Integrated amplifiers — NAD C 338

The C 338 is an integrated amplifier with built-in DAC and phono stage from NAD, sitting above the C 328 with considerably greater output power and an exceptional damping factor. The C 338 brings NAD's more accomplished current engineering to a complete integrated chassis.

Key specs that matter

Three single-ended inputs plus a dedicated phono input are provided. Input sensitivity is 380mV, with input impedance at 56,000 ohms. Output impedance is 200 ohms. The phono stage uses a sophisticated current-sensing design at 47,000 ohms. Output power is 80W into 8 ohms, rising to 150W into 4 ohms - considerably more than the C 328's 50W. Signal-to-noise ratio exceeds 98dB, with total harmonic distortion plus noise under 0.03%. Damping factor exceeds an exceptional 300. At 435 x 70 x 285mm and 4.85kg, the C 338 shares the C 328's chassis footprint at nearly identical weight despite considerably greater output power.

Sound and use context

Expect surprisingly clean, capable amplification reflecting the exceptional over-300 damping factor combined with the strong over-98dB signal-to-noise figure, with the sophisticated current-sensing phono stage handling both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges without a separate step-up device.

Pairing

The current-sensing phono stage handles both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges directly without needing a separate step-up transformer.

Alternatives

NAD's own C 388 offers a considerably more powerful alternative within the same broader accessible catalogue.