Thanks very much Catherine. ❤️

Completely agree, Catherine.

Wow thanks David. 😀

I agree, I watch loads of reviews but Simon’s videos are always so detailed and enjoyable I’m pleased when I see a new one is up.

@@Benvos wow. Thank you very much for that. It’s too great that I get fantastic feedback.

Thanks Raphael

Thank you. I think those who want this M33 can still take it does lots for the money, but the Hegel is a beast.

Thank you too Marcelo. I tried h120 and I’d agree the m33 is so much more, but h390 is a beast.

Thanks Simon! I will do my best to try the “beast” as soon as I can put my hands on one of those!

OP, do you mean RME dac with equalization would give same result as Dirac with m33? What about hegel, choice of dac and separate equalization via software or hardware? Would that yield just as good result with more compnent choice flexibility?

I'm in the same boat but before I make my final decision I will test both. I buy both from a respectable audio dealer and will inform them that I want to compare the. Sure, it needs a huge budget to buy both, but after that I can hold the winner and sent back the other one.

​@@TheVictoire22Who won the competition in the end? 😊

@@larsstecken Ah thanks for asking. I did a test trio at the local audio dealer. The test was with a M33, The Hegel 390 and a Yamaha A-S3200. For me the Yamaha was clearly the winner and until today I'm happy I made that choice. Possibly to do with my B&W 702S3s which require a very strong amp due some really low impedance (2.9 Ohm) in a certain area of the frequency spectrum. On paper maybe the M33 or Hegel were clear better candidates but to listen to, the Yamaha was very very nice. The Hegel was 2nd and the M33 was for me clearly to analytic. On the other hand the M33 has tons of options to sound it better to your needs which I didn't investigated.

@@TheVictoire22 Thank you for the fast reply! That is very useful information, at least for me. I am currently looking for an upgrade from my Atoll IN300 which is powering Dynaudio Heritage Specials. The Yamaha was also on my list but due to some "not so enthusiastic" reviews it slipped from my radar. The HS also like to have a lot of power and I thought the Hegel was the natural partner. Then you start thinking about how much room correction can do for you and the rabbit hole never ends.... I love the looks of the Yamaha - it's a beautiful machine. Whereas the Hegel is just a brutal brick with an excessively sized logo on the front - I probably could have dealt with it if it really were the much better choice for my speakers. Unfortunately, I am not able to get all of the amps to my home and test them out - so, I will need to take the plunge one day 😊 Thanks again, Stefan

@@larsstecken well as with most equipement, there are always good and bad things about a product. On the end you need to convince yourself. I had the luck to setup exactly my B&Ws with the different amplifiers at the local audio dealer. So I could compare them all. But that's of course also just on a moment. I discovered that listening flavours can vary every day. Sure the looks are awesome at the A-S3200 (I had a Technics SU-G700 and the SU-R1000 was to costly). There are 2 important things to say about the A-S3200. It's a true analog amplifier. No digital ports nothing. It's pure analog on a scale which was never achieved before. It's extremely dark as it comes noise. There is no noise nothing even when the volume is 100% at the 2 balanced inputs. The Amp is fully balanced build (it has only 2 balanced inputs). The integrated phono amp is good but not special as sometimes claimed. It's not comparable to a Lehmann Black Cube SE II (driving a AT VM760SLC moving magnet to it). By default the specs are somewhat thin as it comes to power. 2x100W on 8Ohm but a few sites claim this is fairly under specced. One thing worth noting is that I had also a good deal for it. We bought 2 (one for a friend) and the SRP was 6499 euro we got it for 4400 euro each. So if you consider this one it's worth to shop around and get a good deal because I think there is quite some margin on it for retailers.

Thanks Eric. Enjoy it. Roon ready soon….

Thanks very much Trevor, it’s a slow burner trying to get subscribers unless channels post 2-3 times a week but I want to keep the quality. Still trying to make it work and invested in a new pc today, so videos can only get better but donations like yours help. The idea is to keep it low amounts for ad free videos, but I can offer more honest advice on a patreon forum , to save you money on products, and so your subscription does mean a lot. If you want to keep it at that level or lower it but continue to support me and get advice etc, please do too. Thanks again Trevor!

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thanks simon, im working now so delighted to contribute a little to your efforts, keep up the quality,

Thank you very much too 😀👍

Thank you 🙏

Thank you Olivier 🙏

You have to listen at home to get an accurate picture if you didn’t. The Hegel can be described as offering all that is needed and natural in the treble to my mind, and so can the NAD, in a different more etched out way. The Hegel h590 has a lot more power to the m33 and will control a lot of speakers better.

