Publishing a correction is never a weakness, but a strength. Admitting you were wrong about something or that you missed something is the only right way forward.
I'm not sure I understand. Tone controls, Dirac, different speakers, room acoustics?? All influence what is heard. Are you suggesting this tonal characteristic is always present or just under your reviewing conditions? At the end of the day, how does the music sound?
Hi Ron - did you try playing with the custom curves (after Dirac) to get the sound balance to the way you might like it or are you talking about different attributes the M33 possesses?
Great addendum Ron. Hats off! I think it’s great you have pointed to the fact that this IS a digital amp (not just using class d modules), technics has a similar amp wherein everything is digitally converted until the last moment. I see this as becoming more popular but I “believe” it has a taste that if carefully observed as you say goes in kind of an opposite direction of warmth, body and texture replaced with some detail and perhaps a hardness. The Technics SU-G700 does not seem to review this way as I have read some incredible reviews about its sound belying it’s digital amp tech. You may like hearing that Amp. But I digress, love your channel, honesty and integrity. I can count the top tier RUclips HiFi reviewers that I truly respect and enjoy. Pretty sure it only takes one hand to count them. One of those fingers is you, all the best.
Hi Ron, do you think adding an external DAC (for example the Halo MAY DAC that you reviewed) or other warmer sounding DAC might reduce or take the edge of the 'coldness' of the M33 sound? Would be grateful for your view, thanks.
Very good Ron, this is much appreciated. Sometimes is takes a bit of time and comparing to truly understand a component’s sound. It would be very interesting to compare this vs another amp that has the Purifi modules incorporated. Some say that Nad’s implementation is not the best, perhaps because of this A/D conversion, who knows. There’s a bit of hype out there about the VTV Purifi amps - would love to see you review one of those Ron.
Much appreciated honesty! With regard to the ‘digital’ part of your notes, I have a question. I own a M10 (with B&W 705 signatures) and am very happy with it. When listening to vinyl I do notice a drop in volume (which can be solved by turning it up). Still figuring out if sound quality of vinyl is also worse then streaming and considering purchasing a separate analog amp for vinyl. What is your view on this?
I recently purchased the NAD C298 which uses the same Purifi Eigentakt amp modules as the M33. After living with it for a couple of weeks I was trying to put my finger on what was bugging me about it. It is extremely detailed, dynamic, and has effortless power. But something in the top end was bothering me, and I felt I was becoming fatigued - something I had never experienced with my system. After searching for others who may have had a similar experience I came across your review here. Ron, I have to say that you nailed what I felt I was hearing with the Eigentakt amps in the C298. I commented to a fried of mine last week that in some cases it almost sounded TOO clear - like the highs sometimes sounded "exaggerated" for lack of a better word. Your analogy of a TV with the contrast set a little too high is perfect. This extra "clarity" at first has the power to grab your attention and exhibits a significant "wow factor", but in some cases, particularly on recordings of lesser quality, can quickly become fatiguing, at least in my experience. Thank you for the thorough review.
@@backatya-bi8rx Let's not get carried away here this is only one reviewer's opinion Andrew Robinson has a similar, You can look up a number of other respectable audiophile reviewers with totally opposite opinions, All I know is from what I've heard listened to the M33 sounds amazing & that was without Dirac implemented, This Amp is so versatile, Dirac, BluOs all coming in a very exceptionally made quality & sized unit, no other Intergrated Amplifier can get close you really wouldn't wish for anything else to enjoy music.
Do you feel there are any speakers that may play to the M33's weaknesses better? I am using the M23 right now and I find it to be a tad bit harsh with my JM Lab Mini Utopia. I am thinking about trying some soft dome tweeter speakers to see how that changes things up a bit .
I compared the M33 with the Hegel 390 in my home on B&W 702 S2’s. I found the M33 to bright in the highs and with a lot less body in the soundstage. But i found the soundstage wider with the M33. The Hegel 390 was a lot meatier and warmer and ”easier”to listen too. It was just a better match for my B&Ws. I think the new NAD c298 purifi amp with a analogue preamp would be a much better match for my B&Ws. I think it is important to get the correct match of your entire HiFi equipment wright than just one piece in your entire HiFi chain.
Have you heard a Parasound Halo Hint 6 with your B&W as compared you your Hegel 390. I am interested if you or anyone has compared. I currently use the Hint with B&W 805d3.
