NAD C541i CD Player plays but the sound cuts out for an instant every 10-20 secs. It eventually goes away, but it is annoying when you first play a disc. Any help appreciated.

if the receiver turns on and operates then eventually turns off due to protection mode its because a wire is shorting out the receiver.if it doesn't turn on or goes straight into protection mode then its probably time for repairs or a new receiver.

The protection only should come on, when the power amplifier has to give more current than it can deliver. (electronic fuse)
If in the music is a lot of subsonic, sound, so low you can't hear and your speakers can't produce, this could cause the problem. Normal CD players will cut of all frequencies beneath 20 Hz, but it could be your PC is giving everything from 1 Hz and above.
I would certainly try to play some music over a CD player and check if that would solve your problem. Not sure if that works, what you could do to suppress the sub sonic in the computer music.

The blue lines you mention should flash when trying to find
the 'Table of Contents' of your CD, even if a CD isn't loaded.
If when a CD is loaded and these lines flash for a while without
any CD info e.g track no. / disc length then it's more likely that a problem has occurred with the laser.
Various NAD CD players use the Sony KSS-213 Laser unit
and for some reason particularly with NAD CD players, they tend
to drift out of calibration over time so what i usually do when i come across this is very finely adjust the pot trim on the laser itself and testing a CD between adjustments.

If it's the C541i version then there should be a switch on the rear of the
unit.
Flick this switch and all should be fine.
I think it's something to do with interconnecting other NAD products
why this switch is used.

Hello
This fault is due to loose tray loading belt or weak loading motor. You just change the loading belt with same type. Never use a belt more than tight. Use the same size. If belt changing does not help, replace the loading motor. OK.

this has the sony mechanism so if you take the lid off and unscrew the 2 screws, 1 at either end of the cd clamp and remove it, you should see part of a large cog just under the front of the cd tray, try turn this clockwise and the tray should open.
once open, you should be able to see a small plastic cover, loosen this slightly and replace the belt as this is prone to slipping on this mechanism stopping it clamping the disc properly when closed.
the sound you say is the spindle motor, is actually the loading motor trying to lift the whole laser mechanism up towards the puck to clamp the disc as there is not enough tension left in the belt.
help it along by hand and you'll see what i mean.

hope this helps?

the problem may be in that you have two audio outs conected, one stereo via rca and other hdmi remember that hdmi is audio and video outs or two digital outs one hdmi and other coaxial or optica to tha dacs, put only one outs and thats the solution
i hope i could help you

may be you have another digital outs like and hdmi, be sure that you have only one audio out

Hi...
That one is going to need Tech service.

I've worked on several of the NAD players.

Sounds like a focus or gain adjust needed.

Hi John,
Coincidentally enough, I have a customer's C541i on my bench right now!
At this point, you will need to open the cover and check the fuses. With the cover off, looking from the front, all four fuses are in the back left corner of the player, next to the toroidal (round) power transformer. If any of them have blown, replace that fuse with exactly its type and rating. DO NOT jumper over the fuse, or wrap foil around it. It is EXTREMELY rare for a CD player to blow a fuse unless there is a very serious failure someplace.
If the player blows the new fuse/fuses immediately it will need to be serviced. If the fuses hold, and the player plays, it was just one of those random things.
Now, IF all the fuses are good when you first check it, you have a mechanical failure in the power switch, or a broken solder joint on the board where it's attached. Luckily, a replacement switch is easy to find.