Thanks very much.

Thanks Irene. Have a good one too. 😀👍❤️

Thank you Billy. That’s true and also would the streaming functionality in ten years have changed lots. I suppose an analogue amp that is only that has great future proofing

Thanks Ken, please let us know what you think of it when you are used to it a bit more. 😀

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Since my previous post I calibrated with Dirac LE, and WOW - what a difference in the tightness of bass, and character of vocals, particularly female. I will be purchasing the full frequency version (what's another $99, right?). Since it's easy to switch the Dirac filter on/off, I can readily hear the effect on the sound.

Thanks Ken, I found the expansiveness in the sound to be the best feature of using Dirac. You can do more than one filter and curve i think, I think there are five slots.

@@kenpiarulli1152 Hi Ken! I am also thinking about buying the full frequency version! I was wondering what your experience it is? Did it make as much difference as the limited version?

@@DeSoLaToR22 Yes, I found the full version much more flexible, and made a big difference in matching my sub to my mains.

Thanks for sharing opinions, did the dealer set up Dirac or demo it ?

Sent you a message back bw simon

Thanks Steve. Good call with your choice. Easy to think I was criticising it on SQ but I wasn’t. Just being fair in a shootout with another amp.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 it's always difficult to not sound biased when a reviewer is comparing his own amp with the amp being reviewed. I've heard nothing but great thoughts and praise about the H390 but with my old ears, I probably wouldn't be able to hear enough of a difference to swaye either way. I thought your review was very fair to be honest. Well done my friend 😊

Thanks Steve.

Thanks Vittorio. I thought about that but think I’ll keep it here as don’t want to be seen to be promoting myself on that group.

But if you want to share it on the group….please do. I’m sure Hegel will like it and chatted to Anders on email earlier and he liked it.

Thank you too very much. 😀👍

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=polava Thanks very much 😀👍🔉🎼

Thanks good call. Each to own. Maybe they should have thought of delay. I found that with remote but I thought battery. Maybe sensor behind display? It’s still a very fine sounding amp and I think you made a good choice for your needs especially as close to Hegel but cheaper and all out use factor Hegel doesn’t have.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 can you all please elaborate on this delay? Is it bad for movie watching? Thinking of replacing my denon AVR with it (for 2.1). Thanks

@@fancypantzz you shouldn’t be buying this type of hifi component unless you get it home and try first in any event.

The NAD T778 is for movies & the M33 is for music.

Thanks too 🙏

Thanks very much. Probably will be difficult but I’ll try one day. If you are in the U.K. you are always welcome around with gear.

Thanks Scott.

Thanks Martin, I’d recommend Waiting till my new video comes out on the Kinki studio EX-M1+

Thanks David.

Thanks too. 😀🔉 always base decisions on trials yourself too…..

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I think the NAD m33 is worth the money in terms of all the other integrated functions including Dirac room correction. My goal right now is to build a multichannel system with purifi amplifiers using a computer and a USB to XLR interface. Even the cheapest Purifi amplifiers measure the same as the NAD m33 so I doubt anyone could be able to differentiate between the two. You can even DIY the purifi amplifier. Also, there are a lot of different optional input buffers to Taylor the sound of the purifi amplification. Check out VTV amplifiers for example.

Yes I am aware of vtv, thanks 🙏 I suppose it comes down to the quality of the pre amp so a case of seeing if vtv with another pre bests the m33 in your opinion.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 the input buffer is the preamp and there are many custom input buffers available. NAD most likely developed their own input buffer. They all test the same in terms of noise and distortion, plus or minus 1 or 2 dB.

Yeah but pre amps sound different too. Different psu, quality of components and so on….

You are probably right to be fair.

I’ll take that as a compliment. Thank you.

Nice system you've got there! Was interested in these Scansonic speakers... What's the minimum room size you think those speakers require to get their best?

@@raphaelmeillat8527 Thanks! I'm certainly no expert in room designs or recommendations. I have them in a 14 x 17' with the MB's on the long wall and still fussing with placement. I have other issues like open gym area on one side (tons of echo and no treatment). Id say they are still fantastic in every way. I'm super happy with it exactly the way it is. A lot to love about the MB's and H390 pairing!

@@piker3000 contact me about the Rocket on PM and I can help there with thoughts about them. I’m not reviewing them btw, as I don’t do cable reviews anymore really.

