The calculator I used, linked, does allow for room gain, if you read the fine print.
You don't have to convince me about the audibility of "low" distortion as I am a believer too. Just don't forget what the OP himself has told us, and I repeat (okay for the last time
):
"I listen at about 12’ and in the 80 decibel range but if I want to go any higher in volume they start to get uncomfortable to listen to, I’m guessing this is distortion or clipping from the amplifier, would that be correct? "
May be to you, but 75 dB is hardly whisper to me. It is loud enough that it is the level I listen to most of the time, and I am sure I have hearing loss.
Anyway, that's just my opinion based on the information provided, not facts..
Besides, I would have recommended 80 dB, he's already listening in the 80 range after all so yes he won't likely be happy with 75. As I mentioned, I tried to be more conservative, since he indicated in the 80 dB range he's near the limit in terms "comfort..".
You seem to keep missing the fact that I wanted to allow for the often recommended 20 dB dynamic peaks.
IOW, if the average is 85, and the OP is already listening at the 80 range, then he may be getting audible distortions during the odd peaks above 95 dB and the occasional peaks potentially up to or even exceed 105 dB. NAD's soft clipping may soften the harshness, but not eliminate it entirely. And I guess I have to emphasis that the specified dynamic rating is based on IHF, its stated clearly in the Owner's manual. That's why I mentioned earlier that my comments were based on peaks longer than 20 ms. It is debatable whether 20 ms is long enough for it to be realistically useful, I don't know the answer but here's a link for some interesting reading:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=-5UPyE6dcWgC&pg=PA306&lpg=PA306&dq=is+ihf+standard's+20+ms+long+enough+for+music&source=bl&ots=wxImqnyIe_&sig=ACfU3U2RLTrjPwDIq9cQ8F9WH0iYr1K-6g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_3uyGq9jjAhUTG80KHWovAM4Q6AEwAXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=is ihf standard's 20 ms long enough for music&f=false
I used to enter 2 speakers too for stereo and 7 for 7.1 etc, until I was corrected, by
@yepimonfire if I remember right, or someone else if not him, that by THX standard, the 85 dB average, 105 dB peak thing was based on "each speaker", i.e. one at a time. We don't have to agree on the merit obviously as it is just a standard. In fact, personally I would agree with you on this.
The bottom line is, the OP told us at higher volume he's getting uncomfortable......., and I would concede that it may not be from the amplifier, though it seems likely it is, because he's only getting uncomfortable if he go higher in volume. Another thing to consider is, the NAD 705, unless refurbished, would be 27 years old, so it may be getting tired and is telling the OP its deserves an early retirement.
