NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier (with optional MDC2 BluOS-D Module)

Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier

As the new flagship of NAD’s Classic series of integrated amps, the C 399 HybridDigital DAC Amplifier takes NAD’s commitment to lasting value and sonic excellence to a whole new level.

The C 399 employs NAD’s Hypex HybridDigital nCore amplifier circuitry, which until now has been available only on Masters Series amplifiers. Its 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 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 multi-room music streaming and Dirac Live room correction.

NAD's new classic amplifiers. Intelligent. Powerful. Efficient.

Introducing the NAD C399

Perfect Power

Trickled down from NAD’s Masters Series, the C 399’s HybridDigital nCore amplifier can deliver 180 Watts per channel continuous power, and 250 Watts per channel instantaneous power. Highly efficient and remarkably powerful, the HybridDigital nCore amplifier can produce musical transients effortlessly. The 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. The Hypex nCore design enables the C 399 to produce neutral, distortion-free sound even at very high listening levels, with exquisite detail, superb portrayal of space, and thrilling dynamics.

Also trickled down from the Masters Series is the ESS Sabre 9028 high-resolution DAC, a design noted for near-zero levels of clock jitter, ultra-low noise and distortion, and wide dynamic range. This premium DAC enables the C 399 to reproduce all your digital sources with amazing musicality, stunning clarity, and precise soundstaging.
Future Proof

In 2007, 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 up the future for new upgrades.

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 has integrated support for dozens of streaming services; and supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Two-way communications also enable the MDC2 BluOS-D to stream music from sources connected to the C 399 to BluOS-enabled 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. 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 room correction for all sources connected to your C 399.
Everything’s Connected

The C 399 can accommodate all your digital and analogue sources. Its MM phono stage delivers 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. There are two sets of line-level line inputs, with low-noise buffer amplifiers to prevent sonic degradation. 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.

In addition to two sets of speaker outputs, the C 399 has preamp output jacks and dual subwoofer outputs. Two-way apt-X 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

As with every NAD amplifier ever made, the C 399 gets the basics right: a precise volume control with accurate channel balance, low-noise circuits, and correct input and output impedances. But it goes far beyond the basics. 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. Essentially, MDC2 makes obsolescence obsolete. 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.

Features & Details

    Hybrid Digital nCore Amplifier
    Continuous Power: 180 Watts per channel into 8/4 ohms
    Instantaneous Power: 250 Watts per channel
    Vanishingly low harmonic and intermodulation distortion
    Dual MDC2 Ports for expanded functionality
    Optional MDC2 BluOS-D module adds BluOS multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction
    Jitter-free 32-bit/384kHz ESS Sabre DAC
    Ultra-low-noise MM phono stage with infrasonic filtering circuitry
    Two optical, two coaxial digital inputs
    HDMI-eARC input
    Two pairs of line-level analogue inputs with low-noise buffer amplifiers
    Speaker A/Speaker B outputs
    Two-way aptX-HD Bluetooth
    Dual subwoofer outputs
    Dedicated headphone amplifier
    IR remote
    12V Trigger in/out
    IR in/out
    RS-232 Serial port for control integration with home automation systems
    Control4, Crestron, RTI, URC, AMX, Savant, Elan certified

Specifications

Amplification
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/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

Preamplifier
Line Input, Pre Out (Analog bypass on)

    THD (20Hz-20kHz)
    <0.002 % at 2 V out
    Signal/Noise Ratio
    >106dB (IHF; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out, unity gain)
    Channel Separation
    >100dB (1 kHz); >90 dB (10 kHz)
    Input Impedance (R and C)
    56 kohms + 100 pF
    Maximum Input Signal
    >4.6 Vrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)
    Output Impedance
    Source Z + 320 ohms
    Input Sensitivity
    65mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
    Frequency Response
    ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
    Maximum voltage output – IHF load
    >>5 V (ref. 0.1 % THD)

Phono
Phono Input, Pre Out (Analog bypass on)

    THD (20Hz-20kHz)
    <0.01% at 2 V out
    Signal to Noise Ratio
    >84dB (200 ohms source; A-weighted, ref. 500 mV out)
    Input Impedance (R and C)
    46 kohms/100 pF
    Input Sensitivity
    1.08mV (ref. 500 mV out, Volume maximum)
    Frequency Response*
    ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
    Maximum Input Signal at 1kHz
    >80 mVrms (ref. 0.1 % THD)

Headphone
Line Input, Headphone Out (Analog bypass on)

    THD (20Hz-20kHz)
    <0.005% at 1V out
    Signal/Noise Ratio
    >107 dB (32 ohms loads; A-WTD, ref. 1V out, unity gain
    Frequency Response
    ±0.3 dB (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
    Channel Separation
    >62 dB at 1kHz
    Output Impedance
    2.2 Ohms

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

Weight & Dimensions

    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)

NAD MDC Modules (for C368, C388, C399, M32, M12)


Available MDC Upgrade Modules 2022

MDC BluOS 2i Module

Adds Wi-Fi/Ethernet Network Connectivity with decoding for all major digital music formats, including Hi-Res Audio to 24/192, and support for local libraries and streaming music services. BluOS is the operating system of a wireless multi-room ecosystem that includes speakers from Bluesound allowing Hi-Res Audio to be distributed to every room in the home.

MDC DD HDM-2 Module

Adds 3 HDMI Inputs and 1 Output for Video Pass-Through. Supports 4K Video resolutions. Supports 2 channel PCM audio with 24/192 resolution.

MDC USB DSD Module

With NAD’s innovative Modular Design Construction, adding the latest cutting-edge technology can be as simple as a software upgrade and slipping a new hardware module into your stereo NAD amplifier. The MDC USB DSD is the latest MDC module from NAD that adds USB Audio 2 PCM and DSD playback capability to six of our most popular stereo (pre-) amplifiers (M33, M32, M12, C 388, C 368, C 658). Experience the convenience of computer music playback and streaming, in high resolution up to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD256, combined with the musical performance of your NAD hi-fi system.

MDC2 BluOS-D Module


First module in NAD’s second generation MDC2 Modular Design Construction future-proof architecture features Dirac Live Room Correction, BluOS High-Res Music Streaming and More