Features Purifi’s Ultra-Quiet Amplification Technology
NAD Electronics just released the Masters Series M33, the company’s flagship BluOS™ enabled streaming DAC/amplifier. It can serve as the heart of a reference audiophile stereo system or be combined with other players in a BluOS ecosystem of wirelessly networked music players throughout the home for an outstanding whole-home audio system.
At $4999 U.S. MSRP, the M33 offers up a significant performance boost and price jump over its predecessor, the M32 DirectDigital DAC Amplifier. Power is bumped up from 150-watts per channel to 200-watts per channel, plus the new M33 is the first amp to integrate Purifi Eigentakt™ (self-clocking) Hybrid Digital amplifier technology for ultra-low distortion and noise. Also, the M33 adds BluOS integrated, Dirac Live, better connectivity options including XLR balanced inputs, a 7-inch touchscreen, MM and MC phono input and more.
“As the first amplifier to utilize Purifi Eigentakt™ amplifier technology, its performance must be heard to be appreciated. The M33 is a true state-of-the-art audiophile amplifier in the traditional sense yet with a distinct difference: It fully caters to the modern world where the majority of music is delivered over the internet with an entire catalog of recorded music readily available at your fingertips. This is obviously a wonderful convenience. Then, the M33’s ability to distribute that music in a multi-room audio system just adds that much more enjoyment, simplicity and value.“ Cas Oostvogel, NAD’s Product Manager
BluOS High-Res Music Streaming
Unusual in a class of products often associated with complexity is the M33’s intuitive operation, courtesy of the 7-inch inch touchscreen color displaycombined with BluOS. NAD considers it the most advanced network streaming and multi-room operating system available.
Part of a growing ecosystem of compatible products, BluOS tightly integrates hardware and software for an exceptional user experience. The only true wireless High-Resolution multi-room system available today, BluOS supports the new standard for High Res streaming, Master Quality Authenticated (MQA). BluOS also supports over 20 free and paid subscription services as well as supporting locally stored music libraries.
With BluOS, the M33 retains all the audiophile features and further adds a range of facilities that will expand its capabilities yet simplifies ease-of-use at the same time. Operable with the BluOS app, the supplied remote control or through hands-free control with any Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device, the M33’s front panel doesn’t actually need to be touched. To expand the multi-room locations, adding additional rooms is both easy and affordable.
Dirac Live Room Correction
Dirac, one of the most highly regarded Room Correction systems available, not only adjusts for frequency response, but unlike other room correction systems, it also optimizes the impulse response to optimize acoustics for the room. By optimizing the speaker/room interface, music sounds more natural and lifelike. Dirac comes as standard on the M33 with corrections possible up to 500Hz, and an upgrade to the full bandwith is available for a modest fee.
Supplied with the M33 is a precision microphone to measure the room at and around the listening position so your system can be precisely calibrated for optimum performance. Even the most sophisticated loudspeakers can be markedly improved using Dirac calibration.
Each of the 5 Dirac memory profiles can store a unique room measurement (think of the different acoustics with curtains open or closed, different listening position, for instance), or different frequency target curves to suit a particular musical taste or genre. The M33 also supports Dirac’s advanced ‘Bass Control’ feature with two independent subwoofer outputs.*
MDC (Modular Design Construction)
The M33 offers a wide range of in/outputs, BluOS, Dirac, HDMI eARC and should meet the requirements of the most demanding users. To minimize the risk of future obsolescence, the M33 comes with two MDC slots that allow for further expansion. NAD introduced the MDC platform well over a decade ago and allowed updating products with new technologies which didn’t even exist at time of introduction.
Multi-room High-Res
Besides multi-room, another compelling feature of BluOS is its multi-room and high-res streaming capabilities. The latter with full MQA decoding support from a local NAS or shared drive but also from internet streaming audio services which offer high-res content such as Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and others. Music services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Slacker, TuneIn, nugs.net and many others are also supported.
Connectivity
Whether looking to connect digital or analog sources, the M33 comes well equipped to accommodate for all of these: 5 digital inputs and 3 analogue inputs, including XLR Balanced, MM and MC phono.
Around back, the rear panel hosts two sets of speaker outputs capable of bi-wiring and a stereo Subwoofer Output with a fully configurable Digital Crossover. Airplay 2 and Bluetooth AptX-HD allow for local wireless streaming from a phone or tablet.
The M33 has a high-quality MM/MC Phono Input that rivals specialized outboard units. Accurate RIAA equalization, a clever phase cancelling infrasonic filter, and a huge overload margin combine to bring out the best in LPs.
Furthermore, headphone enthusiasts, will delight at the sound of the discrete headphone amplifier, which is able to drive even planar and high impedance studio phones. With high voltage and low output impedance, headphones will sound their best. For those who wish to enjoy their headphones but not be tethered to a cable, the integrated Bluetooth AptX-HD module makes it simple to possible to enjoy wireless headphones, too.
Design
The all alloy casework is elegant yet practical. The single control knob for volume is supplemented by a colour TFT touchscreen display. Rigid panels with magnetic iso-point feet provide a solid foundation for the multi-layer circuit boards and intricate internal construction. The M33 employs a completely modern and fresh take on the traditional stereo amplifier, with features and performance from the future.
Smart Home Integration
BluOS provides hands-free control with full integration of any Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device. Through Airplay 2, control is also possible with Siri. Considerable effort has been spent to make the M33 fully compatible with all the leading smart home systems from leading companies like Apple, Crestron, Control4, Lutron, KNX and many others. The M33 is also compatible with the Roon music platform.
This means that along with lighting, shades, HVAC, and security, the integrator or user can seamlessly control the BluOS multi-room music system from a common interface. All integrations are certified for reliable operation. The custom BluOS Apps for iOS and Android tablets and phones, as well as desktop control from Windows and Apple OS are available free-of-charge and are updated regularly.*
* Some features will be available via a future software update.
Features
- BluOS™ Streaming Amplifier
- HybridDigital Purifi Eigentakt™ Amplifier
- Continuous Power: 200W into 8/4 Ohms
- Dynamic Power: 300W into 8 Ohms, 550W into 4 Ohms
- 32-BIT/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC
- 1GHz ARM® CORTEX A9 Processor
- Dirac Live Room Correction
- Color TFT touch display
- Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Voice Control Skills
- AirPlay 2 Integration
- Supports Siri Voice Assistant via AirPlay 2 Two-way Qualcomm aptX® HD Bluetooth
- BluOS multi-room compatible
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Dual Band Wi-Fi 5 a/c/n
- HDMI eARC, USB Type A Input
- MM Phono Input
- 2 x Line Inputs
- AES/EBU XLR
- All digital inputs 24-bit/192 kHz capable
- 2 x Optical Inputs
- 2 x Coax Inputs
- XLR Balanced Line Input
- Preamp Output
- Two Independent Subwoofer outputs, with selectable Crossover Frequency
- High Current Headphone Out
- 2 x MDC Slots for Future Expansion
- IR Input
- 12V Trigger In, 2 x12V Trigger Out
- Apps for iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows,Crestron, Control4, RTI, URC, Elan, Lutron, iPort, KNX
- Wide variety of premium music services supported in App, including Amazon Music HD, Spotify,Tidal, Qobuz, TuneIn, Napster, Deezer, and many others
Price & Availability
The NAD Masters Series M33 is available now for $4999 at Crutchfield / €4999 / £3999 MSRP.
