NAD M66
Digital preamplifier from NAD's Masters series, combining an ESS Sabre DAC, a multiroom BluOS streamer and Dirac Live room correction, to be paired with a power amplifier.
Description
The NAD Masters M66 occupies a particular place in the hi-fi chain: it is at once a preamplifier, a digital-to-analogue converter and a high-resolution network player. Controlled via the BluOS platform, it manages multiroom playback and centralises every source in a system, from turntable to television, before passing the signal on to an external power amplifier. NAD intends it in particular to be paired with its Masters M23 amplifier, but it remains compatible with any power stage of good standing.
Conversion relies on an ESS Sabre ES9038PRO chip, supported by an ES9822PRO analogue-to-digital converter, with DDH (Dynamic Digital Headroom) circuitry and full hardware MQA decoding. Volume is managed digitally by microprocessor, ensuring fine progression and stable channel balance. On the acoustic side, the M66 features full-bandwidth Dirac Live along with Dirac Live Bass Control: the latter processes each connected subwoofer independently, in order to even out bass response across the whole listening area rather than just at the main measurement point. The phono stage switches between MM and MC cartridges with RIAA equalisation, and the dedicated headphone amplifier offers low output impedance paired with a strong voltage reserve, useful for less sensitive headphones.
Connectivity is unusually generous for a stereo preamplifier:
- 4 balanced outputs, 4 unbalanced outputs and 2 power amplifier outputs in RCA and XLR
- 2 separate MM and MC phono inputs, 2 RCA line inputs, 1 XLR line input
- 2 optical S/PDIF inputs, 2 coaxial S/PDIF inputs, 1 balanced AES/EBU input
- 1 HDMI port with eARC support, Ethernet RJ45, Wi-Fi with antenna, USB-A port
- 1 front-panel 6.35 mm headphone jack and two MDC2 expansion bays
This model is aimed at anyone wishing to reduce the number of links in the chain without giving up on expandability: a system in which the M66 handles preamplification, conversion, streaming and room correction, upstream of one or more power amplifiers. Compatibility with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, Alexa, Google and Siri voice assistants, as well as integration with Crestron, Control4, ELAN, RTI or URC home automation systems, make it relevant in a remotely controlled installation. The aluminium chassis and 7″ front-panel touchscreen round out the package for everyday use without a remote control.
Technical specifications
| DAC | ESS Sabre ES9038PRO |
| ADC | ESS Sabre ES9822PRO |
| Display | 7″ front-panel touchscreen |
| Analogue outputs | 4 balanced outputs, 4 unbalanced outputs, 2 power amplifier outputs in RCA and XLR |
| Analogue inputs | 2 separate MM and MC phono inputs, 2 RCA line inputs, 1 XLR line input |
| Digital inputs | 2 optical S/PDIF, 2 coaxial S/PDIF, 1 balanced AES/EBU, 1 HDMI eARC |
| Network | Wi-Fi with antenna, Ethernet RJ45 |
| Other connections | 1 USB-A port, 1 front-panel 6.35 mm headphone jack |
| Expansion | Two MDC2 bays |
| Signal processing | Full-bandwidth Dirac Live Room Correction, Dirac Live Bass Control, DDH circuitry, full hardware MQA decoding and rendering |
| Services and compatibility | BluOS multiroom, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Crestron, Control4, ELAN, RTI, URC |
| Volume control | Digital, microprocessor-controlled |
| Chassis | Aluminium |
What to check before buying used
Start with the 7″ touchscreen: check responsiveness across the whole surface, the absence of dead zones and uniform backlighting, as a replacement panel is costly. Then test each input in turn, especially the two MM and MC phono inputs, which are prone to hum and noise, along with the HDMI eARC port with a television. Make sure the unit accepts BluOS updates and connects to the network via both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and ask whether any activated Dirac Live licences are transferable. Finally, check the presence and condition of the MDC2 bays, as well as the headphone output at both low and high levels.
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