NAD M51 - one week on.

[Charlie Jefferson]

Just a few rambling thoughts regarding the NAD DAC.

I've had this DAC for nearly a week and it's making quite an impression. I thought my Chord 64 would take some beating but the NAD just about does it across the board.

Each piece of music I'm playing is revealed in hitherto unknown detail. The slight trade off for this, surprisngly perhaps, is a tinge of warmth to many recordings. Not quite up to the levels I recall from previous Arcam amps I've owned, but a warmth nonetheless.

I'm still not quite sure which connection wins out between coaxial (CDP) or optical (streamed lossless). Based on a few hours switching between the two last night, I'd plump for coaxial. Yet the majority of my CDs are streamed these days so will have to settle for optical conveniece. I've not tried the USB yet, but plan to via the Apple Camera Kit work around soon. (as my HiFi is nowhere near my Mac, I can't link the two).

The real star of the show for me though is the HDMI out from my PS3 and into the NAD. My mini-stash of music-orientated Blu-rays sound stunning. Neil Young's Archive Box on Blu-ray is fantastic. I've owned this since it came out and only now heard its full 192/24 wonders. Time to seek out some more Blu ray audio discs. The HDMI (only 2.0 enabled) feels like a bonus as the vast majority of my digital music is on my Mac and/or CDs, but it great having it.

So overall, the NAD is a winner. The smidgen of smoothness takes a bit of re-acclimatising to after the Chord but there are so many things I've played in the last week that just sound so much better. More of it. Not always in spades but a notch up.

 

[CnoEvil]

Good to hear your thoughts.......slightly smoother, but with more detail, is the way to go (imo).

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Good to hear your thoughts.......slightly smoother, but with more detail, is the way to go (imo).

Yep, think so too. It's the reason I still vinyl, at it's best, so it's good to have some sort of digital equivalent.

 

[SteveR750]

Interesting to hear your thoughts Charlie. Keep us posted. I'm pretty sure the DAC is the same as that contained within the C390

 

[CustomCable]

Great to see you picked one up Charlie, looks like I was right with it beating the DAC64. I thought it might.

Best regards and great review

Phil

 

[Shanka]

Hi,

Only 'discovered' this dac the other day, warm and smooth sound appealing to my older ears, it is more than double my budget and not sure how the inputs will work for me , got to have a better look.

Intrigued by how you are getting on and hugely jealous of your NY Archives on BD, please update if you get the time and the urge.

Hope it is still giving you a thrill.

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Hi, Only 'discovered' this dac the other day, warm and smooth sound appealing to my older ears, it is more than double my budget and not sure how the inputs will work for me , got to have a better look. Intrigued by how you are getting on and hugely jealous of your NY Archives on BD, please update if you get the time and the urge. Hope it is still giving you a thrill.

Well, the NAD is beginning to really settle in now. It's not a country mile better or worse than my much-loved Chord, but essentially it offers features lacking with the older DAC.

This week I've really begun to appreciate the NAD, particularly for the HDMI enabled discs I'm able to play. The aforementioned Neil Young Archives is really getting a whole new lease of life. Also, Zep's Celebration Day on Blu Ray is fantastic. One of the best live rock concert I've heard.

Still haven't sold my Chord though. Keeping it for now and will be running some more A/B tests this weekend.

 

[SteveR750]

Very interesting Charlie. I take it you're not bowled over then?

 

[Charlie Jefferson]

Very interesting Charlie. I take it you're not bowled over then?

[/quot

No, not exactly. I wasn't, thankfully, expecting huge gains. As stated above I was drawn to the added functionality of the NAD. I'm really enjoying many music-orientated Blu-rays and DVDs. In this regard the NAD clearly triumphs over the Chord.

CD and Lossless files were, to my ears, virtually identical when I booked up both DACs in parallel. That A/B test was limited to streamed music through an optical cable, so it didn't compare either DACs capabilities when hooked up to a CD player.

I''m keeping the NAD and also the Chord, for the time beimg.