★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/2HzEgKY**, **bit.ly/36md9fA**, **bit.ly/3IV3xuq* ★ *QOTD: What does perfect in HiFi mean for YOU?* ★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Awesome video... I wish I could afford it. Hey @andrew robinson I have the denon s960h and I just realized as I was hooking to up I have no pre-amp outs! Could I still have hook up an amplifier down the road? Is there a way thanks.
Perfect HiFi for me is great sound (not hard to attain anymore) and features and ease of use that fit my use case. Trial and error is involved but lots of money really isn’t.
I'm gonna do this rant. I love me some technical showmanship, however. The example I always go back to is this. Motown would used car speakers in the final mix. I've seen Jack white use an FM transmitter and sit outside in the car. Generally, in all mediums, a good artist has taken into consideration the environment of the audience. The best HiFi setup is going to be the one the artist most closely intended you to experience it on. One does not dictate the other but they are definitely influenced by each other.
Perfection in Hifi means to me , getting some good equipments and find the sound the you like , not having the latest gears or most expensive ones . Perfection does not exist. Sometimes we are tricked by our own brain who is always asking for more . Just like photography , the art of painting and drawing, my hifi system is just starting a journey in the art of music and sound . You do not need the latest cameras, the latest amps . Please do not forget the manufactures are releasing them base on our demands as consumers .
Kristie, I hope you feel the love and care that the vast majority of your subscribers have for you. You are an essential part of this channel, and by extension of our audiophile life. Rest, relax, embrace our love, and please return when ready.
I just came from spending the better part of a month in the hospital due to covid, and following your reviews and keeping up with all the content was one of those things that helped the time in the hospital go by a whole lot easier. You and Kristi are greatly appreciated.
Hi Kristi. Missed you in this review. Andrew is awesome but I think you’ve become a much-loved and must-watch part of his channel. I didn’t see the Steve Guttenberg video but I hope you’re OK. Do what you need to do - take care of yourself. I can only share my experience being a Vietnamese immigrant who somehow found his way into the White-dominated advertising agency world where I had a lot of nay-sayers and doubters. Even when I founded my own agency, I still encountered haters. All I can say is, don’t let them stop you from doing what you want to do. Again, whatever you want to do, I’m sure this community and fans of this channel will support you 100%.
I have had the M33 for the past year and a half using it with a pair of Klipsch La Scala II's. I love the clarity and sound stage. I close my eyes and I can pick out every instrument's position. The tone is perfect. If it is too perfect, I am loving it.
Normally I don't comment on videos especially when it comes to ridiculous RUclips drama but I just want to add my little two cents here... It takes a lot of work and skill to put together professional looking reviews like you and Kristi create and I appreciate it. I also appreciate how both of you have managed to create this level of professionalism and still keep the channel fun and personable - not an easy thing, especially with almost a quarter of million people subscribing. Please keep doing what you're doing, the way that you do it, and don't worry about angry less talented people who lash out, they don't do what you do because they can't.
I sincerely appreciate your remarks Steven and understand that you didn't need to make them. I too am not into the drama and frankly wish others would keep us out of it, but I understand that as we grow, so too does the spotlight, which makes us easy and often advantageous targets. But we're doing our best here to just keep putting one foot in front of the other because at the end of the day, that's what being professional really looks like.
Writing as someone who owns the NAD M33, and has been listening to it steady since I took possession in early May, I was very interested to watch this review. As always, you provide viewers with a tightly written narrative that is engaging and entertaining. However, I have to say that I could not disagree more with your main conclusion - that the M33 detracts from an emotional connection with the music. I consider myself a ‘music first’ HiFi enthusiast for whom the gear is a means to an end, not the end itself. I can say, without hesitation, that the M33 has delivered. The Dirac system has improved the poor sonics in my living, delivering a deeper and more expressive low end, while the Eigentakt amplifier delivers a soundstage that is wide and detailed, allowing for a sense of space that is extraordinary on superior recordings (both digital and vinyl). I find myself listening more and for longer stretches of time. This is not an amp that is bright or tiring. It rewards intense listening. Many reviewers, yourself included, use the term ‘transparent’ when praising equipment. In this case, however, I believe your considerable rhetorical skills animate an unstated trope about how class D amplifiers lack ‘warmth,’ or ‘soul.’ To your credit you admit that your review is subjective, but I would respectfully submit that your clever framing of the video around the value of ‘perfection’ is a good example of a strawman argument. Perfection - as you admit - doesn’t exist, but it is used here to invoke a contrast between digital tech and emotion that is not substantiated by the rest of your review. All the best, JC.
@James Compton, I sincerely appreciate you sharing your personal experiences and feelings and no doubt others share your point of view. I just didn't personally feel the same. I'm glad you are enjoying your M33. That's all that matters.
Thanks for your comments. The M33 is on the top of my buy list and I have been waiting excitedly to place my order. Andrew's review has somewhat derailed me and I am now hesitating...so thanks for your positive feedback. I don't have the opportunity for a demo but I think it would be a safer bet to wait until I can get one.
@@marcfoss7687 Another excellent option: Order the Creek Voyage i20 amp (Class G - not D - from 50 watts upwards) with the Atoll ST300 Signature as your source device for Hi-Res streaming. It sounds the part on Focal Sopra 1 + Sopra SW 1000 (or on the Sopra)😊
I've had the M33 for around a month now...and I totally love it. That said, I do know what Andrew means by it almost being 'too perfect'. That said, you can still tailor the sound with the speakers you pair it with. The amp itself is just so perfectly clean and transparent it's unbelievable. Let's face it, much of the 'character or soul' people sometimes like are just flaws. if you want gear with 'character' there are no shortage of options. If you want a do everything integrated that is utterly clean in it's presentation the M33 is it. From a feature and usability perspective it really is unmatched. If you are a minimalist like me, it really is a great solution.
I know exactly what he means, the amp isn't putting in it's own flavor or dynamic touch. Audio enthusiasts have always strived for that perfect neutral and its funny because we have gotten there and now people enjoy the coloration or the "warmth" of tube gear. I really belive Andrew was impressed that the NAD was excellent in its linear performance but it just needed a little character.
That’s why I no longer rely on reviewers for my decision-making. I just go with what sounds great to my ears. I drool every time I look at the M33. One day is one day!
It really felt like something was missing in the video with no Kristi talk in the end D; great review as always :) I own the T778 and is super happy with the touch screen/design also.
I agree - I miss Kristi's always excellent input, but given the BS that happened this week, I totally understand. Send Kristi my fullest support and I truly hope that she knows how amazing she is!
@@jonuiuc I did not see the video in question, but from what I understand, there was an interview on Steve Guttenberg's channel where the interviewee said some sexist things against Kristi. Steve has since removed the video, so I haven't been able to see it myself.
Well, I bought it. Frankly, it’s freaking fantastic to my ears. What I really appreciate is how, with dirac, I can not only optimise for my room acoustics, but, given the possibility to define several dirac profiles, one can tailor the sound to somewhat compensate for shitty recordings, such as old, flat and bright ones. And despite this, the sound remains crystal clear and the stereo image unaffected. So I can now listen to some of my old favorites without stuffing cotton wool into my ears ;-) Bass control is mind blowing and it has bags of power - it just gets louder without straining. So, as I said, to my ears, heaven.
Hope Kristi is ok. Don't want her to think that those dickheads are representative of everyone watching, but also understand why she would want to have some space. Her contributions and the unscripted chats between the two of you are some of the best things about the channel.
@@OnitsukaTiger82 Read about what happened in the Community section. On Steve Guttenberg's channel, there was a weasel putting down Andrew and especially Kristi while Guttenberg seemed to laugh (the video was taken down eventually). It's sad when there are nut-jobs out there that put down people in the stereo review world due to their own petty jealousies or insecurities.
It really does go to show how much personal taste comes into things. I A/B tested the M33 alongside the Naim Uniti Nova through some large Focal Choras in a store listening room last week (yes, I know these speakers are probably not the highest spec for this) and I absolutely LOVED the sound of the M33. Totally loved it. Thought it was the best amp I’d ever laid my ears on! If it wasn’t for its high price I would’ve bought one there and then. The Nova sounded great but when switched to the NAD the music changed to another level altogether.
We want Kristi back. I do not know if issue with Steve Guttenberg interview (I did not see it) has something to do with her absence but we want here back. I think you two found perfect formula for reviews on your channel. First you "expert" opinion and after that you two chat about impressions of "regular" person. We love it.
Hi, watching your review after i've bought my m33 is interesting and helpful to me because it helps me to think and understand myself a little bit better. After nearly one year of use, the m33 does strange things to me and my listening and how i connect to the music. First, i really needed to understand Dirac and how it belongs to my listen. One part of dirac is the EQ function, where the most people start with, solving or at least maybe understanding and think about their room issues and maybe also get deeper to really create "their" sound or their "moodsetup".. No device swapping, just by a click. The neutrality of this amp really brings the fundament to make this possible, all other amps with their static outbound-filters-colors produces always the same sound, independent of the music or the speaker, there is no communication between the ampspeakerroom in the analog world, totally static, it is how it is. this results into looking for a new amp after a while, when the first glimmer drops down, or the speaker stops to shine or both. Not so on the m33 Because it no-coloration at the outbound filters, it gives the listers the stage and this is a really longterm benefit in my view. The next big thing on the m33 and most of the users might not realise this normally, is the other side on the Dirac setup, the timesync from the speakers output to your listening position especially in Stereo. Once you realize this, you are out from everything else! When the measurement was done propertly you are able to walk with your ears in between the artists and the microphones. Especially on old vinyls records, you are in the room where it happens and whre it was recorded, not in front, or at the seat, nope ..you are in between the microphones where the music flows into and understand it. That is something i've never ever expericed in my live before at that level. The sound is so real Stereo, not as most of the other amps ..music from the left.. music from the right..Some says the hegel does it too, but not if you are not perfectly seated! with this m33, the magic that the sound is not coming from the speakers but from a virtual center that can be archieved with any "normal" priced speaker. I've only expirenced this picuture of music before with the AA Trio G3. They are super big and the sweetspot is very narrow , but when it fits, it fits! Same possible with the m33 when it fits, you see the artist, the distance and arrangement between the piano, the Bass, the Drums and the guitar because of the microphonie of the recording and how the m33 makes is timecorrection to you listening position BUT with are far wider listening position tolerance and for % of the costs like the Trio G3 setup with 2 SUBs and the house that you need to place them in. With the m33 and integrated Dirac_Filters This level of immersion, totally absorbs me, the music that i hear today and how the m33 control the soundscape and stage changes my personal listening forever with all my floorstanders i try. To be precise, the EQ and Bass control is not the only big bang .. its the underestimated timecorrection together with the EQ and therefore the really stereo picture it the magic. Please keep in mind that really many people outside are not able to build the perfect speaker triangle or even think about it so they will never ever have a stereoexperice..just music from the left,,music from the right.with more or less bass, hight, middles. They might can not change the furniture so they have to change everything at the hifi Equipment until it matches somehow... and then getting bored at someday because of the static output-filters on their amp, and than the story begins again. not so with the m33, either in small, or in big rooms when people move from city to city or with tinybookshelfs or big bloody booster speaker. now you can always reproduce the sound how you like it..not the room, not the speaker, not the amp.. just the music and all at small energy-cost especially for people like me who listen all day long, late at night or watching tv. So my concern here is that something like the m33 could not compared to the analog world, it's a new class of listening experince. i've also like the particular sound of hifi Equipment,, but more i like the music i've listen to. Some sound-united stereo-devices now come around with dirac.. but still with their classic outbound-filter colouration. Modern TV based on OLED primary separates their quality with their ability to create deepest as possible "black"-"silence" therefore contrast around the silience, this is something you get with the purifies ET hardware, clear guitars, cellos, pianos, really not heard before in the combination with the time-correction.. it's getting more to start listening with brain and ears, not only with hips & and foot, just change just the filter raise the level to *rock-the-block* ;-) and if this is not enough, just bridge an m23 to it at 700W full, i mean really full control, no fluttering bass, just trousers. I am really, really interested how or with what kind of technologiy this can be topped. This kind of hardware shifts us as music lovers more to real integrated re-users instand of dump consumer replacing hifi-HW all day long.. but this are only my thoughts and opinion ;-)
NAD is among 1 of the most under-rated components in the hifi industry. Many audiophiles even referring to NAD as midfi. Not sure what's to dislike about a neutral sounding integrated amp like the M33. What you also get is a DAC, Dirac and a streamer. I was looking at McIntosh and Anthem for my next upgrade but I then I have to spend upwards $2000 for a streamer. Why? There's absolutely nothing wrong with NAD's streaming. The M33 is like a Porsche which does everything so perfectly well, some arguing too well and that its too clinical and lifeless. I beg to differ!