Hey Ron. Good on you for the update. You've got me wondering; have you noticed any big differences in how your other systems sound since you moved? A friend of mine moved a year ago and since then he's not been happy with his setup. Lots of experimenting (and research) has demonstrated that he's got noisier power in his new place, and he was getting harsh metallic highs (digital artifacts) out of a system that had previously sounded superb.
It's still a fantastic way of keeping your setup simple and tidy. I bought the Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, and I'm really happy with it for the same reasons. It sounds great, but not Class A-B level at that price range, but it's good enough for me to not worry about the minor details, especially as my hifi is now really simple to use. and takes up minimal surface area.
A review is nothing more than a impression at a certain time. I own a M33 and am a happy chap. The Eigentakt amplifier drives about any speaker and improved sound quality of my previous amplifier that lacked power in the bass region badly. I use it together with the Buchardt Audio S400 Signature Edition speakers which are a bit rolled off in the high frequency range. A perfect combo for me. BluOS, it‘s versatility especially with its HDMI-2 MDC module which integrates all AV sources into the stereo sound system in the living room makes a compromise like the negatives Ron mentions easy to live with. Especially because I am not even able to do a A-B listening comparison to a class A/B integrated amplifier. Regarding the extra AD/DA conversion: it is default on lowest resolution in order to be able to stream the digitized signal to other BluOS streamers via a slow network. You can set it to higher resolutions and I wonder if Ron has utilized that feature. Reviewing the M33 in the process and aftermath of a relocation, stress has a significant impact on peoples mindset and hearing perception. So, like any review this should be taken with a grain of salt.
Great points Ron, NAD is known for the quicksilver sound. That’s why I went with just the purifi eval amp from vtv. I have that killer class D but I can color it with grear upstream that I prefer (the ska-heet freya+). Now if I could get that flexibility in sound also with Dirac that would be great 🤤. Can’t wait to hear how it’s going to sound with my recently ordered m3 sapphires 😬🤘.
My Anthem MRX740 documentation says the same thing, that all inputs are digitized as there is no bypass feature. Does this mean that you won't get the true benefits of adding external DAC's to these inputs? As the final output is the DAC inside the unit.
So the M33 doesn't have analog bypass? Odd, as my C658 AND T758 do. Of course you lose Dirac and tone (on the C658 the amp can still do this if it has them) but I instantly notice a fuller sound when switching (mids maybe?). Pretty sure you lose subs also but my SVS Ultra towers pick up a good portion of the lows. Sometimes the digitizing sounds good enough, it really depends on the recording.
Its really difficult getting used to neutral sounding amps and speakers. Reviewers and customers alike are so used to what we have listened to for many years and decades. Clean neutral sounds emanating from our speakers is new. With the m33 using DL i am determined to remove room boom and hot tweeter and any other amp flavors that i previously thought ‘good hifi’. My late post here is down to the fact that I too needed more time to come to the conclusion that this is a stunningly good sounding amp and that the reviewer in this clip was tired and should acknowledge that neutral sounding and REW measured neutrality is new to him too, possibly? Anyways don’t anyone be afraid of demoing this extraordinary amp at some point in the future.
Kudos revisiting an earlier review! I believe the M33 digitises all analogue inputs, so the signal coming from one's precious turntable and cartridge, gets converted to digital; if applicable it gets DSP treatment (to allow for Dirac). O what about that super-duper DAC that you use with on your CD transport? It will have its signal converted to digital also, processed if tone controls or Dirac are engaged, only to be converted back to analogue. Pretty pointless to use an external DAC with this amp. Perhaps that is part of your 2nd thoughts also. Still, the ADC is pretty decent and like the phono pre-amp perfectly fine for occasional use. I use the M33 for its streaming capabilities and occasional CD playback and with my TV (courtesy of HDMI ARC input). Used as such, it's the best my speakers have ever sounded. Add Dirac in the mix (room correction is the single biggest improvement one can make, no amount of fancy cable can make up for that) and it's just killer...
Thx this confirmed the impression I got from different sources on the M33. Now what really could be a killer combo in this price range (to also compare to the Hegel H390) is the upcoming Holo Audio Spring 3 with preamp module paired with the Kinki Studio M7 or B7 (mono blocks). This is the combo I am currently seriously considering to drive my Buchardt S400s as a step up from the NAD M10.
Reading the comments it looks like a good idea to explain with more clarity the difference between a digital class A/B amp ( like the M33) and a class D amp.
Is this revision effected by more tube amp comparisons? Just curious if a different amp fleshed more of why you needed to revisit. Thanks Ron, no weakness, just pursuing clarity and honesty. Nice job 👍!
