Experiences with NAD M51 DAC

I have a NAD M51. Good DAC for sure, excellent value for money and I cant really think of anything at its price or cheaper that beats it - the Metrum is as good and a bit cheaper - but not better. It is beatable by stuff slightly more expensive like the Chord Qute HD and certainly by much more expensive stuff like the Playback Designs playing DSD.

Nothing touches it for connectivity however - its HDMI inputs are supurb for two channel Home Theatre and I would never think of getting rid of it.

Thanks
Bill

Not enough superlatives having owned many other top DACs.

I have owned both. The NAD offers considerably more detail at the expense of texture. Both benefit substantially from a good convertor. I use the Stello U3.

A solid step up from both is the Metrum Hex, which I now own.

Good to hear you made the right choice for your system, that's all that matters. And when your kids go to college, there are always the active SCM50/100s!

It is beatable by stuff slightly more expensive like the Chord Qute HD

The NAD M51 is actually the more expensive DAC. The Chord QuteHD is actually $200 cheaper than the NAD, at least here in the US.