Stereophile Review of NAD M2

cloudbaseracer · « **on:** 22 Feb 2010, 01:14 am »

Hey guys,

Just wanted to get your thoughts on this amp. Have any of you heard it yourselves or read the review and have anything to comment?

I am very interested in this piece of gear and the reviewer seems to state that it is as good as any amp out there! If I remember the statement correctly, anyway

Thanks,

James

K Shep · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 01:29 am »

A local dealer is waiting on their demo unit. I will give it a listen as soon as they set it up (San Francisco).

turkey · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 02:10 pm »

It's interesting, but I still haven't heard any Class D amps that sound good, and I'm not hopeful that this one will be different.

It's also rather expensive. I can think of a number of linear amps that are excellent and much less expensive.

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 02:28 pm »

Quote from: turkey on 22 Feb 2010, 02:10 pm

It's interesting, but I still haven't heard any Class D amps that sound good, and I'm not hopeful that this one will be different.

It's also rather expensive. I can think of a number of linear amps that are excellent and much less expensive.

Supposedly it doesn't sound like other Class D amps. If you read the review, it also isn't your "normal" Class D amp.

Also keep in mind that this isn't just an amp, it is an amp, preamp, and dac. Given that, the $6,000 price tag doesn't seem bad at all.

Both the Stereophile and The Absolute Sound reviews were extremely positive and both thought that the M2 played way above its price point.

George

K Shep · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 02:30 pm »

Quote from: turkey on 22 Feb 2010, 02:10 pm

It's interesting, but I still haven't heard any Class D amps that sound good, and I'm not hopeful that this one will be different.

It's also rather expensive. I can think of a number of linear amps that are excellent and much less expensive.

The benefit of the M2 is the built in DAC and the fact its an integrated amp. I agree it is expensive but NAD and Musical Fidelity are producing all in one products - i.e. integrated amp/DAC units. Perhaps this is a direction other mfgs will follow.

stereocilia · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 02:35 pm »

I thought the Tact Millennium (the first "power dac") driving Dali loudspeakers at the stereophile show in Chicago '99 was among the very best-sounding rooms. I'm surprised it has taken so long for somebody else to come up with this design.

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 02:40 pm »

No need to re-hash the whole Class D does not sound good or sounds like such and such. It is clear from all the literature and technical information available that this is NOT the class D we have all heard. It is NOT analog but a true digital amp.

The TacT is somewhat similar in that it is a full digital amp as well and NEVER converts to analog - other than the PWM that the speaker sees. It seems like this newest version is quite a step up however.

Personally I love the concept and that is why I have the Panasonic amps in my system. They use the same Texas Instruments Equi-Bit technology as in the TacT.

Jeffr1966 · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 04:03 pm »

would have been VERY interested to see a comparison between the NAD and a Tact ... Tact has been doing this for YEARS and less expensively even when you add the analog card. also Tact has very sophisticated romm correction vs the presets of the NAD. learning curve with the Tact is MUCH higher though

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 04:16 pm »

If one is able to read between the lines of the two major reviews- it seems that this NAD is far superior to the TacT or most anything else out there for under 20k or so.

Do you guys see the same thing? I just kind of guessed on the 20k but it seems appropriate. Possibly more?

zybar · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 05:38 pm »

Quote from: Jeffr1966 on 22 Feb 2010, 04:03 pm

would have been VERY interested to see a comparison between the NAD and a Tact ... Tact has been doing this for YEARS and less expensively even when you add the analog card. also Tact has very sophisticated romm correction vs the presets of the NAD. learning curve with the Tact is MUCH higher though

Actually, the TacT is more expensive when you add in the necessary cards that give it the same capabilities in regards to analog inputs and outputs.

Of course the TacT has the room correction functionality that the NAD doesn't.

George

turkey · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 05:53 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 22 Feb 2010, 05:38 pm

Of course the TacT has the room correction functionality that the NAD doesn't.

There are some doubts as to the worth of this type of "room correction" anyway, so it's probably not a big deal.

RUR · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 06:13 pm »

Quote from: turkey on 22 Feb 2010, 05:53 pm

There are some doubts as to the worth of this type of "room correction" anyway, so it's probably not a big deal.

Not a big deal to some, a very big deal to others.

I've not read the Stereophile article. Is there a direct comparison to TacT and, if so, to which product? M 2150XDM would seem a more apt comparison than, say, a 2.2XP.

