NAD CS1
NAD CS1 network player, a compact unit designed to add high-resolution streaming to a stereo system, a home cinema setup or a pair of active speakers.
Description
The NAD CS1 is a network player in a reduced format, designed as an additional source rather than a standalone device. Connected to an amplifier, a home cinema system or directly to active speakers, it turns an existing installation into a connected system without needing to replace any of its components. Its purpose is simple: to serve as a network entry point for the services and playback applications already used on a daily basis.
Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by a Texas Instruments PCM 5141 chip accepting streams up to 24-bit/192 kHz, allowing playback of high-resolution files without forced resampling. The stated measurements reflect a neutral audio chain: a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz held to ±0.3 dB indicates a very flat curve across the entire audible band, while total harmonic distortion below 0.03% and a signal-to-noise ratio above 94 dB place background noise and artefacts well below the audible threshold in normal listening. Connection can be made either in analogue or digital form, depending on whether the internal converter or that of the receiving device is to be used.
- Network: RJ45 Ethernet 100 Mbit/s, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz)
- Protocols and services: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA/UPnP, Roon, Bluetooth 5.0
- Outputs: analogue RCA, coaxial RCA 75 ohm, optical TOSLINK, 3.5 mm mini-jack
This 140 x 140 x 55 mm, 1.5 kg format is aimed at installations where space is limited or where the existing aesthetic is not to be altered: a desk, a bedroom, a living room fitted with active speakers, or an older system lacking network connectivity. It suits the listener who controls their music from a phone, a computer or a Roon library, and who wants to add this function without multiplying boxes or giving up their amplifier.
Technical specifications
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20 kHz ±0.3 dB |
| Total harmonic distortion (THD) | <0.03 % |
| Signal to noise ratio | >94 dB |
| Digital to analogue converter | Texas Instruments PCM 5141, 24-bit/192 kHz |
| Network | RJ45 Ethernet 100 Mbit/s, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac 2.4 GHz/5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
| Protocols and services | AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA/UPnP, Roon |
| Connections | 1 RCA output, 1 coaxial RCA output 75 ohm, 1 TOSLINK output, 1 3.5 mm mini-jack |
| Gross dimensions (W × H × D) | 140 x 140 x 55 mm |
| Net weight | 1.5 kg |
| Shipping weight | 1.7 kg |
What to check before buying used
With this type of network device, the first step is to check whether it still accepts firmware updates: compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect depends on software that continues to evolve, and a unit left on an older version may lose access to certain services. Next, check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection and the Ethernet port, common sources of playback dropouts. The presence of the original power supply unit is worth checking, as these external power supplies are easily lost and are not always interchangeable. Finally, test each output separately, both the analogue RCA and the coaxial and optical ones, as a worn TOSLINK connector is common on units that have been moved around frequently.
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