@@Newrecordday2013 I knew it when you said you had the Hegel in for review...🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿. The truth is Ron is that you're just a tube/ class A/AB kind of guy...no problem with that...thank you for your Honesty...looking forward to the Hegel H390 review. Keep up the great work and I hope that you tried the turntable playback with Dirac
Nothing wrong with the view. They were the opinions you had when you made the video. If you listened for a year more I'm sure you'd have more to say too. Keep up the good work Ron
More correct than not but use it as preamp driving krell amplifiers .. decades of improvement or your cake and eat it too ,I am driving old school krell mono block and using NAD m-33 as front end ohh it works new tech driving old school class A amplifiers . It was my plan and it works😊
Could this 'digital' sound be compensated for by some warmer sounding speakers or an external power amp? The sound we hear is never just due to one component in the chain. Also, does anyone know how the M33 sounds in comparison to its direct rival, the Lyngdorf Tdai 3400? I'm torn between the two.
It can be compensated by customising the frequency response in dirac. For example a 3khz sound frequency is just a 3khz sound frequency no matter where it comes from, it doesn't matter what type of amp it is or the speakers. Whether something sounds 'warm' or 'thin' is just an illusion or a perception. A 'warm' sound is created by having a relatively louder frequency response for the lower frequencies and the opposite for 'thin' sound. Whatever is most loud in the sound mix is what you will notice the most and how you perceive the sound to be. Given that this unit has DSP in the form of dirac before the DAC stage, you can change the frequency response and make it sound however you like without affecting sound quality. The usual default recommendation with dirac is to not have flat frequency target, but have it sloping down a bit from left to right. It would help to use a fast musical sub as well, but that isn't needed just to make it sound warm. I am not sure what type of amp the Lyngdorf uses but it is a bit older and I think it uses 'Equibit' based amps (it is hard to find info on it, but it might be similar to Purifi), another main difference is that it uses Room Perfect instead of Dirac and doesn't have the colour screen. It also doesn't use Bluesound for streaming.
@@Tim._.. Thanks Tim, that's very useful. I believe Room Perfect doesn't allow playing with the curve like you can with Dirac, but does have selectable 'voicings' which adjust the tone. I think this reviewer needs to issue another amendment as he clearly did not explore Dirac, which would have addressed his concerns about the sound quality.
Maybe a link or “sticky” comment on your original video leading to this addendum video would be good. Or possibly stick a copy of this video right on to the end of the original video?
Learning is a lifelong pursuit. Don’t say it won’t happen again, I know about the comparisons you mean however later reflections are super strengths when shared. Shared, and moving on!
Luv u Ron, I don't need to say man up; hopefully other manufacturers will get their build into musicality b4 sending them out. I applaud you n hope u will publish more reviews unfavorably to keep our systems advancing...not going backwards in the pursuit of ear-hole nirvana!!!
The only remedy for fixing the thin-sounding mids of class-D amps is to replace the switching power supply with a linear power supply and to pair it with a tube preamp.
or don't buy a integrated amp, class d power amp is easier to tweak. no reason to get all in one unit. it is the power part that class d does so well. that review was for the whole unit, not especially class d power amp section.
Don't look at it as a weakness think of it more like you'll always know that you're getting correct information even if it comes a bit later. Lets say you reviewed something and was wrong but you never corrected it then someone could buy or not buy it based on that and have a different experience then making them feel you were wrong and that you aren't always correct. You gain integrity by correcting.
Ron, no need to apology. Your follow on comments is appreciated and most audiophiles understand the aspects and follow ups of the review process and certainly how us consumers feel when we're psyched when we first get a new piece and then realize over days/weeks that our opinions can/do change. Keep on doing your thoughtful and high quality work.
SpareChange did a comparison review between the NAD M33 and the Technics SU-R1000. Both digital amplifiers if people want to see which one's more digital'y.
Unfortunately that’s a 5k vs 10k comparison. At $2700 the SU-G700 reviews very well but again, not a fair comparison. These digital amps are becoming more prevalent and offered as mid to high end solutions. Pretty fascinating stuff to me. I wonder however if class A/B may become (even more so) the balanced choice even as digital becomes more and more popular.
