NAD M33 Streaming DAC/Amp Lab Report

Lab Report

Tested via its analogue line input, the M33's power output and distortion rather depend on the position of the volume control because the input ADC (sampling at 48kHz-192kHz/24-bit) can clip before the output. At a volume setting between 0dB and –6dB distortion is 0.0005% (very close to NAD's specification) but falls still further to 0.0003% between –6dB and –12dB on the numeric readout (all for the same 1kHz/1W/8ohm output). However, with the volume at –12dB the max. power output is just 2x77W/8ohm because the input clips first, while between –6dB and 0dB it is 2x220W/8ohm and 2x430W/4ohm. True to tradition, and despite being a Class D amp, NAD has engineered some useful headroom into the M33 which supports peaks of 261W, 515W and 815W into 8, 4 and 2ohm loads with 502W/1ohm limited by current protection (22.4A). Note how there is no abrupt clipping point but, instead, maximum power is 'feathered' as it approaches 1% THD [Graph 1]. This is the modern-day equivalent of NAD's 'Soft Clipping'.

The digital performance is equally impressive with vanishingly low 0.00004-0.0003% distortion from 20Hz-20kHz [see Graph 2] and jitter suppressed to <10psec across all sample rates. Frequency response(s) via the digital inputs necessarily scale with input sampling rate reaching ±0.02dB/20kHz, –0.35dB/45kHz and –1.3dB/90kHz with 48kHz, 96kHz and 192kHz media, respectively. These are exceptionally flat and extended responses even though the 83dB stopband rejection suggests the linear phase digital filtering is not overly aggressive. Moreover, low-level linearity is good to within ±0.1dB over a 100dB dynamic range while the A-wtd S/N is a very fine 110dB. PM

920nadm33.lab1

Dynamic power output versus distortion into 8ohm (black trace), 4ohm (red), 2ohm (blue) and 1ohm (green) speaker loads. Max. current is 22.4A

920nadm33.lab2

Distortion vs. 48kHz/24-bit digital signal level (1kHz, black; 20kHz, blue). Note expanded 140dB scale

Continuous power (<1% THD, 8/4ohm) 220W / 430W
Dynamic power (<1% THD, 8/4/2/1ohm) 261W / 515W / 815W / 502W
Output impedance (20Hz–20kHz) 0.006–0.009ohm (95ohm/pre)
Freq. response (20Hz–20kHz / 90kHz) –0.01 to –0.19dB / –12.5dB
Digital jitter (48kHz/96kHz, 0dBW) <5psec / 8psec
A-wtd S/N ratio (re. 0dBW/0dBFs) 94.0dB (Analogue) / 109.6dB (Dig)
Dist. (20Hz-20kHz; 0dBW/–20dBFs) 0.0002-0.003%/0.00004-0.0003%
Power consumption (idle/rated o/p) 32W / 446W (29W standby)
Dimensions (WHD) / Weight 435x133x396mm / 9.7kg
Price £3999

COMPANY INFO
NAD Electronics International
Canada
Supplied by: Sevenoaks Sound and Vision, UK
01732 459555
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