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Media Server Reviews
NAD C 658 Network Audio Player/Preamplifier Review
Al Griffin  |  Feb 05, 2020

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $1,649

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Great sound quality
Onboard Dirac Live room correction
Well-designed control app
Minus
Overly busy remote control

THE VERDICT
NAD's streaming preamp brings vinyl playback and Dirac Live room correction to the mix for a very complete package at an affordable price.

I'm no stranger to the network audio player/preamplifier category, having evaluated two such specimens in 2019: Cary Audio's DMS-550 and Simaudio's Moon 390. These components act as a hub for switching a range of digital and analog sources, along with streaming music from online services and local networked storage. The DMS-550 and Moon 390 impressed me with their versatility and sound quality, but at $5,000-plus, both are priced outside the range of an average listener. Fortunately, other options exist such as the NAD C 658, a $1,649 network audio player/ preamplifier aimed at audiophiles on a budget. How does the C 658 hold up against the pricier models? Let's give it a listen.

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Audio Video News
Disney+ Threatens to Topple Netflix Reign
SV Staff  |  Feb 05, 2020
In less than three months the Disney+ streaming service has taken off like a rocket. It’s come on so strong that the powers-that-be at Netflix and Amazon must be losing sleep as a gigantic Mickey Mouse looms over them in a recurring nightmare.
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Audio Video News
Audio Icon Sandy Gross to Appear at Baltimore’s Soundscape
SV Staff  |  Feb 05, 2020
Sandy Gross, audio icon and founder/president of GoldenEar Technology and before that Definitive Technology and Polk Audio (as co-founder), will be appearing at Baltimore audio/video specialist Soundscape on Thursday, February 13.
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Audio Video News
Sony Announces Pricing for 2020 TVs
SV Staff  |  Feb 04, 2020
Sony today announced pricing for the X800H and X950H 4K LCD TVs unveiled last month at CES 2020.
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Audio Video News
FCC Plan to Bring Fast Internet to Rural America
SV Staff  |  Feb 04, 2020
Last week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a $20 billion, 10-year plan to bring gigabit-speed broadband networks to unserved rural areas of America.
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Audio Video News
Puro Offers 15% Discount on Kid-Safe Headphones
SV Staff  |  Feb 04, 2020
Puro Sound Labs, the San Diego-based maker of kid-safe wireless headphones, has announced a 15% Valentine’s Day discount on its PuroQuiet noise-cancelling headphones, which limit volume to prevent hearing damage.
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Audio Video News
Apple TV App Now Available on 2019 LG Smart TVs
SV Staff  |  Feb 04, 2020
LG today announced that the Apple TV app, which will be available via a firmware upgrade on its 2020 smart TVs that ship later this year, is now available on 2019 model-year smart TVs.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
1More Ships $200 Wireless Noise-Canceling Earphones
SV Staff  |  Feb 03, 2020
China-based headphone specialist 1More has announced that its new True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones (EHD9001TA) are now shipping.
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Audio Video News
LG to End Domestic LCD Production Amid OLED Uptick
SV Staff  |  Feb 03, 2020
When LG announced its 2019 financial results last week, the company whose name has become practically synonymous with OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TV revealed that it would cease domestic production of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels by the end of the year.
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Signals
Sonos to Customers: Breaking Up is Hard to Do
Ken C. Pohlmann  |  Feb 03, 2020
“It's not you. It's me.”
“We can still be friends.”
“I think you love me more than I love you.”
“You should be free to meet your special someone.”
“I'm so sorry, but my cat just doesn't like you.”

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