NAD M66 Masters BluOS Streaming DAC / Preamplifier

Description

NAD Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier

The Masters M66 BluOS Streaming DAC-Preamplifier is a
revolutionary hi-fi component that combines an audiophile-grade DAC with a
high-resolution multi-room music streamer. Featuring Dirac Live Room Correction
and Dirac Live Bass Control, its elegant design and vibrant 7″ touchscreen
exudes quality and class. Pair it with NAD’s M23 power amplifier for a stunning
system that excels technologically, sonically, and visually.

Not only is the Masters M66 BluOS streaming DAC-preamplifier
the most advanced preamplifier NAD has ever offered, it represents an entirely
new class of hi-fi separate components. In addition to a plethora of inputs,
including MM/MC phono and HDMI eARC, the M66 incorporates an audiophile-grade
DAC and a high-resolution multi-room music streamer.

Along with the full-bandwidth version of Dirac Live Room
Correction, the M66 features Dirac Live Bass Control, allowing independent
control of each connected subwoofer, for smooth, consistent response throughout
your listening room. The combination of Dirac Live Room Correction and Dirac
Live Bass Control enables the M66 to deliver more accurate in-room performance
than any two-channel component ever offered.

With its elegant aluminum casework, super-smooth digital
volume control, and vibrant 7″ touchscreen, the M66 exudes class and quality.
Visually, sonically, and technologically, it’s an ideal match to NAD’s
award-winning Masters M23 power amplifier. Of course, the Masters M66 BluOS
Streaming DAC-Preamplifier can be paired with any high-performance amplifier.

Music Everywhere

Featuring a high-resolution network streamer based on the
acclaimed BluOS multi-room music-management system, the M66 provides access to
more than 20 streaming services, including several that offer lossless and
high-resolution audio. Using the intuitive BluOS app on a smart device or
personal computer, listeners can play music from their favorite streaming
service, their personal music libraries, and thousands of Internet radio
stations, in resolution up to 24-bit/192kHz. Like all BluOS-enabled components,
the M66 has full MQA decoding and rendering capability.

With BluOS, you can listen to music in just one room; or
share music over your home network with up to 63 additional BluOS-enabled
components from NAD and other hardware partners. The M66 integrates easily with
home-control systems from Control4, Crestron, ELAN, RTI, URC, and others.
Listeners can also control playback by voice using Amazon Alexa, Google
Assistant, or Apple Siri.

Perfect Response

The M66 integrates Dirac Live Room Correction and Dirac Live
Bass Control. Connect the supplied calibrated microphone to the M66’s USB port
and then launch the Dirac Live app on a smart device or personal computer. The
app will walk you through the calibration process, and then generate correction
filters that compensate for acoustic problems like standing waves and unwanted
reflections. You’ll enjoy more textured bass, improved tonal accuracy, vastly
improved clarity, and more focused imaging.

In a first for a stereo component, the M66 features four
balanced and four single-ended subwoofer outputs and integrates Dirac Live Bass
Control, which allows independent calibration of multiple subwoofers. Dirac
Live Bass Control optimizes subwoofer output in both the frequency and time
domains, achieving a seamless blend between the subwoofer(s) and main speakers,
and delivering smooth, consistent bass response through the entire listening
area, not just in the sweet spot.

Peak Performance

At the heart of the M66’s digital section are ESS
Technology’s flagship Sabre DAC and ADC chips. These audiophile-grade designs
are known for their exceptionally wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise and
distortion, and outstanding time-domain performance.

The M66 is the first component to feature NAD’s innovative
Dynamic Digital Headroom (DDH) circuitry. When activated in the BluOS app, DDH
eliminates digital inter-sample peak clipping distortion, which can occur
during digital-to-analogue conversion with sudden high-frequency transients.
The benefits are especially noticeable with percussion instruments: rim shots
are more impactful but less strident; cymbals are more realistic and less
splashy.

For volume adjustment, the M66 employs an ultra-precise
resistor-ladder control circuit. Compared to traditional analogue circuits, the
M66’s digital volume control markedly reduces thermal and related distortions, maximizes
dynamic range, and more accurately matches left- and right-channel output
across the entire volume range.

By default, analogue signals are converted to digital so
that functions like Dirac Live Room Correction and Bass Control are available
with all sources. However, the M66 has a selectable Analogue Direct mode that
bypasses all digital processing, and separate signal paths for analogue and
digital sources. Internally, the analogue and digital sections are physically
separated and shielded from each other with their own separate power supplies
sections, so that analogue signals are unaffected by digital interference when
Analogue Direct mode is engaged. Listeners can even use the BluOS app to
disable the M66’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth circuits to prevent RF interference.

Connect Everything

With its full suite of analogue and digital inputs, the M66
can accommodate all your source components. Vinyl fans will appreciate the
M66’s ultra-quiet MM/MC phono stage, which features precise RIAA equalization,
high overload margins, and an innovative circuit that suppresses the infrasonic
noise that is always present with vinyl playback without affecting bass
response. For TV and movie viewing, there’s an HDMI eARC port for connection to
an HDTV. Other options include two coaxial and two optical S/PDIF inputs, an
AES/EBU balanced digital input, two pairs of RCA line-level analogue inputs,
and one pair of XLR balanced inputs.

In addition to unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR outputs for
connection to a power amplifier, the M66 has four unbalanced RCA and four
balanced XLR subwoofer outputs. The M66’s dedicated headphone amplifier has
very low output impedance and very high maximum output voltage, enabling it to
drive demanding high-impedance studio monitor headphones. The M66 also has
Bluetooth connectivity, with support for the AAC, LDAC, and aptX HD codecs.

Future Forward

The Masters M66 represents the pinnacle of what is
technically achievable in a two-channel preamplifier today, and will maintain
its technological leadership for decades to come. On the rear panel are two
expansion slots that support MDC2, the latest generation of NAD’s Modular
Design Construction future-proofing technology. As technology evolves, this
will enable M66 owners to add new capabilities simply by inserting an MDC2
module into one of the slots.

Everything about the NAD Masters M66 BluOS streaming
DAC-preamp is intended to inspire pride of ownership: the gorgeous 7″
touchscreen, the elegant aluminum casework, and the silky-smooth digital volume
control. With its leading-edge technology, unmatched versatility, and superb
build quality, the Masters M66 is truly a masterpiece of sound.

Features & Details*

• Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking

• BluOS network streamer provides access to over 20 streaming services,
including several that deliver lossless and high-resolution audio

• Flagship ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC and ES9822PRO ADC chips

• Innovative Dynamic Digital Headroom (DDH) circuit eliminates digital
intersample peak clipping distortion

• Full MQA hardware decoding and rendering

• Support for Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect

• Seamless integration with smarthome control systems such as Crestron,
Control4, ELAN, RTI, URC, and others

• Support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri voice control

• Dirac Live Room Correction

• Four balanced and four unbalanced subwoofer outputs

• Dirac Live Bass Control enables seamless blend between the subwoofer(s) and
main speakers, and smooth bass response throughout the listening area

• Ultra-quiet MM/MC phono stage with precise RIAA equalization, high overload
margins, and infrasonic filter

• HDMI port with eARC support

• Two optical and two coaxial S/PDIF inputs, one AES/EBU balanced digital
input, two pairs of RCA line-level analogue inputs, one pair of XLR balanced
inputs

• Dedicated headphone amplifier with low output impedance and very high output
voltage capability

• Ultra-precise resistor-ladder digital volume control

• 7″ front-panel touchscreen

• Elegant aluminum casework

• Two MDC2 expansion slots for adding future capabilities

• Premium IR remote control included

*all features and details listed are preliminary