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NAD C 546BEE

CD player

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  • NAD C 546BEE

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  • NAD C 546BEE

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  • NAD C 546BEE

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  • NAD C 546BEE

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Item# 745C546BEE offer details

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NAD

Our take on the NAD C 546BEE

by Dave Bar

A classic gets even better

Just when you thought CD sound couldn't get any better, NAD pushes the sonic boundaries again. They took the excitement and toe-tapping performance of their much-loved C 545BEE player and raised the bar even further to create the C 546BEE. This new CD player sports a freshened, more refined look than its predecessor. But even more importantly, its new circuit layout and updated components, including metal film resistors and polypropylene capacitors in key areas, help squeeze even more goodness from your CD library. You'll experience even greater bass extension and slam, while enjoying enhanced image depth and scale. NAD even gave it a front-panel USB port so you can play MP3s from a portable thumb drive through your home audio system with ease.

A versatile performer

You'll enjoy playback from a variety of discs, ranging from regular CDs to home-burned CD-Rs filled with MP3 and WMA files. If your CD library includes albums with CD Text, the C 545BEE can show information such as song titles directly on its front-panel display. The full-function remote gives you command of the basics like "play" and "stop," plus access to repeat, random, and program modes from the comfort of your favorite chair.

Highlights:

  • plays CDs, CD-Rs & CD-RWs, and MP3 & WMA CDs
  • supports CD Text with compatible discs
  • USB input supports external memory and audio rates up to 320kbps
  • repeat, random, and program play
  • forward and reverse skip and search functions
  • display dimmer
  • optical and coaxial digital outputs
  • stereo RCA outputs
  • IR input for remote repeater systems
  • 12-volt trigger input
  • wireless remote
  • detachable power cord
  • frequency response: 5 - 20,000 Hz (±0.5 dB)
  • signal-to-noise ratio: 118 dB
  • dynamic range: 95 dB
  • toroidal power supply with separate power regulators for analog and digital sections
  • Wolfson Microelectronics 24bit/192KHz digital-to-analog converter
  • 17-1/8"W x 3-3/8"H x 13-5/8"D
  • warranty: 2 years
  • Our 60-day money-back guarantee
 

Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

Features and Specs

Features and Specs
General
Disc Capacity
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1
Disc Exchange
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N/A
Track Programming
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40
Random Play
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Single Disc
Disc Naming
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No
Direct Track Access
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Remote
Direct Disc Access
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N/A
Remote
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Included
Display Color
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Blue
Multiple CD Player Control
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---
Parts Warranty
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2 Years
Labor Warranty
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2 Years
Compatibility
CD-R Playback
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Yes
CD-RW Playback
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Yes
MP3 Playback
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Yes
SACD Playback
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No
Specifications
CD Frequency Response
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5-20,000 Hz
Signal to Noise Ratio
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118 dB
SACD Frequency Response
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Not Compatible
SACD Dynamic Range
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---
SACD THD
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---
Outputs
Digital Optical Output
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1
Digital Coaxial Output
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1
Headphone
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None

Product Research

Product Research
What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • Single-Disc CD player
  • 6.5' AC power cord
  • Wireless remote (CD9)
  • 2 "AA" batteries
  • 3' RCA stereo patch cord
  • Owner's manual CD-ROM
  • Warranty information
  • Safety Instructions

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Features
Controls
Connections

Features

Disc Compatibility: The NAD 546BEE supports a wide range of program material; including CD, CD-R, CD-RW. Unlike older CD players, it will easily play discs encoded with MP3 & WMA audio files. The NAD C 546BEE also supports CD-Text information such as artist name and track titles. The CDs used must contain CD-Text information for this feature to work.

USB Device Playback: The C 546BEE can play back MP3/WMA files stored on external USB mass storage class device. The following are the C 546BEE's capabilities with respect to USB device playability.

USB version supported 1.1
File Format FAT 16/32
Music File Type MP3, WMA
Maximum bit rate supported VBR, 320 kHz
Maximum number of folders supported 128
Maximum files in one folder 511
Maximum files in device 65,408
Maximum number of sub-directories 8
Maximum number of bytes supported for Folder/File name 64
Maximum number of bytes supported for ID3 Title/Artist/Album 60

Wolfson DAC: The C 546BEE uses carefully selected components, including a high-quality 24-bit/192kHz high-resolution Wolfson digital-to-analog converter chip for excellent low-level linearity and detail retrieving capabilities.

