NAD M33 Streaming Amplifier Review

[bigolli]

I brought quite late in February 2025 a brand new M33.
Why? Because I want an streaming amplifier without to worry to much about software problems and so on.
What was tested as great by customer and reviewers in 2021/22 should not be trash in 2025.

Of course, I do not paid the asked price by NAD in Germany ( around 5.700 €) but 3.900€ .

Quality is great, no complaints from my side about remote control ( but i use the small remote control which came with my M10V2), power control and so on. No noise from the power supply.

Installing was easy, sounds great ( neutrale with enough bass), easy to use.... bluos works great, installing it to my network was easy...

The amplifier is equipped with more extras then I need to use.

The amplifier was built in September 2024, what I can see from the serial number.

The amplifier is used to fire a pair of KEF R11.

I also thought about buying an Acram SA 45....

 

[Stix]

I played around with the Arcam SA45 at Axpona last week end. The first day it was weak in the bass with Revel speakers. Second day they moved the speakers around and added some treatment and it really came alive. I would love to hear the SA45 and M33 side by side. The bad news is the home theater bypass (processor mode) doesn’t work yet-suppose to be coming with a future update.

 

[bigolli]

Well, we tested it in January .
Sound was as good as the M33, what we can hear.
The M33 was cheaper and we liked the design an we already run other units at home with bluos = M33

 

[fcracer]

NAD introduces M33 Mk2 with the following changes:

1. FOQUS (ADC) and QRONO (DAC) from MQA Labs: Ensure accurate signal conversion and preserve timing, nuance, and spatial cues
2. New ESS ES9039PRO DAC: Achieves ultra-low distortion and wider dynamic range
3. Dirac Live Bass Control readiness: Delivers precise subwoofer integration and optimised room response
4. XLR pre-outs + higher subwoofer output level: Provides expanded system flexibility for separates and multi-sub configurations

More info: https://nadelectronics.com/introduces-the-masters-m33-v2-and-m23-v2

 

[F1Fan72]

NAD introduces M33 Mk2 with the following changes:

1. FOQUS (ADC) and QRONO (DAC) from MQA Labs: Ensure accurate signal conversion and preserve timing, nuance, and spatial cues
2. New ESS ES9039PRO DAC: Achieves ultra-low distortion and wider dynamic range
3. Dirac Live Bass Control readiness: Delivers precise subwoofer integration and optimised room response
4. XLR pre-outs + higher subwoofer output level: Provides expanded system flexibility for separates and multi-sub configurations

More info: https://nadelectronics.com/introduces-the-masters-m33-v2-and-m23-v2

The price though ..

 

[fcracer]

If I recall correctly, the original M33 was launched in late 2020 for US$4,999. NAD could not keep up with pre-orders and ramped the price almost immediately to US$5,499. With long delays to fulfil the pre-orders and COVID, they somewhere along the way increased the price to US$6,499 (appears to be in 2023, but I wasn’t paying attention).

It looks like they’ve now got things under control again and brought the new Mk2 down to US$5,999. However, being a M33 Mk1 owner, I think prospective Mk2 owners should know a few things. The issues which they’ve fixed in the Mk2 were promised to Mk1 owners when we bought. DLBC was promised. The subwoofer output level being usable should have been table stakes.

I should be an immediate buyer of the Mk2 because I do love the power, neutral sound and flexibility of the Mk1, however NAD’s lacklustre follow-up on their promises has left a bad taste in my mouth. They should at least offer Mk1 owners some kind of trade-in so that we can finally get the DLBC that we were promised 4.5 years ago…

 

[F1Fan72]

They should at least offer Mk1 owners some kind of trade-in so that we can finally get the DLBC that we were promised 4.5 years ago…

Not likely though unfortunately..

 

[Descartes]

If I recall correctly, the original M33 was launched in late 2020 for US$4,999. NAD could not keep up with pre-orders and ramped the price almost immediately to US$5,499. With long delays to fulfil the pre-orders and COVID, they somewhere along the way increased the price to US$6,499 (appears to be in 2023, but I wasn’t paying attention).

