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In Reply to: RE: What a big disappointment; NAD M51 with OPPO 105d (long) posted by Loan Arranger on October 15, 2016 at 13:23:58
When I first received mine, I put it in the system between my Pioneer DV-47ai (transport) and Cary SLP-308 line stage, feeding a Parasound A23 and Ascend Sierra 2 monitors. In fixed gain mode, the M51 was more resolving and dynamic then the internal DACs and output stage of the Pioneer (paralleled BB 1738s, if I remember correctly) but I wasn't bowled over by the improvement.When I removed the line stage, and ran the M51 as a digital preamp with volume control straight into my amplifier, I got what I was looking for... Transparency, detail, and slam.
I think the M51 does its best when used in this context... And that won't suit everyone's needs.
I continue to be very impressed with mine!
edit: I also note that you were using the HDMI output of the Oppo to feed the M51. I also use the HDMI inputs on the M51 for video sources, but my observations here are based on two-channel PCM over s/pdif (coax and optical)
SF
Edits: 10/18/16Follow Ups:
The Oppo vs removing the pre isnt a real comparison to me. Today's modern high out, low z sources with a passive line stage most often but not always don't need a pre. Maybe its the system at its best without the pre and its unneeded gain stage that is the ticket. Therefore he should also try just the Oppo which I believe has a VC as well.
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
Edits: 10/21/16
But it doesn't invalidate my observations regarding the M51.
I have a hard time believing that the DAC/output stage of the Oppo is superior to the M51, but I haven't heard them in a direct comparison.
SF
I hear you. My only thing is one in such a scenario really needs to try both.
ET
"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936
Using my M51 as a digital preamp, I've encountered the best most transparent and enjoyable sound of any system I have ever owned. I think so much of what people expect from a DAC is that they make terrible recordings sound good. When fed a great signal, the NAD is among the best DACs on the market with a state of the art noise floor and very good time domain behavior. I use HQPlayer and Purevinyl in front of the M51 with great success. One of the most mind-blowing things I've ever played is a mono 1955 Billie Holiday Torching LP owned by my father. My wife exclaimed OMG I've never heard anything like that before! Not strident, not flat not bad. Warm, elegant and enormously space-filling. The problem usually isn't the DAC. It's the content, room and listener.
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