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What a big disappointment; NAD M51 with OPPO 105d (long)

After months of pondering, I finally purchased a NAD M51 as a hoped for improvement and companion to my existing OPPO 105d.

Let me first say what a great disk player is the 105d. There is no disk, from MP3 to SACD and DVDA, that this thing will not play. I was already convinced thet it's included Sabre32 DAC, sounds excellent in my system (http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/3423.html). But, after pouring through many reviews of the M51, and comments here in the Asylum, I thought the much vaunted DAC was sure to complement and enhance the OPPO's performance even further, in my endless pursuit of the absolute sound.

After the arrival of the M51 last Monday, I have spent many hours of evaluation, mostly in blind, one to one comparison. Using the old Stereophile Test CD2, pink noise track, it was easy to setup a constant output volume between player, DAC and preamp, by using the volume control of each component. So, with the 105d output connected to the DAC by HDMI and to my preamp by balanced analog,I could play a CD or SACD and easily switch between the output of the OPPO vs the NAD, maintaining a set volume level.

Here comes the disappointment! No matter what source I feed the combination, 44/16 to DSD, Mozart to Ellington, the listening experience remained the same. In other words, I have spent $2000, for no appreciable improvement. Another take away, for those who own the OPPO 105d, you already have a player/DAC combination, at least equal to the sound quality produced by the M51 used with a quality player. As always, others experiece may vary.

Interestingly, my experience streaming Classics Online from iPad to either 105d or M51 via HDMI, produced the same, no difference, results. Also, the DAC reads the iPad signal as 48 khtz regardless of the Classics Online designation (ie. 44.1/16 to 192/24), either direct or through the OPPO.

The NAD M51 will be going back next week.


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Topic - What a big disappointment; NAD M51 with OPPO 105d (long) - Loan Arranger 13:23:58 10/15/16 (46)

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