The actual amp is class D AFAIK. It is not a digital amp. It may digitize everything, in other words, the analog inputs are put through an Analog to Digital converter, and then eventually into a Digital to Analog converter before it goes into the amp. Which is most definitely an analog amp. As all Class D amps are. There is a huge difference. If it was a digital amp, there would be no DAC in it. Digital amps do the conversion without an actual DAC. Be it a chip DAC, or R2R. So your description is not accurate. At all, unfortunately. I'm not exactly sure what you're hearing? Maybe the problem you're hearing lies in the ADC, the DAC, or the Class D amp itself. But you're most certainly not hearing any digital amp, because there is none in it to hear. So it's physically impossible for you to be hearing a digital amp. Just thought you might want to know that. ✌️
It’s hard to say if what I’m hearing is in the conversion like you mentioned. What I’m saying is the same thing as you, it digitized everything, but whether that’s what I’m hearing, I don’t know for sure!
@@Newrecordday2013 But saying it's a "digital amp", especially the way you said "I'm not talking about class D here". Is very, very, very misleading to people that don't fully understand these things. And IMHO what you're hearing is that Class D amp. A good ADC, and DAC is basically transparent nowadays. Like on the MiniDSP SHD for instance. And the sound you describe are typical Class D sound issues. And the reason why as I use class AB. I read all the hype about the Ncore amps, bought one, and hated it. They don't sound good at all IMHO. There's no musicality AT ALL. And at first I didn't fully notice it either. And I later corrected it with a tube preamp. But I eventually just bought an Exposure 3010S2D Integrated, and now I'm happy again. I will say though that the Crown Drive core 2 amps sound better to me. But with a bumped up high end. I could live with one of those, but not one of Bruno's amp. I think his whole philosophy is skewed the wrong way actually, and don't trust him as a designer very much, unfortunately. Because he seems like a good guy. Anyway have a great night Ron. ✌️
I could only trust a guy's opinions more when he actually looses sleep over something he thought he may have missed, something that may be important to sombody. That's dedication to not wanting to be or appear to be sloppy in doing reviews. ..which i & (i bet) any other subscriber thought you the polar-opposite, the very antithesis of a 'sloppy reviewer'
Never listened to the M33 but did own the M10 for almost 2 years before switching to the Hegel H390 and even though both NAD's use different modules(and I loved the M10)The H390 just does everything better then the at-least the M10 (Soundstage,instrument separation ,etc)If you can live without the fancy touchscreen and room correction then H390 is hard to beat.But then again this hobby is subjective, you really have to listen for Yourself.
Just leave this one alone, already. It's like those people who finish their exam with time to spare, feel confident and then go back and start fiddling with answers and then fail. The extra commentary was fine on the chat with CheapAudioDude but the hesitation, affect and posture here is really bad. Better luck next time.
I hear what you are saying, I am just concerned not everyone will watch the podcast with Randy, hence this last video. Anyhow, thanks for the comment and watching.
@@Newrecordday2013Your chat with Randy was a good one. Didn't intend to watch the entire thing but stayed for the entire 2 1/2 hours. You bring out the best in each other - kinda like me, the oven and bacon.
Publishing a correction is never a weakness, but a strength. Admitting you were wrong about something or that you missed something is the only right way forward.
Well done, not many reviewers have enough humility to rework their reviews,
The M33 is awesome value for money.
I'm not sure I understand. Tone controls, Dirac, different speakers, room acoustics?? All influence what is heard. Are you suggesting this tonal characteristic is always present or just under your reviewing conditions?
At the end of the day, how does the music sound?
Hi Ron - did you try playing with the custom curves (after Dirac) to get the sound balance to the way you might like it or are you talking about different attributes the M33 possesses?
A very good question.
Great addendum Ron. Hats off! I think it’s great you have pointed to the fact that this IS a digital amp (not just using class d modules), technics has a similar amp wherein everything is digitally converted until the last moment. I see this as becoming more popular but I “believe” it has a taste that if carefully observed as you say goes in kind of an opposite direction of warmth, body and texture replaced with some detail and perhaps a hardness. The Technics SU-G700 does not seem to review this way as I have read some incredible reviews about its sound belying it’s digital amp tech. You may like hearing that Amp. But I digress, love your channel, honesty and integrity. I can count the top tier RUclips HiFi reviewers that I truly respect and enjoy. Pretty sure it only takes one hand to count them. One of those fingers is you, all the best.
Really appreciate that!
Thank you, Ron! This is why you are among the few reviewers I subscribe to!
Thanks Ron!!! Your honesty is appreciated! 👍
"Ron's take, too". Could be a new thing to revisit past reviews and share updated opinions as your thoughts and experiences evolve.
Good on you. . . to acknowledge your over site evaluating this product. Well, done!