It looks like they’ve now got things under control again and brought the new Mk2 down to US$5,999. However, being a M33 Mk1 owner, I think prospective Mk2 owners should know a few things. The issues which they’ve fixed in the Mk2 were promised to Mk1 owners when we bought. DLBC was promised. The subwoofer output level being usable should have been table stakes.

I should be an immediate buyer of the Mk2 because I do love the power, neutral sound and flexibility of the Mk1, however NAD’s lacklustre follow-up on their promises has left a bad taste in my mouth. They should at least offer Mk1 owners some kind of trade-in so that we can finally get the DLBC that we were promised 4.5 years ago…

I wished but unlikely to see it!

 

[Stix]

These updates make the V2 a little more attractive but still no home theater bypass, uses the old MDC slots, the MQA stuff sounds a little fishy. I am assuming it doesn’t have the DDH feature that the M66 has. If memory serves there was a distortion problem with the M33 that was never solved. I figured the DDH was the fix for that. Still is an attractive piece of gear. I might get one on a 60 day trial period and see if I can figure out a home theater bypass workaround.

 

[fcracer]

I’m in the market for an M33-like device for my other home. Because of the poor follow-up on the promised DLBC, I’m thinking of the new Arcam SA35. I wish it had Purifi amplification but everything else looks good.

 

[bigolli]

My experience with NAD over the last 20- 25 years was that NAD fixed big software bugs within the first 2 years , after this time it can be a matter of luck.

That's why I check what experience M33 made within the first years after sales started.

Special promised software options that are announced to be add to the unit later are just wishful thinking.

Forget the MDC ports, mostly to expensive to upgrade and/ or the MDC unit you upgrade to is not good enough designed to work accurate or already old technology when available.

So if you are mostly happy with the base unit and software which is presented right from the beginning of sales, then you will be happy with your NAD.

Service for hardware issues in Germany is quite good.

By the way, bluesound is a totally different thing, they offer even for old units software updates which work or add nice things like DIRAC to old units via software update!

 

[rockyb]

I have an M33 purchased around 4 years ago, and it recently lost one of the amplifier outputs. Headphones work, and one channel is dead at the rear speaker outputs. I have checked balance and that is not the issue. Connections are tight. Measured 0.0mV AC at left channel while music playing on right channel, no speaker connected on left. My question is, has any else experienced such problems, and assuming this is a PuriFi module, this be addressed without return to NAD? I have checked for updates and rebooted the M33. I am considering opening the M33 and switching the PuriFi modules to verify operation. Any comments or other ideas are welcome.

 

[DMill]

I have an M33 purchased around 4 years ago, and it recently lost one of the amplifier outputs. Headphones work, and one channel is dead at the rear speaker outputs. I have checked balance and that is not the issue. Connections are tight. Measured 0.0mV AC at left channel while music playing on right channel, no speaker connected on left. My question is, has any else experienced such problems, and assuming this is a PuriFi module, this be addressed without return to NAD? I have checked for updates and rebooted the M33. I am considering opening the M33 and switching the PuriFi modules to verify operation. Any comments or other ideas are welcome.

Any chance it has a 5 year warranty? If it does don’t open it up or you may void the warranty.

 

[pablolie]

I have an M33 purchased around 4 years ago, and it recently lost one of the amplifier outputs. Headphones work, and one channel is dead at the rear speaker outputs. I have checked balance and that is not the issue. Connections are tight. Measured 0.0mV AC at left channel while music playing on right channel, no speaker connected on left. My question is, has any else experienced such problems, and assuming this is a PuriFi module, this be addressed without return to NAD? I have checked for updates and rebooted the M33. I am considering opening the M33 and switching the PuriFi modules to verify operation. Any comments or other ideas are welcome.

Does the second set of speaker outputs behave the same way? Did you check the source as well?

