13
Jul
2012
Tag: NAD
05
Jun
2009
Gizmag: We’ve been living in a digital age for a while now and many of us access all our music from digital formats like CD and MP3. But has anyone managed to perfect a purely digital amplifier? NAD believes it has with the Master Series M2 Direct Digital Amplifier.
Generally digital amplifiers sound a bit harsh and sterile. Combined with bright sounding speakers, the result is often a sound that’s difficult to listen to for long periods of time.
One of the biggest advantages of a true digital amplifier is their ability to handle a digital PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) signal directly, avoiding the unnecessary signal conversion and processing present in analogue designs that can introduce noise and distortion.
The block diagram for NAD’s direct digital audio system best illustrates this pure signal handling. Master Series M2 Direct Digital Amplifier The M2 boasts a SNR (signal-to-noise) ratio of around 105dB (referenced to full power) in a practical application (not just on paper!).
NAD has achieved this impressive figure with circuit collaboration partner, British semiconductor company Zetex. Even with 35 bit architecture and Zetex’s DDFA (Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier) circuit, this figure was only achieved after 10 years of exhaustive research and development. In fact the only source of noise or distortion (as minimal as it is) in the M2 architecture is the final modulation and gain stage, where a PCM signal is converted to a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal and amplified to create the output stage (to run to your speakers).
The M2 varies the pulse width being applied during the modulation process ensuring the amplitude at the output is always precisely reproduced. This step is where the 35 bit architecture is so important. Accurate amplitude reproduction is critical to sound quality at this point in the process. The output stage is where the DDFA circuit shines. The approach, best described as noise shaping error correction, uses a reference PWM signal and any deviation of the modulated PWM signal is considered an error. This error information is then processed to compensate any subsequent modulation cycles.
This constant monitoring and correction of error information gave rise to the name Direct Digital Feedback Amplifier during the M2’s development process. As complex as the M2’s internals may sound, the outside look of this amplifier is typically NAD – clean, simple, functional and elegant. A built in ultra high resolution (48, 96, 192 kHz) A/D converter accommodates any analogue source you may have like a turntable or AM/FM tuner, and both balanced and un-balanced signal sources are catered for. The M2 also features three separate, low noise switch mode power supplies. One for each of the 250 watt amplifier channels, and one for control. NAD makes numerous references to subjective testing when referring to the M2. Hopefully it won’t be plagued with the harsh, clinical sound that digital amps normally have. We’ll be able to find out when it ships in the next few months, at USD$5,999.
11
Feb
2009
Engadget HD: NAD Electronics has introduced the C 725BEE stereo receiver for those who either have an audio-only system separate from their HT gear or still aren’t sold on the whole discrete multichannel thing.
Let’s face it — despite the great sound quality possible on recordings that go past the Red Book audio standard, chances are that most of your audio library is still sourced from two-channel CDs.
Content is king, so there might be a place for this 50-Watt receiver with an analog stage that must be something special, because NAD saw fit to add its designer’s (Bjorn Erik Edvardsen) initials right on the model name.