The M32 is an integrated amplifier with built-in DAC by NAD that delivers 150 watts x 2 channels into both 8 and 4 ohms continuous, with dynamic power of 190 watts into 8 ohms, 380 watts into 4 ohms and 440 watts into 2 ohms. It was released in 2016. It is a 2-channel design using a Class D output stage. Speakers connect via binding posts. A minimum impedance of 2 ohms makes it compatible with a wide range of loudspeakers. It has a built-in DAC (Direct Digital feedback amplifier, 32-bit/192kHz), so you can play digital sources directly with no separate DAC unit needed. It also has a phono input, so a turntable can connect straight to it. The NAD M32 has an MSRP of $3,299.
There are 10 NAD amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
NAD Integrated Amplifier Series
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The NAD M32 is rated at 150 watts RMS into 8-ohms. NAD provides this wattage at a THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) of 0.005% which is an important indicator of distortion at the given values (lower THD is better).
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 150 watts into 8-ohms at 0.005%
- 150 watts into 4-ohms
- 124dB Signal to Noise Ratio
How loud will 150 watts actually play in your room? →
Wiring more than one pair of speakers to it? Check the load first →
Which speakers suit the NAD M32?
150 W into 8 ohms, 150 W into 4, rated down to 2 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
NAD M32 is rated at 150 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our 121 to 180 watts band. The next band up is Over 180 watts, which is worth about 2.3dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room. Plenty of systems are better served by the 91 to 120 watts band and better speakers.
When pairing the NAD M32 with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the NAD M32 Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the NAD M32 amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | Average |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the NAD M32, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
NAD M32 has total of 4 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
- Phono Input
- Yes Optical Digital Input
- Yes Coaxial Digital Input
- USB Input
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- Yes Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
NAD M32 doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your NAD M32. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
NAD M32 features two Phono Inputs which are compatible with
MM (Moving Magnet) type of phono cartridges, you can connect your turntable with MM cartridges directly to this amp without the need for a phono preamp. If you are using an MC cartridge on your turntable, you need to use a phono preamp that has MC phono stage such as the
Cambridge Duo or the
iFi ZEN Phono.
Balanced connections
NAD M32 has a balanced XLR input. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
DAC and Digital Music
The NAD M32's built-in DAC allows the connection of digital sources directly, eliminating the need for an external DAC. The DAC chip that is used in the M32 is the
Direct Digital feedback amplifier, 32-bit/192kHz, and supports resolutions up to
32-bit, 192KHZ.
NAD M32 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓150 watts per channel into 8 ohms is more than most rooms and most speakers will ever ask for.
- ✓Rated down to 2 ohms, so even a speaker with a punishing impedance dip is within its brief.
- ✓Damping factor of 800 means a low output impedance and firm control over a woofer.
- ✓Class D output stage, so it runs cool and wastes little power as heat - which is how it fits in a small case.
- ✓Signal-to-noise ratio of 124dB, so the amplifier itself should be inaudible between tracks.
- ✓Distortion is specified at 0.005%, an order of magnitude below what is generally held to be audible.
- ✓4 analogue inputs, enough for a full rack of sources.
- ✓Built-in DAC handling 32-bit / 192, so a TV, computer or streamer can connect digitally with nothing in between.
- ✓Phono stage built in (MM and MC), for moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges alike.
- ✓Balanced XLR inputs, worth having on a long cable run.
- ✓Headphone output.
- ✗Output rises only from 150 to 150 watts when the load halves to 4 ohms, so it is happier with an easy 8 ohm speaker than a demanding one.
- ✗No Bluetooth and no network streaming - everything arrives over a cable.
NAD M32 External Dimensions and Weight
NAD M32 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 5-3/16 x 17-1/8 x 15-1/4 inch (132 x 435 x 388 mm ). The unit weighs
7.71 kg (17 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the NAD M32 is approximately 1687.8cm2 / 261.6inch2.
- Width: 435.0mm (17-1/8")
- Height: 132.0mm (5-3/16")
- Depth: 388.0mm (15-1/4")
- Weight: 7.71 kg (17 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~1687.8cm2 / 261.6inch2
- Volume: ~22.3 liter / 5.9 gallon
Available colors
NAD M32 is available in Black color options.
| General |
| Brand |
NAD |
| Full Model Name |
NAD M32 |
| Release Date |
2016 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class D |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
150 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
150 watts |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| Damping Factor |
800 |
| THD |
0.005% |
| Minimum Impedance |
2 |
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
124 dB |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
Yes |
| DAC Specs |
Direct Digital feedback amplifier, 32-bit/192kHz |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
4 |
| Phono Input |
Yes |
| Optical Digital Inputs |
Yes |
| Coaxial Digital Inputs |
Yes |
| USB Input |
Yes |
| Headphone Output |
Yes |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
132.0mm (5-3/16") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17-1/8") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15-1/4") |
| Weight |
7.71 kg (17 lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Black |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
How much power does the NAD M32 have?
The NAD M32 delivers 150 watts x 2 channels into both 8 and 4 ohms continuous, with dynamic power of 190 watts into 8 ohms, 380 watts into 4 ohms and 440 watts into 2 ohms.
Does the NAD M32 use vacuum tubes?
No. The NAD M32 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
What amplifier class is the NAD M32?
The NAD M32 uses a Class D amplifier design. Class D is a modern switching design that runs cool and wastes very little energy as heat, which is how makers fit high power into a compact, light chassis.
Does the NAD M32 have a built-in DAC?
Yes. The NAD M32 has a built-in DAC (Direct Digital feedback amplifier, 32-bit/192kHz), so you can feed it a digital source directly without buying a separate converter.
Can I connect a turntable to the NAD M32?
Yes. The NAD M32 has a built-in phono stage for MM AND MC cartridges, so a turntable can be connected directly without a separate phono preamp.
Does the NAD M32 have Bluetooth?
No. The NAD M32 does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Does the NAD M32 have a headphone output?
Yes. The NAD M32 has a Yes-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the NAD M32 cost?
The NAD M32 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $3,299.
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