NAD M-33 $5000: 200×2 Integrated Amp
With Built In Streamer
NAD has been touting its new M-33 Integrated Amp. It’s now here and I can tell you it DOES live up to NAD’s BODACIOUS claims!
M-33 can be the heart of an elaborate system, it can also be a “just add speakers” system- because of its on board streamer. The streamer is a higher end version of NAD’s Bluesound platform. It has full MQA decoding!
M-33 features NAD’s version of the new Eigentakt amplifier design. In short, Eigentakt is impedance invariant and the lowest distortion amplifying design you can measure. THD & IM are the lowest in our biz. Amplifier noise and distortion don’t creep into the music so you can hear exquisite musical detail, even at low listening levels. Most amplifier designs are fraught with THD and IM- so we end up wanting to TURN THEM UP all the time. What we’re doing is trying to hear the music above the ambient noise floor.
There is a video on line of Mr Eigentakt himself, Bruno Putzeys, discussing the minutia of the design. But I warn you, this video has been used to torture captives at Guantanamo!
M-33 sounds fast, transparent, super controlled and quite natural regardless of listening level. M-33 doesn’t care about the impedance of your speakers. If you like the sound of a speaker, have no fear, M-33 will be comfortable with it. M-33 has a high damping factor (800) to deliver tight, solid bass. While M-33 sounds good throughout the musical range, it is conspicuously DEVASTATING in delivering bass impact and control.
M-33 has more features than you can shake a stick at.
*On board Bluesound streamer
*Sabre 32b DAC: 2 Coax, 2 OPT, 1 AES/EBU
*Two way Bluetooth
*Airplay 2
*Wi-Fi
*HDMI eARC
*1 RCA Line inputs
*1 XLR Line inputs
*Phono input supports MM&MC
*RCA Preamp Outs
*2 Sub Outs
*Two sets of speaker terminals for biwiring option
*Dirac Room Correction
*Two Open MDC Module slots make M33 as future proof as can be!
*700w mono in Bridge Mode
*Headphone amp/jack
Whether you want a “just add speakers” one box solution, or a muscular & clean integrated amp that streams, look no further than NAD’s new M-33.
Rega IO Integrated Amp $600 (30×2)
(2.7h, 7.1w, 11.4d)
Rega’s new IO is simple and sweet. It has an MM phono input and two additional high level inputs. It has one set of speaker outputs- and a headphone jack. IO is meant to be a small, transparent sounding integrated with AB topology. IO’s sound is slightly “thick” which will help virtually any speaker it is likely to be paired with.
Its bass is surprisingly robust, even through small speakers. I have to say, this little devil blows me away. There is no Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or partridge in a pear tree. If you just want to run LPs, Streamer and CD Player into a great pair of speakers at less than insane volume levels, this may well be your integrated. Spend your big bucks in the speakers!
Marantz 30 Series!!
Brand new is Marantz’s 30 Series. With a nod to their 30 Series of the 1970s, Marantz has introduced two great new pieces to the marketplace. These are made in Japan in Marantz’s top factory. Available in Black or Marantz champagne, the finish level is lust worthy. These pieces have
a certain GLOW to them. The controls have a weighted feel. How nice to have such premium gear
at attainable price points.
SACD 30n $2500
SACD-30n is an SACD/CD/Streamer. This is NOT just a pretty face with trivial features. The DAC on board is Marantz’s MMM (Marantz Music Mastering) designed by Ken Ishiwata. Until now, that technology has only been available in disc players for $4k (KI Ruby) and $7k (SA-10). In addition to playing discs and streaming, this piece has fixed and VARIABLE outs. Yep, it can serve as a preamp into your power amp or powered speakers.
Model 30 Integrated Amp $2500 (100×2)
This integrated is a full analog design. With high current 100×2 amp section, it features an especially sensitive preamp, complete with its own power supply. The MM/MC phono section has its own PCB and is located below the mother board for better isolation. The tone controls are actually useful as they hinge at 50Hz and 15K. It has a balance control which some of our customers demand, as well as a cut above headphone amp.
Prince
We all know Prince was a prolific composer of pop music. Apparently there are still many tapes in storage that we haven’t heard, that may some day come to light. He loved basketball but at 5-2… He did excel at his passion of PING PONG!
