This is a fabulous product that works faultlessly and consistently and it performs best, in my view, as a digital transport The NAD CS1 is simple network streamer that will add streaming capability to most hi-fi amplifiers either via it’s analogue RCA or digital outputs. It offers great value for money and superb sound quality. Through the DLNA support, you can stream music at incredibly high resolutions from applicable music apps.

Compact and minimalist in design, allowing for seamless integration into your existing home audio setup. Apple AirPlay 2 support allows CD-resolution streaming from any audio app on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac You also will notice a tiny hole labeled “Setup.” Believe it or not, if you want to connect a Bluetooth device to the CS1, you’ll need to grab something thin and pointy and use it to press the button that’s hidden in the hole. NAD doesn’t include any thin and pointy things in the box. By the time it goes on sale in March, the company expects DNLA/UPnP certification to be in place, allowing users to control the unit from within their favorite music apps instead of needing a dedicated app like some streaming units do. The unit boasts full MQA rendering and decoding chops for master quality music from Tidal. Bluetooth 5.0 is onboard as well, for pairing to a smartphone, tablet, dedicated DAP or computer.

Pro 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. The high-end audio marketplace is filled with integrated amplifiers that are capable of streaming high-resolution audio over a Wi-Fi network from compatible services like Tidal or Qobuz. But many of those components are pricey, and they also require use of a custom, brand-specific app to facilitate streaming, with some apps doing that job much better than others.

NAD Electronics International, a division of Lenbrook Industries Limited (“NAD”) furnishes this software and/or program, and online documentation, licenses their use to you as provided in this Agreement. LICENSE There’s no companion app, the NAD relying on a mix of Airplay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth and Spotify/Tidal Connect for its music. It also has DLNA to play files on your home network (and other sources) using apps like BubbleUPnP. And the CS1 is Roon Ready, acting as an endpoint for the excellent (albeit expensive and complex) Roon music software. 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 DesignThe CS1’s DAC uses a Texas Instruments PCM5141 chip that handles up to 24-bit/192kHz and can pass MQA through the digital outputs (if your DAC supports it). There’s no MQA on the analogue output though – arguably less of a problem now the company behind MQA is in administration. You don’t have to install special apps to play music through the NAD CS1 Endpoint Network Streamer. Using Bluetooth, you can steam audio from any app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.