NAD Serial: Python library to control NAD amplifiers, tuners and receivers over serial (RS-232) or Ethernet (telnet)

Introduction

NAD Serial lets you control NAD amplifiers, tuners and receivers over serial (RS-232) or Ethernet (telnet).

Features

• Asynchronous, built on serialx.
• Connects over serial (RS-232) or Ethernet (telnet).
• Detects the device model and loads the matching configuration.
• Detects the device type for models without configuration.
• Read, set, increment and decrement any supported setting.
• Reads the source names on supported devices.
• Supports zones on multi-zone receivers.

Supported protocol

If your device follows the second generation NAD protocol (v2.x), it is supported by NAD Serial. This protocol is used by NAD amplifiers, tuners and receivers with a serial (RS-232) or Ethernet port.

The binary protocol that some NAD devices, like the D-series, use on TCP port 50001 is not supported.

The serial and Ethernet commands are identical. All communication is plain ASCII text. Every command and response has the format:

<Prefix>.<Variable><Operator><Value>

The prefix groups related variables, e.g. Main, Zone2, Source1 or Tuner. Prefix and variable together name a setting, e.g. Main.Volume. Every message is terminated by a carriage return and/or line feed.

The device responds with the = operator and the resulting value, e.g. Main.Volume=-30.

Supported devices

The following devices are known to work:

Receivers:

• T755
• T757

Additionally, NAD Serial includes untested configuration files for the following devices:

Receivers:

• T765
• T775
• T777
• T785
• T787

Surround preamplifiers:

• M15HD
• T175
• T187

Amplifiers:

• C356
• C368
• C388

Tuners:

• C427

Other NAD devices that use the supported protocol should work too, with a basic set of settings: power, model, version, volume, mute and source.

Connecting

USB to serial adapter

If your device has a serial port, use a USB to serial adapter to connect it. See the documentation of your device for the location of the serial port and how to wire it.

The serial port uses 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8N1) and no flow control.

Ethernet

If your device has an Ethernet port use a network cable to connect your device to a router.

Use socket://<ip address>:23 as the URL.

Serial to Ethernet/WiFi bridge

A serial to Ethernet/WiFi bridge is useful when the device is not close to your computer. Build your own using an ESP32 and esp-link, or buy an off-the-shelf product. Configure the bridge for 115200 baud, 8N1.

Use socket://<ip address>:<port> or rfc2217://<ip address>:<port> as the URL, depending on which protocol the bridge supports.

ESPHome Serial Proxy

Install ESPHome Serial Proxy on an ESP32 and use esphome://<ip address>:<port>/?port_name=<port name> as the URL.

Installation

Install NAD Serial with pip:

pip3 install nad_serial

Contribution and appreciation

Do you enjoy using NAD Serial? You can contribute or show your appreciation, in the following ways.

Contribute your device model

Is your device supported by NAD Serial but not listed under Supported devices? Let me know your device model so I can improve the overview of supported devices.

Is there no configuration file for your device model yet, or is the configuration file incomplete or incorrect? Create a configuration file and submit a pull request with the new or updated configuration file.

Star this GitHub page

Help other NAD device users find NAD Serial by starring this GitHub page. Click ⭐ Star on the top right of the GitHub page.

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Please consider supporting my work through one of the following platforms. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and keeps me motivated:

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