The Master Series Sound
Contents
So what does this M23 sound like? This is on the one hand very difficult to explain and on the other hand incredibly simple. The point is: how are you going to describe an amplifier that has virtually no sound? That’s very easy to explain by saying: you hear exactly what the rest of your chain is doing and what’s on the recording. That’s factually correct, but also kind of boring. So let’s look at it in a little more detail.
Fast and Smooth
What the NAD M23 does very differently than people will expect from Class D is show flexibility. We all know that Class D can be very fast – depending on the power supply; – but that it can also sound smooth and fluid not many will expect. And yet that’s the case with this NAD M23.
That’s not just thanks to Eigentakt. It’s also how NAD implemented it. We know this, because your author is running two C298s at home ánd has an Eigentakt DIY kit. So it’s easy to make a comparison. And we can guarantee you that the hierarchy is very simple. The DIY is good, but the C298 is nicer. And the M23 again improves on the C298 when it comes to quietness and smoothness.
We hear that on all the speakers we attach to the NAD M23. The Diptyque (review to follow) is quite ‘power hungry’, but the M23 doesn’t give a hoot and puts down Gorillaz, Steven Wilson and for example Gare du Nord with verve. No problem at all!
The TAD Evolution 2 (review to follow) is a little less difficult to drive, but we hear no difference in control or reserve. The 200 watts / 380 watts is enough to fill our room. Thank goodness for that. But should you need more: in bridge mode, more than 700 watts come out of this M23. If that’s not enough, we don’t know what is.
What is pleasant is that the NAD M23 can both play loud and dynamic as well as refined. The M23 has in that respect – as it should – no preference. Also, this amplifier is speaker-agnostic. Again as it should be. Although matching is of course important… but that is more a matter of taste than that the M23 cannot drive a speaker. We really don’t see any problems there.
Now we have not been able to test the bridge mode, but what we know from the C298 is that there is just a bit more headroom. This may give some more calmness, control and freedom with very dynamic or difficult pieces of music. However, the differences – depending on the speaker / room / how loud you play – subtle. We estimate that not very many users will need two amplifiers in bridge mode.
So?
At the bottom line, the NAD M23 is a beauty. An impressive piece of technology that shows that class D is really mature and without any problem can compete with many ‘old-fashioned’ class A / AB amplifiers. This NAD is easy to combine with many speakers. Even difficult speakers such as magnetostats that tend to be a heavy load. Impressive for an amplifier of 3500 euros. Or for those who have a little less to spend: the C298 of 1999 euros.
Hi Jaap,
I would like to know your comments when you bridge the NAD C298 or M23 to drive 4 Ohm speakers? Due to the fact that it is not recommended. Will there still be benefits and to what volume levels you can safely play?
Alphaman
Hi Jaap,
Thanks for your high quality reviews, including the audio comparisons on YT. Really enjoy and appreciate them as a resource since I stumbled across your youtube channel earlier this year.
So on the strength of seeing – well, hearing – the way the Sopra No.1s performed on a range of equipment you’ve reviewed (up until your recent upgrade to the TADs) when I recently had an opportunity to get them at a good price, I did so. Their upper end clarity – which is a huge step up over the KEF LS50s – immediately and mercilessly showed the limitations of my existing gear, which is a mix of older solid state and a new and modestly priced Topping ESS9038 DAC and Class D amp stack I picked up for experimentation purposes.
Many tracks sound remarkable in terms of the detail and dynamics, though the midrange could be fuller with some tracks coming across a bit harsh in the upper midrange/treble. Not exactly unexpected with the Topping gear. I had always planned to properly upgrade the DAC and amp, which I am now in the process of doing. My goal is to achieve a more balanced sound with a more full and smooth mid-range.
So, and apologies for the long preamble, this leads me to the subject of this review, the NAD M23. How would you say it would pair with the Sopras and a well implemented lower-mid tier R2R or DS AKM4499 DAC? (I have a couple such DACs en route to try along with a DDC) Around the M23’s pricepoint, even say up to say €5k – is there anything else you would suggest I consider given your great familiarity with the Sopras?
Many thanks and keep up the good work,
Jake
Hi Jaap, sorry I got a little carried away there… take 2 – may I be more succinct.
Which in your experience would be a better match for the Sopra No 1’s, the NAD M23 or the Kinki Studio EX-M7? Appreciate you’ve said the Pass Labs Int-25 is a marvellous match to the Sopras, but it’s beyond my current budget alas.
Regards,
Jacob
Hi Jaap,
Thanks for your high quality reviews, including the audio comparisons on YT. Really enjoy and appreciate them as a resource since I stumbled across your youtube channel earlier this year.
So on the strength of seeing – well, hearing – the way the Sopra No.1s performed on a range of equipment you’ve reviewed (up until your recent upgrade to the TADs) when I recently had an opportunity to get them at a good price, I did so. Their upper end clarity – which is a huge step up over the KEF LS50s – immediately and mercilessly showed the limitations of my existing gear, which is a mix of older solid state and a new and modestly priced Topping ESS9038 DAC and Class D amp stack I picked up for experimentation purposes.
Many tracks sound remarkable in terms of the detail and dynamics, though the midrange could be fuller with some tracks coming across a bit harsh in the upper midrange/treble. Not exactly unexpected with the Topping gear. I had always planned to properly upgrade the DAC and amp, which I am now in the process of doing. My goal is to achieve a more balanced sound with a more full and smooth mid-range.
So, and apologies for the long preamble, this leads me to the subject of this review, the NAD M23. How would you say it would pair with the Sopras and a well implemented lower-mid tier R2R or DS AKM4499 DAC? (I have a couple such DACs en route to try along with a DDC) Around the M23’s pricepoint, even say up to say €5k – is there anything else you would suggest I consider given your great familiarity with the Sopras?
Many thanks and keep up the good work,
Jake
Hi Jaap, sorry I got a little carried away there… take 2 – may I be more succinct.
Which in your experience would be a better match for the Sopra No 1’s, the NAD M23 or the Kinki Studio EX-M7? Appreciate you’ve said the Pass Labs Int-25 is a marvellous match to the Sopras, but it’s beyond my current budget alas.
Regards,
Jacob
Hi,
Ohhh the bug !
How do this NAD M23 compares against the Kinki EX-M7, ?
Warm regards
Miguel
Hi,
Ohhh the bug !
How do this NAD M23 compares against the Kinki EX-M7, ?
Warm regards
Miguel
Just read this review and see your comparison with your current reference the X150.8 but how does the M23 compare to you old reference the Bryston 4B3.
Just read this review and see your comparison with your current reference the X150.8 but how does the M23 compare to you old reference the Bryston 4B3.
Thanks for nice review. Could you compare Benchmark AHB2 against NAD M23? I’m using AHB2 myself and I’m curious to know if M23 brings any advantage except of more power.
Thanks for nice review. Could you compare Benchmark AHB2 against NAD M23? I’m using AHB2 myself and I’m curious to know if M23 brings any advantage except of more power.