Great review but just like in the M33 something is missing. Truly miss Kristi's take but I completely understand if she takes a break. Hope she return soon. Enjoy your Sunday.
@NeverDoubtMe23, you clearly don't listen very closely, or you aren't interested in a different point of view. She often disagrees with me, or at a minimum lets others know it's okay to disagree with me and like something I may not have. We often do not see eye to eye. Just because the last few videos we have, is not the totality of her contribution make.
Was hoping to see Kristi's take on it, always a fun and candid conversation. Hope the negativity dint deter her from being on your channel. Awesome work as always.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I didn't know anything about this, but have unsubscribed from Guttenberg's channel having read the chatter. The internet is a toxic place sometimes - whatever one's opinions there's no place for abuse or denigration, there's no excuse to be personal. Hope Kristi's doing OK.
With all due respect it sounds as though you’re reaching for something to dislike with the M33. A straight neutral amp sounds like exactly what one would want.
Now I have been using m33 for several months. I’m not an expert, not an audiophile. And I pretty much like it. No cons for my usage (digital music via Roon + games on PS5 + TV). No issues. Sometimes it loses connection but maybe it’s my wi-fi. Dirac makes VERY BIG difference in sound. It’s really killer feature. Just my noob experience)
I really hope Kristi is back soon. When i was watching today and i realized the video was almost over and you hadn't asked Kristi for her take i was really bummed out. I can't stress enough what a huge contribution Kristi makes to your videos. Her takes on gear are awesome. She is so real and i think she helps people newer to the hobby to understand. So sorry for what happened on the Steve G video but i hope Kristi knows some people are just jealous because you guys have the best produced audiophile channel on youtube
Well I'm glad it works for many people. Personally its one of several reasons I unsubbed, but we are all different, and though I didn't hear the content that's been referenced, if you don't like it move on. No need to be a dick about it and I'm glad Steve took his video down so it doesn't drag on what appears to be a sorry event. I may not have liked Kirsty's appearences on these videos, but its quite clear many more do, and I do hope she has not taken any critisicm to heart and come back to add her unique take on what's under discussion. There's room for every point of view.
I can always rely on a great review from Kristi and you! Just wanted to let you both (and maybe especially Kristi, given recent events) know that as another woman with a passion for Hi-Fi I really like this channel and the fact that Kristi is actively included in the reviews. The final chat is something I also always enjoy, having a second opinion also helps clarify the rest of the review :)
@@andrewrobinsonreviews And thank you for the great, outspoken, positive attitude you bring to the hobby! Also, for your question about "perfection" in audio. I think my perfect setup is one that I can enjoy listening to for extended periods of time, but one that also has those wow moments, where a (part of) a song just suddenly blows you away with how great it sounds. So perfect neutrality is probably not what I would strive for.
I second this. I like the balance, and I have no idea why some people think women can't enjoy the technical aspects of this hobby. I love tinkering ang getting just the right sound. I even love the physical act of putting together a system. If people could just relax and realize that adding to a group of enthusiasts doesn't have to diminish their own enthusiasm, we might find ourselves having an even more robust conversation. As it is, I often feel unwelcome and underestimated in these conversations, so I stay on the sidelines.
I can understand your comments about perfection vs emotion. I own the M33 and noticed this “perfection” in its extreme clarity with no harsh borders, at least with my Polk Reserve R700 speakers (with smooth tweeters) and a SVS SB 3000 SW. But Dirac allows you to manage all the frequencies, not only the bass. So this tool is the path to “color” your sound, to fit more with your emotional side, if needed. So I think this gives you more alternatives to experiment than other warm or emotional amps can give. It also allows to have several profiles that adapt better to specific kinds of music or recordings, only in one piece, with no need of external equalizers. Bottom line: Emotion is possible with the M33!
100 % agree - emotions have to be added according to taste - can be done both by attaching Turntable/RiiA/Pickup or CD Transport/CD Player and by Dirac Live which is a very powerful tool, but Dirac live requires training to fully utilize the power of it.
Yes, perfection is boring. Especially for hobbyists/audiophiles who like to listen to imperfections in their sound and think of next upgrade they will do to make it better and good enough for a month or two. I'm definitely getting a Purifi amp.
One of the best review if you ask me. You separate the the "facts / what you hear" from what you like. I love that! I understand that i like other things (exact, perfect / boring) than you. But the review was really objektive. Good work!!
I'm a bit disappointed with the review. Nowhere is mentioned that the unit is using Purify Eigentakt modules, which have the best measurements around. Neither the Dirac live room correction is mentioned which is a game changer in speaker response and will even improve your turntable's sound. Instead, an endless rumbling on how "perfect" the unit is and how that's a bad thing. It sounds like you're biased to hear what you're expecting to hear, (class D clinical sound, A/B warmth etc) Amplifiers are circuits, they have no soul or sound on their own. Do a blind test and decide which one you like most in the end of the day, that would be way more credible.
True true wise words. At 60 I have the best stereo I've ever had. It's a real mongrel but I got fed up buying based on good reviews or perceived technical understanding and branched out on my own. Stopped listening to anything but my ears Xiang sheng 728a with Mullard and GE valves ( this was £300 and trounced a Rotel RC 1590 at 4 times the price) Nord 2 600wpc with Ice power boards £800 brand new Arcam CD 33 £120 in a charity shop Technics 1200 £200 from a mate 4 moving coil and 2 Moving magnet cartridges all bought due to their cheapness on eBay ( and good life left on them ) Ruark Acoustic Templar II £700 New in 1999 reduced for cash purchase. They've got better with every update. Had them longer than most people's marriages last. Needless to say I don't bother with cables but ensure they are well made ( No more than £20 a pair. I auditioned £400 solid silver against £35 copper cables in my 20s Almost impossible to tell difference. Tough these days though due to business hatred for bricks and mortar. Only measuring tool is your ear and we're all different . I'm sure the Abrams M1 tank measures the best of any MBT but I wouldn't want to drive it on a highway or a country lane Happy hunting 😁😁
DSP is where the magic happens with these devices. The lack of character noted without DSP is simply an empty canvas awaiting your tuning of the device to suit your room and your ears. This is why for sure Bluesound products may have the same software engine as NAD products and maybe even the same amplification, but the more upmarket of them sport DSP (Dirac). So many reviewers have missed this, some even saying they never even tried it, some just fiddled a bit with the default curve and the lite version, and shame on NAD for not making a bigger deal of it. Done right, it makes a huge difference to the listening experience. And sure Dirac requires commitment to properly understand it and set it up. But once you figure it out then you can make your Dirac equipped amplification sound however you want. It's truly some sort of magic. I'll underscore this by asking how do professional live sound engineers provide a consistent experience for audiences in different stadiums (surely the most difficult listening rooms in the world) night after night? DSP is the correct answer. This is the way.
I really appreciate your honest take on the M33. I've owned it for about a year and I've really enjoyed the amp, both in usability/flexibility and sound quality. For me, it has been the perfect replacement for my old Hegel H300.
With soo many good options out here for music/audio playback and relatively cheaper options sounding great, I lean more towards the emotional connection with my equipment. While my setup is primarily for personal enjoyment, I also enjoy entertaining friends and family. So at this level of HiFi when everything starts coming down to splitting hairs.. it's all about esthetics and functionality for ME. Sleek, non intrusive, and ease of use will have my money before specs any day.
Ease of use isn’t discussed enough. What’s often missed in any HiFi review is the “will anyone else besides me be able to make the thing play music?” factor. For most of us that’s a big deal if we don’t have dedicated listening rooms. Great insight, my friend.
I always love Kristi's take. I have been looking at this integrated. It checks many boxes, dual speakers, earc hdmi, sub outs, ample power, and all the streaming goodies. Thanks!
Really do miss Kristi's take. She's perfect to give an "every person" opinion. I also realized she and I have the same taste in sound profile, so if she loves it, I know I probably will too.
@@JamesBrown-jy5sy It's probably more about getting an objective description, and then you have an idea if this is something for you, so that you get a clue as to what to check out. That there are several who describe what they like about it and not, is more of a nice thing.
I'm at a point where I hit like before I even watched the video. One of my favorite corners on RUclips for sure, especially because of the way you deliver the content and the respectful community. Cheers
This makes me think of the emotional impact you felt in your Klipsch LaScala review. I would love to have seen how the clinical neutrality of the M33 would have performed through the emotional LaScalas. Do the LaScalas make the M33 sound emotional, or does the M33 make the LaScalas more dispassionate? My idea of perfect Hi-Fi is all about emotional connection. To me, music is about emotion. If it doesn't move me, what's the point? That may not look as good on paper, and it could be different for each individual but Hi-Fi without emotion is just as dead inside as a person without passion or emotion.
Clinical + Klipsch is probably not going to be a good time. I have some Cornwalls and they can be pretty shouty depending on the amp. I haven't tried the M33 with them but IMO they pair best with a vintage or warmer sounding amp. They were downright nasty hooked up to an Anthem MRX520 I used briefly when i first got them and then slightly better on a NAD C320bee I pulled out of storage while I looked for something more complementary. I'm currently running them with a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium tube integrated and even that has me lusting for a little more warmth. YMMW of course, it's entirely possible that horns just aren't really my thing.
Rather late to this thread, but, I own both the M33 and the Heresy IVs. To me, having auditioned a whole series of amps (including the Naim Unity Atom) with the Heresys, the M33 made them sing in a way nothing else did. The Atom produced beautiful music, and I would have been very happy with it. But this was just... I don't know, to *me* it was incredible. That said, I haven't heard it on larger Heritage series speakers, so, who knows.
Very nice review I don't usually care about how an Amp test on a bench for the perfect sound. For me it's your environment and how you set up your system. The hands on adjustment and placement count for me. Also wishing Crissy the best. Her opinion was and is respected and appreciated. Hope you come back soon.
For integrated amps there is an element of functionality, but for amps (pre and power) the aspect of joy, is the "handshake" between it and the speakers. This sounds like it will be able to utilize the speakers (and room) to maximum performance effect. But I do get it, some combos have a magic in one parameter or another (my old mosfet yamaha, that midrange with vocals is special, despite it lacking in places), and it would be disconcerting to have pure robot perfection gloss over the positive attributes of whatever sources or speakers you've chosen. For a lot of people that one-stop-shopping at the nth percentile is perfect, other people are looking for an elusive other quality and will feel, hollow with it.
