New 35 bits DAC/Preamp/Upsampler from NAD

Phil A · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 Feb 2012, 02:29 am »

With inputs for HDMI, I kind of wish it did DSD. I guess it would have come at a premium - I think the new Levinson DAC is $6k?

Trazom · « **Reply #21 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 01:14 pm »

... btw here's an excellent review on French Haute Fidelité 175 2/2012 ...

Modernity, innovation and musicality, that's enough to delight any audiophile DAC possessor. It stands out brilliantly from the competition ...

http://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2012/01/30/nad-m51-haute-fidelite-174-fevrier-2012/

toddbagwell · « **Reply #22 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 02:17 pm »

I think the link might be broken, I couldn't get to the review, maybe try posting again.

todd

MoonUnit · « **Reply #23 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 03:33 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 10 Feb 2012, 02:29 am

With inputs for HDMI, I kind of wish it did DSD. I guess it would have come at a premium - I think the new Levinson DAC is $6k?

It doesn't do DSD, but it does accept SACD at relatively high resolution (88 kHz), provided that you have a screen attached for HDMI handshaking.

Trazom · « **Reply #24 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 04:15 pm »

Quote from: Trazom on 31 Mar 2012, 01:14 pm

... btw here's an excellent review on French Haute Fidelité 175 2/2012 ...

Modernity, innovation and musicality, that's enough to delight any audiophile DAC possessor. It stands out brilliantly from the competition ...

http://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2012/01/30/nad-m51-haute-fidelite-174-fevrier-2012/

Trazom · « **Reply #25 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 04:16 pm »

Quote from: toddbagwell on 31 Mar 2012, 02:17 pm

I think the link might be broken, I couldn't get to the review, maybe try posting again.

todd

sorry

here we are

http://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2012/01/30/nad-m51-haute-fidelite-174-fevrier-2012/

enjoy - it's very good indeed ...

firedog · « **Reply #26 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 05:14 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 10 Feb 2012, 02:29 am

With inputs for HDMI, I kind of wish it did DSD. I guess it would have come at a premium - I think the new Levinson DAC is $6k?

Have you seen the Mytek 192 DSD DAC? Does native DSD and costs about $1600. Has gotten rave reviews.

firedog · « **Reply #27 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 05:21 pm »

Quote from: dwk on 10 Feb 2012, 01:45 am

844kHz refers to the PWM frequency, not an intermediate PCM frequency.

Yes, you guys need to read about the new NAD M series DACs before making comments. They are "true digital", which is something different than what we are used to in conventional DACs. Read about how the NAD technology works, and then make comments: http://nadelectronics.com/download.php?100218092123-M2-white-paper-EU-Web.pdf|White%20Paper%20-%20M2%20Direct%20Digital%20Amplifier

As far as the sound of upsampling - you can certainly have your opinion about whether you like it or not. But just keep in mind that almost all modern DAC chips upsample the signal as part of their processing (even if they aren't called upsampling DACs). Unless you are running a DAC with older NOS chips, your DAC is probably upsampling.

Phil A · « **Reply #28 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 05:54 pm »

Quote from: firedog on 31 Mar 2012, 05:14 pm

Have you seen the Mytek 192 DSD DAC? Does native DSD and costs about $1600. Has gotten rave reviews.

I've seen it but not sure how it works as it seems to have analog inputs from the pictures I've seen. Been waiting for Ted B's review.

firedog · « **Reply #29 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 06:04 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 31 Mar 2012, 05:54 pm

I've seen it but not sure how it works as it seems to have analog inputs from the pictures I've seen. Been waiting for Ted B's review.

No, it has all the usual digital inputs, including asynch USB up to 24/192. (It also has analog inputs in the preamp section - it's a DAC/Pre). Ted has made it his main DAC (B/c he listens to lots of DSD) but says it is very good with PCM also.

Phil A · « **Reply #30 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 07:23 pm »

Quote from: firedog on 31 Mar 2012, 06:04 pm

No, it has all the usual digital inputs, including asynch USB up to 24/192. (It also has analog inputs in the preamp section - it's a DAC/Pre). Ted has made it his main DAC (B/c he listens to lots of DSD) but says it is very good with PCM also.

I guess my question was how it gets DSD from the transport with the usual digital inputs. I did not see HDMI. I know that Ted might be ripping discs with a PS3. The Levinson DAC I referred to earlier I hear will have HDMI (or at least that is what they said in a press release a few months back).

wilsynet · « **Reply #31 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 07:51 pm »

You can rip ISOs from SACDs using the PS3, or download DSD files from a handful of music download sites. Blue Coast Records has really gone out of its way to spread the word on DSD, and I think there are a few other places starting to offer DSD downloads now too.

From there, you can (say) use Audirvana+ to send a DSD stream to the Mytek via USB.

