NAD Launches the M33 BluOS Streaming DAC Amplifier

NAD has announced the release of its new M33 BluOS Streaming DAC Amplifier, opening the door for audiophiles around the world to add a new piece to their glorious setup. The new amplifier acts as a center-point for your home audio setup, allowing for multi-room hi-resolution streaming and networking for both localized and online sources.

It supports over 20 different free or paid streaming options as well as what you have in your own collection feeding it. It also comes with remote operation via the BluOS app, as well as via voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant devices throughout your home. If you prefer a more physical solution, it offers a touch-screen on the front of the amplifier.

Onboard, it offers Dirac Room Correction that allows it to react to the acoustics of the surrounding environment, calibrating your audio using a supplied microphone, adjusting for both frequency and impulse response. It is limited up to 500Hz but can be expanded upon with an additional paid license. You get 5 different memory profiles, to accommodate for various configurations of the room it is in (drapes open, drapes closed, etc).

For local sources, it offers plenty of input options and the ability to network to other BluOS devices throughout your home. It features HDMI Arc, optical (x2), coaxial (x2), AES, stereo XLR, RCA (x2), and USB. Of course, it offers Ethernet for wired connectivity to your network.

For your outputs, you have stereo (2) sub out, RCA pre-out, and the ability to wire your stereo speakers both bi-wired or bridged.

It comes with a smorgasbord of specs (more information/specs listed below), which isn’t much of a surprise given that it is NAD. Anyone familiar with the name would understand. That being said, the price point is only for those familiar and not your average consumer. It does have an MSRP of $4,999 (yes, this is for serious audiophiles), and it is rolling out to certified dealers right now.

The below links may show as unavailable at the time of this article, but that is only because these dealers are waiting for stock. So keep an eye on them and get ready to pounce once the inventory exists.

Available/Buy via: |

Summarized Specifications:

BluOS Streaming DAC Amplifier
HybridDigital™ Purifi Eigentakt™ Amplifier Technology
Continuous Power: 200W into 8/4 Ohms
32-BIT/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC
Dirac Live Room Correction
Colour TFT touch display
BluOS multi-room Integration
2 x MDC Slots for Future Expansion
Wireless control with AirPlay 2 and aptX HD Bluetooth Integration
Comprehensive digital and analog connectivity including HDMI eARC
Integrates seamlessly with leading smart home control systems

Full Specifications:

AMPLIFIER SECTION

Rated output power (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
- >200 W into 8 ohms >380 W into 4 ohms
Rated output power, Bridge mode (ref. 20 Hz – 20 kHz at rated THD)
- >700 W into 8 ohms
Input sensitivity
- 865 mV (ref. 200W 8 ohms, Volume maximum)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
- <0.003 % (1W to 200 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise ratio
- >98 dB (A-weighted, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
  >120 dB (A-weighted, ref. 200 W out in 8 ohms)
Clipping power
- >210 W (0.1 % THD 1 kHz 8 ohms)
IHF dynamic power
- 8 ohms: 260 W
  4 ohms: 520 W
Peak output current
- ?25 A (in 1 ohm, 1 ms)
Damping factor
- >800 (ref. 8 ohms, 20 Hz to 6.5 kHz)
Frequency response
- ±0.2 dB (20 Hz -20 kHz)
  -3 dB at 60 kHz

LINE IN

Input Impedance (r and c)
- 47k?/180pF
Input Sensitivity
- 280mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume Maximum)
Maximum input level 20Hz-20Khz
- 2 Vrms/8 Vrms (low sensitivity mode)
Tone Controls
- Treble: ±10dB at 10kHz Bass: ±10dB at 100Hz
Max Output Signal
- 4Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

PREOUT

Maximum output level
- 3.9 Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Signal-to-Noise ratio
- >120 dB (A-weighted, ref. 2 V out)
Output impedance
- 100 ohms

SUBOUT

Maximum output level
- 1.1 Vrms (ref. 0.1 % THD 100Hz)
Signal-to-Noise ratio
- >102 dB (20 Hz-20 kHz, ref. 1V out)
THD+N
- <0.005 % (refer 1.1 V 20 Hz-200 Hz)
Output impedance
- 680 ohms

PHONO

Input sensitivity
- MM: 1.2 mV
  MC: 100 µV
Input impedance (R and C)
- MM: 56 kohms/100 pF
  MC: 100 ohms/280 pF
Signal to noise ratio (ref. 2 V Preout A-weighted)
- MM: >92 dB
  MC: >76 dB
THD+N (ref 2V Preout 1kHz)
- MM: <0.003 %
  MC: <0.02 %
RIAA response accuracy MM/MC
- ±0.2 dB 20 Hz -20 kHz

HEADPHONES

Output Impedance
- 2.2ohms
Output power
- >100 mW/32 ohms

BLUOS SECTION

AUDIO

Supported audio file format*
- MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, WMA-L, ALAC, OPUS
Supported high- resolution audio file format*
- FLAC, MQA, WAV, AIFF
Sampling rate
- up to 192 kHz
Bit depths
- 16 – 24

CONNECTIVITY

Network connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45
  Wi-Fi 5
Supported network file share protocol
- Server Message Block (SMB)
USB
- 1 x Type-A port for connection to USB memory stick (FAT32 or NTFS formatted) and supported peripherals
Bluetooth quality
- aptX HD 5.0
Bluetooth connectivity
- Two-Way (Receive and Headphone modes)

USER INTERFACE

Supported operating system**
- Music playback from network shares on the following desktop operating systems: Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Vista, 7, 8 to current Windows Operating Systems and macOS versions**
Mobile Application
- Free BluOS Controller App available for download from the respective App stores of Apple iOS devices (iPad, iPhone and iPod), Android devices, Kindle Fire and Windows or macOS desktops
Front panel
- 7-inch full colour touch screen
Remote control
- HTRM 2 remote control

POWER CONSUMPTION

Auto Standby ON
- <0.5W
Idle Power
- <40W

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

Dimensions WxHxD
- 435 x 133 x 396 mm (17 1/8 x 5 1/4 x 15 5/8”)
Net Weight
- 9.7kg (21.4lb)
Shipping Weight
- 18.4kg (40.6 lb)