Можешь выкинуть свой bluesound, но лучше продай)

Thanks very much Stargazer . Lots of work went in as always 😀 I own the H390 yes 😀 Bw Simon

Thanks Michael, possibly you are right I think. I think the Hegel shines because of its design but not necessarily a class ab v d issue.

Thank you so much. It is a great amp.

After auditioning both amps I decided to buy M33. I simply could not ignore NAD's convenience and streaming capabilities. M33 sounds great, clean and powerful. I am not missing anything in M33 (I was a Hegel fan before) The only downside for M33 is that it's killing the hobby :D I don't have to purchase anything more because it is such a great all in one package.

@@playlist286arhbffsd is the m33 and upgrade in sound quality over the hegel190?

@@rog86 if you like the Hegel sound go with h390, it will sound bigger than m33 and has more power, Hegel would be an easy choise for me

@@andreasmoller9798 thanks. Like you i have a small to medium sized room, 4 x 7m...... h390 overkill?

@@rog86 no i don’t think so i have simular room size, i don’t own Hegel h390, i have the h190 as well and its does great, i am moving to h390 maybe in year

Thanks Greg. I’m doing an amp shoot out video atm, the nad is in the mix. 😀🎶🎵🔊

If you can try a Hegel and a node I think you’ll be blown away by the better more natural control and analogue qualities that the Hegel brings but at the same time retaining all that bluos control ability. The M10 is a nice amp but it doesn’t have the natural quality of a H120, or better still H190/H390. They are worth auditioning before any NAD purchase.

@13th Note HiFi Reviews the Hegel's lack of an HDMI/eARC is kind of a deal breaker. I want to be able to connect to a TV. But the other deal breaker on the M33 is while it has 2 sub outs, they aren't independent.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 i had a hegel h90 and now have a nad m10 v2, for me the nad have better sound and the hegel is to big

Thank you.

Thanks very much

Thank you too. Only you can decide but it’s worth trying before you buy as ever. So much is dependent on system integration

Will ask miniDSP if they want to do that.

That would be great. Thanks.

Thanks very much, pls read description thanks

Thanks very much Ronald, not my room as I just clipped another video as I’d done loads of editing by that point. I think the H390 and H590 is coming next for Roon but they didn’t say about the H95? Maybe one for the Hegel FB forum

@@13thnotehifireviews7 You’re welcome! Hegel is working full speed on the H390/590. H95 will not get Roon now, perhaps in the future (source: Instagram). Glad already connect a BS Node with that one... ☺️.

Good call.

Thanks for the compliment David. If looking to re-build the system do it based on speakers first is my advice, and then go from there….those Buchardt’s I just reviewed are a very good starting point.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I really enjoy your videos and respect your opinion. I did think about starting with the speakers. I have a surround sound system (5.1.4) based on MA Silver series, so assumed to upgrade the fronts, I'd have stick with MA or change all the speakers.

Thanks, I had internet probs all last week. Really pleased you liked it.

Thanks Anton. It is a good amp which if I had 4grand burning a hole and needed a streaming integrated, I’d buy. I hope they feel the criticism to the Hegel is fair on account of the 25% difference point I mentioned.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Your criticism came across as impartial, fair and constructive. I think you neatly summed up your approach to reviewing when comparing the two (paraphrasing) by saying 'no ego HiFi.' Loved that 👍 We all wish we had a spare 4k to burn on new HiFi!

@@antonchigurh4125 I wish I did too - which I dont have. I get myself a better DAC. Probably a Hugo TT2. Love that one.

I don’t think it looks dated , it’s minimalist which can’t date. My attitude is I know build quality comes into it, and arguably the nad is more solid, but people don’t spend £5k on an amp for a decision around looks when there is plenty of things £5k can be used to make a room look great. People should buy on 95% on what it sounds like. The connections are all there for 2ch hifi in the Hegel. Personally a choice between a great amp and slightly lesser amp with better streaming built in.

Thanks Stuart, I’d recommend watching the amp shoot out video of the naim supernsit 3 I did

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thanks Simon. I'll gove it a watch...

It’s called transformer hum and is normal and can be dc on mains too. Google it to find more

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thanks for fast reply, nice Sunday !

I know who you mean Will. The reviewers who put h390 and m33 the same on sq for me.

Sorry to hear that John, how does the amp affect your defibrillator out of interest.

Thank you very much. 😀👍

I tried the H120 as you know Harry but personally this M33 is a better amplifier all round. Good you can now get Roon ready on H120/190 family !😀👍

I do have the NAD C 399 I'm pretty happy with it and I do not have any problem you face with the Bass or brightness! Guess it depends on what kind of Speakers and cable you use?

