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

[Nocko!]

@tonapo: Thanks for your kind words. I do believe that for many of us the M66 could be great. I don't want to insult anyone using it. But every system and every user has other preferences so I can't recommend the M66. I think, every single one of the 10 points I listed above, gives reason enough why a user in a special use-case could be very disappointed with the device.
And I think you can't warn enough not to hope for updates that will eventually bring new features or even just bug fixes...

 

[pogo]

Not to mention BluOS that is a disaster since V4.

Why?

 

[pogo]

Now I try to evaluate if there is a full bandwith signal to the subwoofers or if there is a cut-off.

This can be tried out quickly. You can change the settings of the subs on the fly in the BluOS app.

 

[canjondo]

Like @tonapo, I have the m66, no regrets. Music never sounded so clean and impactful to my ears...just sublime. My m66 is connected to a NAD c298 which in turn drives a pair of Elac Unifi floorstanders. Also using the phono preamp on the m66 on analog mode and on dsp mode, can't tell a real difference. Either way, I'm blown away. What I'm not blown away by has already been mentioned by me and others on this thread...the supplied usb mic when attached to the M66 is not recognized by the Dirac Live iOS app (using an ipad and/or iphone). This really sucks, I know. The work-around is that I have to use my big ugly computer iMac if I want to enjoy the benefits of Dirac Live. I hate to use the computer but in this case I have no other option because Dirac is effen awesome.

 

[pogo]

Music never sounded so clean and impactful to my ears...just sublime.

In terms of sound, the M66 will represent currently the top end for preamps. Dirac Live with its post processing at 192kHz and the gain correct implementation will do the rest.
A comparison with the new Bluesound Node Icon would be interesting. The Icon doesn't have the great sub-management of the M66, but not everyone needs that. Whether Dirac Live works at 192kHz here, who knows...

 

[pogo]

Here the DoC of the M66: Link

 

[Cpopovic]

In terms of sound, the M66 will represent currently the top end for preamps. Dirac Live with its post processing at 192kHz and the gain correct implementation will do the rest.
A comparison with the new Bluesound Node Icon would be interesting. The Icon doesn't have the great sub-management of the M66, but not everyone needs that. Whether Dirac Live works at 192kHz here, who knows...

Here is the latest review of the M66 preamp

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - NAD Masters M66 Streaming Preamplifier

www.soundstagehifi.com

 

[Dustyc]

Offtopic: My M33 still has coil noise, a useless remote, and frequently HDMI CEC fails. Not to mention BluOS that is a disaster since V4. I only follow this thread to remind me to never buy NAD again. I still blame myself buying it after my comparably bad experience with the M32. The M66 seems to be the same.....how is this even possible after so many iterations? I would not touch it with a stick. My only concern is what to get when my M33 stops working as I do like the 1-box-does-all-concept, the looks and Dirac Live.

I was thinking about getting a M32 as a replacement for my C390DD. They look identical inside. What was your bad experience?

 

[Hoeksel]

Pointless remote, I now use a Logitech Harmony. I had to service the unit twice due to a clicking sound from the unit. Repaired under guarantee fortunately. One of the MDC cards stopped working, had to be swapped. I was pretty content with the sound quality BTW.

In my view NAD QC is horrible (also with my M33) and the remote is a joke as is BluOS 4 in my view. Thank God my M33 supports Tidal Direct.

My advice is to only get a M32 (or M33) if you receive service and guarantee.

Personally I would advise against M32 completely but go for the M33 if you want to have NAD as Dirac Live is a real game changer!

Yes, I intensely hate the brand NAD and BluOS but I am extremely happy with the SQ, looks and one-box-does-all concept of my NAD M33! But it will be my last NAD....

 

[pogo]

the remote is a joke as is BluOS 4 in my view

Why?

 

[Hoeksel]

Why?

Haha, you are stubborn . Compared to V3 it is slower, needs more clicks to do the same, search sucks, all issues I had with V3 are still there and the promised customization is simply not there. I really had high hopes for V4 but alas, only marketing.

 

[pogo]

My experience with V4 is completely different. The mobile devices benefit more from the new interface. Accessing individual functions is now easier and quicker via Android and iOS. For example, previously you first had to click on HUB and then the activated inputs below. Now you have everything on one page:

 

[pogo]

BluOS 4.6.3
Released September 17, 2024
• New MQA Libraries
• New chassis firmware for the NAD C 399, C 389, C 379 and C 3050
• Initial support for the Bluesound NODE (gen 5) and NAD C700 V2

Note: The NAD M66 firmware update will be included in the next firmware release.

