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!