Hi Ron, do you think adding an external DAC (for example the Halo MAY DAC that you reviewed) or other warmer sounding DAC might reduce or take the edge of the 'coldness' of the M33 sound? Would be grateful for your view, thanks.
Very good Ron, this is much appreciated. Sometimes is takes a bit of time and comparing to truly understand a component’s sound.
It would be very interesting to compare this vs another amp that has the Purifi modules incorporated. Some say that Nad’s implementation is not the best, perhaps because of this A/D conversion, who knows. There’s a bit of hype out there about the VTV Purifi amps - would love to see you review one of those Ron.
Much appreciated honesty! With regard to the ‘digital’ part of your notes, I have a question. I own a M10 (with B&W 705 signatures) and am very happy with it. When listening to vinyl I do notice a drop in volume (which can be solved by turning it up). Still figuring out if sound quality of vinyl is also worse then streaming and considering purchasing a separate analog amp for vinyl. What is your view on this?
I recently purchased the NAD C298 which uses the same Purifi Eigentakt amp modules as the M33. After living with it for a couple of weeks I was trying to put my finger on what was bugging me about it. It is extremely detailed, dynamic, and has effortless power. But something in the top end was bothering me, and I felt I was becoming fatigued - something I had never experienced with my system. After searching for others who may have had a similar experience I came across your review here. Ron, I have to say that you nailed what I felt I was hearing with the Eigentakt amps in the C298. I commented to a fried of mine last week that in some cases it almost sounded TOO clear - like the highs sometimes sounded "exaggerated" for lack of a better word. Your analogy of a TV with the contrast set a little too high is perfect. This extra "clarity" at first has the power to grab your attention and exhibits a significant "wow factor", but in some cases, particularly on recordings of lesser quality, can quickly become fatiguing, at least in my experience. Thank you for the thorough review.
You’re welcome and thank you for the comment!
I love my NAd m33.
Owner for 1 year.
Same here.
@@backatya-bi8rx Let's not get carried away here this is only one reviewer's opinion Andrew Robinson has a similar,
You can look up a number of other respectable audiophile reviewers with totally opposite opinions, All I know is from what I've heard listened to the M33 sounds amazing & that was without Dirac implemented,
This Amp is so versatile, Dirac, BluOs all coming in a very exceptionally made quality & sized unit, no other Intergrated Amplifier can get close you really wouldn't wish for anything else to enjoy music.
@@backatya-bi8rx
I do not share his « updated » sound Impressions…
Do you feel there are any speakers that may play to the M33's weaknesses better? I am using the M23 right now and I find it to be a tad bit harsh with my JM Lab Mini Utopia. I am thinking about trying some soft dome tweeter speakers to see how that changes things up a bit .
I compared the M33 with the Hegel 390 in my home on B&W 702 S2’s. I found the M33 to bright in the highs and with a lot less body in the soundstage. But i found the soundstage wider with the M33. The Hegel 390 was a lot meatier and warmer and ”easier”to listen too. It was just a better match for my B&Ws. I think the new NAD c298 purifi amp with a analogue preamp would be a much better match for my B&Ws. I think it is important to get the correct match of your entire HiFi equipment wright than just one piece in your entire HiFi chain.
Have you heard a Parasound Halo Hint 6 with your B&W as compared you your Hegel 390. I am interested if you or anyone has compared. I currently use the Hint with B&W 805d3.
Hey Ron. Good on you for the update. You've got me wondering; have you noticed any big differences in how your other systems sound since you moved? A friend of mine moved a year ago and since then he's not been happy with his setup. Lots of experimenting (and research) has demonstrated that he's got noisier power in his new place, and he was getting harsh metallic highs (digital artifacts) out of a system that had previously sounded superb.
It's still a fantastic way of keeping your setup simple and tidy. I bought the Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, and I'm really happy with it for the same reasons. It sounds great, but not Class A-B level at that price range, but it's good enough for me to not worry about the minor details, especially as my hifi is now really simple to use. and takes up minimal surface area.
A review is nothing more than a impression at a certain time. I own a M33 and am a happy chap. The Eigentakt amplifier drives about any speaker and improved sound quality of my previous amplifier that lacked power in the bass region badly. I use it together with the Buchardt Audio S400 Signature Edition speakers which are a bit rolled off in the high frequency range. A perfect combo for me. BluOS, it‘s versatility especially with its HDMI-2 MDC module which integrates all AV sources into the stereo sound system in the living room makes a compromise like the negatives Ron mentions easy to live with. Especially because I am not even able to do a A-B listening comparison to a class A/B integrated amplifier.