 

[Nocko!]

BluOS 4.6.3

...and nothing for the M66.

@pogo: I am still not sure if you are an paid influencer for NAD (no offense intended) or if you are blindly in love with NAD. But thanks for the heads-up regarding "the next firmware release". Will it be in this decade? And what does version 4.6.3 for the C399 and so on? There was already an "BluOS"-Update that mentioned the M66 but there were simply no changes...

 

[Nocko!]

Haha, you are stubborn

Yes, he is . But he keeps me hoping...

I am using Lyrion/Squeezeserver so I never was interested in BluOS. Having a short look on the app, I don't like it at all, but perhaps I am missing a few fundamental settings. But it ignores large cover artwork, doesn't show lyrics and ignores my carefully tagged Flacs when listing artists. For example, "Alice Cooper" should be listed under "C" but shown as "Alice Cooper". I have tagged my Flacs this way, but BluOS seems to ignore the "sort-tags".
When selecting an artist, the app shows a horizontal line of albums to scroll. That's ok. But below is a list of songs in alphabetical order. Who the hell needs an alphabetical list of songs? It should simply show all albums on the screen.

While playing with the the app and trying to start a track, the app tells me, that it doesn't find the track. Don't no why, didn't touch anything and already lost the interest to invest more time in BluOS - another five minutes are already too much. From my point of view it is buggy and counter-intuitive, but I am an old man who thinks in categories like artists, albums, year... not "playlists", "beats per minute" or "female artists with nearly no clothings and a lot of dancers...".

Regarding the remote control of the M66: Hoeksel is right, too. It is a joke. it is simply a clone of the plastic remote control that comes with the cheap node players. Poor...

You can't even switch sources with it without programming presets. You can't control the main display in its brightness. You can't control BluOS (just back, forward and play/pause). You can't choose an artist or album from your library. Why can't you scroll up and down in the "playlist" with the up/down buttons to select the next song? My 15 year old Transporter allows this. What is the sense of the quite big display if you are not able to use the remote to change settings that are visualized on the display? Pressing "Enter" stops the music, even if an external source like a TV or a disc player is the source. How are you supposed to explain this to someone...?
I should stop here...

 

[pogo]

There was already an "BluOS"-Update that mentioned the M66 but there were simply no changes...

Every update that is offered to you also contains changes for your device. It does not have to be mentioned explicitly.
What is interesting now is the delay in announcing the new devices in the BluOS family to the M66 and the rolling out of the new MQA libraries.

 

[pogo]

Regarding the remote control of the M66: Hoeksel is right, too. It is a joke. it is simply a clone of the plastic remote control that comes with the cheap node players. Poor...

You can't even switch sources with it without programming presets.

Hoeksel has the HTRM2 and with this remote control you can select inputs directly or switch to the BluOS layer and call up presets there. Unfortunately, the SRM1 lacks this. NAD should implement the freely programmable buttons for source selection on the software side. Has this improvement already been requested by users?
Source selection (up/down) is possible with my Bluesound RC1.

 

[pogo]

A detailed test report will probably follow soon.

 

[da Choge]

Yeah, I've been wanting to see a photo of its [Arcam SA45] rear panel, but haven't been able to find one yet.

Only posting this because there are now photos of Arcam's SA45 rear panel available (SA45 rear panel image link). It actually looks to be a very nice unit with good specs, if accurate, and with Dirac processing and Home Theater Bypass (called PM/Processor Mode attachable to a selectable RCA input). Does not have the great four subwoofer feature of the M66, but I would imagine that its two subwoofer outputs, at least, are individually configurable (as the unit does have Dirac). The SA45 is also an integrated amp and a bit of a powerhouse (180W/ch @ 8ohms, class G) too.

Although I'm still very wary of the M66 because of its multiple software issues, if it just had a dedicated Home Theater Bypass, even if purchase of an MDC2 card was required (as long as it wasn't subject to the BlueOs delay), I would prefer that. But nothing official from NAD, as of yet.

 

[Stefano]

I've the possibility to trade in my M33 for a M66 (i own a separate power amp), i don't care about HT bypass. Do you recommend that I get this unit, or is it better to wait?
Any Issue regarding Dirac/subwoofer integration?
Thank you.
Stefano.