@@rolandlickert2904 i had a home demo with the NAD C399, I used ls50 meta's to my ears these are not bright speakers. The Hegel sounded smoother and had deeper bass. One thing that the NAD had over the Hegel was a bigger/wider soundstage. My wife and i both preferred the more relaxed sound of the Hegel and felt that listening fatigue would set in quite quickly on the NAD, personally i think this is a trait of class d amplification. Each to their own but i preferred Hegel.

@@hclandscapes Well what you say makes sense. Class ab amplifiers have more power at lower impedance which means they give more power for bass. The bass carries over and gives more body and fullness to the mids with good class ab amps. The hegel should sound richer and more engaging. Class d amps use filters and work differently. They don't have much of a sound of their own and are pretty neutral these days. SMSL is very smart because they give great tone control and preset tones to make their class d more engaging, linear, more weight on the bass so you can't tell it's class d and you enjoy it way more. Specs don't tell the whole story because by the specs class d amps generally look like they are the best thing since sliced bread.

Thanks for feedback. I tackled that in video I think and I think too lots comes down to how you use the amps and how you approach Dirac and room correction and how happy you are with hifi use and the installation involved. :)

Keep in mind that personal preference matters. NAD and Hegel sound VERY different. Sometimes it's more about preference and less about which is best

@@heyqt7485 i have to take out personal preference and ask the question if a hundred people had the two, which would they go for. That’s what I always ask. Not only me but other reviews came up same eg the Canadian review on these two. But remember it is small differences. Btw I wouldn’t say Hegel and NAD are massively different re these two amps, especially consider the class ab sounding eigentakt. This idea that amps have a house sound is very often a misnomer, if that’s what you meant.

Never tried. Sorry.

Thanks, I’d be looking it up as you would. Shazam etc best bet to find it.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 thank you, shazam,,,Eneide misterious moments ,

With respect to your view, that’s just not true I’d say . My attitude is HiFi is not like wine - there are limited consensus groups as to what is good at the price within certain taste brackets. I always say these taste brackets mainly relate to the tone of the amp. But the NAD and Hegel are not far apart on tone. It comes down to a range of characteristics that marks one out as sounding better than the other. So when you factor nicer mid tones and dynamics, and wider soundstage these are not things you can say, yup the buyer may not want that. The ‘it’s all about the person’ approach is an approach I steer clear from because that means I’m not reviewing , whilst trying to be fair of what one amp can do at different prices and let readers read between personal lines as to what they want. A lot of reviewers aren’t being fair and the number of reviews I read on this amp where they talk of it in the same context as the more expensive Hegel amp is not fair…it’s not fair on Hegel and it’s not fair on the buyer. But more than that, the BS when the buyer tries it means that reviewer should be sussed out because in the future who would (or should) believe them??? Looks is important but a big group of people buy hifi off of sound quality. In fact it’s more important than looks in audiophile hifi I’d say, because of you want looks buy artwork and much cheaper!

I have contacted them again but I’ll see what they say regards simon

You don’t want to make MQA and the whole rabbit hole of formats an issue, it’s incredibly slight even in the most resolving systems. You should satisfy yourself the node is a great product and it’s all about the rest of the hifi and other outboard DACs as to what makes audio good.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I just don't have any way except for another DAC which decodes MQA fully on the SPDIF input, either RCA or Toslink. Not an expense I am pleased about. It is a great product, with well thought out facilities. MQA should not be advertised without the difference being made. My system has enough resolution to differentiate between various cd blanks and how they affect the sound. Taken a long time to get there, and just bit of dough. The loss of resolution is probably audible in my view, and my next DAC will have to replace the dCs Puccini, not something that I am looking forward to.

I have been using MQA for 2 year. I just switched to Apple music this month I found it sound even better the MQA master using my ipadpro as main source . I using mytek dac + , burson GT headphone amp + susvara headphone. . I can very detail using this set up

That’s not actually true as Dirac cannot deal with all rooms. In any event I did the review of both in a pretty good living room with carpets etc, so I think my comments about sq are fair comment.

@@13thnotehifireviews7My comment was a general observation not specific to your situation where you have both amps at home with you. Also, note that I said - "might" elevate the M33 above the Hegel - i.e. in a particularly problematic room the effect of Dirac "might" provide a better outcome than that of the Hegel.

