NAD CS1 Endpoint Bluetooth Network Streamer

Product Information

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. I wouldn’t criticise the CS1 for this output, the DAC performance with the iFi will inevitably be an improvement on the CS1, as it costs nearly ten times more than the CS1! The CS1, as a certified Roon endpoint, lets you use Roon to manage all of your digital music and then stream it all to the CS1. Doing so lets you stream Tidal’s Master tracks in Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) format directly to the CS1, which is capable of performing the final level of MQA rendering needed to hear MQA at its full quality. FYI when I was tested the digital output, I was not getting a signal unless I told ROON to keep output at 100%.

Listeners can use AirPlay 2 to stream CD-resolution audio from any app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or from an iTunes library on a Windows PC. Once I adjusted for the different levels on the analog and optical connection, they sounded virtually identical. Microdynamics were excellent, making it easy to appreciate Mehldau’s playful music-hall style in the choruses. The CS1 supports the most popular network streaming and casting protocols, including Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA mobile and computer apps*, and Roon, so you can control playback with the music apps you use every day. If you have both connected to your network, then the Naim app gets a menu of music from the Core and tells the Core which music to send to the ND5 XS2.I connected the CS1’s analog outputs to RCA jacks on the Sony receiver to check if there was a sonic difference between the CS1’s analog and digital outputs in Ian’s system.

Better yet, if you decide you don’t value their app-based controls and features, you can still use them as endpoint streamers.The 96kHz limit is displayed on the DAC but with the same track on Bluetooth from the same Qobuz App, the sample rate falls. It is also pretty good-looking, or it could be hidden away with its small footprint if that is necessary.

For some reason, the device volume can be changed in the Home app, despite using Roon in exclusive mode etc. Since the CS1, as a transport, is just passing through the file data, all seems to be well, I’m not hearing any undue timing issues. I have no issues with trebly sibilance, or any annoyances thus far, the midrange and vocal are delicious in my reference pieces.

It offers a streaming platform for most of the leading 3rd Party audio providers, like Spotify and Tidal via Apple and Google casting platforms. Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect users can cue up music in the apps for those services, then easily transfer playback to the CS1.

Because of the great variety of PC-compatible, operating system versions, and peripherals currently in use, we do not guarantee that you will be able to use Upgrade Software and/or Program successfully on all such systems. Step up to the Bluesound Node, made by NAD's partner company, for additional features and access to the full BluOS app. The CS1 is a departure for Lenbrook Industries, the Canadian company that owns the NAD, PSB, and Bluesound brands. It worked the same way if I used the Wi-Fi Settings menu in iOS’s Settings app, except for one thing: the CS1 did not appear in Google Home.FINALLY YOU AGREE NOT TO USE THE PROGRAM IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN AS OUTLINED IN THE ONLINE DOCUMENTATION. If the Home app is controlling the volume, it must be doing some signal processing, which is not ideal! However the metadata might be missing as that’s held in a proprietary format inside the core and separate from the files themselves.