Nad M12 vs Metrum Jade

Does someone has experience with the preamp/dacs Metrum Jade and Nad M12

 

Hi there. Welcome to SBAF. I see no one has responded to your inquiry yet. I'll mention a few things you're bound to get from someone else soon:

1. Read the first post on this thread first (fully) if you haven't already, and follow the links within as well:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/what-is-sbaf-must-read-version-2.5555/

2. Introduce yourself here:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

3. I would suggest finding an existing thread to pose your question, you're more likely to get a better reponse. This may be a good one:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-balanced-dac-and-jade-balanced-dac-pre.5181/

Cheers

 

Hey, It's not clear for me how to introduce myself

 

Just post a reply under the url/thread in #2. It will post on the last page in the thread.

 

The Metrum being an NOS dac, a peep at this thread probably wouldn't go amiss:

https://superbestaudiofriends.org/i...oversampling-dac-comparison-master-list.4049/

 

Now that you've introduced yourself we have a bit more background information to go off of.

Why are you interested in the comparison, ie what aspects of the M12 do you like versus dislike? I ask because I've listened to an M12 often enough and I have a C510 which is similar, and I feel like unless you're looking for something specific the Jade could end up feeling like a sidegrade.

 

The Metrum Jade caught my attention because of the possibility to connect a Metrum Ambre with i2s module. The nad M12 can not do this today.
I also learned that the Jade would sound more musical than the Nad M12.
Unfortunately I am not in the possibility to listen to the Jade because of no dealers in Belgium and the very long distance to nearest dealer.

So I thought, maybe somebody could have experienced the comparison

 

i’ve never heard the m12, but am beginning to listen seriously to the jade, and am impressed by how well it compares with the yggdrasil 2, which is still my preferred dac

 

I know shortly Fernand. I have a M12 and bought a Jade. Will be able to compare next week.

 

What is te result Mark V.

 

The result is that I've sold the M12 and I am really enjoying the Jade! I am listening to music with the Jade, playing complete albums, in stead of just listening to a few tracks only... Instruments do sound more close to the real thing, very nice soundstage, way better bass.

Waiting for the Ambre to arrive, if this one does what some reviews are suggesting, the sound will be even better...

Mark.

 

Nice to hear this, I am also waiting for an "Ambre" to possibly replace my Nad M50, hence the idea to maybe also replace the "M12" with something better.
I now use the M12 with AVM M30's power amplifier and catch myself that I sometimes set the M12 EQ tremple at + 2db and occasionally I think the high is sometimes too much of a good thing.
Oh yeah, question, how do you like the volume control knob.

 

Care to share setup details, what you prefer about one over the other?

 

Setup: MacMini with Roon via ifi iusb 3.0 to Metrum Jade, Mivera Purepower (Ice edge 1200AS2, extremely neutral!), Speaker Heaven Edition 30 LS (Acuton mid/high, Scan Speak Alu bass, x-over optimised).

Differences in sound, with the Jade wooden instruments sound much more like wooden instruments, much more detail in voices, goosebumps, more depth in soundstage (holographic) more and deeper bass (with M12 I could need a subwoofer...), a tiny bit softer highs, but still very honest to the recording.

Another interesting comparison, when I was swapping between my 1200AS2 and my Nuforce STA200 (very similar to Job225) with the M12 there wasn't a big difference in sound. It was hard for me to prefer one amp over the other. With the Jade the STA200 sounds much more closed in and less detailed compared to the 1200AS2, day an night difference in microdetail and depth of soundstage.

 

Fernand, the volume knob at the DAC itself is hard to turn. But I never bothered as I can't reach the DAC from my listening position ;-) and I change volume while using the remote control, which works fine.