NAD M23 Stereo Amplifier Review

[pogo]

Better PSU, bridge mode, matched purifi modules, dynamic output power (see also here: Link), ...
NAD does not use any off-the-shelf purifi modules, but rather modules produced and matched 'in-house'. Matched modules are necessary for the bridge mode to work properly!

 

[Julf]

Better PSU, bridge mode, matched purifi modules, dynamic output power (see also here: Link), ...
NAD does not use any off-the-shelf purifi modules, but rather modules produced and matched 'in-house'. Matched modules are necessary for the bridge mode to work properly!

And does that result in an audibly better result? The link you provided doesn't provide any way to compare/verify.

 

[pogo]

Yes, see also here: Link

 

[Verig]

Better in what way?

Power. I'm not very interested in amp sinad but proper PSU and short term power handling is always audible when it is needed. If you run out of juice you're out of luck because nothing can substitute that. It's an amplifier after all.

 

[Julf]

Yes, see also here: Link

Yes, bridged mode gives more power, indeed.

 

[EJ3]

Add $200 for some meters?

 

[pogo]

With lots of speakers in that "under 8 ohms" range it may not the safest option?

No problem: Link

 

[EJ3]

amper42
1. 8 watts an hour (70,080 watts a year IF YOU LEAVE IT ON 24/7 [which I think very few do]) kills your power budget while saving the world (times the people who actually buy THIS particular piece of stereo gear AND LEAVE IT ON 24/7) Uh-huh.
2. 10 watts won't get many peoples subs going (mine are custom built by me & are passive 2 OHM and have their own amps).
And for normal listening I am definitely using at least 2 X 10 on the subs (which would have at least 200 watt peaks on the subs alone.
3 What you prefer has nothing to do with anyone but you.
I prefer one AMP per main speaker and one AMP per sub.
I don't know anyone else that prefers what I prefer but I do know people who run three amps or more in their system.

 

[Rottmannash]

amper42
1. 8 watts an hour (70,080 watts a year IF YOU LEAVE IT ON 24/7 [which I think very few do]) kills your power budget while saving the world (times the people who actually buy THIS particular piece of stereo gear AND LEAVE IT ON 24/7) Uh-huh.
2. 10 watts won't get many peoples subs going (mine are custom built by me & are passive 2 OHM and have their own amps).
And for normal listening I am definitely using at least 2 X 10 on the subs (which would have at least 200 watt peaks on the subs alone.
3 What you prefer has nothing to do with anyone but you.
I prefer one AMP per main speaker and one AMP per sub.
I don't know anyone else that prefers what I prefer but I do know people who run three amps or more in their system.

Most of us are more than likely using powered subs. I don't know anyone personally who has unpowered subs.

 

[EJ3]

Most of us are more than likely using powered subs. I don't know anyone personally who has unpowered subs.

I'm the other way around, maybe because I am involved in a "maker" community.
As far as saving power is concerned, unless he does not have any subs, he will be using more than the 14 watts at idle.
Or he shuts the system completely off and is never at idle.
I don't know, if I am "casual listening", I am on my wireless TR-180 Sennheiser headphones, perhaps mowing the lawn or working around the house when we have company.
My 2.2 system with an NAD 2200 bridged mono for each main (Dahlquist M-905 6 OHM's so running the amps as 4 OHM's) and an NAD 2200 bridged mono for each ported box sub (4 OHM that are rated 20 Hz- 80 Hz crossed over at 60 Hz).
And I listen at probably 94 DB. I do not sit in the room, I dance, cook, eat, fold clothes whatever strikes my fancy (& whether it is 4 AM or noon [the advantage of being on my own property in a single house] {unless I turned it up loud enough to bother the neighbors that are on their own pieces of property}) when the stereo is on. I may turn it up & sit on the porch.
Sometimes I sits and thinks & other times I just sits.

 

[Verig]

3. I would prefer standard Purifi modules built by Purifi rather than circuit boards built with a 3rd party licensing agreement that allows deviation from the original design.

It's really hard to argue with a straight face that a 3rd party licensed Purifi product is superior to OEM Purifi modules. It would require a lot of testing to even consider that statement is NOT make believe.

My comment is based on the review we're posting under.

Personally I'd be happy with standard Purifi. (Actually I'm already happy with nCore which I have.) I'm saying that NAD has done a good job and the price is not just hifi fairy dust.

"10W is plenty" has very little to do with reality. Try driving your speakers with a 10W amp and you won't need very extensive testing. Sensitivity of a speaker is just one part of the equation. NAD PSU is about the rest what is happening.

 

[mullerhun]

Is it worth the extra cash to get this instead of the C 298?

 

[pogo]

It depends on what you have in mind. If you want to use the bridge-mode in conjunction with an M33, you have to use the M23.

 

[mullerhun]

It depends on what you have in mind. If you want to use the bridge-mode in conjunction with an M33, you have to use the M23.

Lumin T2 or Lumin D3 maybe, still looking

 

[MacCali]

Is it worth the extra cash to get this instead of the C 298?

Just purchase an open box or demo or customer return for 25% less and it’s totally clutch. Just make sure that it has warranty. If it’s an authorized NAD retailer most likely it is. To be beyond certain message them directly and ask.

If you’re interested in more details just dm me.

I really enjoy the M23, and my opinion is biased because I got little time with the c298. I get flack for my comments on class D, and I’m not looking to debate that as it is purely objective, but it’s my favorite amp. So much so that I purchased two. I really don’t like to spend that much money but I was definitely compelled to do so.

 

[mullerhun]

Just purchase an open box or demo or customer return for 25% less and it’s totally clutch. Just make sure that it has warranty. If it’s an authorized NAD retailer most likely it is. To be beyond certain message them directly and ask.

If you’re interested in more details just dm me.

I really enjoy the M23, and my opinion is biased because I got little time with the c298. I get flack for my comments on class D, and I’m not looking to debate that as it is purely objective, but it’s my favorite amp. So much so that I purchased two. I really don’t like to spend that much money but I was definitely compelled to do so.

Thanks for the great advice

 

[Jim Creek]

The M23 uses Purifi Eigentakt modules. What advantage is the M23 vs a VTV Eigentakt amp and a Topping Pre90 preamp for less than half the price?

 

[Chagall]

The M23 uses Purifi Eigentakt modules. What advantage is the M23 vs a VTV Eigentakt amp and a Topping Pre90 preamp for less than half the price?

Supremacy in sighted listening tests

 

[jimbones]

Supremacy in sighted listening tests

They dont use the actual Purifi module, NAD builds their own to Purifi specs using their own parts

 

[Chagall]

They dont use the actual Purifi module, NAD builds their own to Purifi specs using their own parts

You are correct! I thought NAD just made different power supplies for their amps, but it turns out they make custom modules too.

However, as the measurements state, I would be amazed if any difference is perceived in a blind test.
There are benefits to buying M23 instead of other brands: longevity, guarantee, and design, just not anything we can hear. So I stand by my previous joke post.