NAD M33: DAC, amplifier and streamer in one package

The NAD M33 is a DAC, amplifier and streamer product in one package, and is the first model to use Purifi Audio’s Eigentakt amplifier circuitry. An amplifier based on this technology is immune to speaker impedance, volume level and signal content. As a result, we get ultra-low levels of harmonic and intermodulation distortion.” The NAD M33 model has taken its place as the flagship device in the current NAD line. The company positions the new product as an “ultra-performance amplifier” for the home. The main features of the NAD M33 include support for BluOS multiroom, a full color touchscreen with protective glass, an ESS Saber chip, full support for MQA decoding, a Dirac Room Correction calibration system, compatibility with Apple AirPlay 2 and aptX HD Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and an “attractive” aluminum body.

The designers did everything to make the facade of the NAD M33 amplifier look extremely neat, in particular, the power button is placed in the middle of its top edge. The black overlay protrudes slightly from the front panel, visually increasing the size of the color touch display, which displays all the information the user needs. On the left under the cover there is a 6.3 mm headphone output, on the right there is a volume control knob made in the form of a truncated cylinder – it is very ergonomic. By the way, I note that the regulation accuracy is 0.5 dB – a fairly high indicator for a digital amplifier. To ensure mechanical decoupling from the surface on which the amplifier will be installed, the legs are made in the form of spikes, and in order not to scratch it, the so-called. shoes made of elastic material.

BluOS technology, an innovation leader in true wireless high-definition multi-room systems, has a growing ecosystem of compatible products that tightly integrate hardware and software for an exceptional user experience. Besides multiroom, another integral feature of BluOS is its high-definition streaming capabilities. The latter with full support for MQA* decoding from a local NAS or shared drive, as well as online audio streaming services. Among the 20 or so supported services that offer high-definition content are Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon HD and others. Music services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Slacker, TuneIn, nugs.net and many others are also supported.

If we consider the device solely as a stereo amplifier, then the manufacturer announced a continuous power of 200 W per channel. The company also focused on very low levels of distortion and noise – they promised true audiophile sound. The NAD M33 amplifier has a rich set of connectors: coaxial inputs, optical, AES/EBU XLR, balanced XLR, RCA (there is a connector for a MM/MC turntable), HDMI. There is a headphone output on the front panel. There is also a separate block for network connections with Gigabit Ethernet and a set of inputs for remote control. The device, according to NAD, is completely ready for any automation systems. You can connect two pairs of speakers to the amplifier. There is control from a smartphone using the BluOS application or voice commands via Alexa and Siri. The company also writes about the possibility of integrating the M33 into smart home systems from Apple, Crestron, Control4, Lutron and others. This means that along with lighting, shades, HVAC and security, the integrator or user can seamlessly control the BluOS multi-room music system through a common interface. All integrations are certified to work reliably. BluOS custom apps for iOS and Android tablets and phones, as well as desktop control from Windows and Apple OS, are available free of charge and updated regularly.

The NAD M33 features a high quality selectable MM or MC phono stage that rivals dedicated standalone units. Precise RIAA equalization, a sophisticated phase-cancelling subsonic filter, and enormous headroom combine to bring together the best of LP. Plus, headphone enthusiasts will love the sound of the discrete headphone amplifier, which is capable of driving even high-impedance studio headphones. With high voltage and low output impedance, the headphones will sound best. For those who want to use their own headphones but aren’t tied to a cable, built-in aptX HD Bluetooth makes it easy to use wireless headphones.

The NAD M33 amplifier comes with a precision microphone to measure the room in and around your listening position, so your system can be precisely calibrated for optimal performance. The result is significantly improved musical production, clarity, voice intelligibility, and deeper, tighter bass. Each of Dirac’s 5 memory profiles can store a unique room dimension (for example, different acoustics with curtains open or closed, for example, a different listening position) or different target frequency curves to suit a specific musical taste or genre. The NAD M33 also supports independent subwoofer outputs, compatible with Dirac’s advanced “bass management”.