NAD 7045 (1999–2001)

The NAD 7045 was the company's first multichannel receiver, produced from 1999 to 2001. A period review called it one of the first "affordable" Dolby Digital/DTS receivers from the brand. The same review praised it as "one of the most listenable multichannel amps we've heard at the price," said NAD's reputation for musicality was fully maintained, and called the power delivery "the best in class at this level." It was less kind about ergonomics. The front panel is busy and cluttered, and the remote is basic.

The receiver decoded Dolby Digital and DTS. It had a 5.1-channel input, tone controls, a 12V trigger output, a headphone output, and premium speaker terminals. The power ratings don't agree. One source lists 5 × 80W into 4Ω at 1kHz. The period review stressed NAD's conservative "real world" rating of 5 × 70W per channel. Since the review discusses NAD's rating philosophy at length, the 70W figure is likely the more meaningful one for 8Ω loads, though the 80W/4Ω spec may also be accurate under different test conditions. The original price was $899 in the US, or £700 in the UK at launch.

Plenty of the usual collector's detail is missing. There is no DAC chip identification, no digital input count, no tuner specifications, and no confirmation of the production years beyond a single source. A fan-noise complaint circulates in owner forums but is unverified. NAD's own advertising of the era promoted the "Power Drive" amplifier topology, though the surviving documentation does not explicitly confirm its use in this model.

Home theater receiver with Dolby Digital / DTS decoding
5 × 70W per channel (period review, "real world" rating) or 5 × 80W at 4Ω/1kHz (spec sheet — conflicting)
Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz
S/N ratio: >80dB (A-weighted); channel separation: >60dB at 1kHz
Dimensions: 435 × 145 × 380mm; weight: 10.6kg
Original price: $899 US; £700 UK (2000)
Main rivals at launch: Sony STR-DB930, Denon AVR-3300, Marantz SR-680