Hifi to me is a system that gets out of the way of the music and let's you enjoying it to the point where you loose track of time. Even when it's not a live recording it's still an experience.
‘Perfect’ is what YOU like best. I’ve had many store owners tell me how good something is sounding whilst to my ears it’s flat. Advice and good reviews are all great but to live with a hifi you have to love it too
I’ve heard others both pitch and review this unit and immediately thought, “I wonder what Andrew thinks?” I first heard a salesman pitch it, and it seemed like the greatest thing since sliced bread, then I heard a reviewer dis it, think twice, and dis it again. Now you say it’s ‘perfect’ but boring. Wow. I would still like to hear it, because, like you say, it has every feature you would want, and no major weak spots. Adding it all up sounds like a ringing endorsement to me. I would rather be bored than disappointed. 🙂
Thanks for the great video and I can imagine the amount of work that went into making it. The timing was impeccable. I've read, listened to every review and talked to dealers about the M33 for the past year and I think your review nailed it pretty much perfectly - thank you! Personally, I love the look of the M33 and its enormous amount of unrivalled features. Having a neutral, transparent and uncoloured sound are qualities that most audiophiles dream about, but I appreciate you highlighting the alternative viewpoints. The M33 will hopefully be my endgame! Best to you and Kristi.
People like distortion in their sound. It’s basically used as a sort of tone control. The Purifi modules are absolutely amazing, but they give you exactly what is there on a recording without any extra spacial tricks. I encourage using the power amplifier modules with something like a tubed preamplifier to give you the best of both worlds. I use a Purifi power amplifier with a super low distortion preamplifier (Topping Pre90) and on a good recording, it’s just amazing. It never sounds bad, but there are times I crave the presentation from my Pass Aleph 30 amplifier. This amplifier module is definitely helped, however, by having incredible loudspeakers that are partially open baffle in design. There’s a sense of three dimensionality and preciseness when it’s all put together. Also, I’ve recently been using the Cambridge AXR85 I picked up as a $200 refurb to play with and noticed that it’s not nearly as dynamic or precise as the Allo Audio class D amplifier I own which has less power. Class D amplifiers, when designed well, are simply amazing, but don’t expect them to add trickery into music that is poorly recorded. Really good speakers can help you get around this.
None of the other amps from NAD sounds like m33. I'd pick Hegel over any of the other amps from NAD, but I think m33 might be my favourite amp. It sounds AMAZING.
Hi Andrew, I have the C399 clean, very neutral, and compared it with NAd M33, I heard more details than I have ever heard. it doesn't sound manipulated at all, as Denon sounds too warm compared to c399 or m33. I also had the c658 in combination with a primare A35.2, a lot of detail disappeared, it even sounded messy. Whether that is the fault of the pre amp or primare is not entirely clear to me. I suspect primary A35.2. primare does sound full and powerful, that’s all. I’ll go fore Nad m33 love the looks price litle to high..
I have owned the M33 for over 8 months.....love it, and initially was looking to match with B&W 607's, but after testing a few at our local retailer with a preferred playlist and my Wife we ended up selecting Sonus faber Sonetto V speakers........you are right about the neutrality of the M33 but the Sonetto's bring that to life......yet to match a subwoofer or two, but will look at that next year. Keep up the good work on your reviews! And keep safe and well!
Just remember that the Nad M33 uses Purifi Eigentakt amp modules, not Hypex as in the c368/c388/M10. Sure you get the same BluOS ui in all of them, but they do not sound the same :)
Don’t let hater win, I loved the end of the review chat, was so refreshing to hear your wife’s perspective on the different equipment. Needless to say I don’t have such engagements when I change equipment.
my idea of perfection is simple: - Do I love the moment of playing music? - Does music give me gooseflesh? - Is it magical? I think impossible to measure this, it´s all those technical aspects coming together creating that magical moment :-))
Recently purchased the M33 and paired it with the L100 75 Anniversary speakers. Listening to my music has never been more fun and immersive. The M33 is exacting in its sound, but Dirac really allows you to tailor the amp toward a warmer, more "tubey" sound. I often find myself blurting out "Woah!" when listening to this pairing because of something I've either never heard before in a song or because I will regularly hear a vocal or instrument that "leaps" out from the physical confines of the speakers and floats somewhere around the room. It's the aural equivalent of a haunted house where suddenly you're shocked when a horn or guitar or percussive instrument emerges seemingly out of thin air. I know sound is totally subjective, but I'm having a blast with this thing!
I also owe M33 and pairing with JBL L100 CLASSIC and I have no complains with this pairing,love the sound. But maybe because this is my second hifi gear and I don’t have the knowledge about what’s good sound and whats not so much,but I enjoy mine for sure and it’s been almost a year now since I pair these two. By the way I didn’t run dirac yet as I had bad experience with my previous hifi gear that I owned which was NAD M10 and FOCAL ARIA 926,tried to run light version on the M10 and it did worse to the sound so I thought M33 as well would be to difficult for me. But would like to find someone who’s professional and could do it for me 🤔
@Andrew Robinson nice review as always. What do I think about if perfection could be boring? It's need a non short answer. I can listen to a lot of audiophiles claiming about the perfect sound equal as possible as the original and that means the equalizers are devil devices and no tone controls are allowed. Just the minimum steps… But I also see how a lot of them love vinyl imperfection, or valve amps coloration. This is really an incoherent world. It's a subjetive passion because each one lives the music in a different way. As you always say, the only true is in oneself. But I really think that an amp very transparent isn't boring. What I like is the possibility to find some missed details in the music that I love and I have already listened thousands of times. That's a marvelous experience when something new is revealed in a piece that you think you know perfectly. This discoveries are part of my fun listening to music. Of course are always an emotional approach to the devices, but in my case it isn't a "personal sounding, non in an amp. The emotional approach to an amp, it's for me in the way to use it, the functions, or the look, or even in the fact to touch it. I think that "coloration" in the sound have to be produced by the speakers selection, or an EQ, no by the amp. For that reason, if the NAD M33 is transparent, has enough power, it's easy and enjoyable to use, has a nice touch screen and multiple functions and possibilities… It's perfect!, and I would look for the passion just in the use experience, and if I would prefer a diferent sound I'd try it playing with the other gears, no the amp. Anothger advantage is that you can use the NAD as pre-amp and streamer and connect it to a different amp, even a valve amp if you want. My English isn't enough good for express correctly, but I hope you understand what I am trying to explain. Regards
There is no such thing as perfection. It's the flaws that make a product or experiences real. I do not have expensive gear, but I turn on my system and play music and I forget that my components are not perfect and that the recording and the performances aren't perfect, either. All I want them to do is make me feel. And that gets me as close to perfection as I will ever be. Please tell Kristi to keep her head held high and that I look forward to seeing her come back with her wise comments and humor. And I think most of us subscribers feel that way. And enjoy the rest of your weekend, Andrew!
As I found with my T778 the M33 requires larger floor standing speakers and you need to tweak the response curve away from the standard HK curve to your liking which is easy to do with the full range Dirac software .
Perfection to me is getting the absolute best out of my recordings and what the speakers can deliver and not having an amplifier "flavor" it for me. I want to flavor it myself by EQ/DSPing tailored to the song i am listening. Therefore i need a signal chain that doesn't add warmth or any kind of fizz, coldness, whatever to it. With the C298 it was the first time that i noticed that some records just plain suck. And now that i have gotten so used to the revealing character of it i don't wanna miss it. If a mastering sucks, it sucks. If i wanna change the sound signature, i can do it with EQing the hell out of it but the amp just does what it is supposed to do: deliver clean sound with almost no distortion or coloration. Letting me hear what the artist/sound engineer put on the disc.
Great video Andrew. I definitely missed Kristi's comments. Im in her boat regarding class A/B amps, and was looking forward to her take on this digital amp. Regarding your QOTD: There has to be an emotional connection to the sound and the music. I need detail, texture, and punch which I feel comes mainly from class A/B amps.
Tell Kristi: “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” I’m an immigrant and faced a lot of crap when I came to America. Someone told me that saying and has been in my head ever since. It has made me so much better than “them”.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews What are you guys talking about? Did I miss something? Are people dissing on Kristi?? Is she from another country? I'm confused!!
@Les Matthews, Steve Guttenberg and Ken M., of Stereophile Magazine put out a video on Friday where Ken made fun of Kristi and objectified her and Steve aired it. That's the long and the short of it. You can read my community post if you want, but the video has been removed and Steve remains silent.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Forget those assholes!!! I'm shocked at Steve but don't know the other guy. We all missed Kristi this video!! They all talk about the WAF and here, finally, one is willing to give it - which we loved - and these trolls are saying mean things? I don't know what they said - but I am a member and will check out the community page. Will get back to you!
I have a genuine question, and it's not meant to be snarky or critical: could it be that you guys are experiencing a sort of sonic fatigue? You guys review SO MANY audio devices for us that I sometimes wonder if they all just start running in together and it all becomes muddled. Like the person that works at a bath and body works no longer being able to smell all those damn candles and scents by the end of the day
You raise a very interesting question and rather than give you an outright answer, here's another way of looking at it - Think of it this way - there is no denying that if you live in a place with a bad smell, you eventually get used to it. But if someone new walks into the same room, they may notice it right away. Taking that same idea and applying it to hifi or home theater - because we change gear so frequently and it's not the same monotonous sound all the time, change is often _more_ noticeable. So as long as we have a few baselines with which to compare on hand, you can discern the sound of something fairly quickly. And since there are two of us here, we can usually compare and contrast even quicker not mention have a bit of checks and balance so to speak. The other thing to ponder is not listener fatigue but rather the possibility that as products have continued to improve coupled with the known consolidation of manufacturing, industry wide, much of this gear isn't all that different from the next and thus, actually does start to sound the same because the differences in quality are no longer as great they once were. This is of course assuming the products are different to begin with - hint: many are not. tldr: a lot of stuff is really good now. But great question!
Thanks Andrew. I’ve had a hankering for an amp that would transfer my living room into an amphitheater. If this M33 has “all that you want” then it is more than adequate for me. I like the deep dive with the proper amount of delicious details from my perspective. Nice thing is Andrew, is that excellence doesn’t require perfection. My dear wife just gave me the permission to buy. Cheers mate. Keep on sharing your opinion!
Andrew… I have owned the M33 for about 7 months now. Yes the sound is “perfect”. It is exactly a straight wire with gain. Benchmark amps are much the same. That’s why they use them in studios. Stereophile just reviewed the pure amp version of the M33 (c298) and basically said it has NO sound whatsoever. Equipment matching is critical with these. They need a speaker with warm mids and lower treble, or they are going to be sterile. They are bad matches for B & W and Kef products. They would be a bad match for the Focal. I am going to listen to the Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 in a few weeks as a possible match. Perfection is a bitch. That’s why people buy tubed gear, measures horribly and sounds magical.
This channel has some of the coolest cats subscribing. One of the only channels that I actually enjoy going to the comments. How incredibly well managed. Professional, personal and of the highest quality. With the explosion in HiFi in recent years, this channel is a prime example of how to use our modern information outlets to bring quality content to the audience. I don't know what the revenue stream is like but whatever it is, IT'S UNDER VALUED. I'd love to see this grow into a full fledged media company or at least coach some of the existing ones. Much love ✌️.
@Zachariah, I really appreciate that. We do our best to not only foster a community on the whole, but to make sure each and every one of you who watch feel like you're getting a small piece of us, or at a minimum our 1-on-1 attention. We know we can't get to everyone, but we try. As for where we want to take this show, it is my goal to open it WAY up in the not too distant future and even take it off of RUclips to a degree (we'll still be here, promise) so as to reach the folks who don't consume as much content online. I think we can do it, and with the help of you guys, I know we can!