High Quality Construction: NAD isolated the analog and digital audio sections electrically by using separate power regulators to reduce interaction. NAD also carefully laid out the PCB tracks around the digital-to-analog converter to help optimize the audio performance. Metal film resistors and polypropylene capacitors are used in key areas to ensure a highly accurate frequency response. High quality 5532 op-amps are used instead of the much lower grade and type used in lesser players. Apart from the single film type output capacitor, no other capacitors are used in the signal path. The output impedance is very low at 300 ohms, making the C 546BEE less sensitive to cables or the ancillary equipment it is partnered with.

Digital Filter: There are two digital filters to choose from, offering the ability to tune the player by ear. The digital filter is applied only to the analog outputs.

Controls

Playback Controls: NAD has included a number of additional playback features to make your listening more enjoyable.

  • "Random" gives the listener a random selection of all tracks on the disc in play.
  • "Repeat" allows repeat playing of either the entire disc or individual tracks.
  • "Skip" (previous/next) lets you access individual tracks quickly.
  • "Scan" (previous/next) lets your reach specific sections of an individual track.
  • "Program" lets you store up to 40 tracks in a preferred order.

Wireless Remote Control: In addition the unit's from panel controls, the player includes a dedicated full-feature IR wireless remote control for easy operation.

Display Dimmer: The Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) has two brightness settings, or it can be turned off.

Connections

USB Port: The C 546BEE features a USB (type-A) input that supports external USB mass storage class devices with MP3/WMA audio files (audio rates up to 320 kbps).

Digital Outputs: Two digital outputs, one optical (Toslink) and one coaxial (RCA), are provided for sending signal to the digital input terminals of a receiver, outboard D/A converter, or CD recorder. The coaxial output is buffered and isolated by a 75 ohm matching transformer thus isolating the converter to ensure perfect matching. This reduces jitter that could otherwise distort the digital data stream.

Analog Output: The CD player also features RCA stereo outputs for analog connection, utilizing the high quality Wolfson DAC.

12 Volt Trigger In: This unit can be turned on/off by another device; the +12 volt trigger input is a 3.5mm mini-jack. When a cable is plugged into this jack the front panel and remote power commands are disabled.

IR In: This 3.5mm mini-jack input is used to control this unit using an optional infrared repeater or the IR output of another component.

 

Product Reviews

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Reviews for the NAD C 546BEE

Average Customer Review:

8 people say:

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5 out of 5

Sound Amazing

Written By Edson, Bayside, New York on Sunday, May 19, 2013
 
The NAD C 546BEE may be one of the best cd players, I have ever purchased. "Sound So Nice" I can't explain it, I took a lot of thought into writing this review and explaining my experience. I had a modest Sony CD player any high end CD player would sound better! I think the best way to explain it would be to compare it drinks, my old Sony is a whiskey and the NAD a 12 year old Scotch ! If you love music, this is is the CD player for you, your CD's will sound like a DVD-audio. The only trouble I having so far is picking the cd i want to hear next! Amazing sound it is nice and gentle! You get what you pay for this one, it's an excellent product 5 stars
Pros:
Everything
Cons:
none
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5 out of 5

outstanding product

Written By jon, Hurley, NY on Monday, April 29, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
This player replaced a 25-year-old JVC that was starting to have problems. The improvement was startling and pronounced. I am a professional musician whose interest is mainly classical. A recording of Mahler's Second Symphony revealed a tremendous sound field with pinpoint location of instruments. The depth of sound was enormous with huge, accurate bass, "you are there" midrange and smooth highs. My 45-year-old Altec-Lansing 604E speakers (played via a Marantz amp) have never sounded so good (and I have never heard speakers that I prefer). I opted for AudioQuest cables and they seem to sound fine, although I didn't compare them with the cables that came in the box. I would not hesitate to recommend this player to anyone interested in upgrading.
Pros:
Smooth, accurate sound coupled with an almost holographic instrument imaging. No detectable distortion even in complex orchestral music. Piano reproduction sounds as if the piano is in the room. Controls mounted on the chassis are very user friendly and quite intuitive.
Cons:
The only way to program tracks is via the remote control. A printed manual is not supplied; users must print it themselves from the included CD-ROM.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

excellent cd player

Written By spp, nyc on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
excellent player-very clear-reads damaged discs !!!
Cons:
none
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5 out of 5

