NAD 7100 (late 1970s)
The NAD 7100 is one of the more elusive receivers in NAD's lineup. It is a 50-watt model that collectors describe as "NAD's last high-end receiver." One owner calls it "one of the best receivers NAD ever made. Very rare and desirable." It dates to the late 1970s, which makes it a very early NAD design, and it appears to have sat at the top of the company's receiver range at the time.
The 7100 follows NAD's core philosophy of high-current, no-nonsense engineering. It was rated at 50 watts per channel minimum RMS into 8 ohms, with frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz ±0.5dB and THD of 0.03% at rated output. A period review in High-Fidelity (June 1971, p.33) covered a low-priced receiver from a different manufacturer. The amplifier section was described as stable into loads as low as 2 ohms. That comes from the high-current design, and it made the receiver capable of driving difficult speakers. One owner reported hearing one on Magnepan MG-1b planar speakers, noting it drove them surprisingly well and that the sound was sweet.
The surviving record conflicts on tone controls. HiFiEngine lists tone controls with ±6dB adjustment at 100Hz and 10kHz. An AudioKarma owner says the unit has no tone controls at all. He describes a no-frills amplifier with a preamp section, tuner, and phono stage, but no filter, no balance control, and no second set of speakers. Given the "no-nonsense" philosophy attributed to NAD in the same sources, no tone controls seems plausible, but the contradiction is unresolved. The phono stage accepts moving magnet cartridges, with 2.5mV sensitivity, 47k ohm input impedance, and 8.5mV RMS overload at 1kHz. Line inputs accept 200mV.
One owner calls the tuner section "great," but no sensitivity or selectivity figures survive in the accessible record. Dimensions, weight, and original price are also undocumented. The 7100 is scarce, and the few owners who have one tend to hold onto it.
Known specs, in brief:
- Power: 50W per channel minimum RMS into 8Ω
- Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.5dB
- THD: 0.03% at rated output
- Damping factor: 45 at 8Ω
- Phono (MM): 2.5mV sensitivity, 47kΩ impedance, 8.5mV overload at 1kHz
- Line input sensitivity: 200mV
- Tone controls: ±6dB at 100Hz and 10kHz (per HiFiEngine; disputed by an owner report)
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.
Related Models
- NAD 160 (1975-)
- NAD 7020 (1979-1983)
- NAD 7045
- NAD 7125
- NAD 7140
- Marantz 2226 (1974-1976)
- Marantz 2226B (1979-1980)
- Marantz 2235 (1974-1977)
- Marantz 2238B (1978-1980)
- Marantz 2250B (1978-1980)