I saw your post the other day, and I hope Kristi is okay. I found myself missing her with this vid. As someone with a sister also named Kristi, and 3 daughters, I have no patience for sexism. Please let her know we're all thinking of her and she should ignore the haters. I do wish she'd come on or you'd post a pic of her when you're chatting just for some visual interest, but I've never thought her reluctance to be on camera in any way affects the validity of her opinions or all the work she does for us on your channel. Be well.
This review is really good, you mention one of the things audiophiles/measurement-lovers often miss in their reviews, in my opinion at least. A total flat, neutral, colorless response can be good, but it is not a guaranee to make you connect with the sound, make you emotional etc. And as a sidenote, the hunt for the sound of ”what the artist intended”, is impossible if you dont use the same soundcard, same studiomonitors as they did. The monitors, like all hifi-speakers, sound vastly different to eachother too. Great video, and keep up your good work :)
This video makes me want to buy this amp. I love Andrew's reviews because he gives such a good description of the product that even if I don't agree with his taste, the review is still helpful. I prefer my speakers to color the music at the very end in slight ways based on my preferences. Until that point I like it to be neutral.
Juan, I own the M33 and it is freakishly neutral. You need to match speakers with it carefully, because the amp won’t help warm things up. I have kef LS50’s. I adore them. But they are not a great match for the amp because they are cool speakers matched with a cool amp. The amp needs a speaker that is slightly on the side of warm in the mids and treble.
@@richardramorino3319 Thanks for the additional info. I have pair of Sonus Faber I'd like to try this amp with. I was thinking about getting a pair of the metas soon but with a different amp.
The M33 seems like it might be pretty happy with Sonus Faber. I had a pair of Sonus Faber Cremonas before and I loved them . I am going to take my M33 to listen to a pair of Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 in two weeks. Another sweet sounding Italian speaker.
Andrew, perfect HiFi to me is absolute fidelity to the recording. The system should not add or take away anything from what was created. The M33 is therefore IMHO close to perfect. My experience with music is live and mostly large complex ensembles playing classical and jazz. BTW what was Kristie’s take?
Nice that you point out the differences in Class D designs that others gloss over and overgeneralize about. They don't all sound the same, like maybe some did years ago. I'm still on the fence with that Technics SU-G700 you recommended. 😄
Absolute spot on review by Andrew. I used M33 for close to a month and that’s exactly how I felt. The sound was just too clinical. Dirac live cleans up the sound and minimize your room’s effects on sound even more but the music just becomes lifeless in my opinion. I sent it back and purchased Technics SU-G700 amplifier / Blue Sound Node streamer combo. I am glad I did.
I've gotten the same impressions of NAD since their wonderful class AB masters series before they went to hybrid digital. I currently own a D3020 V2 amp that will be moving to provide Atmos duties for 2 ceiling speakers. Clinical is the best term I can use to describe their sound now. It's devoid of anything. Might look good on paper and might test well, but for me, it doesn't cut it. I'm on the hunt for something for my 2 channel office setup.
The perfect amplifier/receiver keeps my attention, makes me want to listen for hours. It breathes life into music I've heard all my life, and reveals layers I've never noticed before. It's warm, not harsh, doesn't call attention to itself.
I completely agree with your assessment of the sound. I found it to be very polished, but with no character. There was something synthetic about it that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I also found it lacking in heft at low levels. Once it was pushed a little, it sounded better. But, there was this vapor-like quality to the presentation that I also found strange. I think it was less of a problem with the amp, and more of me just being used to other topologies. I agree that most people would love it, but it left me cold.
For years I was a stereo guy! But when surround sound was invented I was hooked. I still love to listen to my stereo music but need an amp that does both. So these amps have no interest to me but love to see what is happening in the stereo world. My ideal situation would be a stereo system and a home theatre system - but my wallet says NO WAY!!
Great review and amazing product. Like Kristi has said before: these very expensive products make the more affordable make even more sense. Missed her take, stay strong!
I guess it all depends on numerous factors. Room, speakers, sub, source material...etc. For me, I have a M33 playing in to KEF LS50 Meta, with a KEF KC62 sub. I have Dirac dialed into my room. I find it the absolute best sounding system in it's class.
I have a very similar set up, except that my sub is a KF92 as I like a bit more bass. Before I had a BW PV1D sub in a different apartment and I was happy with the sound, however after moving and running my Dirac again in the new flat the sound seems lacking quite a bit of bass. Any tips on how to fix this? Thanks
@@felipejotz7054 adjust the curve to boost the bass is the generic answer. But without seeing the response curve that's all I can offer. The other thing being that maybe the sub level is down after moving. Before adjusting the curve maybe boost the level at the sub.
@@KeithHeinrich I ended up buying the upgrade for Dirac full range of frequency. Ran the measure once and couldn’t believe my ears, best sound I ever got. Im really happy and satisfied with my hifi. I just don’t get it how much of a difference it mada by just upgrading the software, best 99 USD ever spent. Thanks
@@felipejotz7054I keep reading this same comment everywhere. Dirac locks away its benefits but everyone who bites says it makes a big difference over Dirac LE.
Hi. I started my journey years ago with a Nad 302, Nad cd and JPW speakers. In between I had a cheaper home theater system. Now i listen to a DENON XB 250BT with small boston acoustics in a stereo setup . The other day I set up my old system for my mother in law. I was nostalgic about the sound that seemed to flow like Crystal water out of the speakers. I could not believe the purity thereof. Unfortunately half an hour later I was bored to death with the clean sound. In other words: I get You.
Perfection in hi-fi, to me, is that balance between people’s reactions from “Wow!” to the sound that they are hearing and their reaction of “Woah/What?!” when you tell them what you spent. There’s a mid-point there that justifies the “perfection” that ultimately, as you put it, only has to appease one person. Unfortunately, “perfection” right now is a 20 year old $279 Sony HT Receiver with DefTech ProCinema 1000’s 😋 Maybe someday when the kids are older. 🤞Thank you both for all of the phenomenal content that keeps my hopes alive for that someday 😉✌️
Hi, another excellent review. You did not mention one of the features this amp has "Bridge mode" / mono amplifier from NAD Bridge mode switches the two amps so that one amp does the negative and the other the positive part of the signal. This makes it a single (mono) amp with doubles the output power. For this, to work you need a second power amp for the other channel. Did you play around with this feature? Another reviewer mentioned this feature and I was wondering if anyone has tried using another amp with this NAD33 to increase the total power output.( I think it's overkill but it would be nice to know if it works) Then again 200 watts is more than enough for the average consumer. Hope Kristi having a good day. we miss her opinion on this review
@@richardramorino3319 Was using the Wharfedale Denton 85 (bookshelf) switched to the PSB Imagine X1T. This amp shows the character of whatever it is connected to. It will quickly reveal the weakest link in any system! I really love this AMP! I appeals to what my need for ABSOLUTE perfection!!!!
@@tonyraynor3202 cool. Is have used mine with LS50’S (too cool) , Triangle floorstanders(a bit better)., I was going to try them with Sonus Faber Olympica's, but I am going to put the M33 in the car and drive to a dealer that has the Rosso Fiorentino Elba 11 in two weeks.
I've auditioned the M33 and although it's perfect, there's kinda lack of 'soul' or anything 'wow', soundwise. Like you said, it doesn't matter what source-material or speaker used. Everything is correct in a technical way, but minus emotion or 'spunk'. To borrow a quote from Kristi: "I'm OK when it goes". I'm a prof. soundengineer, used to flat frequency studiomonitors and in some aspect the M33 experience reminds me of that, nothing more or less, well structured, minus a toe-tapping or heart-grabbing way. I'm glad I'm not the only one to experience this ;) I've owned a lot of (older) NAD amps and loved them for their typical NAD sound, which imo, is somehow missing from the M33. Perhaps it's all about perception. To borrow a quote from Kristi: "I'm OK when is goes". Cheers to Kristi and hopefully she will join you soon, because her insights (and personality) are very much appreciated.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks! The class a/ab design is excellent. Awesome review! We are getting one of these on demo soon so I am looking forward to getting hands on with it.
Hi Andrew, love your shirt on this review. With your QOTD, for me, apart from the desired components and gear, perfect hifi lets you enjoy music and listen for hours with a smile on your face expressing satisfaction and contentment that takes you away while still being there.
Tough to love a product when the emotional attachment, at least to some level, is missing …awesome review Andrew. To answer your question, I need some emotional attachment to both my gear and the sound my gear produces. I want to walk into my room with my system asking me…”You ready to rock?”
![Megan Thee Stallion - Mamushi (feat. Yuki Chiba) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OdxSbc0ap-s/mqdefault.jpg)
★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/2HzEgKY**, **bit.ly/36md9fA**, **bit.ly/3IV3xuq*
★ *QOTD: What does perfect in HiFi mean for YOU?*
★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Awesome video... I wish I could afford it. Hey @andrew robinson I have the denon s960h and I just realized as I was hooking to up I have no pre-amp outs! Could I still have hook up an amplifier down the road? Is there a way thanks.
Perfect HiFi for me is great sound (not hard to attain anymore) and features and ease of use that fit my use case. Trial and error is involved but lots of money really isn’t.
When we listen to music and feel joy
I'm gonna do this rant. I love me some technical showmanship, however. The example I always go back to is this. Motown would used car speakers in the final mix. I've seen Jack white use an FM transmitter and sit outside in the car. Generally, in all mediums, a good artist has taken into consideration the environment of the audience. The best HiFi setup is going to be the one the artist most closely intended you to experience it on. One does not dictate the other but they are definitely influenced by each other.
Perfection in Hifi means to me , getting some good equipments and find the sound the you like , not having the latest gears or most expensive ones . Perfection does not exist. Sometimes we are tricked by our own brain who is always asking for more . Just like photography , the art of painting and drawing, my hifi system is just starting a journey in the art of music and sound . You do not need the latest cameras, the latest amps . Please do not forget the manufactures are releasing them base on our demands as consumers .
Kristie, I hope you feel the love and care that the vast majority of your subscribers have for you. You are an essential part of this channel, and by extension of our audiophile life. Rest, relax, embrace our love, and please return when ready.
This!!!
I just came from spending the better part of a month in the hospital due to covid, and following your reviews and keeping up with all the content was one of those things that helped the time in the hospital go by a whole lot easier. You and Kristi are greatly appreciated.
Kristi and I hope that you are feeling much better and we are glad to know that our videos helped pass the time.
Hi Kristi. Missed you in this review. Andrew is awesome but I think you’ve become a much-loved and must-watch part of his channel. I didn’t see the Steve Guttenberg video but I hope you’re OK. Do what you need to do - take care of yourself. I can only share my experience being a Vietnamese immigrant who somehow found his way into the White-dominated advertising agency world where I had a lot of nay-sayers and doubters. Even when I founded my own agency, I still encountered haters. All I can say is, don’t let them stop you from doing what you want to do. Again, whatever you want to do, I’m sure this community and fans of this channel will support you 100%.
I have had the M33 for the past year and a half using it with a pair of Klipsch La Scala II's. I love the clarity and sound stage. I close my eyes and I can pick out every instrument's position. The tone is perfect. If it is too perfect, I am loving it.
