Very few products get the Home Cinema Choice Reference Status badge; it guarantees that they set a standard of performance or design against which other products can be measured. Therefore, this can be seen as the prize of all prizes: Nad, Naim and projectiondesign are all in the running...
The Winner
NAD Master Series
£5,300 (approx)
01279 501111
Reviewed: HCC #135
The NAD Masters Series represents a new dramatic evolution for the company’s world-famous brand. After years spent in the making, these top-class separates ooze luxury and style, and offer an uncompromised performance.
The M55 Universal Disc Player features DVD-A and SACD compatibility, MP3, WMA and JPEG support, video upscaling up to 1080i, setup via onscreen menus, and superb performance. It’s ideally matched to the THX Ultra 2-approved M15 AV Processor, which features eight digital audio inputs, zone 2 AV inputs, twin subwoofer outputs, IR repeaters and 12V triggers. Featuring twin 24bit DSPs and a specially-designed transformer, the Masters Series is equally at home with blockbuster movie soundtracks or subtle dramas.
For real punch, though, you need to add the matching M25 7-Channel Power Amplifier; a 44kg, metre-deep tank with 160W on all seven channels.
Put together, the Masters Series represents performance, simplicity and pride of ownership over flash, gimmicks and unnecessary features. Each component has its own merits, but together they are very much more than the sum of their parts. Awesome.
Chris Barrie's clearly worried about Neil Wilson from Nad's other hand
Also nominated
Naim Audio System
£20,000 (approx)
01722 426600
Reviewed: HCC #131
Loosely based on one of British stalwart Naim’s stereo systems, this system, consisting of the DVD5 player, NAP250 two-channel power amp, NAPV175 three-channel amp, AV2 processor, NAC252 preamplifier, and n-SAT, n-CENTRE and n-SUB speakers, is a triumph in sonic performance. Using Naim’s proprietary connectors, the system links together with ease, and is open to enhancements as the technology progresses. The result is detailed, tuneful and well-integrated stereo music performance, refined DVD sound with strong separation, and sublime intelligibility and consistency with difficult soundtracks, right from the quietest to the loudest. Phenomenally lifelike, consistent and stable, the Naim’s sound is one which will captivate existing owners and convert the unconvinced.
ProjectionDesign Action! Model Three
£15,000 (approx)
www.projectiondesign.com
01448 73366
Reviewed: HCC #135
A trend-setting DLP Full HD projector, the Model Three has a native pixel count of 1920 x 1080, two lamps, two colour wheels, and a choice of six lenses: couple it to the external Crystalio scaler and you have a projector that sets the standard for DLP projection. The Crystalio box can convert any input into 1080p before feeding it to the projector, where sophisticated technology including DuArch optics, Spoke Light Recapture and RealColour image management squirt it out as a visual image of mind-boggling quality. Fine detail, texture, low noise, efffective upscaling, perfect colour and subtle greyscaling are the results. Extraordinary in every respect, this projector richly deserves its Reference Status badge.