A brilliant Successor to the 542

Written By MAR, Putnam Valley, NY on Sunday, February 17, 2013
 
This a fine piece of NAD's next generation of affordable audiophile electronics . I owned thr 542 and thought i very , very good. The c546 is better in every way. the highs, mids and lows are better, much better. And when teamed up with NHT' classic 3's that I recently purchased here at Crutchfield, they cast a large and deep soundfiield. athe difference over the very good 542 is almost astounding. This is an excellent product in all ways .
Pros:
all of the segments of the sound spectrum are covered and once gets sense of the depth and power of all types of music. As I mentioned th sound fiel was excellent.
Cons:
i see none and thought some professional reviews too harsh and off the mark. It is sophisticated piece of tecnology , but easy to take advantage by one less conversant with some aspects of its features and applications. .
2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

NAD C 546 BEE Is the real deal

Written By SC, Sterling VA on Thursday, January 03, 2013
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
At first I was skeptical that a CD player could really make that much of a difference in sound quality. A DAC is a DAC right? WRONG!!! The sound difference between my 11 year old Pioneer CD player and the NAD is crazy. The first CD I played was Zepplin's How the West Was Won, and man I was blown away. The highs are crisp and the bass is warm and smooth. The NAD is definitely the best CD player I've ever owned.
Pros:
Outstanding sound. Digital/Optical outputs (I use for recording)
Cons:
I have to wait a little longer to by a new outboard for my boat.
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

NAD C 546BEE

Written By DKeary, Jackson, MS on Monday, December 10, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Perhaps one of the best CD players I've owned - I've owned/used the Adcom 5 disc player and a few sony's. This is a single disc player with a very solid sound and the construction on this and the NAD amp indicates that this is great equipment. There are other aspects I have not used yet, such as running my iPhone/ipod/ipad/macbook pro through it, not sure that's going to be a major need. The main feature that I like is that, to me, this being a single disc adds to the overall excellence of it. That, along with the filters, make this a great product. I listen to a lot of classical, jazz and acoustic music. I also run a ballet school and make recordings for our productions. Hands down the sound is THE best I've had.
Pros:
Great sound, construction and options. The filters are really nice.
Cons:
None that I have yet discovered...
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

Superb CD player

Written By Drummer, Maineville, Oh on Sunday, August 12, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
I have owned NAD gear for the last 30 years and have never been disappointed. The C546BEE is another example of their outstanding products. NAD spends their money inside the product and not outside with fancy bells, whistles, or extravagant advertising. The result is clearly products that rival the competition costing twice or more as much. This CD player sounds just great. Perfect highs and lows without any compromise. I couldn't happier. Try it, I'm sure you'll like it !. And with Crutchfield as your vendor, you get lightning fast shipping and a support network second to none. They're much more than just a vendor, they're family !
Pros:
Overall superb sound. Like the USB and filters for added refinement. Bass is nice but not boomy, and highs are nicely placed. Easily worth twice the price. Display options are just what you need and cleanly displayed.
Cons:
None I can think of..Only I would switch the free included cables to an upgrade as most customers would.
3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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5 out of 5

NAD C546BEE

Written By EdgarLB, Orchard Park, NY on Friday, June 29, 2012
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
 
Overall Excellent Quality CD Player Unit. I am able to use both CD's and MP3 thru USB complimenting my NAD Stereo Receiver 7140. Thanks to Crutchfield.They offer quality choices of a fine product line.
Pros:
5 STARS. Easy to use.
Cons:
Nothing to complain about.
4 out of 6 people found this helpful
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1-8 of 8

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Rated 5-stars by consumers

For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the NAD C 546BEE, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/S-4uRG0m7wSEP/p_745C546BEE/NAD-C-546BEE.html ).

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Compare with other NAD models

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  • 5 out of 5: In Stock
  • The NAD C 546BEE offers:
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    • a front-panel USB input for playing music from a thumb drive
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  • Front

    NAD C 546BEE
  • Back

    NAD C 546BEE
  • Other

    NAD C 546BEE
  • Remote

    NAD C 546BEE