NAD Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifiers

[shellylh]

NAD's Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifiers, especially the 388 look awesome.  What do people think of them?

https://nadelectronics.com/product/c-388-hybrid-digital-dac-amplifier/

[Dusty Chalk]

NAD make good shit.  I'd say if it was something you'd be interested in, it's probably worth trying sight unseen (or rather, sound signature unheard).  What speakers were you thinking of pairing them with, the Cicadas?

[shellylh]

Yep, the Cicadas.  Either that or the Kef LS50.  

Love my NAD M51.  

I wonder if the 388 is worth it or the 368 is good enough for my needs.

Edited August 25, 2017 by shellylh

[Aura]

Been looking at NAD's digital amps for a long time for secondary (living room) rig, whenever I get around to it. The 3020 or 7050 would be main candidates for a low-powered bookshelf rig. 

[Craig Sawyers]

Here's a factoid. NAD is an acronym for New Acoustic Dimension.

[grawk]

Since a factoid is something that looks like a fact but isn’t verifiably true, does that mean it’s really “No AD” like the rumor used to be

[Fitz]

2 hours ago, Craig Sawyers said:

Here's a factoid. NAD is an acronym for New Acoustic Dimension.

Steve told me it meant New [redacted] Dimension. 

[Dusty Chalk]

57 minutes ago, grawk said:

Since a factoid is something that looks like a fact but isn’t verifiably true...

Wait, what?!?  I thought was just a little fact, like a factlet.

[Fitz]

15 minutes ago, Dusty Chalk said:

Wait, what?!?  I thought was just a little fact, like a factlet.

That's what most people assume.

[EdipisReks1]

35 minutes ago, Dusty Chalk said:

Wait, what?!?  I thought was just a little fact, like a factlet.

Nope.  The "oid" at the back of the word denotes that it's pseudo. 

Shel, the NAD M2 is brilliant, so I can't imagine that even newer NAD digital amplifiers won't be as well.

Edited August 25, 2017 by EdipisReks1

[skullguise]

Agree with Reks.  I had heard the M2 and M3, and even though the C-series are a step lower, the sound quality is still pretty darn good IMO.  A lot of that proverbial tickle-down....

The only thing I might possibly worry about is parts quality and durability.  Haven't heard as much recently, but in years past the non-Master series (and heck, even some of the Master series) had some medium- to long-term QA issues.

But I'd still bet the new C-series are great.

[Dusty Chalk]

"A brief or trivial item of news or information." says one source.  Another (Merriam-Webster), "a briefly stated and usually trivial fact."

Now, that said, I'll probably stop using it that way, myself, because it sounds like a factoid in the original sense.

Also, I love getting into arguments such as these even if on the losing side, because I still learn something.

[Fitz]

"Item of news or information" doesn't mean factual or true though. And -oid generally means -like. A factoid can be true, but isn't inherently.

[Dusty Chalk]

Head-case, pedantic and educational.

[Fitz]

Pedantry is fun when it means getting to stick your tongue out at friends, rather than just being an insufferable ass on reddit or some such. 

[Dusty Chalk]

Exactly 

[Craig Sawyers]

Well, I got it from the horse's mouth in 1991 when we (Wharfedale) bought Cambridge Audio. NAD's founder Martin Borish was also involved at some point. He was trying to sell NAD and was putting out feelers for Wharfedale's potential interest, so I asked him what NAD stood for. In the end he sold NAD to a Danish outfit IIRC.

[EdipisReks1]

I think it really stands for "Ninjas Are Dumb."

[Fitz]

#im14andninjasaredope

[EdipisReks1]

7 minutes ago, Fitz said:

#im14andninjasaredope

They are dopes, yes.

[Torpedo]

They are dopes, yes.

Not Always Doped

[RudeWolf]

It's running Hypex uCD modules. They're not crappy receiver grade, but I'd use them for bass only, because up top I always find them too Class-D'ey. If you're still looking for a KEF LS50, I'd say skip the NAD and get the LS50 wireless version.

I found the LS50 to be rather picky amp wise. It needed a hearty 100W amp which could do low impedances with finesse.

[guzziguy]

This is Head-Case.  Just get a Parasound Halo Integrated!

[spritzer]

True HC style then we'd be talking about an Accuphase E-600...   

[Fitz]

True HC style we'd be talking about getting legislation passed to keep Brent from ever having biscuits again. Oh and there's a DAC somewhere in the background.