Media Server Reviews

NAD Masters Series M50.2 digital music player Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital Sources: Apple 2.7GHz i7 Mac mini running OS 10.10.3, iTunes 12, Pure Music 3.0; iPad mini running Bluesound app; Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty, PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream D/A processors; Ayre C-5xeMP disc player.
Power Amplifiers: MBL Corona C15, Pass Laboratories XA60.8 monoblocks.
Integrated Amplifier: NAD M32.
Loudspeakers: GoldenEar Technologies Triton Reference, KEF Reference 5.
Headphones: Audeze LCDi4 & LCD-X.
Cables: Digital: AudioQuest Coffee (USB) & Vodka (Ethernet), Esperanto Audio (S/PDIF), Kimber Kable Orchid (AES/EBU). Interconnect (balanced): AudioQuest Wild. Speaker: AudioQuest K2. AC: Audio Power Industries, Kubala-Sosna Elation!, manufacturers' own.
Accessories: Target TT-5 equipment racks; Ayre Acoustics Myrtle Blocks; ASC Tube Traps, RPG Abffusor panels; Shunyata Research Dark Field cable elevators; Audio Power Industries 116 Mk.II & PE-1 AC line conditioners (hard drive, computers). AC power comes from two dedicated 20A circuits, each just 6' from breaker box.—John Atkinson

COMPANY INFO
NAD Electronics International
633 Granite Court
Pickering, Ontario L1W 3K1
Canada
(905) 831-6555
www.nadelectronics.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
GP's picture
Submitted by GP on September 29, 2018 - 9:47am

I enjoyed the review of the M50.2 as it was very informative. At the end of the review Mr. Atkinson said the M50.2 offered essentially the same functionality as the more expensive Antipodes and Aurender servers. I noted the absence of any comparison of sound quality between the M50.2 and the other servers. It would interesting to know how close the NAD is to the others in sound quality. In the Stereophile recommended components review, you were quoted as saying the NAD offered sound quality indistinguishable from the other servers, but I couldn't find that in your review. If you have a chance, could you address this point? Thank you very much!

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