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The NAD M33 will cancel your complaints about Class D

There are many reasons to like one type of sound over another. Even among what are considered very good amplifiers there’s a broad range of tastes and preferences among audiophiles. Just ask a SET aficionado!

However, no class is more maligned, inappropriately, than Class D. To hear some regulars tell it, Class D sound will thin your blood, make your teeth fall out and ruin your enjoyment of just about everything because it sounds so (fill in a lot of tropes from the 1980’s here).

I’ve been listening to NAD’s prior collaboration with Bruno Putzy and I can tell with some confidence that none of those tired old tropes apply. For reasons related much more to tonal balance than anything else, I’m sticking with Class A/B in my main system, but with the introduction of the next gen Anthem AVR receivers and the NAD M33 I may be making the switch back to class D.

You don’t have to like the M33 or the Anthem’s but can we at least agree that it’s time to retire the old guard of reasons not to buy Class D? Lets lay those poor phantoms to rest.
erik_squires

Showing 4 responses by anotherbob

anotherbob's avatar
anotherbob
344 posts
 
I’m betting many of those bashing or dismissing the NAD M33 have not actually heard one, (they are backordered most places) much less did a direct comparison with their preferred unit(s). It has won numerous awards and has had great reviews. I actually have one and it sounds freaking amazing over my admittedly mid-fi SVS Prime Pinnacle speakers. It is absolutely NOT lean, and it sounds better to me without the full Dirac room correction implemented, probably because I’ve got a decent amount of physical room correction in my listening room already. It is also somewhat future “proofed” with two bays available for new hardware. Flawless streaming, too.

And geez teo_audio....do you think you could say more with less rambling?!
anotherbob's avatar
anotherbob
344 posts
 
This was the conclusion to that review:

”All in all, NAD shows the path to superb performance in integrated products. It however stops a bit short of what it could be.

Overall, I am happy to recommend the NAD M33.Just miss the bit of performance it left on the table.”

I’m betting NAD has another trick up it’s sleeve, maybe a power amp using the same technology without the “performance left on the table.”
anotherbob's avatar
anotherbob
344 posts
 
I still say, many throwing shade on the M33 have not actually heard it, most that have love it, many with way more experience in the hobby than me.  The real benefit and a quote that is overlooked is that his objective is to “remove a zero” from the cost of superior amplification.  He has.
anotherbob's avatar
anotherbob
344 posts
 
Kw6- listen to a NAD M33 and then honestly tell me it’s got great detail “but thinner than real life.”  That has not been my experience AT ALL!  Not even close.  All the reviews I have read (rightfully) praise it’s outstanding sound. I’m listening on decidedly mid-fi SVS Prime Pinnacle speakers, I’m not a “Golden-Ear” by any stretch, but I know when I hear great sound, and this thing has it.  Seriously considering getting some used Maggie’s and taking the system down to the more generously sized basement man cave, I’m sure they would sound amazing with the 33.
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