NAD Electronics recently announced the Masters M66 BluOS streaming DAC preamplifier, and the company is showing off the unit at the Shanghai Audio Show in China prior to shipments officially being available starting in November 2023 for $7,299.
All Shanghai Audio Show attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to preview and demo the full features of the M66, which NAD calls one of the most feature-rich and technologically advanced in its line. Its circuitry design features separate digital and analogue signal paths that add functionality like distinct volume attenuation for analogue and digital signals, a true analogue bypass for the MM/MC phono stage, and an independent headphone amplifier.
It also boasts four independent subwoofer outputs and includes licenses for Dirac Live Room Correction (full frequency) and Bass Control tools. The M66 also introduces a new proprietary technology, Dynamic Digital Headroom (DDH), that eliminates intersample clipping and relies on the widely lauded ESS Sabre DAC, ensuring only the cleanest signal is passed along for amplification.
BluOS wireless hi-res multiroom streaming, is included, as are Apple AirPlay, two-way AptX HD Bluetooth, and a host of other inputs and outputs.
“China has been one of NAD’s fastest growing markets and we are very excited to be able to have Chinese audiences be among the first to see the full extent of what the M66 is capable of,” says Cas Oostvogel, NAD Product Manager, of the brand’s decision to use the Shanghai Audio Show to open the product’s official launch activities. “We chose the Shanghai Audio Show over those in Melbourne, Paris, and other locations because of the market’s embrace of the brand.”
The NAD Masters M66 features both Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking as well as BluOS network streaming that provides access to over 20 streaming services, including several that deliver lossless and high-resolution audio. It supports popular music casting protocols like Apple AirPlay 2, as mentioned, along with Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. The unit can also seamlessly integrate with smart home control systems such as Crestron, Control4, ELAN, RTI, URC, and others.
It has four independent unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR subwoofer outputs, and a full bandwidth version of Dirac Live Room Correction and Dirac Live Bass Control licenses are included.
The ultra-quiet MM/MC phono stage offers precise RIAA equalization, high overload margins, and infrasonic filter. There’s an HDMI port with eARC support along with two optical and two coaxial S/PDIF inputs, one AES/EBU balanced digital input, two pairs of RCA line-level analogue inputs, and one pair of XLR balanced inputs. You have the option to switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to minimize RF interference.
With a front-panel touchscreen and elegant aluminium casework, it has two MDC2 expansion slots for adding future capabilities and ships with an IR remote.