Normally I don't comment on videos especially when it comes to ridiculous RUclips drama but I just want to add my little two cents here... It takes a lot of work and skill to put together professional looking reviews like you and Kristi create and I appreciate it. I also appreciate how both of you have managed to create this level of professionalism and still keep the channel fun and personable - not an easy thing, especially with almost a quarter of million people subscribing. Please keep doing what you're doing, the way that you do it, and don't worry about angry less talented people who lash out, they don't do what you do because they can't.
I sincerely appreciate your remarks Steven and understand that you didn't need to make them. I too am not into the drama and frankly wish others would keep us out of it, but I understand that as we grow, so too does the spotlight, which makes us easy and often advantageous targets. But we're doing our best here to just keep putting one foot in front of the other because at the end of the day, that's what being professional really looks like.
Writing as someone who owns the NAD M33, and has been listening to it steady since I took possession in early May, I was very interested to watch this review. As always, you provide viewers with a tightly written narrative that is engaging and entertaining. However, I have to say that I could not disagree more with your main conclusion - that the M33 detracts from an emotional connection with the music. I consider myself a ‘music first’ HiFi enthusiast for whom the gear is a means to an end, not the end itself. I can say, without hesitation, that the M33 has delivered. The Dirac system has improved the poor sonics in my living, delivering a deeper and more expressive low end, while the Eigentakt amplifier delivers a soundstage that is wide and detailed, allowing for a sense of space that is extraordinary on superior recordings (both digital and vinyl). I find myself listening more and for longer stretches of time. This is not an amp that is bright or tiring. It rewards intense listening. Many reviewers, yourself included, use the term ‘transparent’ when praising equipment. In this case, however, I believe your considerable rhetorical skills animate an unstated trope about how class D amplifiers lack ‘warmth,’ or ‘soul.’ To your credit you admit that your review is subjective, but I would respectfully submit that your clever framing of the video around the value of ‘perfection’ is a good example of a strawman argument. Perfection - as you admit - doesn’t exist, but it is used here to invoke a contrast between digital tech and emotion that is not substantiated by the rest of your review. All the best, JC.
@James Compton, I sincerely appreciate you sharing your personal experiences and feelings and no doubt others share your point of view. I just didn't personally feel the same. I'm glad you are enjoying your M33. That's all that matters.
Thanks for your comments. The M33 is on the top of my buy list and I have been waiting excitedly to place my order. Andrew's review has somewhat derailed me and I am now hesitating...so thanks for your positive feedback. I don't have the opportunity for a demo but I think it would be a safer bet to wait until I can get one.
@@marcfoss7687
Another excellent option: Order the Creek Voyage i20 amp (Class G - not D - from 50 watts upwards) with the Atoll ST300 Signature as your source device for Hi-Res streaming. It sounds the part on Focal Sopra 1 + Sopra SW 1000 (or on the Sopra)😊
I've had the M33 for around a month now...and I totally love it. That said, I do know what Andrew means by it almost being 'too perfect'. That said, you can still tailor the sound with the speakers you pair it with. The amp itself is just so perfectly clean and transparent it's unbelievable. Let's face it, much of the 'character or soul' people sometimes like are just flaws. if you want gear with 'character' there are no shortage of options. If you want a do everything integrated that is utterly clean in it's presentation the M33 is it. From a feature and usability perspective it really is unmatched. If you are a minimalist like me, it really is a great solution.
I know exactly what he means, the amp isn't putting in it's own flavor or dynamic touch. Audio enthusiasts have always strived for that perfect neutral and its funny because we have gotten there and now people enjoy the coloration or the "warmth" of tube gear. I really belive Andrew was impressed that the NAD was excellent in its linear performance but it just needed a little character.
That’s why I no longer rely on reviewers for my decision-making. I just go with what sounds great to my ears. I drool every time I look at the M33. One day is one day!
Thanks Clint and I really agree with you! I am hoping that the M33 might be my end game. Any idea if ProAc speakers might pair well with the M33?
@@marcfoss7687 a british audiophile (youtube) test the Nad m10 with proac peakers. The M10 will have a similar sonis signature as the m33.
@@richardramorino3319 Thanks.
It really felt like something was missing in the video with no Kristi talk in the end D; great review as always :) I own the T778 and is super happy with the touch screen/design also.
Something is missing. But I appreciate you watching, very much!
It’s a good idea to take a break, when Kristi is ready to give her input. I for one am looking forwards to it.
I agree - I miss Kristi's always excellent input, but given the BS that happened this week, I totally understand. Send Kristi my fullest support and I truly hope that she knows how amazing she is!
@@eruilluvitar what happened exactly?
@@jonuiuc I did not see the video in question, but from what I understand, there was an interview on Steve Guttenberg's channel where the interviewee said some sexist things against Kristi. Steve has since removed the video, so I haven't been able to see it myself.
Well, I bought it. Frankly, it’s freaking fantastic to my ears. What I really appreciate is how, with dirac, I can not only optimise for my room acoustics, but, given the possibility to define several dirac profiles, one can tailor the sound to somewhat compensate for shitty recordings, such as old, flat and bright ones. And despite this, the sound remains crystal clear and the stereo image unaffected. So I can now listen to some of my old favorites without stuffing cotton wool into my ears ;-) Bass control is mind blowing and it has bags of power - it just gets louder without straining. So, as I said, to my ears, heaven.
Hope Kristi is ok. Don't want her to think that those dickheads are representative of everyone watching, but also understand why she would want to have some space. Her contributions and the unscripted chats between the two of you are some of the best things about the channel.
@@OnitsukaTiger82 Read about what happened in the Community section. On Steve Guttenberg's channel, there was a weasel putting down Andrew and especially Kristi while Guttenberg seemed to laugh (the video was taken down eventually). It's sad when there are nut-jobs out there that put down people in the stereo review world due to their own petty jealousies or insecurities.
It really does go to show how much personal taste comes into things.
I A/B tested the M33 alongside the Naim Uniti Nova through some large Focal Choras in a store listening room last week (yes, I know these speakers are probably not the highest spec for this) and I absolutely LOVED the sound of the M33. Totally loved it. Thought it was the best amp I’d ever laid my ears on!
If it wasn’t for its high price I would’ve bought one there and then.
The Nova sounded great but when switched to the NAD the music changed to another level altogether.
Agree. Peraonal taste and how amps mate with particular speakers.
We want Kristi back. I do not know if issue with Steve Guttenberg interview (I did not see it) has something to do with her absence but we want here back. I think you two found perfect formula for reviews on your channel. First you "expert" opinion and after that you two chat about impressions of "regular" person. We love it.
Agreed. And on both camera at that. Both sides bring good color to the chat.
I said to myself, this is a shorter review. Perfect as it is, we need Kristi back !! She makes a great 👍 balance to everything. Thanks.
Hi, watching your review after i've bought my m33 is interesting and helpful to me because it helps me to think and understand myself a little bit better. After nearly one year of use, the m33 does strange things to me and my listening and how i connect to the music. First, i really needed to understand Dirac and how it belongs to my listen. One part of dirac is the EQ function, where the most people start with, solving or at least maybe understanding and think about their room issues and maybe also get deeper to really create "their" sound or their "moodsetup".. No device swapping, just by a click. The neutrality of this amp really brings the fundament to make this possible, all other amps with their static outbound-filters-colors produces always the same sound, independent of the music or the speaker, there is no communication between the ampspeakerroom in the analog world, totally static, it is how it is. this results into looking for a new amp after a while, when the first glimmer drops down, or the speaker stops to shine or both. Not so on the m33 Because it no-coloration at the outbound filters, it gives the listers the stage and this is a really longterm benefit in my view. The next big thing on the m33 and most of the users might not realise this normally, is the other side on the Dirac setup, the timesync from the speakers output to your listening position especially in Stereo. Once you realize this, you are out from everything else! When the measurement was done propertly you are able to walk with your ears in between the artists and the microphones. Especially on old vinyls records, you are in the room where it happens and whre it was recorded, not in front, or at the seat, nope ..you are in between the microphones where the music flows into and understand it. That is something i've never ever expericed in my live before at that level. The sound is so real Stereo, not as most of the other amps ..music from the left.. music from the right..Some says the hegel does it too, but not if you are not perfectly seated! with this m33, the magic that the sound is not coming from the speakers but from a virtual center that can be archieved with any "normal" priced speaker. I've only expirenced this picuture of music before with the AA Trio G3. They are super big and the sweetspot is very narrow , but when it fits, it fits! Same possible with the m33 when it fits, you see the artist, the distance and arrangement between the piano, the Bass, the Drums and the guitar because of the microphonie of the recording and how the m33 makes is timecorrection to you listening position BUT with are far wider listening position tolerance and for % of the costs like the Trio G3 setup with 2 SUBs and the house that you need to place them in. With the m33 and integrated Dirac_Filters This level of immersion, totally absorbs me, the music that i hear today and how the m33 control the soundscape and stage changes my personal listening forever with all my floorstanders i try. To be precise, the EQ and Bass control is not the only big bang .. its the underestimated timecorrection together with the EQ and therefore the really stereo picture it the magic. Please keep in mind that really many people outside are not able to build the perfect speaker triangle or even think about it so they will never ever have a stereoexperice..just music from the left,,music from the right.with more or less bass, hight, middles. They might can not change the furniture so they have to change everything at the hifi Equipment until it matches somehow... and then getting bored at someday because of the static output-filters on their amp, and than the story begins again. not so with the m33, either in small, or in big rooms when people move from city to city or with tinybookshelfs or big bloody booster speaker. now you can always reproduce the sound how you like it..not the room, not the speaker, not the amp.. just the music and all at small energy-cost especially for people like me who listen all day long, late at night or watching tv. So my concern here is that something like the m33 could not compared to the analog world, it's a new class of listening experince. i've also like the particular sound of hifi Equipment,, but more i like the music i've listen to. Some sound-united stereo-devices now come around with dirac.. but still with their classic outbound-filter colouration. Modern TV based on OLED primary separates their quality with their ability to create deepest as possible "black"-"silence" therefore contrast around the silience, this is something you get with the purifies ET hardware, clear guitars, cellos, pianos, really not heard before in the combination with the time-correction.. it's getting more to start listening with brain and ears, not only with hips & and foot, just change just the filter raise the level to *rock-the-block* ;-) and if this is not enough, just bridge an m23 to it at 700W full, i mean really full control, no fluttering bass, just trousers. I am really, really interested how or with what kind of technologiy this can be topped. This kind of hardware shifts us as music lovers more to real integrated re-users instand of dump consumer replacing hifi-HW all day long.. but this are only my thoughts and opinion ;-)
NAD is among 1 of the most under-rated components in the hifi industry. Many audiophiles even referring to NAD as midfi. Not sure what's to dislike about a neutral sounding integrated amp like the M33. What you also get is a DAC, Dirac and a streamer. I was looking at McIntosh and Anthem for my next upgrade but I then I have to spend upwards $2000 for a streamer. Why? There's absolutely nothing wrong with NAD's streaming. The M33 is like a Porsche which does everything so perfectly well, some arguing too well and that its too clinical and lifeless. I beg to differ!
I reckon he should try it on some big box Klipshorns or Herisies.
Great review but just like in the M33 something is missing. Truly miss Kristi's take but I completely understand if she takes a break. Hope she return soon. Enjoy your Sunday.
Thank you @dodpr. I'll let her know.
@NeverDoubtMe23, you clearly don't listen very closely, or you aren't interested in a different point of view. She often disagrees with me, or at a minimum lets others know it's okay to disagree with me and like something I may not have. We often do not see eye to eye. Just because the last few videos we have, is not the totality of her contribution make.
@@NeverDoubtMe23 It doesn't seem that way to me but I respect your opinion. Have a great day!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews - Don’t feed the trolls :)
@@NeverDoubtMe23 ironic handle for someone who is so clearly wrong. Sit down troll
Was hoping to see Kristi's take on it, always a fun and candid conversation.