Regarding the extra AD/DA conversion: it is default on lowest resolution in order to be able to stream the digitized signal to other BluOS streamers via a slow network. You can set it to higher resolutions and I wonder if Ron has utilized that feature.
Reviewing the M33 in the process and aftermath of a relocation, stress has a significant impact on peoples mindset and hearing perception. So, like any review this should be taken with a grain of salt.
I did change the resolution settings through my review process. Thanks.
Great points Ron, NAD is known for the quicksilver sound. That’s why I went with just the purifi eval amp from vtv. I have that killer class D but I can color it with grear upstream that I prefer (the ska-heet freya+). Now if I could get that flexibility in sound also with Dirac that would be great 🤤. Can’t wait to hear how it’s going to sound with my recently ordered m3 sapphires 😬🤘.
My Anthem MRX740 documentation says the same thing, that all inputs are digitized as there is no bypass feature. Does this mean that you won't get the true benefits of adding external DAC's to these inputs? As the final output is the DAC inside the unit.
So M23 though with the May, is it an impossible mix to get the most out of the two?
So the M33 doesn't have analog bypass? Odd, as my C658 AND T758 do. Of course you lose Dirac and tone (on the C658 the amp can still do this if it has them) but I instantly notice a fuller sound when switching (mids maybe?). Pretty sure you lose subs also but my SVS Ultra towers pick up a good portion of the lows. Sometimes the digitizing sounds good enough, it really depends on the recording.
Does Dirac not fix the “gimmicky” high end? You did mention cutting it off at 500Hz in your original review
It did in my experience.
Definitely not a weakness. Very much appreciate your honesty and integrity.
Its really difficult getting used to neutral sounding amps and speakers. Reviewers and customers alike are so used to what we have listened to for many years and decades. Clean neutral sounds emanating from our speakers is new.
With the m33 using DL i am determined to remove room boom and hot tweeter and any other amp flavors that i previously thought ‘good hifi’.
My late post here is down to the fact that I too needed more time to come to the conclusion that this is a stunningly good sounding amp and that the reviewer in this clip was tired and should acknowledge that neutral sounding and REW measured neutrality is new to him too, possibly?
Anyways don’t anyone be afraid of demoing this extraordinary amp at some point in the future.
Mid-range warmth equals 2nd order harmonic distortion...
Thanks for video. May you make review about Lyngdorf TDAI 3400? Very interest your opinion. Thanks
Kudos revisiting an earlier review! I believe the M33 digitises all analogue inputs, so the signal coming from one's precious turntable and cartridge, gets converted to digital; if applicable it gets DSP treatment (to allow for Dirac). O what about that super-duper DAC that you use with on your CD transport? It will have its signal converted to digital also, processed if tone controls or Dirac are engaged, only to be converted back to analogue. Pretty pointless to use an external DAC with this amp. Perhaps that is part of your 2nd thoughts also.
Still, the ADC is pretty decent and like the phono pre-amp perfectly fine for occasional use. I use the M33 for its streaming capabilities and occasional CD playback and with my TV (courtesy of HDMI ARC input). Used as such, it's the best my speakers have ever sounded. Add Dirac in the mix (room correction is the single biggest improvement one can make, no amount of fancy cable can make up for that) and it's just killer...
Thank you Ron. This honesty and egolessness makes a great reviewer in my opinion.
Thx this confirmed the impression I got from different sources on the M33. Now what really could be a killer combo in this price range (to also compare to the Hegel H390) is the upcoming Holo Audio Spring 3 with preamp module paired with the Kinki Studio M7 or B7 (mono blocks). This is the combo I am currently seriously considering to drive my Buchardt S400s as a step up from the NAD M10.
👍💪Thank you very much Ron honesty is the best policy always and forever💪👍
Great video. You just increased my confidence in your reviews
Respect for correcting yourself, Good job!
Reading the comments it looks like a good idea to explain with more clarity the difference between a digital class A/B amp ( like the M33) and a class D amp.
Honesty, what I love about you Ron. 👍
Is it fair to say that maybe this was a result of you comparing it to the Hegel h390?
Yeah
Is this revision effected by more tube amp comparisons? Just curious if a different amp fleshed more of why you needed to revisit. Thanks Ron, no weakness, just pursuing clarity and honesty. Nice job 👍!
Actually, it was when I started to compare it to the similar priced Hegel h390!
