NAD Electronics has begun shipping the M33 ($4,999), a BluOS-enabled streaming DAC/amplifier that can serve as the heart of a reference whole-home system. The M33 can be combined with other players in a BluOS ecosystem of wirelessly networked music players throughout the home to create a whole-home audio system.
The M33 uses the new Purifi Eigentakt (self-clocking) Hybrid Digital amplifier technology. There is a minimum of 200W per channel on tap, offering what NAD terms as lifelike performance, exemplified by ultra-low distortion and noise.
According to Cas Ooostvogel, NAD’s Product Manager, the M33 “fully caters to the modern world where the majority of music is delivered over the Internet with an entire catalog of recorded music readily available at your fingertips…. Then, the M33’s ability to distribute that music in a multi-room audio system just adds that much more enjoyment, simplicity and value.“
The M33 offers intuitive operation, courtesy of the 7” inch touchscreen color display combined with BluOS. Part of a growing ecosystem of compatible products, BluOS integrates hardware and software for an exceptional user experience, says the company. It supports the new standard for High Res streaming, Master Quality Authenticated (MQA). BluOS also supports over 20 free and paid subscription services as well as supporting locally stored music libraries.
Operable with the BluOS app, the supplied remote control or through hands-free control with any Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device, the M33’s front panel doesn’t actually need to be touched. To expand the multi-room locations, adding additional rooms is both easy and affordable.
On board as a feature is the Dirac Room Correction system, which adjusts for frequency response and also optimizes the impulse response; by optimizing the speaker/room interface, music sounds more natural and lifelike, says the company. Dirac comes as standard on the M33 with corrections possible up to 500Hz, and an upgrade to the full bandwidth is available for a modest fee. Supplied with the M33 is a microphone to measure the room at and around the listening position so the system can be precisely calibrated.
Each of the 5 Dirac memory profiles can store a unique room measurement (think of the different acoustics with curtains open or closed, different listening position, for instance), or different frequency target curves to suit a particular musical taste or genre.
Other key features include: Continuous Power –200W into 8/4 Ohms; 32-Bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC; 2 x MDC Slots for future expansion; wireless control with AirPlay 2 and aptX HD Bluetooth Integration; comprehensive digital and analog connectivity including HDMI eARC; and seamless integration with leading smart home systems.
