NAD DAC 2 Review

An external Digital-to-Analog converter with Burr-Brown chips, wireless connectivity, support for high resolution files and, above all, a more than reasonable price. This should be interesting, right?

In The Footsteps of Its Forebear

With a width of 5.3 and a height of only 1.38 inches, the NAD DAC 2 is very compact and is actually smaller than it looks in the pictures. The packaging is simple, but good, and the small D / A converter comes in a box printed in color.

In addition to the converter you get an external power supply and adapters for use in different countries (US / EU / UK / AU), the wireless transmitter, a short USB-A / mini cable and a RCA cable of cheaper quality - in short, everything required to set up and use the DAC 2 immediately after unpacking it. An instruction manual is not included, but as the DAC 2 is extremely easy to install and use it´s not really an issue, and guidelines for connecting it can be found on the back of the box.

It´s probably hard to come up with a particularly attractive design on a device of this size, and it seems that NAD didn´t make any effort on improving the aesthetics. The previous and new model are practically identical in appearance, the only visual difference is the model name. DAC 2 is built in the form of a cuboid, without any embellishment and is finished in a standard dark gray and the boxy appearance is softened by the rounded edges. In addition to the NAD logo and the model name on the front panel is a LED that show different colors depending the current status of the device.

There´s a lot more going on at the back, and in addition to the power connector it includes RCA analog and coaxial digital outputs, and a switch to change the frequency (channel) at which the wireless signal is transmitted. The interior of the small DAC is fully filled with a printed circuit board, and the wireless signal receiver is mounted on the base and with additional shielding. For the digital-to-analog conversion a popular and very capable Cirrus Logic CS4398 chip is used, which supports 192 kHz / 24-bit and DSD, but the wireless transmission limits the DAC 2 to a resolution of up to 96 kilohertz. The digital output is handled by a Burr-Brown DIT4096, which functions as a S / PDIF transmitter, and the amplifiers in the analog part are the Texas Instruments N5532 and LM393.

The second part of this combination is the wireless transmitter, which is in its second generation in this set up, with a discreetly integrated pedestal. The design is mirroring the main unit with its graphite gray color, rounded edges and LED on the front panel. Due to the small size, the back is only large enough to accommodate a Mini-USB port to connect to your computer and a switch to change the frequency of the wireless transmission.

In terms of technical solutions, the biggest improvement over the previous generation is represented by the support for signals with a resolution of up to 96 kHz and 24 bits. In addition, NAD emphasizes the application of Burr-Brown op-amps and conversion circuits, but we never managed to find the exact model number of the converter - it is only stated that it is 192 kHz / 24 Bit. The wireless transmission takes place at frequencies of 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 gigahertz, and you can access the three channels by using the manual switch.

Look Ma, No Wires!

As long as you select the same channel on both devices, the transmitter and DAC will automatically detected each other and set up a wireless connection and the LEDs confirm this by changing color from red to blue. After that you just need to select the NAD as the default audio output on the computer or media player and start enjoying the music.

Sound Quality & Listening Experience

In terms of sound quality we never noticed any negative effects of the wireless transmission and playback quality is stable and consistent. One thing we noticed during the test was how 'analog' the NAD sounded, which is a nice departure compared to some manufacturers of digital devices. The character is far from sharp and sterile, but this also means that a certain amount of detail is sacrificed, probably deliberately, in favor of a more organic and fluid approach. DAC 2 plays music in a relaxed and unforced manner and the tonal character is soft and pleasant enough for very long listening session without causing any signs of listening fatigue whatsoever.

The dynamics are very good, and the energy and atmosphere of a live musical piece is faithfully recreated. The soundstage is not particularly big, but the instruments are very precisely positioned, and NAD gives the impression of having an accurate tonal reproduction. On the other hand, the sound always retains a touch of refinement and restraint, and may not be the right choice for audiophiles who prefer a more direct, aggressive and raw sound character. This is also a disadvantage when playing 96 kHz / 24 bit files, as the occasional lack of detail and resolution makes high resolution recordings sound a bit less amazing.

The upper and lower frequencies have, most of the time, the same characteristics as the midrange, which means velvet tones and subtle details. Because of this, the highest tones may occasionally lack that last ounce of directness and detail, while the bass could do with a bit more verve and alertness. However, keep in mind that this is a D / A converter that cost no more than a modest 249 dollars, and that price includes a wireless signal transmission. Therefore, all of these weaknesses should be taken with a large grain of salt. In the given price range it will be hard to find a DAC with better sound quality and ease-of-use, and even if you find one we doubt it will be wireless.

Ask, and Ye Shall Receive

Speaking of wireless, it should be noted that NAD declares a maximum range of 40 meters (~130 feet) without obstacles, which in practice should be enough coverage for an average living space - we have checked the connection from another room, through one wall, and it was no problem. Also, the presence of other wireless devices did not cause any interference or break-up, and DAC 2 worked perfectly stable throughout the whole test without the need for changing the frequency of the transmission. In terms of functionality, the one weakness we can think of is the lack of inputs for more than one digital device. DAC 2 is simply designed for playback from a computer, but this function is performed without error and with a great deal of ease and comfort.