensions: 420 × 92 × 295 mm
Weight: 4.4 kg