As the new flagship of NAD's Classic series of integrated amplifiers, the C 399 HybridDigital DAC amplifier takes NAD's commitment to lasting value and sonic excellence to a whole new level.
The C399 employs NAD's Hypex HybridDigital nCore amplification circuitry, which until now was only available in Masters series amplifiers. Its digital section is built around a 32-bit/384 kHz ESS Saber DAC, the same chip used in NAD Masters' acclaimed M10 and M33 series amplifiers.
The C-399 is the first amplifier to incorporate the latest generation of NAD's Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology. MDC2 allows users to add optional modules that provide features such as BluOS multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.
NAD Electronics, the renowned manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, takes value and performance to a whole new level. The C-399 hybrid digital DAC amplifier is the clearest expression yet of NAD's commitment to sonic excellence and lasting value. Employing NAD's HybridDigital nCore™ amplification, previously only available in Masters series amplifiers, the C399 is the new flagship integrated amplifier in NAD's Classic series. The digital section of the C 399 is built around a 32-bit/384 kHz ESS Saber DAC, the same chip used in NAD Masters' acclaimed M10 and M33 series amplifiers. The suggested retail price of the C399 is $1,999 (£1,799 / €1,999 / $2,599 CAD) and will be available in time for the holiday season.
The NAD C399 is also the first amplifier to incorporate the latest generation of NAD's Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology: MDC2. The MDC2 optional module allows users to add optional modules that provide features such as BluOS high-resolution multi-room music streaming, Dirac Live room correction, and more.
"Like all NAD amplifiers, the C399 gets the basics right: precise volume control with exact channel balance, low-noise circuitry, and correct input and output impedances. The C 399, with its HybridDigital nCore output stage and its ESS Saber high-resolution DAC, can reproduce all your digital and analog sources with a level of excitement and refinement unprecedented in its class," says Cas Oostvogel, NAD Electronics' Product Manager.
"Since the launch of the legendary 3020 integrated amplifier in 1978, the NAD brand has been synonymous with value and performance. The C 399 takes that reputation to a whole new level. Thanks to NAD's innovative new MDC2 architecture, the C 399 can serve as the center of a world-class music system today, and for many years to come."
The C399's HybridDigital nCore amplifier, from NAD's Masters series, is highly efficient and remarkably powerful. It can supply 180W of continuous power per channel and 250W of instantaneous power per channel, allowing the C 399 to produce musical transients effortlessly. The HybridDigital nCore design is famous for its wide bandwidth, flat frequency response, clean clipping behavior with instant recovery, high current capability, and stability with low-impedance speaker loads. Noise and distortion are incredibly low under all operating conditions. The minuscule levels of harmonic distortion are dominated by sonically benign second and third harmonics. These improvements allow the C399 to produce neutral, distortion-free sound even at very high listening levels, with exciting dynamics, exquisite detail and magnificent representation of space.
Also coming from the Masters series is the ESS Saber ES9028 high-resolution DAC, a design that stands out for its wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise and distortion, and near-zero clock jitter levels. This high-quality DAC allows the C399 to reproduce all digital sources with stunning musicality, precise soundstage, and stunning clarity.
In 2006, NAD introduced modular design construction (MDC), an innovative architecture for adding new functions to existing components. Many NAD products have rear panel slots for MDC modules that realize UHD (4K) support, HDMI switching, BluOS multi-room music streaming, Dolby Atmos surround processing, and other functions.
The C 399 is the first product to incorporate NAD's new MDC2 architecture. By enabling bi-directional communications between the module and the host component, MDC2 allows for the addition of desirable features.
Equipped with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module allows listeners to play music from their favorite streaming services through the C399, using the acclaimed BluOS Controller app for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. Like all BluOS Enabled products, the MDC2 BluOS-D has built-in support for dozens of streaming services; and is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect. Two-way communications also allows the MDC2 BluOS-D to stream music from local sources connected to the C 399 to BluOS Enabled components in other rooms.
The Dirac Live function allows users to measure their room acoustics using a supplied microphone and an intuitive app, and then upload the correction curves to the MDC2 BluOS-D. By compensating for acoustic anomalies in listening environments, Dirac Live dramatically improves bass clarity, imaging, and timbral accuracy. Thanks to its bidirectional architecture, the MDC2 BluOS-D performs Dirac Live room correction for all sources connected to the C399.
The C-399 features two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, plus an HDMI-eARC port for playing audio from a connected TV, while controlling the amplifier's output with the TV's remote control. Analog music fans are well served with two pairs of RCA line-level inputs, plus an MM phono stage with ultra-precise RIAA equalization, extremely low noise and high overload margins. The phono preamplifier also features innovative circuitry that suppresses infrasonic noise present in all LP vinyl records, without compromising bass response. The line inputs feature low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sound degradation.
In addition to two pairs of speaker outputs (A, B), the C 399 has preamp output jacks and dual subwoofer outputs. Two-way aptX HD Bluetooth enables 24-bit streaming from mobile devices and high-quality output for Bluetooth headphones. It also incorporates a dedicated headphone amplifier with low output impedance and high output voltage capability, allowing the C399 to drive demanding high-impedance studio monitoring headphones.
Like every NAD amplifier ever made, the C399 gets the basics right: precise volume control with exact channel balance, low-noise circuitry, and correct input and output impedances. But it goes far beyond the basics. With its HybridDigital nCore output stage and high-resolution ESS Saber DAC, the C-399 can reproduce all your digital and analog sources with a level of excitement and refinement unprecedented for a Classic Series integrated amplifier.
Thanks to NAD's innovative MDC2 platform, the C 399 will keep pace with future developments. Essentially, MDC2 makes obsolescence obsolete. The C399 can serve as the center of a world-class music system today, and for years to come. With NAD's HybridDigital C 399 DAC amplifier, the legend continues.
Founded in 1972 and now sold in more than 80 countries, NAD Electronics is known for its award-winning line of high-quality components for audio, home theater and custom installation applications. From the beginning, NAD's commitment to four core values - innovation, simplicity, performance and value - has earned it a cult following that catapulted it to become a household name among audiophiles and music lovers alike. To this day, the brand continues to design and manufacture some of the most acclaimed and affordable hi-fi components that include modern features and technologies aimed at appealing to a new generation of audiophiles.
