NAD Electronics today announced the T 977 seven–channel power amplifier offering 140 watts of continuous, full disclosure power for each channel. Unlike many competitors, who pull every trick in the book to get the biggest possible number for the power spec, NAD starts by optimizing its power supply to properly drive real-world loudspeakers. This means a properly regulated, high-current power supply is used in the T 977. NAD rates its receivers with a difficult 4-Ohm load, with all channels driven simultaneously, over the full frequency bandwidth (20 Hz – 20 kHz), and at rated distortion. This is the Full-Disclosure Power (FDP) rating method on which all of the brand’s amplifier and receiver specs are based and a far cry from the most often used FTC minimal requirement of using an 8 Ohm load, any channel (singular), at an easy 1 kHz frequency, with no distortion specified.
NAD’s FDP rating is an attempt to bring a broader understanding to the power rating issue. True to their roots, the company philosophy has always been that listeners don’t listen to ratings, they listen to music or experience movies through loudspeakers in their listening room or home theater.
Power Drive and Soft Clipping Technologies
The 7-channel T 977, which replaces the T 975, employs unique NAD technologies to maximize performance and the listening experience while minimizing damage to your speakers. PowerDrive nearly doubles the effective power on transients by adding a second high-voltage rail to a well regulated, high-current power supply. The result is an “overdrive” that can nearly double the continuous power on a short-term, dynamic power basis.
“The NAD T 977 embodies our latest thinking on amplifier design. That means an amplifier that excels under the most demanding conditions yet runs cool and is energy efficient. Since many high performance systems are professionally installed, we made sure that this amplifier is easy to install and ultra-reliable.” explained Greg Stidsen, NAD’s Director of Technology and Product Planning. “By pairing the T 977 with our critically-acclaimed T 187 AV Surround processor, the most demanding home theater enthusiast will enjoy a high performance home theater system that rivals systems costing far more.”
Features
- Powerful – 140 watts of Continuous Full Disclosure Power into seven channels. Massive Holmgren full toroidal power transformer.
- PowerDrive and Soft Clipping amplifier technologies – PowerDrive nearly doubles the effective power on transients while Soft Clipping limits high frequency energy during clipping to protect the loudspeaker from damage.
- Runs Cool – cooled and controlled by a uniquely designed, forced air system. Thermostatically controlled fan with signal tracking circuit turns on when needed
- Eco-friendly – automatic standby mode feature with miserly 0.5 watt standby power consumption both save energy
- Installer friendly – programmable 12v trigger input with individual gain adjustment for each channel provides easy, accurate system configuration
- Compatible – Works in virtually any high performance home theater system and is the perfect partner for NAD’s T 187 AV Surround PrePro
Price and Availability
The NAD T 977 is available now $2799.