I would not say that the NAD looks cheap but you are correct about the Yamaha. The workmanship on the 1000 through the 3000 models is pretty darn nice. Minimum weight is 48.5lbs and the knobs, connectors, wood side panels, faceplate, and of course the guts are all of very high quality.
Congrats on the new purchase, I hope the A-S1000 meets your needs.
Bill