16 channels of NAD Hypex power

One box, 16 channels of NAD power — that’s the rack-mount NAD CI 16-60 DSP, priced at $3999 and delivering 16 × 60W, divided into eight zones intended for distributed audio applications primarily in the custom installation arena. While NAD’s power ratings are in any case famously conservatively quoted, any pair of channels can be bridged to deliver 140W.

The power is NAD’s customised version of the proven Hypex UcD modules, also used in some of the company’s hi-fi amplifiers, and NAD says these adhere to the same stringent sonic tests.

Each of the eight zones has its own stereo RCA inputs and chained outputs (see below), making it easy for multiple zones to run from the same input device, while the speaker connections are made using terminal blocks which plug into each zone at the rear, taking bare wire under a screw clamp. There are similar IR in/out and 12V trigger connections, while an Ethernet connection allows control via the CI 16-60 DSP’s web-based user interface, which allows simple gain adjustment or full DSP of each individual channel including gain, slope, Q, frequency and master gain settings. All these can be saved as presets for later recall. Built-in test signals are also available.

Built to fit a standard 2U rack height, the CI 16-60 joins two higherpowered 8-channel NAD models, the CI 8-120 DSP (8 × 120W) and CI 8-150 (8 × 150W). More info: www.nadelectronics.com.au