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NAD's £700 network media player to hit shops in July

25 May 2011

NAD C446 angle

On display at the Munich High End Show last weekend, NAD's C446 Digital Media Tuner is coming to UK shops in July, at around £700.

It can stream music over a network from UPnP/DLNA devices, with connectivity via either Ethernet or Wi-Fi (b/g), and will also play music from USB memory devices connected via a front-panel socket.

As well as internet radio access, the C446 also has DAB/DAB+/FM RDS/AM tuning, with 40 presets available to store favourite stations.

iPod connectivity is possible via an accessory dock, the IPD 2, which connects to the MP Dock socket on the rear of the unit.

The C446 can also stream – or play from USB – WAV/PCM, FLAC, AAC, MP3 and WMA files.

NAD C446 sockets

It has both analogue and optical digital outputs, and RS232, 12V trigger in and infrared flasher input for integration into custom installations.

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Comments

sharetor Thu, May 26 2011, 2:25PM

Hi

I'm looking for a media stream that will get music form my "Synology DS211". Now, I use the Cambrige DAC Magic and a PC. But will buy a new DAC (maybe, Ayre Q9 or others that will come).

To keep this short. I will have a good DAC. And I'm looking for a not so expensive media stream for FLAC 16/44 24/96 and 24/192 files.

Any sugestion?

Canada16, what is your 80 $ media stream, if I may ask?

thanks

Andrew Everard Wed, May 25 2011, 9:15PM

canada16 wrote:
Its not going to make the sound better

And your reason for this conclusion, oh ray of sunshine...?

Ryan92 Wed, May 25 2011, 6:00PM

Well, other than the tuners, which I assume will be of a pretty high quality, the main difference would be the quality of the on board DAC, if you are just playing 256Kbps MP3s then no you probably won't hear a dramatic improvement in sound quality. Surely its when you have some meaty lossless audio files to throw at it that it will really show its colours. It's not the simple streaming of music that you pay for, but what it does with it once it does it . . Though I can't help but feel an apple TV or airport express with a £600 separate DAC might sound better and with the lovely apple interface . . 

 

canada16 Wed, May 25 2011, 5:01PM

I have a media streamer, paid 80.00 for it, and it does everything this can, stream just as much audio formats and also ... Wait for it....... every video format under the sun.

I would still have 620.00 left to buy more movies, beer, and a high power PC.

Am I missing something with this? Its not going to make the sound better, as it can only stream what its been given, Does it up convert to sacd quality or something.

700.00 for this to stream music, seems a bit over priced. Just my opinion