NAD C399 Stereo Integrated Amplifier

Description

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, which until now has been available only on Masters Series amplifiers, the C 399 is the new flagship integrated amplifier in NAD’s Classic Series.
The C 399’s digital section is built around a 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC, the same chip used in NAD’s acclaimed M10 and M33 Masters Series amplifiers.
The C 399 is also the first amplifier to incorporate the latest generation of NAD’s Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology. MDC2 lets users add optional modules that
provide functions such as BluOS Hi-Res multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.

PURE POWER
Trickled down from NAD’s Masters Series, the C 399’s HybridDigital nCore amplifier is highly efficient and remarkably powerful. It can deliver 180 Watts per channel continuous
power, and 250 Watts per channel instantaneous power, allowing the C 399 to reproduce musical transients effortlessly. The HybridDigital nCore design is renowned for its wide
bandwidth, flat frequency response, clean clipping behaviour with instant recovery, high current capability, and stability into demanding low-impedance speaker loads. Noise
and distortion are vanishingly low under all operating conditions. The minute levels of harmonic distortion are dominated by sonically benign second and third harmonics. These
refinements enable the C 399 to produce neutral, distortion-free sound even at very high listening levels, with thrilling dynamics, exquisite detail, and superb portrayal of space.
Also trickled down from the Masters Series is the ESS Sabre 9028 high-resolution DAC, a design noted for its wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise and distortion, and near-zero
levels of clock jitter. This premium DAC enables the C 399 to reproduce all your digital sources with amazing musicality, precise sound staging, and stunning clarity.

FUTURE PERFECT
In 2006, NAD introduced Modular Design Construction, an innovative architecture for adding new functions to existing components. Many
NAD products have rear-panel slots for MDC modules that perform HDMI switching, BluOS multi-room music streaming, Dolby Atmos surround
processing, and other functions. The C 399 is the first product to feature NAD’s new MDC2 architecture. By enabling two-way communications between the module and
component, MDC2 opens the future for new upgrades. In a nutshell, MDC2 helps protect your investment from premature obsolescence whilst
adding desirable features. Equipped with Wi-Fi and Ethernet, the optional MDC2 BluOS-D module lets listeners play music from their favourite streaming services through
the C 399, using the acclaimed BluOS Controller app for Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows. Like all BluOS-enabled products, the MDC2
BluOS-D module supports the new standard for Hi Res streaming, Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), and has integrated support for dozens of
streaming services; including Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz, Amazon Music HD and Spotify. Two-way communications also enable the MDC2 BluOS-D to
stream music from local sources connected to the C 399 to BluOS-capable components in other rooms.

The Dirac Live* function lets you measure your room’s acoustics using a supplied microphone and intuitive app, and then upload correction curves
to the MDC2 BluOS-D module. By compensating for acoustic anomalies in your listening environment, Dirac Live dramatically improves bass
clarity, imaging, and timbral accuracy. Thanks to its two-way architecture, the MDC2 BluOS-D performs Dirac Live room correction for all sources
connected to your C 399.

WELL CONNECTED
The C 399 has two optical and two coaxial digital inputs, plus an HDMI eARC port for playing audio from a connected TV, while
controlling amplifier output with the TV’s remote control. Analogue fans are well served with two pairs of RCA line-level inputs, plus a
MM phono stage with ultra-precise RIAA equalization, extremely low noise, and high overload margins. The phono preamp also features an
innovative circuit that suppresses the infrasonic noise present on all LPs, without compromising bass response. The line inputs have low-noise
buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation. In addition to two sets of speaker outputs, the C 399 has preamp output jacks and dual subwoofer outputs.
Two-way aptX HD Bluetooth allows 24-bit streaming from mobile devices, and high-quality output to Bluetooth headphones. Also built-in is a dedicated headphone
amplifier with low output impedance and high output voltage capability,enabling the C 399 to drive demanding high-impedance studio monitor headphones.

A TIMELESS CLASSIC
Ever 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. As with every NAD amplifier, the C 399 gets the basics right:
a precise volume control with accurate channel balance, low-noise circuits, and correct input and output impedances.
With its HybridDigital nCore output stage and high-resolution ESS Sabre DAC, the C 399 can reproduce all your digital and
analogue sources with a level of excitement and refinement that is unprecedented for a Classic-Series integrated amplifier.
Thanks to NAD’s innovative MDC2 platform, the C 399 will keep pace with future developments. The C 399 can serve as the hub
of a world-class music system today, and for years to come. With NAD’s C 399 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier, the legend continues.

SPECIFICATIONS

PREAMPLIFIER

LINE INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz): <0.002% at 2V out Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out, unity gain)
Channel separation: >100dB (1 kHz)
>90 dB (10 kHz)
Input Impedance (R and C): 56 kohms + 100 pF
Maximum input signal: >4.6Vrms (ref. 0.1% THD)
Output impedance: Source Z + 320 Ohm
Input sensitivity: 65mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
Maximum voltage output -IHF load: >5V (ref. 0.1% THD)

PHONO INPUT, PRE-OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz): <0.01% at 2V out Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >84dB (200 Ohm source; A-weighted, ref. 500mV out)
Input sensitivity: 1.08mV (ref. 500mV out, Volume maximum)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
Maximum input signal at 1kHz: >80mVrms (ref. 0.1% THD)

LINE INPUT, HEADPHONE OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
THD (20Hz – 20kHz): <0.005% at 1V out Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >107dB (32 Ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 2V out, unity gain)
Frequency response: ±0.3dB (20Hz – 20kHz)
Channel separation: >62dB at 1kHz
Output impedance: 2.2 Ohms

LINE IN, SPEAKER OUT (ANALOG BYPASS ON)
Continuous output power into 8 ohms and 4 ohms: 180W (ref. 20 Hz-20 kHz at rated THD, both channels driven)
THD (20 Hz – 20 kHz): <0.02% (250 mW to 180 W, 8 ohms and 4 ohms) Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >95 dB (A-weighted, 500 mV input, ref. 1 W out in 8 ohms)
Clipping power: >210W (at 1 kHz 0.1 % THD)
IHF dynamic power 8 ohms: 217 W
4 ohms: 400 W
2 ohms: 506.4 W
Peak output current: >26 A (in 1 ohm, 1 ms)
Damping factor: >150 (ref. 8 ohms, 20Hz to 6.5kHz)
Frequency response: ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
Channel separation: >90dB (1 kHz)
>75dB (10 kHz)
Input sensitivity (for 180 W in 8 ohms): Line In: 201 mV
Digital In: 10.25% FS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
Supports bit rate/sample rate: up to 24 bit/192 kHz
Frequency band: 2.402G- 2.480G
Maximum transmit power (dBm): 7 dBm ± 2 dBm

DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Gross dimensions (W x H x D): ** 435 x 120 x 390mm (17 1/8 x 4 3/4 x 15 3/8)”
Net Weight: 11.2kg (24.7lb)
Shipping weight: 13.6kg (30lb)