@@malcatron Thanks for saying but you didn’t elaborate following the points I raised in the video….. to recap…. I’d point out I don’t think it would elevate the sound above the Hegel in most rooms. The point is , at what point is Dirac dealing with the issues the amp can’t handle by its amp design….I think I got the point across the sound quality of the Hegel is sufficiently marked in that Dirac can’t do that, in a use case like mine, which is probably a good or acceptable room type. It might, you may be right, but that would be to a preference, and I have to call that out on what I’d expect and what I think most could or would think, otherwise I’d just be bs’ing you like some other reviews I watched on the h390 v m33 that put the sound quality at a similar level even before mentioning DIRAC… and a quick perusal and research on YT would be easy to find that one. There is also the point that Dirac being better is subjective as well as an amp without Dirac and I got that across. So it’s not a pre requisite as I said. Also if Dirac corrected in my room and similarly another (to the target curve) then the sound the software sets is not expected to depart too far from a general level, on my previous point about expecting what you are likely to get. I also based that on what others have told me the m33 sounds like with Dirac versus others as I research all reviews too.

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I'm certainly not questioning your conclusion about the Hegel vs the M33 (I've heard neither) or suggesting Dirac is a magic bullet (I've never used it or any other room correction for that matter) I was merely saying that the value of any room correction is proportional to the acoustic issues presented by the room. For those lucky enough to have a room that has no nasty acoustic problems, Dirac is maybe not a great investment. But if your room presents issues, Dirac may just be the answer - and its benefits could potentially enable an amp to out perform another that sounded better when comparing in the HiFi shop's listening room. Which was my second point - that unless the purchaser is able to listen to both amps in their own home, the true value (if any) of room correction to that individual will remain unknown. I think the inability (at least for those on a modest budget!) to audition gear at home is a problem that must have led to many unsuitable purchases over the years, and purchasing HiFi from the internet having never listened to it only makes this more so.

@@malcatron Thanks for saying. Listen yourself as always. Review for a shortlist always...thats what I always advocate... But my point is, it isn't as clear cut as saying that just because a room is bad that you may prefer one room correcting amp over another that does not have Dirac. Dirac can only go so far, it doesnt correct fully for the room when you get the response curve it gives you. A better designed amp that controls the bass well and is better in midrange and more dynamic can equally sound better. There is a cut off. I have to stear people to where that cut off is in an amp with Dirac and one without, that is pricier, to what most people, I think, will think. Thats all I am doing. If I did the review as its only based on the buyer, I wouldn't be reviewing and giving my take. I'd be shilling and make the two amps the same on SQ which I dont think is the case.

Don’t know of lintons tbh. Sorry

In theory adding analogue effects is additive according to what Bruno Putzeys told me. I did find the analogue character of other components was added In trying this but always try yourself and form own opinion.

No because you can’t class amps according to class d . The class d buchardt i150 sounds richer and more meaty In mids to my class ab Hegel

@@13thnotehifireviews7 wow, just heard about that amp, would be interesting to try!

In fairness the kinki is a better amp

Ha ha they are quite stiff in some directions

PPM’s sorry?

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Peak Programme Meters....BBC creation

Probably wasting your money that way as you loose out on amp modules , prob Best bit. Get a pre amp 😀🎵

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I'm pretty much sold on the M33, love it. I'm probably going to be getting B&W 803 D4's, would the M33 be enough? Can you add a Hegel PreAmp to the M33 to increase power and bite? Excuse me if I'm asking silly questions, well I know I'm asking silly questions. I'm new to Hi-End hi-fi. I know power isn't everything, but I want enough bass but with a great clear sound. Your advice would be much appreciated. Love your review.

Nah, get in when you can and it changes. That would be like …..4k TV….I’m still on a CRT glass box tv……

You are behind the curve. I been on the Audio trip for over 50 years owned several class A Class A/B amps during that time. Finely I switched to class D and never looked back and that was for several reasons. The weight of the amp is much less,(easy to move or lift around if needed) it runs cool, possibility to upgrading with module which gives flexibility,(technical advance is moving fast this day) power to power you get more value for the money you spend, Roon ready, has plenty of power to handle most speakers on the market and the amp sound effortless, great control of the bass. However, Dirac helps if you have a complicated room.However, as with all amps it needs good matching with the speakers, and the right speaker cable and a good Power cord suitable for the amp adds to the sonic improvement. As always it's a personal choice but I came to the conclusion that the absolute sound is a mirage and for me a mix of convenience, value for money and the latest tech is good enough for me.

Not personal please