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

[pogo]

When plugged into the M66, it was not discovered

These are points that should be considered under Mac OS. iOS is another matter.

 

[mags65]

Not sure what you are getting at? My settings are correct. We have two members (canjondo and myself) who have had confirmation from NAD - directly and indirectly through dealer - that this functionality (using microphone directly plugged into M66 in order to use Dirac) does not work and that there is no timeline for fixing it.

 

[pogo]

If I've followed this correctly, there is only official talk of a bug in the iOS app!?

 

[mags65]

No. Using the attached microphone directly into the NAD via USB, as advertised and described in the manual, in order to run Dirac either from iOS of MacOS, does not work on either platform. The M66 shows up in Dirac, but is not classified as a "recording device".

 

[canjondo]

mags65 is correct, I can't lie, same experience with the m66. Hard to explain though if you don't have direct experience with the m66, Dirac and iOS (ipad or iphone)...but let me try, for those who are interested. When I insert the supplied mic and usb dongle into the usb port in the back of the m66 (as we are instructed to do so by NAD) a green light becomes visible on the dongle indicating that the connection is active. So far so good...however, when I launch Dirac Live on my ipad, Dirac discovers my m66 on the network right away but it doesn't recognize that there's an attached recording device (mic) on the m66...a very cryptic message says "No recording device." And I say to myself "but there is a recording device attached, what the hay." I play around with all the settings on iOS, to no avail. Shit device doesn't work, when it should, that's the problem. I know it's an m66 device issue because my ex NAD c399 worked just fine with mic connected to it using the same ipad and the same Dirac app. But there's light at the end of the tunnel..the workaround but successful solution NAD proposed when I reported my concern was the following..."disconnect the mic from the m66 and connect it directly to your desktop or laptop" (I never thought of that as I'm not savvy that way). I jumped on it. I picked up my desktop iMac sitting in my bedroom and moved it to my listening room in the living room and I disconnected the mic and the dongle from the m66's rear and re-connected it to the usb port of the desktop...and I anxiously launched Dirac Live from the desktop (not from the ipad)...and voila!...both the m66 and the mic were recognized right away...and I started measuring shit right away. As I stated earlier, I love the results. The annoyance of having to move my desktop sucks, as opposed to being able to sit comfortably in my couch with my ipad in hand as advertised...but the effort was worth it. If you nail the ever fastidious measurements down the first time...you don't have to move stuff around anymore for a long time (unless you're an anal pain in the ass perfectionist). I could switch Dirac on and off to my liking on the BluOS app. I'm a simple kind of man...my music has never sounded better and sweeter. m66!!!

 

[pogo]

The M66 will probably be able to play DSD directly in the future: Link

 

[rickcfer]

It seems that Home Theater Bypass will never come, probably it does not have the hardware to do it( relays ?).
Per NAD support:

Hello Richard,

Thank you for contacting The NAD Electronics Support Crew.

I am sorry that at this time we do not have any more information regarding home theater bypass on the M66.

 

[mags65]

And back it went to Hifiklubben. Once again running the Wiim Pro/RME ADI-2 DAC combo. The dealer was very sympathetic to the issue, so no worries there fortunately.

 

[pogo]

The Bluesound Node Icon might be a better choice for you.

 

[mags65]

Not really. The whole point was to use this for DLBC with 2+ subwoofers. Will wait and see what else comes to market. But appreciate the input

 

[pogo]

...or buy a new M66 in a few months when the correction update is released.

 

[mags65]

Not holding my breath, to be honest. And I won’t get the 20% discount Hifiklubben are running with the current trade-in promotion, which ends in a couple of weeks.

 

[rickcfer]

Pogo: " ...or buy a new M66 in a few months when the correction update is released."
Is it new hardware? I quess early adopters are screwed.

 

[Nocko!]

It seems that Home Theater Bypass will never come, probably it does not have the hardware to do it( relays ?).

As far as I can judge, a Home Theater Bybass won't be a problem: Using "Presets" you can set an analog input to full volume and set presets for all other inputs to a decent volume, perhaps -40dB or so. So all you need is there. But I am not defending NAD. Working this way I destroyed accidentally my tweeters: While in "Home Theater Mode" I grabbed my iPad with the awful BlueOS app and unfortunately switched to the BluRay-Input. If my big finger would have pressed the "Preset"-button nothing would have happened but it was the source button for BluRay so I got Metallica live in Paris - not not the music as an analog signal but the raw digital signal. This was too much for my tweeters. I am really angry with myself, because I knew that this could happen.
If NAD would allow to configure the inputs and not only the presets than nothing would have happened.

I'm also not sure if the programmers at NAD are stupid, malicious or lazy.

In any case, NAD you should get away from the idea that you run everything via the miserable BlueOS. First build a proper preamplifier and then if you want to mess around with BlueOS, you are welcome to do so.

@mags65:
The sound with DLBC is great. So I will keep the M66.
But from a legal perspective, I think we are making it too easy for NAD and the dealers if we just return the device. Actually, NAD should be forced to deliver what was advertised and without defects.
Maybe I should sue my dealer to get me a Storm Audio Core 16. This is probably the cheapest device that keeps NAD's promises. I could do without the ten excess channels...

 

[pogo]

Is it new hardware?

No.

 

[ex audiophile]

The Bluesound Node Icon might be a better choice for you.

Not sure the Icon can equalize 2 subs independently. Flex might be better?

 

[pogo]

Bluesound 4.0 is probably also the basis for a larger surround setup. Currently, 4.2 is already supported (also wireless) and an extension will not be long in coming.

 

[rickcfer]

pogo said
No
".or buy a new M66 in a few months when the correction update is released."
So is it upcoming update, why buy a new one?

 

[mags65]

pogo said
No
".or buy a new M66 in a few months when the correction update is released."
So is it upcoming update, why buy a new one?

Because I returned mine.

 

[da Choge]

Very interested in the specs and features/functionality of Marantz's upcoming "high-end" Link 10n streaming stereo preamplifier. Wondering if it will compete favorably with the NAD M66 . . . It won't be cheap, though.

I think it is noteworthy that the new Model 10 Integrated Stereo Amplifier already has an "HT Bypass" built-in ("Power Amp In"). Hoping the Link 10n might have Dirac DSP and multiple subwoofer outputs, but it may be more basic than that.