Sayonara, Japan Radio NRD-545
The last Japan Radio NRD-545 DSP tabletop receiver (Passport 2008, pp. 135-138) has been manufactured, as needed parts are no longer available. The CHE-199 VHF-UHF converter option, which hasn’t been available for months, is also out of production.
There’s still a chance to get in under the wire. NRD-545 inventory in the United States is expected to cover orders throughout much of 2008. Only after that will the ‘545 mosey off into the sunset. Too, all options other than the CHE-199 continue to be available.
Successor? No word from JRC, and nobody’s holding their breath. With lower-cost alternatives such as the Etón E1 (Passport 2008, pp. 68-71 and RDI White Paper) now available [Update, see preceding], tabletop manufacturers are finding it tough sledding with their robust but pricey offerings.
Still, all the news isn’t grim—see the recent AR7030 post, below. Timing couldn’t be better.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:39 PM
It’s sad to see so many “premium” receivers being discontinued. It would be nice to have one, but with some parts no longer available, that probably means no repairs (for problems that require those parts).
At least AOR will be able to repair the AR7030 for some time, but what happens if repairs are needed after that time? You’ll have a very expensive paperweight, I guess.
Ed.: At the expense of stating the obvious, it all depends on the company—their policies towards spares and service, as well as their ability or wish to stay in that line of business. For example, when I once asked a Ford parts guy for a certain part for my 12-year-old pickup, he literally threw it back at me across the counter and told me I should know that something that old is no longer available. Now, I have a fairly simple used 1974 Mercedes sedan I restored, and to this day can get almost any new part from the manufacturer.
Except the radio, which has one part that tends to go and can’t be replaced!