Product reviewsNAD C521BEE CD CD Player

Great second hand, hi-end CD player

Had a few knocks and scrapes which is expected for its age. Had to take apart and give the laser’s lens a clean due to very occasional skipping. I’m using an external DAC but have tried the internal one which is of a high standard. Transport is really quiet so I’m very pleased with the purchase.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: hovedan99

A revelation.

I've just updated a cheap Sony for this and it's actually revelation. The first time I got a separates system I was astounded as to what I'd missed in songs before it. Now 20 years later I'm having the same revelation with this cd player. It's great.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: amandah210

A great cd player

I was surprised to win the sale at this price, it arrived fast and well packed (won Sunday arrived Tuesday) it connects and sounds great with my NAD amplifier and my amp remote works with it

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mark.anthony2012

Sounds great; Ergonomics not bad

Buttons are a little similar which makes lighting imortan when using it. Sounds good though.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: the_kent_hi_fi_...

BEE good

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: cceastleigh

Great expectations

Doesn't work

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: counselling1

NAD C521i CD Player

I purchased my NAD C521i (the later version of the C521), secondhand, to complete my NAD Hi-Fi system.
It is a very competent performer, and handles all kinds of music with ease.
Yes, you can buy better CD players, but at a far higher price, but if you want a 'no frills' machine, with an excellent performance, then this player is the one for you.
One fault with the C521i, as with other NAD CD players, is the display. Apparently, they are 'notorious' for packing up, including my own CD player, which I have since had repaired.
To sum up, I find the C521i, as all other NAD Hi-Fi components, performs extremely well, without costing the earth.Read full review...

NAD C 520 CD Player

Pros:
Simple clean uncluttered control panel, typical NAD minimalism - they've put the money and research in on the sound rather than the tinsel and flashing lights, this is what I bought it for.r>
Having heard some audiophile CD players I decided I didn't want too clinical a sound - but I did want to hear everything on the CD and keep it's "musicality".

I do listen to a lot of Vinyl, am bound to compare it.

I heard one of these CDs playing some Jethro Tull and immediatly realised the quality of this player in preserving the performances magic and not getting lost in its own specifications. Works just the same for Rammstein, Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart, Lady Gaga to Queen and Pink Floyd (to my ears anyway!)

Had very positive reviews regarding the quality of the sound, and matches the NAD C370 integrated amplifier I am using (emabarrased how pleased I was to have something that matches!).

Gets played through some lovely old Wharfedale 6Rs and a pair of no-name monster unported 3-ways with 12" subs, when the relevant domestic authorities agree (or are out!).

Cons:
This player does have a couple of weaknesses though. The bulbs that light the display have a habit of going. Not hard or expensive to fix.

Can be picky about playing poor quality CDRs - the ones with the light blue recording surface particularly. Silver ones play fine.

Doesn't play MP3s (or any non-audio CD format. I'm streaming these to the amplifier from elsewhere so I'm not bothered.

You have to be gentle with the CD drawer - best only use the button to close it. For NAD gear it is uncharacteristically weak, don't get one that click-click-clicks when you open or close it, means the drawer mechanism has been strained and may fail soon. Not sure about fixing these, hopefully I won't need to find out but I'm sure I'll find a way 'cos the player is worth the effort ( and I am an electronics engineer).

Update March 18th 2011

Now I have bi-amped my system with 2 x NAD C370's and use either Wharfdale Pacific Evolution 10 speakers or B&W 610i's. I am comparing the CD player with a Firestone Audion "FUBAR II" DAC and it stands up very well! Soundwise it's hard to tell the difference.Read full review...

good cd player

NAD C521 is a simple player, with no flashing lights or whistles, but certainly does the job.
Easy to use and set up, only 2 output points on the back (and 1 digital)and 8 control buttons on the front. seperate buttons for skip and search, thankfully. the small remote is easy to use too. only point to make is when pressing teh time button, it skips from track time elapsed to total disc remain, not track remain.

i run it through i sony FE730 amp and it sounds great.

getting on in years now, but a new NAD will set you back about 160/180 pounds from likes of richer sounds, so if you can get it at a good price go for it!Read full review...

NAD C521i

For the money, this cd player will put almost anything at the price to shame.
It has a big sound which is bang on the money in terms of tonal quality being neither a smoothie nor analytical but somewhere in between so you can have the detail without being harsh or tiring. It is a pleasure to use and with it's 'it does what it says on the tin' looks at first may seem a bit dull but i can tell you that them NAD looks do grow on you.Read full review...