NAD Master Series M10
In a very similar vein we also have the NAD Master Series M10.
NAD have a very enviable reputation in our industry; the name has been synonymous with performance at realistic prices for decades. The introduction of the higher priced Master Series was their foray into a market where even greater performance is expected – at a premium price.
Again this is a small piece of equipment – at 215mm wide it is even smaller than the Marantz M-CR612.
The M10 is a very modern piece of kit, and as such has dispensed with the CD player. It is assumed that all of your musical listening will be done either via streaming or from music you have stored on a local hard drive.
Like Marantz, NAD have a sister streaming technology called Bluesound or in this case BluOS. We have been fans of the Bluesound wireless multiroom streaming system for some years now – it is without doubt one of the best performing brands in its genre. BluOS is the name given to this brand when it is built into another product such as NAD. BluOS supports all the main streaming services, Tidal, Spotify, etc. BluOS has also embraced MQA decoding, enabling full 24-bit 192kHz high-resolution streaming.
The most obvious feature of the M10 is the touch screen which takes up almost all the front panel. The second thing that becomes obvious is how easy this device is to navigate. It really is a delight to use from the front panel – plus you have the option of control via tablet etc.
Then you come to the performance. The amplifier is rated at 100 watts/ channel, and the Master Series attention to detail is obvious. Given limitations imposed by size and price ($3,999) this is a very good sounding amplifier – we have heard larger and more expensive amplifiers that did not perform this well.
The M10 also offers Dirac room correction. One of the greatest influences on the performance of any system is the room it is played in. There are several room correction technologies out there, and Dirac is considered to be the best. It is an unusual inclusion at a product of this style and price.
It is Roon-enabled, supports Bluetooth aptX and AirPlay 2, and Amazon Alexa. It has all of the necessary inputs, including HDMI (I am surprised at how long it is taking the industry to recognise that even two-channel aficionados have HDMI-enabled devices that they would like to connect).
We know that there is a considerable number of consumers who need/desire a compact system but who don’t want to compromise performance. The M10 could be just the answer.
As mentioned, the NAD M10 sells for $3,999 – you just add speakers of your choice.
One downside – the M10 and the Marantz M-CR612 have both been international runaway successes, and neither company can keep up with demand. There may be a delay of some weeks between placing an order and receiving stock!