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 06:16 pm »

But have you heard similar comments on the TacT as what the NAD is receiving? I do not believe that I have. I did some pretty extensive research on the Tact amps a year or so ago and do not remember anything of this high praise. Most of the reviews on them were old anyway.

I wonder if the NAD would be a no go with something like the Vandersteen 5's since they have a analog crossover? A Vandersteen dealer that sells NAD as well (does not have the M2 yet) stated that it would not work. I am sure he meant in the full digital mode. It would not make sense to use the M2 in analog. How sweet would it be though to just have one box for the Vandy 5's and a modified Squeezebox Duet with the digital section all nice and gooey?

Simplistic Heaven?

briang · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 07:02 pm »

I listened to a demo of the M2 with the Focal Scala Utopias and I was very impressed. Actually, it was one of the best store demos I have ever heard. The dealer is in St. Pete, Florida. I then had a chance to listen to both products separately at the 2010 CES show and was not nearly as impressed. The M2 was mated to the PSB Synchrony Ones.

RUR · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 07:03 pm »

TacT has received a number of favorable reviews, including a TAS Golden Ear in '07 for the 2.2XP preamp/processor (largely due to it's superb RC). The 2150 amp was reviewed in Stereo Times 10/03, after its release. Yes, that's a few years ago, and I suppose that can be construed as TacT product being hopelessly obsolete or as being ahead of its time. I'd certainly like to read more discussion on the merits of the two different volume control techniques.

Personally, I find this new NAD to be very intriguing, if only as another signpost of things to come (TacT and Behold the earlier products).

zybar · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 07:19 pm »

Quote from: cloudbaseracer on 22 Feb 2010, 06:16 pm

But have you heard similar comments on the TacT as what the NAD is receiving? I do not believe that I have. I did some pretty extensive research on the Tact amps a year or so ago and do not remember anything of this high praise. Most of the reviews on them were old anyway.

I wonder if the NAD would be a no go with something like the Vandersteen 5's since they have a analog crossover? A Vandersteen dealer that sells NAD as well (does not have the M2 yet) stated that it would not work. I am sure he meant in the full digital mode. It would not make sense to use the M2 in analog. How sweet would it be though to just have one box for the Vandy 5's and a modified Squeezebox Duet with the digital section all nice and gooey?

Simplistic Heaven?

I don't think that the M2 would work with Vandy 5A's or 7's due to the external hi-pass filter that is used. The hi-pass filter goes between the preamp and amp(s) in a traditional setup. I don't know how you would do this with the M2 (or any integrated amp).

George

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 07:45 pm »

Quote from: RUR on 22 Feb 2010, 07:03 pm

Personally, I find this new NAD to be very intriguing, if only as another signpost of things to come (TacT and Behold the earlier products).

I have not heard very much mentioned of the Behold. I have searched and searched to try and find the type/manufacturer of the technology they use. Do you know what it is? At least with the TacT and NAD they tell you so you know it is not a B&O or some other analog class D but truly a digital section.

Jeffr1966 · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 08:32 pm »

actually the Tact 2150 even in its full blown room correction/analog card mode is LESS expensive than the NAD ($5500 vs $5900) AND if you don't need the Room Correction package, the price drops to $5000 or less depending on whether you want a unit with the volume wheel. Tact has updated their software a number of times so while the physical characteristics may be the same, it is not the same amp is was when first released.

PLUS there is a brand new T2 unit which would be @ $3000 with analog card - half the price of the NAD

I have only heard and own the M2150 version like it a lot! I am amazed neither Tact nor NAD has introduced something with USB digital inputs. Seems both are really missing the boat there.

cloudbaseracer · « **Reply #18 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 08:40 pm »

USB digital AND CAT 5 would be really cool.

RUR · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Feb 2010, 09:41 pm »

Quote from: cloudbaseracer on 22 Feb 2010, 07:45 pm

I have not heard very much mentioned of the Behold. I have searched and searched to try and find the type/manufacturer of the technology they use. Do you know what it is? At least with the TacT and NAD they tell you so you know it is not a B&O or some other analog class D but truly a digital section.

Their (english) website http://www.behold.eu/page.php?en332100 is pretty sparse and most of what I think I know came from the TWBAS AVS thread and articles. Since their amp is ~$50K, I don't lose much sleep over it.