NAD is well known for its innovative, high-performance and affordable turntables. While the basic operation of a turntable seems simple, extracting all the musical energy from recording rhythms without exciting destructive resonances requires science and art.
Let's take a closer look at each of the elements of the C 588 with an explanation of the choices we made.
Having an accurate pitch (velocity) is important, but human hearing is much more sensitive to the momentary changes in velocity that we express with the terms Wow and Flutter. As its name sounds, Wow is a slow variation of cyclic speed.
The most severe example is the sound of a severely warped record, where the stylus travels faster on the rising side of the warp and slower on the falling side, causing abrupt changes in musical pitch. Flutter is what we call very fast and small variations that are usually generated by the engine.
The C 588 addresses both problems with proven and effective solutions. A specialized high-precision synchronous clock motor is very smooth and accurate, especially when driven with stable AC voltage. To ensure clean and stable AC voltage, we isolate the AC mains by first converting it into clean DC voltage, and then electronically generate the precise AC frequency to regulate the synchronous motor.
Using a specially formulated belt to drive the source plus filters and isolates any remaining vibrations. All rotating parts are made from aluminum alloy machined to very tight tolerances to eliminate any eccentricity or vibration in the drive system.
The C 588 features a custom designed carbon fiber arm shaft with a fixed metal head housing and features a decoupled counterweight and magnetic anti-slip compensation. An Ortofon 2M Red cartridge is factory installed and offers excellent tracking and delicately nuanced full-range sound.
The C 588 uses a longer than usual 9' tonearm to optimize overhang and reduce tracking angle error. To perfectly align the stylus, we include adjustments for azimuth and vertical tracking angle, and we include a meter to calibrate the alignment, a rarity at this price.
To fully realize the microdynamics of music, very close mechanical coupling of the source and arm is required. This forms a triangle, as vibrations can travel from the record being played to the platter, through the shaft and bearing to the base (socket), up the armrest through the arm pivot and out. down the arm toward the cartridge and stylus.
There are many separate parts in this path and some of them must move relative to each other through mechanical bearing interfaces. If there is any play on these mechanical interfaces, musical energy will be lost. That's why NAD has paid strict attention to the precision machining, assembly and testing that is so important on a turntable.
Minimizing all spurious vibrations is essential to obtain the best result when playing vinyl. Since these vibrations can come from various sources, both internal and external, materials and dimensions must be carefully calculated, reducing and balancing all resonances to avoid a build-up of energy at particular frequencies.
To isolate external vibrations from the speakers or footsteps bouncing off the floor, we use a massive MDF base with specially fitted vibration damping feet, along with a thick non-resonant dust cover. The choice of glass platter, felt pad, MDF base and carbon fiber arm were carefully considered to work together to limit and reduce vibration.
