Streamers have become very popular in recent years because of how easy it is to go online and find high-quality, lossless music. If you want a single unit that lets you control everything from playback to input selection and volume control right from your phone or laptop, then you should invest in a streaming preamp. Enter the NAD M66, which is one of the best in this category by a mile.
NAD made a name for itself back in the 70s when it launched the 3020 integrated amplifier. This amplifier was better than all its competitors, even those that were more expensive. Since then, NAD has made some of the best value electronics; their Bluesound Node Icon was one of my favourite streamers of 2024, and I still use it as my reference streamer.
After getting a lot of sales and popularity, many customers wanted something more. This led NAD to make their Masters series, they went all out to make some of the best audio gear for audiophiles. Even though this series is a little expensive than other NAD products, it is still cheaper and better than the competition. I got my hands on the NAD Masters M66 streaming preamplifier, and in this article, we will talk about the things that impressed me the most.
NAD M66 Streaming DAC Preamplifier Review
Price
The NAD Masters M66 retails for US$6999. It combines a DAC with a multi-room streamer, and it is also a preamplifier. Simply, it is an all-in-one powerhouse, and if you bought all these components separately, it would cost you a lot more than $6999. So I believe this price is justified, and you will too if you decide to test this streamer.
Design and Features
The NAD M66 streaming preamplifier has a brushed aluminum front panel with a 7-inch touchscreen that displays playback controls, album art, and settings. The side panels are also made of aluminum, and the build quality is fantastic. There is an illuminated NAD logo next to the touchscreen, and a volume knob on the other side.
On the back panel, there are more connections than you would see on a typical streamer. The NAD M66 has two coaxial and two TOSLINK inputs, an AES/EBU balanced input, two line-in analog inputs, and HDMI eARC for connecting your TV. You’ll also find a moving magnet and a moving coil phono input. If you want to connect an external drive or your computer, there is a USB input as well.
In terms of outputs, you have two pairs of high-quality RCA outputs and a pair of XLR outputs. You also get four RCA and four subwoofer outputs, and they are all independent outputs. NAD also future-proofed the Masters M66 streamer by adding two MDC2 slots. With these slots, you can upgrade your unit by just adding a new card when new technology comes out, it’s that easy.
Let’s talk about what makes the NAD M66 so special. NAD developed a special streaming technology called BluOS, and it’s the same one we saw in the Bluesound Node Icon. BluOS has evolved over the years with different NAD products, and it has improved each time. It supports 24-bit/192kHz playback and supports many streaming platforms like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, Qobuz, and more.
BluOS supports the following audio formats: MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, ALAC, OPUS. It also supports the following high-res audio formats: FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS.
With the Masters M66, you also have the option of enabling Dirac Room Correction, which is the best room correction software one can get. You will have to buy the software, but NAD users will get special discounts. The BluOS app is very user-friendly. You can group rooms for multi-zone listening, you can adjust crossover settings, equalizer settings, treble controls, and more.
If you want a two-channel system and a home theatre system, the M66 has a two-channel bypass feature that incorporates it into your home theatre setup. For volume adjustment, the NAD M66 employs an ultra-precise resistor-ladder control circuit. Compared to traditional analogue circuits, the M66’s digital volume control markedly reduces thermal and related distortions, maximises dynamic range, and more accurately matches left- and right-channel output across the entire volume range.
The NAD M66 also has its own DAC (Digital To Analog converter), and it uses the ESS Sabre ES9038PRO DAC chips. The M66 also has a separate ADC (Analog To Digital) chip, which is the top-of-the-line ESS Sabre ES9822PRO. To support these chips, NAD included two power supplies, one for analog and one for digital.
Dirac Live Room Correction and Bass Control
Dirac has been around for many years, and it has become the go-to room correction software for audiophiles. The NAD Masters M66 is the first streaming preamp to include Dirac Live Bass Control, and this software uses sound waves to map out your room to give you the best sound possible.
The app will walk you through the calibration process and then generate correction filters that compensate for acoustic problems like standing waves and unwanted reflections. You’ll enjoy more textured bass, improved tonal accuracy, vastly improved clarity, and more focused imaging.
I mentioned the four balanced RCA and four subwoofer outputs. These outputs can take advantage of Dirac Live Bass Control, which allows independent calibration of multiple subwoofers. Dirac Live Bass Control optimizes subwoofer output in both the frequency and time domains, achieving a seamless blend between the subwoofer(s) and main speakers, and delivering smooth, consistent bass response through the entire listening area, not just in the sweet spot.
Sound Quality
Whether you use Dirac or not, the NAD Masters M66 is a perfect example of amplification done right. When I used the analogue connections, I was very impressed with the bass speed, and I could hear the detail from the bass instruments. Turning on Dirac made the sound better, but I will say that the tracks sounded more artificial. All the different settings and configurations I made with Dirac were saved on the BluOS app, which saves up a lot of time.
The soundstage and imaging were perfect and precise, and the NAD M66 created a lot of depth behind my speakers. Instruments were detailed, and each vocal was separated. Overall, the M66 gave me an enjoyable sound, and I am considering integrating this streaming preamplifier into my two-channel setup.
Verdict
The NAD Masters N66 streaming preamplifier impressed me a lot. With or without Dirac, the sound was amazing. The N66 is a masterful product, and it is a must-have for those who want to have more control over their sound. While some people might feel a little skeptical over the US$6999 price point, I guarantee you won’t think about the money when you hear this beast of a streaming preamp.