@@Newrecordday2013 I knew it when you said you had the Hegel in for review...🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿. The truth is Ron is that you're just a tube/ class A/AB kind of guy...no problem with that...thank you for your Honesty...looking forward to the Hegel H390 review. Keep up the great work and I hope that you tried the turntable playback with Dirac
Thanks for the update Ron!
Good on you for adding this to your review.
Sounds great to me....still💜🎶
Thank you so much. I’d rather you get it right than having done it perfect in a single review. This is why I subscribe to NRD.
Nothing wrong with the view. They were the opinions you had when you made the video. If you listened for a year more I'm sure you'd have more to say too. Keep up the good work Ron
More correct than not but use it as preamp driving krell amplifiers .. decades of improvement or your cake and eat it too ,I am driving old school krell mono block and using NAD m-33 as front end ohh it works new tech driving old school class A amplifiers . It was my plan and it works😊
Could this 'digital' sound be compensated for by some warmer sounding speakers or an external power amp? The sound we hear is never just due to one component in the chain. Also, does anyone know how the M33 sounds in comparison to its direct rival, the Lyngdorf Tdai 3400? I'm torn between the two.
It can be compensated by customising the frequency response in dirac. For example a 3khz sound frequency is just a 3khz sound frequency no matter where it comes from, it doesn't matter what type of amp it is or the speakers. Whether something sounds 'warm' or 'thin' is just an illusion or a perception. A 'warm' sound is created by having a relatively louder frequency response for the lower frequencies and the opposite for 'thin' sound. Whatever is most loud in the sound mix is what you will notice the most and how you perceive the sound to be. Given that this unit has DSP in the form of dirac before the DAC stage, you can change the frequency response and make it sound however you like without affecting sound quality. The usual default recommendation with dirac is to not have flat frequency target, but have it sloping down a bit from left to right. It would help to use a fast musical sub as well, but that isn't needed just to make it sound warm.
I am not sure what type of amp the Lyngdorf uses but it is a bit older and I think it uses 'Equibit' based amps (it is hard to find info on it, but it might be similar to Purifi), another main difference is that it uses Room Perfect instead of Dirac and doesn't have the colour screen. It also doesn't use Bluesound for streaming.
@@Tim._.. Thanks Tim, that's very useful. I believe Room Perfect doesn't allow playing with the curve like you can with Dirac, but does have selectable 'voicings' which adjust the tone. I think this reviewer needs to issue another amendment as he clearly did not explore Dirac, which would have addressed his concerns about the sound quality.
Maybe a link or “sticky” comment on your original video leading to this addendum video would be good. Or possibly stick a copy of this video right on to the end of the original video?
Great idea
So reading between the lines, you perfect the Hegel H390 😜
Learning is a lifelong pursuit. Don’t say it won’t happen again, I know about the comparisons you mean however later reflections are super strengths when shared. Shared, and moving on!
What is a digital amplifier?
Thanks for putting the viewers ahead of your ego. Takes a man to do that. Good job!
Good update for sure
Thxs for the honest review. As great as this unit, going to have to pass on it
*Thoroughness Bonus....... Integrity = Level Up
Hey Ron, and Randy the Dirac device you're looking for is called a Mini DSP HD
Luv u Ron, I don't need to say man up; hopefully other manufacturers will get their build into musicality b4 sending them out. I applaud you n hope u will publish more reviews unfavorably to keep our systems advancing...not going backwards in the pursuit of ear-hole nirvana!!!
Hammertime
Please get hold of the Rose 201E for a review.
Try to do same Rotel mkll reviews brother.
Well done.
Good to see you "revisited" a review. Well done! Only God is...perfect!!
Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie
The only remedy for fixing the thin-sounding mids of class-D amps is to replace the switching power supply with a linear power supply and to pair it with a tube preamp.
or don't buy a integrated amp, class d power amp is easier to tweak. no reason to get all in one unit. it is the power part that class d does so well.
that review was for the whole unit, not especially class d power amp section.
Don't look at it as a weakness think of it more like you'll always know that you're getting correct information even if it comes a bit later. Lets say you reviewed something and was wrong but you never corrected it then someone could buy or not buy it based on that and have a different experience then making them feel you were wrong and that you aren't always correct. You gain integrity by correcting.
Ron, no need to apology. Your follow on comments is appreciated and most audiophiles understand the aspects and follow ups of the review process and certainly how us consumers feel when we're psyched when we first get a new piece and then realize over days/weeks that our opinions can/do change. Keep on doing your thoughtful and high quality work.
Good job
Like all hifi class-D amps, expected even with Purifi in NAD... but can be a good match with many speakers!
