NAD Masters M33 -- first review

[Damon]

Hi,

I'm not quite on topic with the equipment, but sort of within sight of it. I bought a used NAD 32 integrated to use as a streamer, and also to drive the in-wall speakers in our kitchen. So, ethernet into the NAD, COAX out to the Devialet, and then the NAD speaker outs to the kitchen speakers.

I think the BluOS streaming interface is very good; the equal of Sonos in most ways, with a couple of areas where it is a bit ahead or behind, but very good overall.

I did also try the NAD on it's own as an integrated, replacing the Devialet, as I was curious about how the two products would compare. Purely on my impressions of the sound quality, I will say that the NAD is very good. In general, the sound is precise and clean, without any digital glare IMHO. It feels fully extended from highs to lows and doesn't smear or hide any details or micro dynamics.

There are some audible differences however, and the NAD is not, in my opinion and system, the equal of the Devialet. I'll try to explain. The Devialet presents the music with more depth and tonal richness than the NAD. On hearing the Devialet D120 for the first time in 2014, I noticed that with the Dev, I could hear 'all around the notes' the leading edge, the 'roundness' and then around the backside of the sound. There was a three-dimensional reveal to the music. The NAD does not do that. In contrast, it is fairly flat, both for the parts of the music as well as the overall soundstage. It is quite planar compared to the Devialet. The Devialet does expand, or release, the sound to give a bigger, more open and expansive presentation. Not by a little, but by a fairly sizeable degree. That is something I have taken for granted for the last six years, but the comparison with the NAD brought that aspect back to my attention. Curiously, it also means that the sound is better out and about in our room. The sound 'hangs together' better with the Devialet and so moving around the room, which is not just a rectangle, does not result in the music sounding distant or lacking. The Devialet also gives more of bass notes; not just drive, but the fullness of tone and nuance to bass notes. This is my own personal area of fussiness, and the Devialet is still the best at revealing bass parts.

Describing the tone of the music is difficult without violating my own rules about terminology. So I'll just ask for forgiveness and accept the embarrassment. The Devialet is a warmer, more musical sounding amp. (palm slap to forehead emoji). Really it is. More analogue, or warmer, or more musical; all or any of those terms are relevant. It is more engaging to listen to. I won't say the NAD sounds 'digital' but perhaps that the Class A part of the Devialet really does shape the character of the amp overall.

For me, the M32 is totally overkill for it's place in our system, but then again, it does really well. Great display (!) excellent sound and power to the kitchen speakers, BluOS is superb, the streamer is clean and clear and open sounding, and I've got a pure digital out to the Devialet for the living room system.

I know the thread is about the M33 and it may be different and better than the M32. I just wanted to offer some thoughts about my experience with the previous NAD Masters integrated and how it sounds next to the Devialet 220 Pro CI. I hope I haven't deviated to an unwelcome degree.