Интегральные усилители — NAD C 328

NAD announced the C 328 on 5 October 2017 with shipping from November of that year, and this integrated model combines HybridDigital UcD amplification with a built-in DAC, an MM phono input and Bluetooth reception in a 70 mm tall chassis. Its US launch price was USD 549.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 50 W per channel into 8 or 4 ohms across 20 Hz to 20 kHz at rated THD. From the analogue inputs to the speaker terminals, THD is below 0.03% between 100 mW and 40 W, noise is more than 95 dB below output A-weighted, and the response holds within 0.3 dB. Via the phono input, THD remains under 0.03% from 200 mW to 40 W, phono noise measures better than 75 dB with an MM cartridge per IHF, and RIAA accuracy is within 0.3 dB. The chassis measures 435 x 70 x 285 mm and weighs 4.9 kg net, or 5.9 kg when shipped.

Engineering and use context

Inside is a customised Hypex UcD Class D design driven by a switch mode power supply, and the controls include bass EQ and tone adjustment, with an IR remote supplied. The US warranty runs for two years and includes parts and labour. NAD stated that the design targets nearly unmeasurable distortion and noise in the audible range. A separate headphone amplifier feeds the front-mounted jack with 11 ohm output impedance, THD under 0.005% at 1 V, noise over 100 dB down into 32 ohms. The subwoofer output has 200 ohm output impedance and a response within 0.2 dB over the audio band, with the same 0.005% distortion at 1 V. Besides the RIAA-equalised MM phono input, there are two analogue line inputs, two S/PDIF coaxial and two optical sockets, and an antenna for Bluetooth. NAD described the aim as a clean panel design and overall simplicity. Power management covers auto standby and an eco mode, with ECO standby at 0.5 W, control standby at 0.6 W and 0 W in off mode.

Pairing

A moving magnet turntable plugs into the phono socket, and the S/PDIF inputs take a TV, CD transport or streaming player. The subwoofer output, which applies fixed low-pass filtering, lets a powered bass unit join the system. Bluetooth covers phones and tablets without a separate receiver.

Alternatives

The NAD C 338 shares the same footprint and adds Google Cast along with optical and coaxial digital inputs supporting 24 bit and 192 kHz.