NAD 7130 (mid-1980s)
The NAD 7130 is a mid-1980s AM/FM stereo receiver built on the company's usual formula: modest power ratings and generous dynamic headroom. It effectively put the 3130 integrated amplifier and the 4130 tuner into a single chassis. HiFI-Stereo (February 1986, p.39) called it "the best performance/price value in stereo today."
Audio (May 1985, p.26) described NAD's design philosophy as "high-value engineering" and noted that the 7130 delivered "effortless power" through a strong power supply. The FM tuner section was based on NAD's then-new tuner generation, which the same review said set "standards for clean, quiet FM sound at modest cost." A follow-up review in Audio (September 1985, p.79) praised the "honest performance" NAD packed into the 7130. It concluded (p.84) that the receiver "will find its way into quite a few modestly priced audio systems" and would not be "the limiting factor."
Into the lower impedances of real-world speakers, the 7130 could deliver substantially more than its rated continuous power. NAD got there with oversized power-supply components and careful circuit design, not by inflating the continuous power spec. It also has a switchable loudness control and an infradefeat filter. The finish is NAD's usual anthracite, and the receiver was manufactured in Japan.
Known Specifications
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.03%
- Damping factor: 50
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 76 dB (MC phono), 76 dB (MM phono), 100 dB (line)
- Tuning range: FM, MW
- Dimensions: 420 × 108 × 380 mm
- Weight: 8 kg
- Color: Anthracite
- Made in Japan
The 7130 sat alongside the 7140 (40 W/ch) and the 7155 in NAD's receiver lineup. Production appears to have run from either 1985-86 or 1985-1987, according to conflicting sources. Surviving units still see regular use. Owners have noted that the original electrolytic capacitors, chosen to meet a price point, are now getting old enough that replacement may be advisable.
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