NAD M66 - finally someone makes a decent 2-channel preamp!

[Cpopovic]

Personally, love what DIRAC does to stereo sound on M33. However, watching movies, it has to be switched off. Can't stand it for some reason. With music it simply cleans the stage and removes the veil off instruments and voices in my poor acoustics room. Need some room treatment for sure, but since my system is a living area, it will never be home studio level of near perfect. That's when DIRAC becomes essential.

If this can reassure you: I had the same digital 'veil' with my previous set up and I thought the issue came from my loudspeakers (Audiophysic Classic 30). However with the NAD M66 preamplifier the digital glare had vanished and I could hear better separation of the instruments and clearer and more textured vocals. I felt no need to use Dirac Live during testing.

 

[sabloke]

I'll have to get the M66 in a few months and swap my M33 for an M23 somehow.

 

[da Choge]

I'll have to get the M66 in a few months and swap my M33 for an M23 somehow.

Sounds like a good plan, if NAD can get their software team to perform. NAD has always had issues with getting their software/firmware to satisfy what they say their processors are capable of doing. The hardware side of the M66 seems to be just great. Hopefully, NAD will come through with the software support it deserves. But, I have to say, most of their amps have always been great; M23 seems to be a prime pick (a little expensive, but nevertheless, a great amp; and pretty too!)

 

[sabloke]

That's exactly why I'll wait 6-9 months before getting the M66, so most of the bugs are ironed out. I'm really happy with how M33 performs, especially with the full range Dirac correction. Might go to a dealer and do A/B auditioning with M33/M66 + M23 to see how big the gap in sound quality really is. Will get M66 for its ability to control subwoofers in the time domain alone.

 

[pogo]

Will get M66 for its ability to control subwoofers in the time domain alone.

The M33 will also get it

 

[sabloke]

The M33 will also get it

You're sure? That would be grand! However, there's still the issue of a better DAC and preamp sections in M66 that on paper will increase sound quality.

 

[pogo]

Here is the answer from NAD support in december regarding DLBC:
...this feature is being developed for the C658, M33, M10, and other NAD 2 channel Dirac capable products.

 

[djn04]

Here is the answer from NAD support regarding DLBC in december:
...this feature is being developed for the C658, M33, M10, and other NAD 2 channel Dirac capable products.

In December of what year? I feel like this has been promised for a long time now.

 

[pogo]

6 weeks ago.

 

[Cpopovic]

Latest update about the NAD M66 in Europe, from a trustworthy retailer.

"NAD has temporarily suspended deliveries of the M66 until the software component is ready for deployment. It's expected that the required BluOS update will be available in approximately two weeks, at which point the device will also be made available to customers."

This is probably to avoid negative reviews and customer complaints until the BluOs is finalized.

 

[MingChops]

Considering these were meant to be out in what November last year.... sounds like NAD doing NAD things when it comes to software!!!

At least hopefully (and a credit to them maybe, perhaps they're learning!) they are much more robustly testing this product before release compared to usual, the price point it would not go down well if it releases like many of their other efforts.

 

[markrubin]

Oh well another delay
I have been thinking about HT bypass: in my case Anthem AVM90 and MCA525 gen 2 amp: I want to try NAD M66/Dirac in this system for a few weeks. The AVM is fed to the amp with unbalanced connections: what if I ran the M66 out to the amp via XLR input (either RCA or XLR can be used without switching) and set up triggers so when one processor is on the other must be off?

 

[efoo]

Hi all I a new to this forum. Question - how is the streamer in the new M66?

Did they just take a CS1 and dump it into the M66 or is it a completely different unit. I cannot find any information on the NAD website and I could not find any way to ask them a question.

I have multiple bluesound node zones in my home. In my main system I have a BS node feeding a T+A DAC 200 for when multiroom audio. When I am critical listening I use a Lumin U2 feeding the Dac 200 which is also part of my main system.

Sounds like I could replace the BS Node, Lumin U2 and T+A Dac 200 with 1 box - M66. But I would love to know more about the streamer in the M66. If it is a CS1 I don't think I will get the performance I am looking for.

Any information would be appreciated.

Anyone know how to contact NAD?

 

[pogo]

BluOS is integrated, so it's not a big change for you

 

[efoo]

I agree I am good either way ... just want to know what the actual streamer is like in the M66.

 

[efoo]

Hi all I a new to this forum. Question - how is the streamer in the new M66?

Did they just take a CS1 and dump it into the M66 or is it a completely different unit. I cannot find any information on the NAD website and I could not find any way to ask them a question.

I have multiple bluesound node zones in my home. In my main system I have a BS node feeding a T+A DAC 200 for when multiroom audio. When I am critical listening I use a Lumin U2 feeding the Dac 200 which is also part of my main system.

Sounds like I could replace the BS Node, Lumin U2 and T+A Dac 200 with 1 box - M66. But I would love to know more about the streamer in the M66. If it is a CS1 I don't think I will get the performance I am looking for.

Any information would be appreciated.

Anyone know how to contact NAD?

Anyone have any information on this?

 

[pogo]

As already mentioned, a BluOS streaming module is installed. Thanks to the very good subsequent hardware, such as the DAC etc., you will never take a step backwards

 

[efoo]

Can you tell me if they just took the same module that is in the CS1 and put it into the M66 or is it a completely different unit?

 

[pogo]

The CS1 does not have a BluOS module!
The module is a newer generation of the usual BluOS modules, which can be found in a Bluesound Node, for example. Among other things, this new module has four independent subwoofer outputs.

 

[efoo]

Thanks that is helpful.