NAD M33---Q Acoustics Concept 500
SpareChange did a comparison review between the NAD M33 and the Technics SU-R1000. Both digital amplifiers if people want to see which one's more digital'y.
Unfortunately that’s a 5k vs 10k comparison. At $2700 the SU-G700 reviews very well but again, not a fair comparison. These digital amps are becoming more prevalent and offered as mid to high end solutions. Pretty fascinating stuff to me. I wonder however if class A/B may become (even more so) the balanced choice even as digital becomes more and more popular.
A scammer is operating in the comments, I have just been contacted. Please be careful!
yea
Look like he didn't get paid by nad😂
Yup, clearly that’s it.
So: Get a m10 and attach a class A oder A/B power amp. Voilá. Cheers
This hurts me more than it hurts you. Move your hands, Ron! (WHAPOOSH!)
You're a good bro
The actual amp is class D AFAIK. It is not a digital amp. It may digitize everything, in other words, the analog inputs are put through an Analog to Digital converter, and then eventually into a Digital to Analog converter before it goes into the amp. Which is most definitely an analog amp. As all Class D amps are. There is a huge difference. If it was a digital amp, there would be no DAC in it. Digital amps do the conversion without an actual DAC. Be it a chip DAC, or R2R.
So your description is not accurate. At all, unfortunately.
I'm not exactly sure what you're hearing? Maybe the problem you're hearing lies in the ADC, the DAC, or the Class D amp itself. But you're most certainly not hearing any digital amp, because there is none in it to hear. So it's physically impossible for you to be hearing a digital amp. Just thought you might want to know that. ✌️
It’s hard to say if what I’m hearing is in the conversion like you mentioned. What I’m saying is the same thing as you, it digitized everything, but whether that’s what I’m hearing, I don’t know for sure!
@@Newrecordday2013 But saying it's a "digital amp", especially the way you said "I'm not talking about class D here". Is very, very, very misleading to people that don't fully understand these things. And IMHO what you're hearing is that Class D amp. A good ADC, and DAC is basically transparent nowadays. Like on the MiniDSP SHD for instance.
And the sound you describe are typical Class D sound issues. And the reason why as I use class AB. I read all the hype about the Ncore amps, bought one, and hated it. They don't sound good at all IMHO. There's no musicality AT ALL. And at first I didn't fully notice it either. And I later corrected it with a tube preamp. But I eventually just bought an Exposure 3010S2D Integrated, and now I'm happy again. I will say though that the Crown Drive core 2 amps sound better to me. But with a bumped up high end. I could live with one of those, but not one of Bruno's amp. I think his whole philosophy is skewed the wrong way actually, and don't trust him as a designer very much, unfortunately. Because he seems like a good guy. Anyway have a great night Ron. ✌️
Thanks for the clarity Scott! Appreciate it and have a great night.
So it's class D, flawed AND expensive? I'll take ten.
The old aluminum dome audiophile obsession. Insanity.
Woof. Nicely done.
Go back to sleep.
Now you sounds like some one is sponsor you. Sorry.
Nope.
Ouch!
I could only trust a guy's opinions more when he actually looses sleep over something he thought he may have missed, something that may be important to sombody. That's dedication to not wanting to be or appear to be sloppy in doing reviews. ..which i & (i bet) any other subscriber thought you the polar-opposite, the very antithesis of a 'sloppy reviewer'
Sure hope that Heigel doesn't sound like that.
He brought it up in his live stream with Randy. The Hegel was the impetus.
Never listened to the M33 but did own the M10 for almost 2 years before switching to the Hegel H390 and even though both NAD's use different modules(and I loved the M10)The H390 just does everything better then the at-least the M10 (Soundstage,instrument separation ,etc)If you can live without the fancy touchscreen and room correction then H390 is hard to beat.But then again this hobby is subjective, you really have to listen for Yourself.
Get some rest brother you look very tired .
Just leave this one alone, already. It's like those people who finish their exam with time to spare, feel confident and then go back and start fiddling with answers and then fail. The extra commentary was fine on the chat with CheapAudioDude but the hesitation, affect and posture here is really bad. Better luck next time.
I hear what you are saying, I am just concerned not everyone will watch the podcast with Randy, hence this last video. Anyhow, thanks for the comment and watching.
@@Newrecordday2013Your chat with Randy was a good one. Didn't intend to watch the entire thing but stayed for the entire 2 1/2 hours. You bring out the best in each other - kinda like me, the oven and bacon.