 

[rockyb]

Thanks for the response. It is under 5 years but warranty seems to be 2 years from what I see online.
There is no response from either speaker terminals on the left channel.
On the system info, the "Temperature left" is displayed as -128 C while the right is normal 47C. My guess is that one of the PuriFi modules is defective. If that is the case, and I wanted to do a repair myself, I could install a new one, but as NAD will not provide service info, any required setup would be guesswork.
The service center cannot estimate what it might cost to repair unless I ship it to them, and then they evaluate it for $160, plus shipping each way
Optionally, I could replace it with a separate amplifier to work with the Golden Ear Triton One.R.

 

[A Surfer]

I would really try using nice language to convince NAD that it is in their best interest to help with the expense of repair. They are clearly trying to establish themselves as a legitimate high end manufacturer. They are asking people to trust them with fairly pricey gear (relative to non-wealthy people) and having something fail so completely and so quickly is not a good look at all.

It certainly would make me avoid their offerings if this is an indicator of both the longevity of the gear and how supportive they are when things go wrong. I personally gauge the quality of a company in no small part by how they handle failures.

Two years is a rather poor warranty coverage in my opinion. If you used a credit card perhaps that doubled your warranty coverage?

 

[rockyb]

Surfer, thanks for the reply. Interestingly, when I purchased the M33, the warranty was 3 years for "Masters Series", while it is now 2 years for the M33 (first version). Perhaps there were too many service requests? Also, I live and purchased it in California (great surf) and the state passed the California Right to Repair Act which requires manufacturers of consumer electronics sold in the state to provide servicing information (e.g., diagrams, parts) on request. Several other states have similar laws. I have requested NAD to do this and await their answer.
As the preamp outputs and right channel amplifier still function, and as a temporary solution, I purchased a Fosi Audio V3 mono amp. Stay tuned for how NAD responds...

 

[CorD]

Another question, I have a nad m33 but I try to update with an power amp. The Nad M23 is to expensive for me, now I have found LSA Warp one. HAs anyone experience with NAD M33 and LSA? In the link below the writer says:

• If the M33 is seen as delicate, sweet, and nuanced, I would say the LSA is forceful, dynamic, and ultra ultra-clean, but without any fatigue or annoying sheen despite being fed from an ESS DAC.

Has anyone experience?

LSA "Discovery Warp One" Class D Power Amp Impressions

LSA "Discovery Warp One" Class D Power Amp Impressions [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] Click below for more information about the amp [SPOILER] [SPOILER]

www.superbestaudiofriends.org

 

[fcracer]

Another question, I have a nad m33 but I try to update with an power amp. The Nad M23 is to expensive for me, now I have found LSA Warp one. HAs anyone experience with NAD M33 and LSA? In the link below the writer says:

• If the M33 is seen as delicate, sweet, and nuanced, I would say the LSA is forceful, dynamic, and ultra ultra-clean, but without any fatigue or annoying sheen despite being fed from an ESS DAC.

Has anyone experience?

LSA "Discovery Warp One" Class D Power Amp Impressions

LSA "Discovery Warp One" Class D Power Amp Impressions [IMG] [IMG] [IMG] Click below for more information about the amp [SPOILER] [SPOILER]

www.superbestaudiofriends.org

Unless you’re powering 70db sensitivity speakers, the M33 should have more than enough power. I don’t know anything about the amplifier you highlighted but the M33 is measurably neutral and doesn’t add or subtract anything from the music.

 

[CorD]

I have handmade speakers with the saes kit CX 871, Sensitivity: 90 db/2.83V/1M.

The specs of LSA are:

• Power Output: 150W/ch into 8Ω, 250W/ch into 4Ω
• Power Supply: 600W switching-mode power supply
• Amp Modules: Texas Instruments TPA3255 Class D modules
• Input Types: Balanced (XLR/TRS) and Unbalanced (RCA)
• Gain: Selectable with DIP switches for different input sensitivities
• Distortion: <0.0027% THD+N @ 1kHz, 50W into 10Ω
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 115dB
• Noise Floor: -119dBV
• Dimensions: 14"W x 3"H x 10"D

Can I conclude that LSA Warp one has no added value with the M33?