I disagree and think the OSD is super easy to use and I like that the remote is simple and not confusing to use like a lot of other remotes. Only thing that takes getting used to when you first set one up is sometimes the right navigation button is used instead of enter.
We also use control systems in 95% of our jobs so in all honesty I could really don't care less about the factory remote.
They are also being honest about there power ratings. Just cuz a bunch of the companies we deal with are lying does that mean we are supposed to say screw it they are all full of crap.
I also don't think that zone 2 is a nightmare. I guess if you felt the need to send a bunch of sources to Z2 this would be an issue. I only have ever had one customer who his was an issue with. Customer had tape deck, turntable, cd, iPod, etc.. Had like 9 sources. He was one of those guys that wanted to make everything play everywhere. We talked him into not sending one source to Z2 and he was cool with it.
I don't know what everyone else is using for Z2, but we only usually have a some sort of audio streamer (Sonos, Apple TV, etc..) and maybe a cable box. Every once in awhile a CD player or some other random source. I like keeping my systems simple. Just cause three different devices can play Pandora doesn't mean I need to make all of them do it. I take the source that does it best and let it handle it. For example, Sonos is usually enough for Z2.
The one thing I will say is a wish some of their lower priced models had more HDMI inputs.
I could also care less about the app. I can't remember the last time I sold a customer a receiver and had them use the app. As I stated before we almost always sell a control system, so there is really no need for an app based on our designs.
I am not trying to say that NAD is the best thing since sliced bread. What I am saying is it sounds good and it meets our design needs and our customers like them. About two years ago we had 7 receiver lines. Everyone in the company new we were to small to support that many lines so we narrowed it down to the best two (Yamaha being the other one) and dropped 4 of the other 5. Some of the companies made it pretty easy based on there reliability and lack of customer service.
It took me a little time to get used to the NAD, but once I got the hang of them it was cake. Yamaha was the same way, menu was a little strange at first. Then I started using the scenes. We never ever had HDMI issues. And then we realized that they were pretty much bulletproof. Now I can navigate the OSD of either of those brands in my sleep.
At the end of the day it really comes down to what the needs of your clients and company are.
