NAD T 557 Blu-ray Player Reviewed

Published On: December 17, 2009
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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NAD T 557 Blu-ray Player Reviewed

At $599, the new T 557 is NAD's least expensive Blu-ray player to date. This Profile 2.0 player offers the core Blu-ray features but lacks some step-up options, such as streaming video-on-demand, WiFi-readiness, and multichannel analog audio outputs.

NAD T 557 Blu-ray Player Reviewed

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

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The T 557 is NAD's third Blu-ray player. With an MSRP of $599, it's currently the least expensive model in NAD's lineup, costing about $400 less than the step-up T 577. We have not performed a hands-on review of the T 557, but here is an overview of the player's features. This Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player supports BonusView/picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live Web functionality, and it offers both onboard decoding and bitstream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks. The T 557 does not support any type of video-on-demand streaming or download service, such as those offered by Netflix, Amazon, and CinemaNow.

Read more high performance Blu-ray player reviews from the likes of Oppo Digital, Sony, Sony ES, Yamaha, Integra, Onkyo, Denon and many others.

In terms of video connections, the T 557 offers HDMI, component video, and composite video outputs (no S-video). This player supports both 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 output resolutions via HDMI. The menu includes a number of picture adjustments: contrast, brightness, sharpness, saturation, black level, block and mosquito noise reduction, dynamic contrast, and adjustment of all six color points. Audio outputs include HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, and stereo analog. As I mentioned, the T 557 has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master  Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. The player lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so the only way to pass decoded high-resolution audio formats is via HDMI.

The T 557's disc drive supports the following formats: BD, DVD, CD audio, AVCHD, Divx, MP3, WMA, and JPEG. The back panel features an Ethernet port for BD-Live Web features; the player doesn't include a wireless network connection option. The T 557 lacks internal memory, so the addition of an external storage device is required to download BD-Live features; a front-panel USB port is provided for this purpose. This port also supports playback of Divx, JPEG, PNG, MP3, and WMA files. Finally, the T 557 offers an IR input for more advanced control.

The step-up T 577 Blu-ray player adds 7.1-channel analog audio outputs, WiFi connectivity, and onboard memory.

Read about the high points and the low points of the NAD T 557 on Page 2.

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High Points
• The T 557 supports 1080p/24 playback of Blu-ray discs. 
• The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI. 
• It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
• This player offers a lot of picture adjustments, which can be helpful if it's mated with a TV that is lacking in this area.
• The USB port allows for easy playback of digital movies, music, and photos. 
• An IR input is available.
• NAD products generally have good build quality.

Low Points
• The T 557 lacks multichannel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
• This player does not support any type of video-on-demand or music streaming, nor does it feature a wireless option for connection to your home network.
• The player lacks internal memory, so you must provide your own USB drive for storage of downloadable BD-Live content.

Conclusion
The T 557 has the Blu-ray essentials--like BD-Live support, 1080p/24 output, and high-resolution audio decoding--but it is admittedly pricier than some models that add multichannel analog audio outputs, video-on-demand, and wireless network connectivity. The company is perhaps best known for its receivers and preamp/amp combos, and the T 557 is a logical fit for someone who's looking for a Blu-ray player to mate with their newer, HDMI-equipped NAD electronics.

Read more high performance Blu-ray player reviews from the likes of Oppo Digital, Sony, Sony ES, Yamaha, Integra, Onkyo, Denon and many others.

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