NAD is getting into a new area of audio. The company just introduced its first digital music solution, the NAD C 446 Digital Media Tuner.

The new component allows audio fans to stream content from any connected computers or hard drives, as well as Android and Apple smartphones. Other features include web radio and an AM/FM tuner.

Promising 24bit/192kHz DAC audiophile quality and analog audio circuitry, the C 446 supports all popular digital formats, including MP3, FLAC, WMA, WAV, and AAC. NAD says that the unit can also decode analog FM/AM as SPDIF digital output.

“With the capabilities and features of the C 446, the listener is not restricted by any means,” says Greg Stidsen, NAD’s director of technology and product planning. “The C 446 is able to stream music collections from all networked devices using Universal Plug-and-Play (UPnP) and DLNA standards. The UPnP Digital Audio Renderer (DAR) technology allows the user to browse, create playlists, and change songs from anywhere in the home using a range of network devices.”

Other features include built-in Wi-Fi, USB playback, an RS-232 port, and support for cloud music services. NAD also offers an iPod/iPhone playback option, via the add-on IPD 2 Dock.

NAD says that the C 446 is available now, with an MSRP of $800.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.