Hope the negativity dint deter her from being on your channel.
Awesome work as always.
Thank you for watching. I am hopeful Kristi will return soon.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I didn't know anything about this, but have unsubscribed from Guttenberg's channel having read the chatter. The internet is a toxic place sometimes - whatever one's opinions there's no place for abuse or denigration, there's no excuse to be personal. Hope Kristi's doing OK.
With all due respect it sounds as though you’re reaching for something to dislike with the M33. A straight neutral amp sounds like exactly what one would want.
Now I have been using m33 for several months.
I’m not an expert, not an audiophile. And I pretty much like it.
No cons for my usage (digital music via Roon + games on PS5 + TV). No issues.
Sometimes it loses connection but maybe it’s my wi-fi.
Dirac makes VERY BIG difference in sound. It’s really killer feature.
Just my noob experience)
I really hope Kristi is back soon. When i was watching today and i realized the video was almost over and you hadn't asked Kristi for her take i was really bummed out. I can't stress enough what a huge contribution Kristi makes to your videos. Her takes on gear are awesome. She is so real and i think she helps people newer to the hobby to understand. So sorry for what happened on the Steve G video but i hope Kristi knows some people are just jealous because you guys have the best produced audiophile channel on youtube
Agreed. I haven’t seen the video but really enjoy her take as well. I am not the most educated audio person but love audio. Hope she I back soon.
Well I'm glad it works for many people. Personally its one of several reasons I unsubbed, but we are all different, and though I didn't hear the content that's been referenced, if you don't like it move on. No need to be a dick about it and I'm glad Steve took his video down so it doesn't drag on what appears to be a sorry event.
I may not have liked Kirsty's appearences on these videos, but its quite clear many more do, and I do hope she has not taken any critisicm to heart and come back to add her unique take on what's under discussion. There's room for every point of view.
I can always rely on a great review from Kristi and you! Just wanted to let you both (and maybe especially Kristi, given recent events) know that as another woman with a passion for Hi-Fi I really like this channel and the fact that Kristi is actively included in the reviews. The final chat is something I also always enjoy, having a second opinion also helps clarify the rest of the review :)
Thank you so much for being a part of the community.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews And thank you for the great, outspoken, positive attitude you bring to the hobby! Also, for your question about "perfection" in audio. I think my perfect setup is one that I can enjoy listening to for extended periods of time, but one that also has those wow moments, where a (part of) a song just suddenly blows you away with how great it sounds. So perfect neutrality is probably not what I would strive for.
I second this. I like the balance, and I have no idea why some people think women can't enjoy the technical aspects of this hobby. I love tinkering ang getting just the right sound. I even love the physical act of putting together a system. If people could just relax and realize that adding to a group of enthusiasts doesn't have to diminish their own enthusiasm, we might find ourselves having an even more robust conversation. As it is, I often feel unwelcome and underestimated in these conversations, so I stay on the sidelines.
I can understand your comments about perfection vs emotion. I own the M33 and noticed this “perfection” in its extreme clarity with no harsh borders, at least with my Polk Reserve R700 speakers (with smooth tweeters) and a SVS SB 3000 SW. But Dirac allows you to manage all the frequencies, not only the bass. So this tool is the path to “color” your sound, to fit more with your emotional side, if needed. So I think this gives you more alternatives to experiment than other warm or emotional amps can give. It also allows to have several profiles that adapt better to specific kinds of music or recordings, only in one piece, with no need of external equalizers. Bottom line: Emotion is possible with the M33!
100 % agree - emotions have to be added according to taste - can be done both by attaching Turntable/RiiA/Pickup or CD Transport/CD Player and by Dirac Live which is a very powerful tool, but Dirac live requires training to fully utilize the power of it.
Thanks for your comments...it gives me hope before purchasing my M33!
Yes, perfection is boring. Especially for hobbyists/audiophiles who like to listen to imperfections in their sound and think of next upgrade they will do to make it better and good enough for a month or two.
I'm definitely getting a Purifi amp.
One of the best review if you ask me. You separate the the "facts / what you hear" from what you like. I love that! I understand that i like other things (exact, perfect / boring) than you. But the review was really objektive. Good work!!
I'm a bit disappointed with the review. Nowhere is mentioned that the unit is using Purify Eigentakt modules, which have the best measurements around. Neither the Dirac live room correction is mentioned which is a game changer in speaker response and will even improve your turntable's sound.
Instead, an endless rumbling on how "perfect" the unit is and how that's a bad thing. It sounds like you're biased to hear what you're expecting to hear, (class D clinical sound, A/B warmth etc) Amplifiers are circuits, they have no soul or sound on their own.
Do a blind test and decide which one you like most in the end of the day, that would be way more credible.
My thoughts exactly! That’s why I no longer listen to reviewers. I trust my own ears.
Couldn't agree more! So easy to get caught up in this audiophile madness.
True true wise words. At 60 I have the best stereo I've ever had. It's a real mongrel but I got fed up buying based on good reviews or perceived technical understanding and branched out on my own. Stopped listening to anything but my ears
Xiang sheng 728a with Mullard and GE valves ( this was £300 and trounced a Rotel RC 1590 at 4 times the price)
Nord 2 600wpc with Ice power boards £800 brand new
Arcam CD 33 £120 in a charity shop
Technics 1200 £200 from a mate
4 moving coil and 2 Moving magnet cartridges all bought due to their cheapness on eBay ( and good life left on them )
Ruark Acoustic Templar II £700 New in 1999 reduced for cash purchase. They've got better with every update. Had them longer than most people's marriages last.
Needless to say I don't bother with cables but ensure they are well made ( No more than £20 a pair. I auditioned £400 solid silver against £35 copper cables in my 20s Almost impossible to tell difference.
Tough these days though due to business hatred for bricks and mortar.
Only measuring tool is your ear and we're all different .
I'm sure the Abrams M1 tank measures the best of any MBT but I wouldn't want to drive it on a highway or a country lane
Happy hunting 😁😁
DSP is where the magic happens with these devices. The lack of character noted without DSP is simply an empty canvas awaiting your tuning of the device to suit your room and your ears.
This is why for sure Bluesound products may have the same software engine as NAD products and maybe even the same amplification, but the more upmarket of them sport DSP (Dirac). So many reviewers have missed this, some even saying they never even tried it, some just fiddled a bit with the default curve and the lite version, and shame on NAD for not making a bigger deal of it. Done right, it makes a huge difference to the listening experience.
And sure Dirac requires commitment to properly understand it and set it up. But once you figure it out then you can make your Dirac equipped amplification sound however you want. It's truly some sort of magic.
I'll underscore this by asking how do professional live sound engineers provide a consistent experience for audiences in different stadiums (surely the most difficult listening rooms in the world) night after night? DSP is the correct answer. This is the way.
This is the way.
I have spoken.
Ah yes! My soul cleanser of the day, Andrews review and Kristy's take. Bless you both.
Thank you for making us a part of your morning.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thank you! Although here in Greece, it is always my afternoon :) You guys should visit sometime, we have sea and stuff! Hehehe
I really appreciate your honest take on the M33. I've owned it for about a year and I've really enjoyed the amp, both in usability/flexibility and sound quality. For me, it has been the perfect replacement for my old Hegel H300.
I think most of us can say confidently that we miss and appreciate Kristi’s takes on products that you both review
I missed it too. I did not enjoy this process at all.
Agreed. Hope she is well and will be back soon.
Really agree too, almost thought i had pressed next accidentally.
I also missed it ! I hope she will be back :)
Finally a review that actually say something. Thank you Andrew. Your insights and presentation are always an island of ease in this ocean of noise
Wow, thank you. I think there have been other good reviews of this product for what it's worth, but I'm glad ours resonated with you.
With soo many good options out here for music/audio playback and relatively cheaper options sounding great, I lean more towards the emotional connection with my equipment. While my setup is primarily for personal enjoyment, I also enjoy entertaining friends and family. So at this level of HiFi when everything starts coming down to splitting hairs.. it's all about esthetics and functionality for ME. Sleek, non intrusive, and ease of use will have my money before specs any day.
Ease of use isn’t discussed enough. What’s often missed in any HiFi review is the “will anyone else besides me be able to make the thing play music?” factor. For most of us that’s a big deal if we don’t have dedicated listening rooms. Great insight, my friend.
I always love Kristi's take. I have been looking at this integrated. It checks many boxes, dual speakers, earc hdmi, sub outs, ample power, and all the streaming goodies. Thanks!
Really do miss Kristi's take. She's perfect to give an "every person" opinion. I also realized she and I have the same taste in sound profile, so if she loves it, I know I probably will too.
Jason, you are so green. You will smarten up with time, though. Don't you worry about that.
@@JamesBrown-jy5sy It's probably more about getting an objective description, and then you have an idea if this is something for you, so that you get a clue as to what to check out. That there are several who describe what they like about it and not, is more of a nice thing.
I love here dialogues, sorry there are "dickhead" issues.
"LET IT GO!”
Just saying.
I'm at a point where I hit like before I even watched the video. One of my favorite corners on RUclips for sure, especially because of the way you deliver the content and the respectful community. Cheers
This makes me think of the emotional impact you felt in your Klipsch LaScala review. I would love to have seen how the clinical neutrality of the M33 would have performed through the emotional LaScalas. Do the LaScalas make the M33 sound emotional, or does the M33 make the LaScalas more dispassionate?
My idea of perfect Hi-Fi is all about emotional connection. To me, music is about emotion. If it doesn't move me, what's the point? That may not look as good on paper, and it could be different for each individual but Hi-Fi without emotion is just as dead inside as a person without passion or emotion.
This is a great question I'd love to hear Andrew's take on.
Clinical + Klipsch is probably not going to be a good time. I have some Cornwalls and they can be pretty shouty depending on the amp. I haven't tried the M33 with them but IMO they pair best with a vintage or warmer sounding amp. They were downright nasty hooked up to an Anthem MRX520 I used briefly when i first got them and then slightly better on a NAD C320bee I pulled out of storage while I looked for something more complementary. I'm currently running them with a PrimaLuna Prologue Premium tube integrated and even that has me lusting for a little more warmth. YMMW of course, it's entirely possible that horns just aren't really my thing.
Rather late to this thread, but, I own both the M33 and the Heresy IVs. To me, having auditioned a whole series of amps (including the Naim Unity Atom) with the Heresys, the M33 made them sing in a way nothing else did. The Atom produced beautiful music, and I would have been very happy with it. But this was just... I don't know, to *me* it was incredible. That said, I haven't heard it on larger Heritage series speakers, so, who knows.
Very nice review I don't usually care about how an Amp test on a bench for the perfect sound. For me it's your environment and how you set up your system. The hands on adjustment and placement count for me. Also wishing Crissy the best. Her opinion was and is respected and appreciated. Hope you come back soon.
For integrated amps there is an element of functionality, but for amps (pre and power) the aspect of joy, is the "handshake" between it and the speakers. This sounds like it will be able to utilize the speakers (and room) to maximum performance effect. But I do get it, some combos have a magic in one parameter or another (my old mosfet yamaha, that midrange with vocals is special, despite it lacking in places), and it would be disconcerting to have pure robot perfection gloss over the positive attributes of whatever sources or speakers you've chosen. For a lot of people that one-stop-shopping at the nth percentile is perfect, other people are looking for an elusive other quality and will feel, hollow with it.
Congratulations on 200K subscribers!
Perfection is the system you have.
