NAD Introduces the Masters M33 V2 Integrated & M23 V2 Power Amplifier

NAD has announced two upcoming additions to its Masters Series, the M33 V2 BluOS Streaming Amplifier ($5,999) and the M23 V2 Stereo Power Amplifier ($3,999). These next-generation models build upon the considerable success of their predecessors with “cutting-edge digital architecture, refined sonic performance, and enhanced connectivity,” according to NAD. When the original NAD M33 integrated amp was announced in 2020, it was the first product I was aware of to feature Purifi Eigentakt amplification technology, designed by Bruno Putzeys and his team at Purifi Audio. The M33 V2 will feature second-generation Eigentakt amplification, promising even better performance and a solid 200 watts into either 8 or 4 ohms. These Gen 2 Eigentakt amp modules will also be employed in the M23 V2 Power Amp, which NAD conservatively rates at 200 watts per channel (continuous) into 8 ohms, and 380 watts per channel into 4 ohms. The original NAD M23, launched in 2022, was simply one of the best power amps ever to grace Gene DellaSala’s test bench, so we’ll be anxious to see how this new version can improve upon the original’s superlative record. 

NAD M33 V2: What’s New? 

Like the original M33, the new M33 V2 offers modern convenience in the form of BluOS streaming and Roon Ready certification, plus HDMI eARC, digital and analog inputs, a premium MM/MC phono stage, and balanced XLR inputs. Once again, Dirac Live LE is included. But the M33 V2 takes Dirac support a step further. The amp’s dual independent subwoofer outputs now offer higher output than on the original M33, and the new amp adds support for the full version of Dirac Live plus Bass Control (via an optional license). As we have seen, Dirac Live Bass Control can optimize both impulse and frequency response by individually calibrating main speakers and subwoofers in order to achieve seamless performance in your room. A precision measurement microphone is included, and the amp offers five customizable Dirac memory profiles.

The M33 V2 also features a new DAC based on the ESS Sabre ES 9039PRO DAC chip — a substantial upgrade from the ES9028 chip used in the original M33. The new DAC promises ultra-low distortion and wider dynamic range. A next-generation ESS ADC is used to digitize the analog inputs. The DAC and ADC sections benefit from FOQUS and QRONO technologies, two advanced signal-processing technologies from MQA Labs. (Lenbrook International, NAD’s parent company, acquired MQA and its assets in 2023, and formed a new company called MQA Labs the following year.) According to MQA Labs, FOQUS is part of the digital-to-analog conversion process, while QRONO applies to the ADC. Both technologies aim to ensure accurate signal conversion and preserve timing, nuance, and spatial cues, according to the company. These technologies reportedly tackle the same “time smear” distortion that MQA creator Bob Stuart described when introducing the technology a decade ago. According to MQA Labs, time smear is a particular inaccuracy in which sound impulses are not fully aligned, resulting in noise surrounding the impulses. This is said to cause unnatural-sounding audio, which often manifests in muddiness or a lack of clarity in the sound, according to the company. Perhaps with a nod to the significant subset of audiophiles who were skeptical of the original MQA format, MQA Labs is very clear that these new technologies are “independent of the original MQA codec, meaning that they neither require nor result in MQA encoded files.” The M33 V2’s DAC section can gain increased utility down the road, thanks to the amp’s two MDC (Modular Design Construction) slots, which allow for the addition of new modules. One available option is the MDC USB DSD, which enables DSD playback and USB audio support.

NAD is the first company to address psychoacoustic timing issues along the entire signal path. With the M33 V2, we’ve eliminated distortion not just in the traditional sense, but in the way human ears actually perceive sound timing — delivering a listening experience that’s more nuanced, more accurate, and more emotionally engaging.

— Cas Oostvogel, NAD Product Manager

NAD M23 V2: Power with Precision

Featuring the Gen 2 Eigentakt modules from Purifi, the M23 V3 promises authoritative dynamics and vanishingly low distortion. NAD’s team worked closely with Purifi Audio to customise the Eigentakt implementation, choosing to build its own Eigentakt modules rather than buy off-the-shelf modules from Purifi. This approach reportedly allows NAD to achieve the best performance for each product. 

The improved Eigentakt modules provide refined timing and distortion suppression, according to NAD. The company tells us that the M23 V2 is capable of delivering 200 watts per channel (into 8 ohms), or a massive 700 watts into 8 ohms when bridged and used as a monoblock. Users of the M33 V2 integrated amplifier can add one M23 V2 power amp in bridged mode, creating a formidable setup with 700 watts per channel. 

Harmonic and intermodulation distortion are almost immeasurable at all frequencies and output levels (in the M23 V2). Noise is inaudible, delivering your music with the utmost clarity and transparency. Output impedance is also extremely low, ensuring iron-clad control of any loudspeaker load and consistent bass performance at any listening level. For those seeking the best in audiophile stereo amplifier performance, the M23 V2 is a compelling choice.

— NAD

Both the M33 V2 and M23 V2 feature elegant aluminum casework with precision-machined detailing, all resting on NAD’s magnetic iso-point feet. In our experience, NAD’s Masters Series offers excellent build quality and good looks without the bling that some manufacturers use to excess. NAD says that the company’s philosophy is to dedicate the bulk of the build budget to the components’ insides, where “every circuit, module, and layout reflects a focus on musical truth and system flexibility, guided by the latest research in psychoacoustics and engineering.”

The future of Hi-Fi lies not just in lowering distortion, but in understanding how humans perceive sound. We’ve optimized timing — from file source, to DAC, to amplifier, to your room. That’s where the magic and true enjoyment happens.

— Cas Oostvogel

Both the M33 V2 and M23 V2 are expected to ship on August 11, 2025. 

More information: NAD

 

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.