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

[doorofnight]

Indeed it is! I got rid of my M66 and ordered Anthem STR pre + amp. I am still waiting on delivery, but on paper (documentation), it will finally and properly integrate in my home theater (with two subwoofers). Also, I am glad it has no streamer, as I can chose my own streamer. In my case it will still be a Blusound streamer. I will feed one of my existing - either the Node Icon or the Node X into the Anthem STR via digital coax at fixed volume. Done!

Let us know about the anthem STR

 

[markrubin]

The STR may not have as pretty a face as the M66 but I prefer Anthem ARC room correction: just my opinion

 

[doorofnight]

Thank you, I use binaural roomcorrection from bacch software. So I do not really need room correction, but I need to set crossovers and delays.

 

[junior00027]

Indeed it is! I got rid of my M66 and ordered Anthem STR pre + amp. I am still waiting on delivery, but on paper (documentation), it will finally and properly integrate in my home theater (with two subwoofers). Also, I am glad it has no streamer, as I can chose my own streamer. In my case it will still be a Blusound streamer. I will feed one of my existing - either the Node Icon or the Node X into the Anthem STR via digital coax at fixed volume. Done!

the m66 got fixed volume ?

 

[Mattjkilo]

Indeed it is! I got rid of my M66 and ordered Anthem STR pre + amp. I am still waiting on delivery, but on paper (documentation), it will finally and properly integrate in my home theater (with two subwoofers). Also, I am glad it has no streamer, as I can chose my own streamer. In my case it will still be a Blusound streamer. I will feed one of my existing - either the Node Icon or the Node X into the Anthem STR via digital coax at fixed volume. Done!

Currently pondering the STR vs M66 offering.

How would integrating this with your AVR over an M66 be different? I currently own an MX740; really interested to hear what enticed you to go STR in the end.

 

[vddobrev]

Currently pondering the STR vs M66 offering.

How would integrating this with your AVR over an M66 be different? I currently own an MX740; really interested to hear what enticed you to go STR in the end.

M66 cannot be integrated with an AVR, it does not have HT Bypass, it does not have fixed volume per input. And no subwoofers bypass.
STR has all of the above.
You can simulate bypass on M66 by setting a designated analogue input to analogue bypass, and set the volume to 0dB. But then, if you start playing a song on BluOS and forget to lower the volume, what happens then?
Also, if you have subwoofers plugged in M66, they will continue to play, regardless you selected analogue bypass. And more - if you have Dirac Filter on M66 enabled, it is still active on analogue input and the volume is raised by 12dB. A forum member @pogo explained this is the headroom.
All of the above makes the M66 impossible to integrate with an AVR.

Edit: with Anthem STR, you simply designate the input as HT Bypass, plug in the L/R and 2 subwoofers, and all is done. STR does not even need to be on, it works in standby mode.

 

[Mike-48]

On M66: microphones; power on/off

In using the M66, I've run into two bugs that I thought were fixed a long time ago:

1. UMIK-2 not recognized when plugged into the USB socket in the rear of the M66
2. Remote on/off not working unless "Amplifier Standby" (soft shutdown) with its 15-minute shutoff time enabled.

Were these not fixed, or am I overlooking something?

 

[vddobrev]

On M66: microphones; power on/off

In using the M66, I've run into two bugs that I thought were fixed a long time ago:

1. UMIK-2 not recognized when plugged into the USB socket in the rear of the M66
2. Remote on/off not working unless "Amplifier Standby" (soft shutdown) with its 15-minute shutoff time enabled.

Were these not fixed, or am I overlooking something?

1. Is supposed to be fixed.
2. I reported back in 2024, and it was acknowledged as issue to be fixed. It was not fixed while I had the M66, a month ago.