NAD C338 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier

 

Introducing the NAD C338
Getting the Basics Right
Built with NAD’s renowned music-first approach to audio architecture and amp design, the C 338 is equipped with the most advanced components commonly found in NAD’s class-leading line of amplifiers. Always starting with the details you can hear and advancing from there, NAD develops low-noise circuitry with the precision and stability to deliver incredible, near-zero distortion sound for the most difficult speakers.

HybridDigital™ Amp Technology
The search for a high-performance Class D solution led NAD to HybridDigital™, an innovative amplifier technology that uses a variable modulation frequency to bring out the life-like qualities of music, while reducing distortion under every operating condition. This highly optimized design gives phenomenal performance to the C 338 amplifier, both measured and subjective.

Efficient Class D Power
NAD has worked tirelessly to create the best performing Class D amplifiers that are energy efficient and produce beautiful sound—not heat—regardless of basic design principles. Using advanced measurements and data, NAD developed the C 338’s highly efficient power supply with a customised Hypex® UCD output stage to pump out 160 watts continuously and over 300 watts instantaneously to meet the demands of the most dynamic music. This new design is very linear over a wide bandwidth and provides consistent, noise-free performance for the amplifying stages with near perfect regulation of voltage.
Always Ready for Streaming
The C 338 has Chromecast built-in so you can cast music, tunes, podcasts, and playlists from your favourite apps on your phone, tablet or laptop to your stereo system. Spotify Connect® lets you discover millions of songs and stream them directly to your C 338 using the Spotify® app for a rich, wireless music experience. With the added flexibility of Bluetooth®, your music streaming possibilities are truly limitless with the C 338.

Built-in Phono Stage for Vinyl Listening
Using a MM phono stage and an innovative low-noise circuit path, the C 338 can reproduce the warmth of LPs with accurate RIAA equalization and control the infrasonic noise that is in all recordings, without ever affecting the bass response.

Flexible Connectivity
With a wide array of connections, including a separate headphone amplifier that can drive high-impedance studio monitor headphones, the C 338 is ready for any type of listening. Line inputs can accommodate all kinds of analogue source components, offering ideal input impedance with linear ultra-low noise buffer amplifiers to preserve the musicality of recordings. Also connect a subwoofer with low impedance line outputs and extend the versatility of this budget-friendly, do-it-all amplifier.

Key Features

• 50W x 2 Continuous Power into 8 or 4 Ohms
• 90W / 150W / 200W IHF Dynamic Power into 8 / 4 / 2 Ohms
  
• First hi-fi amplifier to feature Chromecast built-in
  
• Integrated Bluetooth® for added music streaming flexibility
  
• Built-in Phono Preamp for Turntables
  
• Stereo Line, Optical Digital and Coax Digital inputs
  
• NAD Remote App support for tablet and smartphone
  
• Dedicated Headphone Amplifier
  
• Subwoofer Output
  
  

Preamplifier
Line In, Subwoofer Out

THD (20Hz-20kHz)
<0.005% at 2V out

Signal/Noise Ratio
>106dB (IHF; A-weighted, 500mV out, unity gain)

Input Impedance (R and C)
56 kilohm + 100pF

Maximum Input Signal
>4.5Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

Output Impedance
Source Z + 200 Ohm

Input Sensitivity
50mV (100Hz ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum

Maximum voltage output – IHF load
>4.5V (ref. 0.1% THD)

Line In, Headphone Out

THD (20Hz-20kHz)
<0.005% at 1V out

Signal/Noise Ratio
>105dB (IHF; A-weighted, 32 Ohm loads, ref. 2V out, unity gain)

Frequency Response
±0.3dB (20Hz-20kHz)

Channel Separation
 >56dB at 1kHz

Output Impedance
 0.5 Ohm

General Specifications
Line In, Speaker Out

Continuous Output Power into 4 Ohms and 8 Ohms (Stereo)
>50W (at rated THD, 20-20kHz, both channels driven)

IHF Dynamic Power 

• 8 Ohm 80W
• 4 Ohm 150W
• 2 Ohm 210W

THD (20Hz-20kHz)
<0.03% (250mW to 50W, 8 Ohm and 4 Ohm

Signal/Noise Ratio
>98dB (A-weighted, 500mV input ref. 1W out in 8 Ohm)

Clipping power
>60W (at 1kHz 0.1% THD)

Peak output current
>18A (in 1 Ohm, 1 ms)

Damping Factor
>300 (ref. 8 Ohm, 20Hz to 6.5kHz)

Frequency Response
±0.3 dB (20Hz-20kHz)

Channel Separation

• 1kHz >75dB
• 10kHz >65dB
  
  

Input Sensitivity (For 50W in 8 Ohm)
Line In: 380mV, Digital In: 18% FS

Sample Rate
Up to 24 bit/192kHz
 
Phono In, Speaker Out

THD (20Hz-20kHz) (Stereo)
<0.3% at 50W out

Signal/Noise Ratio

• >82dB (200 Ohm source, A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
• >76dB (MM cartridge source, IHF A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)

Input Sensitivity
4.1mV (ref. 50W 1kHz 4 Ohm out, Volume maximum)

Frequency Response
±0.3dB (20Hz-20kHz)

Input Impedance
47 kilohm + 100pF

Maximum Input Signal
>80mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

Power Consumption

at ECO Standby mode
0.4 Watts*

at Control Standby mode
1.8 Watts**

OFF mode (Power switched OFF)
0 Watts

• After 20 minutes of no user interface interaction and no active source input
  
• With established wireless Bluetooth connectivity and 20 minutes of no user interface interaction and no active source input
  

NOTE: Bluetooth connectivity can be enabled or disabled via press and hold of PLAY button of AMP 3 remote control

Weight & Dimensions

Gross Dimensions (W x H x D)*
435 x 70 x 285mm (17 1/8 x 2 13/16 x 11 1/4)”

Net Weight
4.85kg (10.7lb)

Shipping Weight
5.85kg (12.9lb)