NAD M10 Streaming Amplifier Review

[TulseLuper]

the Sonos has double the wattage output (125w/ch v 60w/ch) for $150 USD less. I don't know if you have any need for that much power.

The only advantage I can see the Bluesound having is Bluetooth AptX HD capability.

In my opinion, MQA or "High Res" streaming is of no practical use to me or any other human beings that I know of. The Sonos can stream lossless 16/44.

Bluesound does not require online registration or an account to use. Some might find that to be valuable.

Or maybe you got a Bluesound speaker for your kitchen because you liked the sound or features (battery pack) better than Sonos, and you want your living room speakers in the same ecosystem.

Or maybe you just like the velvety plastic and don't care about $150.

 

[PeteL]

I think this missed my point and I wasn't clear. I was only using them as a hypothetical example to set the baseline costs/price even if a low cost/margin vendor were to do this without the high marketing dollars and brand premium.

This was to answer your original question of how much one would pay. For me, it would depend on what it might involve as well as how much it would be worth for me.

The point was that this would be in the $1200-$1500 range even with such a low cost approach, not the sub-thousand price some attributed as what it is worth. So that would make a $1800-$2000 cost for a product that exists without a direct comparable a good value. Anything above that, in my opinion, is a brand premium or the pricing power and positioning of NAD in this market.

Fair enough, well we have an example here in this thread of an asian based manufacturer taking a shot at this, miniDSP, and it came out at 1500 so you are not too far off. I still think that it remains to be seen if the interface is as polished and foolproof as BluOS, but I can't comment on that, now having a NCore module, does warrant a premium, unfortunately in this case it doesn't translate directly in performance but it certainly do influence the cost. Along, again, with the Burden of developing in North America, even tough it's manufactured in Asia. So for these reasons I do not think, and it's only an opinion on my side too, that anything above that is only because Brand Premium and pricing power. Maybe partly, yes, but it does feel like a more premium product than this miniDSP thing and I'm quite certain it costed quite a bit more to design. But in the end it doesn't matter if it doesn't perform. I'm sure most people find the M10 to sound great tough, I'm sure those measurments, even tough just average, satisfy many even for critical listening. I just agree with the pricing and it's ok to not agree with me. Just clarifying my point, I don't want to HiJack too much of this thread, sorry if I did.

 

[restorer-john]

I am really not in the target segment for this unit.

I am wondering who is. It's not for people at the start of an audiophile journey or ones near the end. Perhaps older audiophiles who are downsizing? Or lifestylers?

 

[SIY]

I am wondering who is. It's not for people at the start of an audiophile journey or ones near the end. Perhaps older audiophiles who are downsizing?

Or people who want to listen to music rather than futzing with equipment.

 

[Alexanderc]

I am wondering who is. It's not for people at the start of an audiophile journey or ones near the end. Perhaps older audiophiles who are downsizing? Or lifestylers?

I can see my in-laws wanting something like this: a small, do-everything box that they can pick up at Best Buy. They have the funds and they don’t want to know what they may be missing as long as they can stream Spotify and listen to the TV through a pair of speakers.

 

[iLoveCats]

I can see my in-laws wanting something like this: a small, do-everything box that they can pick up at Best Buy. They have the funds and they don’t want to know what they may be missing as long as they can stream Spotify and listen to the TV through a pair of speakers.

Spotify doesn't integrate well in BluOS. This is a Tidal machine, then everything else.

 

[Vasr]

I am wondering who is. It's not for people at the start of an audiophile journey or ones near the end. Perhaps older audiophiles who are downsizing? Or lifestylers?

It is a lifestyle product but not saying it like it is a bad thing necessarily.

Similar to buying a Tesla Model X but not a Toyota Prius. Not why but why not...

 

[Alexanderc]

Spotify doesn't integrate well in BluOS. This is a Tidal machine, then everything else.

But if the guy at Best Buy told them it could do Spotify...

 

[Deleted member 19195]

home audio equipment is all lifestyle product. I have always found that term rather silly. Many people want to listen to music and/or hear their TV through the same elegant device. The smaller,simpler and less imposing the better. That's why soundbars are a hot selling category.

Not everyone gets aroused looking at 100 pound metal boxes in their living room. They want to hear the sounds, not look at the gear.

 

[Deleted member 19195]

Spotify doesn't integrate well in BluOS. This is a Tidal machine, then everything else.

Interesting. How about Deezer Premium, or Qobuz?

 

[Brian6751]

Interesting. How about Deezer Premium, or Qobuz?

You can use Spotify on BluOS devices, you just use the Spotify app and Spotify connect to do it. Spotify is unique that way. All the other services integrate within the BlueOS app

 

[HTNut1975]

You are absolutely correct. My mistake. However even if you don’t want to use the app, it appears programming the M10 to use any remote control is possible and doesn’t involve looking up codes (someone might have mentioned this somewhere and I missed it).

I am starting to sound like a fanboy, but really I was just perplexed by some of the earlier comments that seemed to claim this was overpriced by more than double.

Your reaction on your posts in this thread was similar to mine. Also, some on the thread are comparing MSRP to internet direct prices, and that’s not quite accurate (as, I imagine, the ”street price” is likely at least 20 percent less).

 

[Brian6751]

Your reaction on your posts in this thread was similar to mine. Also, some the thread are comparing MSRP to internet direct prices, and that’s not quite accurate (as, I imagine, the ”street price” is likely at least 20 percent less).

that is accurate

 

[HTNut1975]

Spotify integrated fine when I tried out the Node. Here are the services that you can use with BluOS:

 

[Kachda]

Your reaction on your posts in this thread was similar to mine. Also, some the thread are comparing MSRP to internet direct prices, and that’s not quite accurate (as, I imagine, the ”street price” is likely at least 20 percent less).

Where can I get “street prices” ?

 

[Brian6751]

Spotify integrated fine when I tried out the anode. Here are the services that you can use with BluOS:

It wanted me to use the Spotify app when I went to add it just now. Maybe I need to do more steps. I'll try going further later.

 

[SIY]

Spotify doesn't integrate well in BluOS. This is a Tidal machine, then everything else.

I can aver that it works seamlessly with Amazon HD and various streaming radio and podcast services.

Being able to pull in whatever music strikes my fancy, change sources, change volume, change tone, and change target EQ functions, all at a tap of my phone, makes music listening a real joy. BluOS is even more useful for multi-room and multi-device control, but that's not something relevant to my setup.

 

[HTNut1975]

Where can I get “street prices” ?

Find a good local dealer or give Safe and Sound a call. Some dealers may have a different philosophy, but that seems to be the reliable discount I’ve found with NAD stuff.

 

[Brian6751]

Where can I get “street prices” ?

https://paducahhometheater.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PaducahHomeTheater/

Reach out to them for prices

 

[HTNut1975]

I agree, but I'm more worried about the overall functionality than the DAC. If the DAC of the M33 does this well, I think that would be good enough for me. I'm worried that the amplifier section won't be nearly as good as an off the shelf Purifi or that some of the inputs won't work.

FWIW the Master’s power amp that Amir tested (the M27) is stellar. I bought the M28 in part because it gave me a decent amount of faith that they won’t screw up Purifi (at least with the Master’s Series).