Nice review of that NAD but I’m feeling ‘incomplete’ without Kristi’s section… 😞
Me too. Hopefully she will return soon.
second that. I too felt the review was missing Kristi's inputs
Hifi to me is a system that gets out of the way of the music and let's you enjoying it to the point where you loose track of time. Even when it's not a live recording it's still an experience.
Congrats on 200k subs what a milestone I’m the industry! 🎊
‘Perfect’ is what YOU like best. I’ve had many store owners tell me how good something is sounding whilst to my ears it’s flat. Advice and good reviews are all great but to live with a hifi you have to love it too
I’ve heard others both pitch and review this unit and immediately thought, “I wonder what Andrew thinks?” I first heard a salesman pitch it, and it seemed like the greatest thing since sliced bread, then I heard a reviewer dis it, think twice, and dis it again. Now you say it’s ‘perfect’ but boring. Wow. I would still like to hear it, because, like you say, it has every feature you would want, and no major weak spots. Adding it all up sounds like a ringing endorsement to me. I would rather be bored than disappointed. 🙂
I like that you are displaying new artists and new albums. Nice touch.
Thanks!
In-depth and concise as usual... Keep it up!
Thank you.
Thanks for the great video and I can imagine the amount of work that went into making it. The timing was impeccable. I've read, listened to every review and talked to dealers about the M33 for the past year and I think your review nailed it pretty much perfectly - thank you! Personally, I love the look of the M33 and its enormous amount of unrivalled features. Having a neutral, transparent and uncoloured sound are qualities that most audiophiles dream about, but I appreciate you highlighting the alternative viewpoints. The M33 will hopefully be my endgame! Best to you and Kristi.
People like distortion in their sound. It’s basically used as a sort of tone control. The Purifi modules are absolutely amazing, but they give you exactly what is there on a recording without any extra spacial tricks.
I encourage using the power amplifier modules with something like a tubed preamplifier to give you the best of both worlds.
I use a Purifi power amplifier with a super low distortion preamplifier (Topping Pre90) and on a good recording, it’s just amazing. It never sounds bad, but there are times I crave the presentation from my Pass Aleph 30 amplifier. This amplifier module is definitely helped, however, by having incredible loudspeakers that are partially open baffle in design. There’s a sense of three dimensionality and preciseness when it’s all put together.
Also, I’ve recently been using the Cambridge AXR85 I picked up as a $200 refurb to play with and noticed that it’s not nearly as dynamic or precise as the Allo Audio class D amplifier I own which has less power.
Class D amplifiers, when designed well, are simply amazing, but don’t expect them to add trickery into music that is poorly recorded. Really good speakers can help you get around this.
You and Kristi do great reviews with a style and class unattainable by some other reviewers. Nice job on this one, as well, though Kristi was missed.
Thank you and I hope she'll be back soon!
None of the other amps from NAD sounds like m33. I'd pick Hegel over any of the other amps from NAD, but I think m33 might be my favourite amp. It sounds AMAZING.
Hi Andrew, I have the C399 clean, very neutral, and compared it with NAd M33, I heard more details than I have ever heard. it doesn't sound manipulated at all, as Denon sounds too warm compared to c399 or m33. I also had the c658 in combination with a primare A35.2, a lot of detail disappeared, it even sounded messy. Whether that is the fault of the pre amp or primare is not entirely clear to me. I suspect primary A35.2. primare does sound full and powerful, that’s all. I’ll go fore Nad m33 love the looks price litle to high..
I have owned the M33 for over 8 months.....love it, and initially was looking to match with B&W 607's, but after testing a few at our local retailer with a preferred playlist and my Wife we ended up selecting Sonus faber Sonetto V speakers........you are right about the neutrality of the M33 but the Sonetto's bring that to life......yet to match a subwoofer or two, but will look at that next year.
Keep up the good work on your reviews! And keep safe and well!
Hi Stuart, I have the same HiFi set up as you and wondering did you add subwoofers yet as I’m considering doing the same. Thanks in anticipation.
Just remember that the Nad M33 uses Purifi Eigentakt amp modules, not Hypex as in the c368/c388/M10. Sure you get the same BluOS ui in all of them, but they do not sound the same :)
That’s one reason tube amps sound so good - they don’t measure perfectly distortion wise or exacting spec wise. They have that Je ne sais quoi
Don’t let hater win, I loved the end of the review chat, was so refreshing to hear your wife’s perspective on the different equipment. Needless to say I don’t have such engagements when I change equipment.
my idea of perfection is simple:
- Do I love the moment of playing music?
- Does music give me gooseflesh?
- Is it magical?
I think impossible to measure this, it´s all those technical aspects coming together creating that magical moment :-))
Recently purchased the M33 and paired it with the L100 75 Anniversary speakers. Listening to my music has never been more fun and immersive. The M33 is exacting in its sound, but Dirac really allows you to tailor the amp toward a warmer, more "tubey" sound. I often find myself blurting out "Woah!" when listening to this pairing because of something I've either never heard before in a song or because I will regularly hear a vocal or instrument that "leaps" out from the physical confines of the speakers and floats somewhere around the room. It's the aural equivalent of a haunted house where suddenly you're shocked when a horn or guitar or percussive instrument emerges seemingly out of thin air. I know sound is totally subjective, but I'm having a blast with this thing!
I also owe M33 and pairing with JBL L100 CLASSIC and I have no complains with this pairing,love the sound. But maybe because this is my second hifi gear and I don’t have the knowledge about what’s good sound and whats not so much,but I enjoy mine for sure and it’s been almost a year now since I pair these two. By the way I didn’t run dirac yet as I had bad experience with my previous hifi gear that I owned which was NAD M10 and FOCAL ARIA 926,tried to run light version on the M10 and it did worse to the sound so I thought M33 as well would be to difficult for me. But would like to find someone who’s professional and could do it for me 🤔
I have the JBL HDI 3800's which I love. Would you think the M33 would sound great with them too?
@Andrew Robinson
nice review as always.
What do I think about if perfection could be boring?
It's need a non short answer.
I can listen to a lot of audiophiles claiming about the perfect sound equal as possible as the original and that means the equalizers are devil devices and no tone controls are allowed. Just the minimum steps… But I also see how a lot of them love vinyl imperfection, or valve amps coloration.
This is really an incoherent world. It's a subjetive passion because each one lives the music in a different way.
As you always say, the only true is in oneself.
But I really think that an amp very transparent isn't boring. What I like is the possibility to find some missed details in the music that I love and I have already listened thousands of times. That's a marvelous experience when something new is revealed in a piece that you think you know perfectly.
This discoveries are part of my fun listening to music.
Of course are always an emotional approach to the devices, but in my case it isn't a "personal sounding, non in an amp.
The emotional approach to an amp, it's for me in the way to use it, the functions, or the look, or even in the fact to touch it.
I think that "coloration" in the sound have to be produced by the speakers selection, or an EQ, no by the amp.
For that reason, if the NAD M33 is transparent, has enough power, it's easy and enjoyable to use, has a nice touch screen and multiple functions and possibilities… It's perfect!, and I would look for the passion just in the use experience, and if I would prefer a diferent sound I'd try it playing with the other gears, no the amp.
Anothger advantage is that you can use the NAD as pre-amp and streamer and connect it to a different amp, even a valve amp if you want.
My English isn't enough good for express correctly, but I hope you understand what I am trying to explain.
Regards
There is no such thing as perfection. It's the flaws that make a product or experiences real. I do not have expensive gear, but I turn on my system and play music and I forget that my components are not perfect and that the recording and the performances aren't perfect, either. All I want them to do is make me feel. And that gets me as close to perfection as I will ever be.
Please tell Kristi to keep her head held high and that I look forward to seeing her come back with her wise comments and humor. And I think most of us subscribers feel that way. And enjoy the rest of your weekend, Andrew!
As I found with my T778 the M33 requires larger floor standing speakers and you need to tweak the response curve away from the standard HK curve to your liking which is easy to do with the full range Dirac software .
Perfection to me is getting the absolute best out of my recordings and what the speakers can deliver and not having an amplifier "flavor" it for me. I want to flavor it myself by EQ/DSPing tailored to the song i am listening. Therefore i need a signal chain that doesn't add warmth or any kind of fizz, coldness, whatever to it.
With the C298 it was the first time that i noticed that some records just plain suck. And now that i have gotten so used to the revealing character of it i don't wanna miss it. If a mastering sucks, it sucks. If i wanna change the sound signature, i can do it with EQing the hell out of it but the amp just does what it is supposed to do: deliver clean sound with almost no distortion or coloration. Letting me hear what the artist/sound engineer put on the disc.
What did kristie think?
Great video Andrew. I definitely missed Kristi's comments. Im in her boat regarding class A/B amps, and was looking forward to her take on this digital amp.
Regarding your QOTD: There has to be an emotional connection to the sound and the music. I need detail, texture, and punch which I feel comes mainly from class A/B amps.
The mighty m33. Truly a Swiss Army knife of an amplifier.
Swiss in more ways than one.
Tell Kristi: “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger” I’m an immigrant and faced a lot of crap when I came to America. Someone told me that saying and has been in my head ever since. It has made me so much better than “them”.
I really appreciate that Jose. I'll let her know. Thank you!
Not everyone in this country is like that. Welcome to YOUR country and home my friend!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews What are you guys talking about? Did I miss something? Are people dissing on Kristi?? Is she from another country? I'm confused!!
@Les Matthews, Steve Guttenberg and Ken M., of Stereophile Magazine put out a video on Friday where Ken made fun of Kristi and objectified her and Steve aired it. That's the long and the short of it. You can read my community post if you want, but the video has been removed and Steve remains silent.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Forget those assholes!!! I'm shocked at Steve but don't know the other guy. We all missed Kristi this video!! They all talk about the WAF and here, finally, one is willing to give it - which we loved - and these trolls are saying mean things? I don't know what they said - but I am a member and will check out the community page. Will get back to you!
I have a genuine question, and it's not meant to be snarky or critical: could it be that you guys are experiencing a sort of sonic fatigue? You guys review SO MANY audio devices for us that I sometimes wonder if they all just start running in together and it all becomes muddled. Like the person that works at a bath and body works no longer being able to smell all those damn candles and scents by the end of the day
Good point.🤔
You raise a very interesting question and rather than give you an outright answer, here's another way of looking at it -
Think of it this way - there is no denying that if you live in a place with a bad smell, you eventually get used to it. But if someone new walks into the same room, they may notice it right away. Taking that same idea and applying it to hifi or home theater - because we change gear so frequently and it's not the same monotonous sound all the time, change is often _more_ noticeable. So as long as we have a few baselines with which to compare on hand, you can discern the sound of something fairly quickly. And since there are two of us here, we can usually compare and contrast even quicker not mention have a bit of checks and balance so to speak.
The other thing to ponder is not listener fatigue but rather the possibility that as products have continued to improve coupled with the known consolidation of manufacturing, industry wide, much of this gear isn't all that different from the next and thus, actually does start to sound the same because the differences in quality are no longer as great they once were. This is of course assuming the products are different to begin with - hint: many are not.
tldr: a lot of stuff is really good now.
But great question!
Thanks Andrew. I’ve had a hankering for an amp that would transfer my living room into an amphitheater.
If this M33 has “all that you want” then it is more than adequate for me. I like the deep dive with the proper amount of delicious details from my perspective. Nice thing is Andrew, is that excellence doesn’t require perfection. My dear wife just gave me the permission to buy. Cheers mate.
Keep on sharing your opinion!
200k!! Congrats to you and Kristi!
