dasherdiablo1
Active Member
At the end of last week I purchased both a Powernode (2021) and a NAD C700 to compare them side by side for use with my AE109’s in one of our sitting rooms.
First impressions are that they are both very good bits of kit. Both work very well with the BluOS setup.
They are of very good build quality, but for me the NAD feels more solidly built.
Looks-wise and ergonomically the NAD wins by some margin, the way the menu works with the screen is classy yet simple, the dial and buttons are weighty and have lovely positive movements. Don’t get me wrong, the Powernode looks great too but the touch controls just don’t do it for me - although the proximity sensor is a nice touch. The Powernode is in white and I think would suit a modern home very well. I think the NAD can cut it in any style home as it has both modern and classic hues to the styling.
Performance and sound. Hmm, now this has surprised me; both have plenty of oomph to power my AE floorstanders, but the Powernode has it in buckets, its delivery feels and sounds effortless, the detail and precision seem to just climb with the increase in volume, that said the NAD doesn’t lose composure, but almost sounds like it could. I’m a bit of a car nut and I’d compare the two by saying the Powernode is an unstressed V8, whereas the NAD is a smaller 4pot engine with a turbo. There’s nothing wrong with either, but I think I’d find myself picking up the keys to the V8 more often for the sound alone. Now hear comes the odd thing, the Powernode seems more composed, it’s also less boomy, really revealing and can be tweaked to sound quite bright with a huge amount of detail being revealed. The NAD is less sharp, not quite as clear (but I’m talking 2 or 3 % less clear here) than the Powernode, yet I’m only really picking that up as I switch between the two in rapid succession. I don’t think I’d be aware of it if I had a break between the two in longer sessions.
Conclusion - to be honest I’m not sure. Firstly I really, really like both. If I needed an extra two systems I’d have both but for different reasons. I think I prefer the sound of the Powernode; I’m pretty sure it is better, but marginally. Yet, due to the incredibly detailed music reproduction I’m also concerned it could become fatiguing and not as relaxing as the NAD which as an overall package I think is more appealing. I know that at full price there is a £450 price difference between the two, but I’m ignoring that bit because I got a discount on each of them so that they was actually only £200 between them (man maths here in overdrive).
In a nutshell I don’t know which I’m going to keep - but it will certainly be one of them. Anyone else tried both and willing to share their thoughts?
Photo for those interested (ignore the cable mess as it all temporarily at the moment until I decide what is staying and then they’ll get tidied up).
First impressions are that they are both very good bits of kit. Both work very well with the BluOS setup.
They are of very good build quality, but for me the NAD feels more solidly built.
Looks-wise and ergonomically the NAD wins by some margin, the way the menu works with the screen is classy yet simple, the dial and buttons are weighty and have lovely positive movements. Don’t get me wrong, the Powernode looks great too but the touch controls just don’t do it for me - although the proximity sensor is a nice touch. The Powernode is in white and I think would suit a modern home very well. I think the NAD can cut it in any style home as it has both modern and classic hues to the styling.
Performance and sound. Hmm, now this has surprised me; both have plenty of oomph to power my AE floorstanders, but the Powernode has it in buckets, its delivery feels and sounds effortless, the detail and precision seem to just climb with the increase in volume, that said the NAD doesn’t lose composure, but almost sounds like it could. I’m a bit of a car nut and I’d compare the two by saying the Powernode is an unstressed V8, whereas the NAD is a smaller 4pot engine with a turbo. There’s nothing wrong with either, but I think I’d find myself picking up the keys to the V8 more often for the sound alone. Now hear comes the odd thing, the Powernode seems more composed, it’s also less boomy, really revealing and can be tweaked to sound quite bright with a huge amount of detail being revealed. The NAD is less sharp, not quite as clear (but I’m talking 2 or 3 % less clear here) than the Powernode, yet I’m only really picking that up as I switch between the two in rapid succession. I don’t think I’d be aware of it if I had a break between the two in longer sessions.
Conclusion - to be honest I’m not sure. Firstly I really, really like both. If I needed an extra two systems I’d have both but for different reasons. I think I prefer the sound of the Powernode; I’m pretty sure it is better, but marginally. Yet, due to the incredibly detailed music reproduction I’m also concerned it could become fatiguing and not as relaxing as the NAD which as an overall package I think is more appealing. I know that at full price there is a £450 price difference between the two, but I’m ignoring that bit because I got a discount on each of them so that they was actually only £200 between them (man maths here in overdrive).
In a nutshell I don’t know which I’m going to keep - but it will certainly be one of them. Anyone else tried both and willing to share their thoughts?
Photo for those interested (ignore the cable mess as it all temporarily at the moment until I decide what is staying and then they’ll get tidied up).
Attachments
Last edited:
