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

vddobrev said:
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!
Click to expand...

Let us know about the anthem STR :)
 
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.
 
vddobrev said:
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!
Click to expand...
the m66 got fixed volume ?
 
vddobrev said:
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!
Click to expand...
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.
 
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Mattjkilo said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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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?
 
Mike-48 said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
canjondo said:
I am thrilled with this update. I can finally use the usb intake behind the m66 to connect the mic for Dirac measurements. I tested it as soon as I got home and it worked. NAD deserves an applause. Keep it up please.
Click to expand...
I realize I'm replying to an old post when the update was first released enabling direct UMIK-1 connection to the M66, so sorry I'm just catching up, but having trouble getting this working. I just got my M66. It downloaded and applied updates to get to current I believe. However when running Dirac either from my iOS phone or my Mac (or PC), the NAD M66 shows up with no mic connected if I select an analog source, plug in a USB-C cable from the UMIK to the USB-A port on the rear of the M66 (under the LAN jack) and start Dirac software. Is there something else needed to get the M66/Dirac to know it has a mic connected? The blue LED on the mic light up when connected and I tried a couple of cables. Any ideas?
 
The ability to plug the mic into the USB on the M66 was meant to have been fixed but for me it doesn't always recognize it. I am not confident it works properly so wont use it. Also for those that haven't done a calibration for a while good to note that there is a new mic file on the NAD website.
 
WARNING:

Do not update your NAD M66 into BluOS 4.12.4 as it breaks DDH feature. (Dirac seems to loose its processing headroom and sounds distorts massively - or something similar)
 
Hephaestus said:
WARNING:

Do not update your NAD M66 into BluOS 4.12.4 as it breaks DDH feature. (Dirac seems to loose its processing headroom and sounds distorts massively - or something similar)
Click to expand...
Thanks for keeping us informed. I learned a long time ago not to use the "autoupdate" options and to wait a while then check the internet for any
reports on firmware etc; updates. You just never know for sure ???
 
Still no fix for the lack of HT bypass I guess? Big disincentive... Anthem has this covered as mentioned earlier
 
vddobrev said:
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!
Click to expand...
hi, how did you like the anthem compared to M66?
 
proux said:
hi, how did you like the anthem compared to M66?
Click to expand...
Completely pleased with it, does everything I need and everything that is advertised as a feature/spec, unlike the M66. And I am thrilled with the sound quality. ARC Genesis room correction works well.
I also updated my HT - replaced NAD T778 and M27 with Anthem AVM 70 and MCA 525 Gen 2.
 
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