Phil A · « **Reply #32 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 07:56 pm »

Thanks, that's what I kind of thought looking at the digital inputs on the back of the unit. I have looked at the PS3 thing and probably sent some questions out to people selling on Craigslist (most the time not answered or not what I need) but have not gotten to that point yet. I am curious as to what the Levinson DAC will be like (I think it will be $6k list).

wisnon · « **Reply #33 on:** 31 Mar 2012, 08:26 pm »

Mytek DAC has been thoroughly discussed over at computeraudiophile.com forum. It will play pure DSD via USB or firewire, using the dCS protocol, where a 24/176 signal is sent, where the first 8 bits tell the Mytek if its DSD (encapsulated in 16/176) or really a PCM 24/176 signal and the Mytek treats it accordingly.

In PS3 ripping, any type of format can be extracted, ie, pure DSD 2 ch, 5.1 surround, or ANY res of PCM from 16/44 to 24/192!

Finally, for those interested in the astounding M51, please see the post by a Scandi dealer over at the Aussie forum:

First of all i am Hifinut and work as a hifisalesman in Scandinavia and also sell Nad. I wanted you guys to know that so you know where i´am coming from.

When i read about the Nad M51 i hade already had the M2 in my store, i got very exited about it as i have been about the M2. But i´ve been very frustrated about the whole thing, as the uptake has not been what i was expecting, much of that has been by caused no reviews and not nearly enough units for sale.

So i got very happy when i saw this thread! Finally some fellows that figured it out

I got something to tell you the about them (M2 M51 C390dd) to guys that have them, try to isolate them from other components electricaly with a good screened powercable preferable with filtering in it or in the powerstrip. Doing that should produce clerly better sound, i was experimenting with different setups and that i noticed about them. Also burn in time was 300 h(M2) before i really started smiling like an idiot! Also if you can dont bother shutting them down expecially the first 2 weeks, they usually sound better after 45 minutes.

I ´d love for anyone to try some of that stuff.

Rclark · « **Reply #34 on:** 4 Apr 2012, 07:43 pm »

I have a ps3, but I'm curious as to why one would choose it over any other computer for ripping a disc. Doesn't it make more sense to do it with your PC or laptop where the music will be used?

dwk · « **Reply #35 on:** 4 Apr 2012, 08:17 pm »

Quote from: Rclark on 4 Apr 2012, 07:43 pm

I have a ps3, but I'm curious as to why one would choose it over any other computer for ripping a disc. Doesn't it make more sense to do it with your PC or laptop where the music will be used?

Because the PS3 with appropriate firmware is the ONLY way to get access to the DSD content on SACDs.

Update on the M51.

First, I managed to lock it up requiring me to unplug it to reset. I think this happened due to an HDMI handshake being initiated when the NAD was still initializaing. No apparent harm done, but it was a bit disconcerting.

Second, I have it hooked up to some speakers for the first time. M51-> Class-D SDS-224 -> ProAc Super Tablettes. This is in our TV setup, so the HDMI inputs are paying dividends - I have our DirectTV box hooked up and it's working well so far. For music, I have the SB3 playing over optical and it sounds absolutely fantastic.

wilsynet · « **Reply #36 on:** 4 Apr 2012, 11:30 pm »

If I understand this correctly ...

SACD is typically encrypted.

The first 2 generations of the PS3 was equipped with a SACD specific chip that could read encrypted SACD content. Then what happened was the PS3 was cracked / compromised, which meant that people could gain privileged access to PS3 internals and load their own software. Because the PS3 already had native capability to read SACD content, the cracking of the PS3 effectively unlocked raw access to SACDs.

However, there is no software only reader for SACDs, and I am not aware of any other SACD devices which are both capable of being reprogrammed by the user and have been cracked by the greater hacking community.

Hence, currently the PS3 is the only way by which you can rip an SACD.

I believe the PS3 model numbers that support this begin with: CECHB, CECHA, CECHC, and CECHE.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #37 on:** 4 Apr 2012, 11:35 pm »

If I was an hacker, I could thank you for this valuable information to do piracy.

Tyson · « **Reply #38 on:** 5 Apr 2012, 12:01 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 4 Apr 2012, 11:35 pm

If I was an hacker, I could thank you for this valuable information to do piracy.

If you were a hacker, you would already know it.

Phil A · « **Reply #39 on:** 5 Apr 2012, 02:37 am »

Quote from: wisnon on 31 Mar 2012, 08:26 pm

Mytek DAC has been thoroughly discussed over at computeraudiophile.com forum. It will play pure DSD via USB or firewire, using the dCS protocol, where a 24/176 signal is sent, where the first 8 bits tell the Mytek if its DSD (encapsulated in 16/176) or really a PCM 24/176 signal and the Mytek treats it accordingly.

Has anyone tried the firewire with an old ilink player? I do have a Marantz DV9600 which has it.