NAD CS1 Endpoint Bluetooth Network Streamer

Product Information

MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, and ALAC — they’re all supported. Pretty much every format you could want, except DSD, which I have to say, is really disappointing given NAD’s audiophile fan base. You may still be able to play them — an app like Bubble can perform on-the-fly DSD transcoding to PCM, but this feels wrong. Users can connect the CS1 to their home network via Wi-Fi or hardwire its LAN Ethernet port to their network router. The CS1 has a pair of RCA analogue outputs for connection to a stereo receiver, integrated amp, preamplifier, or a pair of powered speakers. The CS1 also has optical and coaxial outputs for sending digital audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution to powered loudspeakers with digital inputs, or to a home theatre receiver or external DAC. Still, those instructions won’t be needed for long once you get them — getting the CS1 set up is very easy. There are a few different options depending on whether you’re going wired or wireless. If wired, just plug the CS1 into an Ethernet cable and you’re done. If wireless, it depends on whether you’re an iPhone or Android user. After you plug the CS1 into the wall, you’ll see the small LED flash blue rapidly, then switch to an alternating red/blue pattern. At that point, iPhone users can go to their Wi-Fi settings menu, where they’ll find the option to set the CS1 up as an AirPlay 2 speaker. Android users can do the same, but it happens inside the Google Home app, which lets you use the CS1 as a Chromecast audio device. And that’s it. With strict endpoint streamers, like the CS1, if you begin playing music from your Apple Music app over AirPlay 2, that music will stop the moment you leave the house, because it’s being controlled by your phone, not the CS1. Wanting to explore yet another rabbit hole, I compared the sound of the Tidal Connect stream using analog (RCA) and digital (TosLink) connections between the CS1 and Kin Play. Once I adjusted for the different levels on the analog and optical connection, they sounded virtually identical.

John Moreland’s ‘Harder Dreams’ from his excellent LP5 album also preferred the analogue output, the opening guitar a little harsh, a bit twangier, via digital. Tonally the analogue output was also slightly richer, lending a denser air to the music, which suited the Marantz amplifier. Essentially the CS1’s analogue output sounded more analogue, the digital output more digital. And no that’s not stating the b***ng obvious, we’re still comparing two DACs.for the highest level of audio quality, it is recommended to set the volume control of the phone or tablet to maximum and then adjust the volume level on the amplifier or receiver the NAD CS1 is connected to. Supported 3rd party service providers: Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, DLNA, Roon. System 1: Totem Acoustic Kin Play powered speakers, Totem Acoustic Kin Sub, AudioQuest DragonFly Red, iPhone 12. Through the DLNA support, you can stream music at incredibly high resolutions from applicable music apps.

On the one hand, this app-free approach is kind of refreshing. No app means no messing around with settings or complicated menus, and no real data-logging concerns. You don’t even have to worry about performing firmware updates because the CS1 manages these automatically as soon as you’ve connected it to your network. You’ll need a (third-party) app for thatPro tip: If you’re an iOS user and you want to use the CS1 as a Chromecast audio device in addition to AirPlay 2, you can simply use the Google Home app and save yourself a step. My next stop was Ian and Roberta’s lakeside home in central Ontario. In their living room, they have a rustic cabinet outfitted with a home entertainment system. The cabinet stays closed most of the time. Opening it reveals a pair of Paradigm Cinema 220 on-wall speakers fastened to the doors, and a Samsung 32″ HDTV that slides out from the interior. Introduced in 2006, the Cinema 220 is a two-way sealed design with two 5.5″ polypropylene midrage-woofers and a 1″ titanium-dome tweeter. The speakers are powered by a 20-year-old Sony STR-DV10 A/V receiver rated at 5 × 80W RMS. The receiver also feeds a Paradigm Cinema Sub subwoofer and two Paradigm in-wall speakers that reproduce the rear channels. A second-generation Chromecast media adapter is connected to one of the TV’s HDMI inputs. Audio from the TV flows to an optical input on the Sony receiver.

Couldn’t Paul and Petrea get the same convenience if they streamed music via Bluetooth? Not really. They would have to pair their phones to the Kin Play system, and perhaps re-pair them from time to time. And as Paul and I confirmed, there’d be a sonic penalty. We both played “Sweet Georgia Brown” through the Kin Play system—from Paul’s phone using the hardwired connection, and from my iPhone via Bluetooth. With Bluetooth, the sound was harder, edgier, and more closed-in.For such folks, the lower-cost CS1 will come across as a more approachable option for adding streaming and high-res audio capability to an existing system. It’s true that you won’t get to use the BluOS control app used in the company’s pricier streaming-capable products, but not everyone will need the high level of features that app provides (multiroom streaming to multiple components, for instance). With the CS1, you can just fire up Tidal on your phone, tap play, and you’re off and running in high-res. Apple AirPlay 2 support allows CD-resolution streaming from any audio app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac I have swapped in, occasionally, the Hugo2 to good effect and a Questyle CMA 400i DAC as well. Physically The CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer supports the most popular network streaming and casting protocols, including Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast, so users can stream directly from devices like smartphones, tablets and computers. The CS1 can play high-resolution audio, up to 24-bit/192kHz, with MQA pass-through support for both digital outputs, enabling full decoding and rendering by a compatible external DAC for playing Master Quality Authenticated music. And if your spouse is on Android, and not an iOS device? They have no control at all because even if the CS1 has been added to Google Home, that app thinks of the CS1 as a Chromecast device and it won’t understand that the CS1 is in the middle of playing an AirPlay 2 session.

The NAD CS1 Network Streamer comes from NAD. NAD is a Lenbrook Group company, Canada based, making it a stablemate of Bluesound and PSB speakers Design The WiiM Pro provides analog and digital outputs along with inputs to add sources to a multiroom audio setup. (Image credit: WiiM) Analysis: The WiiM Pro brings high-res audio streaming to the masses

CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer

Employing audiophile-grade components, the NAD CS1 can play high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/192kHz. It features Bluetooth, Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi and supports the most popular streaming and casting protocols, including Apple AirPlay 2, GoogleCast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and Roon. Compact and minimalist in design, allowing for seamless integration into your existing home audio setup. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Comes with full MQA decoding and rendering capability, allowing for high-resolution music streaming from Tidal.