Andrew… I have owned the M33 for about 7 months now. Yes the sound is “perfect”. It is exactly a straight wire with gain. Benchmark amps are much the same. That’s why they use them in studios. Stereophile just reviewed the pure amp version of the M33 (c298) and basically said it has NO sound whatsoever. Equipment matching is critical with these. They need a speaker with warm mids and lower treble, or they are going to be sterile. They are bad matches for B & W and Kef products. They would be a bad match for the Focal. I am going to listen to the Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 in a few weeks as a possible match. Perfection is a bitch. That’s why people buy tubed gear, measures horribly and sounds magical.
Hi Richard, any idea if ProAc speakers might be a better fit with the M33?
Great review. But I miss the perspective from Kristy and the discussion at the end of the review.
I have the m33 with b&w 804 d3. Couldn't be happier😁 would dare to say it's a perfect match.
First thing that entered my mind when I saw your shirt was Be kind, please rewind"!!! 🤪🤪🤪
This channel has some of the coolest cats subscribing. One of the only channels that I actually enjoy going to the comments. How incredibly well managed. Professional, personal and of the highest quality. With the explosion in HiFi in recent years, this channel is a prime example of how to use our modern information outlets to bring quality content to the audience. I don't know what the revenue stream is like but whatever it is, IT'S UNDER VALUED. I'd love to see this grow into a full fledged media company or at least coach some of the existing ones. Much love ✌️.
@Zachariah, I really appreciate that. We do our best to not only foster a community on the whole, but to make sure each and every one of you who watch feel like you're getting a small piece of us, or at a minimum our 1-on-1 attention. We know we can't get to everyone, but we try. As for where we want to take this show, it is my goal to open it WAY up in the not too distant future and even take it off of RUclips to a degree (we'll still be here, promise) so as to reach the folks who don't consume as much content online. I think we can do it, and with the help of you guys, I know we can!
I saw your post the other day, and I hope Kristi is okay. I found myself missing her with this vid. As someone with a sister also named Kristi, and 3 daughters, I have no patience for sexism. Please let her know we're all thinking of her and she should ignore the haters. I do wish she'd come on or you'd post a pic of her when you're chatting just for some visual interest, but I've never thought her reluctance to be on camera in any way affects the validity of her opinions or all the work she does for us on your channel. Be well.
This review is really good, you mention one of the things audiophiles/measurement-lovers often miss in their reviews, in my opinion at least.
A total flat, neutral, colorless response can be good, but it is not a guaranee to make you connect with the sound, make you emotional etc.
And as a sidenote, the hunt for the sound of ”what the artist intended”, is impossible if you dont use the same soundcard, same studiomonitors as they did. The monitors, like all hifi-speakers, sound vastly different to eachother too.
Great video, and keep up your good work :)
This video makes me want to buy this amp. I love Andrew's reviews because he gives such a good description of the product that even if I don't agree with his taste, the review is still helpful. I prefer my speakers to color the music at the very end in slight ways based on my preferences. Until that point I like it to be neutral.
Juan, I own the M33 and it is freakishly neutral. You need to match speakers with it carefully, because the amp won’t help warm things up. I have kef LS50’s. I adore them. But they are not a great match for the amp because they are cool speakers matched with a cool amp. The amp needs a speaker that is slightly on the side of warm in the mids and treble.
@@richardramorino3319 Thanks for the additional info. I have pair of Sonus Faber I'd like to try this amp with. I was thinking about getting a pair of the metas soon but with a different amp.
The M33 seems like it might be pretty happy with Sonus Faber. I had a pair of Sonus Faber Cremonas before and I loved them . I am going to take my M33 to listen to a pair of Rosso Fiorentino Elba 2 in two weeks. Another sweet sounding Italian speaker.
Andrew, perfect HiFi to me is absolute fidelity to the recording. The system should not add or take away anything from what was created. The M33 is therefore IMHO close to perfect. My experience with music is live and mostly large complex ensembles playing classical and jazz. BTW what was Kristie’s take?
Great Review Andrew, missed hearing Kristies take on it.
Nice that you point out the differences in Class D designs that others gloss over and overgeneralize about. They don't all sound the same, like maybe some did years ago. I'm still on the fence with that Technics SU-G700 you recommended. 😄
Absolute spot on review by Andrew. I used M33 for close to a month and that’s exactly how I felt. The sound was just too clinical. Dirac live cleans up the sound and minimize your room’s effects on sound even more but the music just becomes lifeless in my opinion. I sent it back and purchased Technics SU-G700 amplifier / Blue Sound Node streamer combo. I am glad I did.
Nice shirt! Best comment you could make
Thanks for the 60 second review
I've gotten the same impressions of NAD since their wonderful class AB masters series before they went to hybrid digital. I currently own a D3020 V2 amp that will be moving to provide Atmos duties for 2 ceiling speakers. Clinical is the best term I can use to describe their sound now. It's devoid of anything. Might look good on paper and might test well, but for me, it doesn't cut it. I'm on the hunt for something for my 2 channel office setup.
The perfect amplifier/receiver keeps my attention, makes me want to listen for hours. It breathes life into music I've heard all my life, and reveals layers I've never noticed before. It's warm, not harsh, doesn't call attention to itself.
always been a fan of nad they r putting out some fantastic products loving the shirt by the way ..
Thanks!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yvw
Without Kristi this review was like the device you just review, perfect on paper but lifeless no emotions. Wa Wa
Agreed.
Andrew is alright, I guess. JK but it's like watching this old house without Bob Vila.
@@zachariahadams 😂
I completely agree with your assessment of the sound. I found it to be very polished, but with no character. There was something synthetic about it that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I also found it lacking in heft at low levels. Once it was pushed a little, it sounded better. But, there was this vapor-like quality to the presentation that I also found strange. I think it was less of a problem with the amp, and more of me just being used to other topologies. I agree that most people would love it, but it left me cold.
For years I was a stereo guy! But when surround sound was invented I was hooked. I still love to listen to my stereo music but need an amp that does both. So these amps have no interest to me but love to see what is happening in the stereo world. My ideal situation would be a stereo system and a home theatre system - but my wallet says NO WAY!!
Great review and amazing product. Like Kristi has said before: these very expensive products make the more affordable make even more sense. Missed her take, stay strong!
I guess it all depends on numerous factors. Room, speakers, sub, source material...etc. For me, I have a M33 playing in
to KEF LS50 Meta, with a KEF KC62 sub. I have Dirac dialed into my room. I find it the absolute best sounding system in it's class.
I have a very similar set up, except that my sub is a KF92 as I like a bit more bass. Before I had a BW PV1D sub in a different apartment and I was happy with the sound, however after moving and running my Dirac again in the new flat the sound seems lacking quite a bit of bass. Any tips on how to fix this?
Thanks
@@felipejotz7054 adjust the curve to boost the bass is the generic answer. But without seeing the response curve that's all I can offer. The other thing being that maybe the sub level is down after moving. Before adjusting the curve maybe boost the level at the sub.
@@KeithHeinrich I ended up buying the upgrade for Dirac full range of frequency. Ran the measure once and couldn’t believe my ears, best sound I ever got. Im really happy and satisfied with my hifi. I just don’t get it how much of a difference it mada by just upgrading the software, best 99 USD ever spent. Thanks
@@felipejotz7054 there you go. Its some sort of magic I tells ya.
@@felipejotz7054I keep reading this same comment everywhere. Dirac locks away its benefits but everyone who bites says it makes a big difference over Dirac LE.
Hi. I started my journey years ago with a Nad 302, Nad cd and JPW speakers. In between I had a cheaper home theater system. Now i listen to a DENON XB 250BT with small boston acoustics in a stereo setup . The other day I set up my old system for my mother in law. I was nostalgic about the sound that seemed to flow like Crystal water out of the speakers. I could not believe the purity thereof. Unfortunately half an hour later I was bored to death with the clean sound. In other words: I get You.
Perfection in hi-fi, to me, is that balance between people’s reactions from “Wow!” to the sound that they are hearing and their reaction of “Woah/What?!” when you tell them what you spent. There’s a mid-point there that justifies the “perfection” that ultimately, as you put it, only has to appease one person. Unfortunately, “perfection” right now is a 20 year old $279 Sony HT Receiver with DefTech ProCinema 1000’s 😋 Maybe someday when the kids are older. 🤞Thank you both for all of the phenomenal content that keeps my hopes alive for that someday 😉✌️
Hi, another excellent review. You did not mention one of the features this amp has "Bridge mode" / mono amplifier from NAD
Bridge mode switches the two amps so that one amp does the negative and the other the positive part of the signal. This makes it a single (mono) amp with doubles the output power. For this, to work you need a second power amp for the other channel.
Did you play around with this feature? Another reviewer mentioned this feature and I was wondering if anyone has tried using another amp with this NAD33 to increase the total power output.( I think it's overkill but it would be nice to know if it works) Then again 200 watts is more than enough for the average consumer. Hope Kristi having a good day. we miss her opinion on this review
You're right but I did mention it on the spec card 😉
Andrew you are the best reviewer on the PLANET! I own the M33 and your review is spot on! Thanks for another excellent review! (be well Kristi..)
What speaker do you have it paired with Tony?
@@richardramorino3319 Was using the Wharfedale Denton 85 (bookshelf) switched to the PSB Imagine X1T. This amp shows the character of whatever it is connected to. It will quickly reveal the weakest link in any system! I really love this AMP! I appeals to what my need for ABSOLUTE perfection!!!!
@@tonyraynor3202 cool. Is have used mine with LS50’S (too cool) , Triangle floorstanders(a bit better)., I was going to try them with Sonus Faber Olympica's, but I am going to put the M33 in the car and drive to a dealer that has the Rosso Fiorentino Elba 11 in two weeks.
@@richardramorino3319 I bet that sounds INCREDIBLE!!!!! Wish I could go higher level on my speakers too.
perfect hi-fi means..I get chills and the hair on my arms stands up while listening to music....any music.
You and I's idea of perfection is totally in line.
I've auditioned the M33 and although it's perfect, there's kinda lack of 'soul' or anything 'wow', soundwise. Like you said, it doesn't matter what source-material or speaker used. Everything is correct in a technical way, but minus emotion or 'spunk'.
To borrow a quote from Kristi: "I'm OK when it goes".
I'm a prof. soundengineer, used to flat frequency studiomonitors and in some aspect the M33 experience reminds me of that, nothing more or less, well structured, minus a toe-tapping or heart-grabbing way. I'm glad I'm not the only one to experience this ;) I've owned a lot of (older) NAD amps and loved them for their typical NAD sound, which imo, is somehow missing from the M33. Perhaps it's all about perception.
To borrow a quote from Kristi: "I'm OK when is goes".
Cheers to Kristi and hopefully she will join you soon, because her insights (and personality) are very much appreciated.
Please review the Arcam SA20! I think it is the best value out there for 2 channel amp with built in dac.
I will see if Kristi can look into it and find out if its a good fit but I appreciate the tip!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks! The class a/ab design is excellent. Awesome review! We are getting one of these on demo soon so I am looking forward to getting hands on with it.
Did I miss the obvious quick comparison with the Uniti Atom?
Hi Andrew, love your shirt on this review. With your QOTD, for me, apart from the desired components and gear, perfect hifi lets you enjoy music and listen for hours with a smile on your face expressing satisfaction and contentment that takes you away while still being there.
Tough to love a product when the emotional attachment, at least to some level, is missing …awesome review Andrew. To answer your question, I need some emotional attachment to both my gear and the sound my gear produces. I want to walk into my room with my system asking me…”You ready to rock?”
Appreciate you answering my Question of the Day!