Feel the power of music with the NAD C399 integrated amplifier. Featuring 180 watts of power to each speaker this amplifier offers an unbeatable combination of NAD's classic sound quality and modern features. With its versatile range of inputs, including HDMI eArc, a high grade MM phono input as well as several analogue and digital inputs. With the C399 you can explore nearly any speaker setup of your choice... Plus, with the optional hi resolution streaming card, you can unlock the potential of your favorite hi res music files. 

NAD C399 integrated amplifier (2x)180w incl. Phono input and HDMI eArc

NAD’S new C399 is a streaming integrated amplifier* that incorporates many functions and features and high performance into a remarkably compact component. Its preamplifier section has two line-level inputs; a moving-magnet phonostage; balance, bass, and treble controls; switching for two pairs of speaker systems; outputs for two subwoofers; a headphone jack; and a pair each of preamp-out and record-out jacks (the latter doubling for home-theatre bypass). The onboard DAC has a pair each of coaxial- and optical-in jacks and an HDMI-eARC port for accessing high-quality audio from a TV. The Bluetooth circuit (two-way apt-X HD) allows 24-bit streaming from mobile devices and a high-quality output to Bluetooth headphones.

* Streaming over network requires optional BluOs card

ESS DAC and Hypex Amp Module

The DAC in the C399 is built around the ESS Sabre 9028 jitter-free 32-bit/384kHz chip, the same used in NAD’s acclaimed Masters Series components and many other DACs, including state-of-the-art ones. 

As implemented here, it supports playback of PCM signals up to 24-bit/192kHz. For amplification, the C 399 relies on Hypex Electronics' class-D HybridDigital nCore module, which has proven itself to be a classy and musical performer. While most manufacturers purchase the nCore module from Hypex "off the shelf," NAD licenses its rights and closely supervises its manufacture by a third-party factory. Power output is an impressive 180Wpc into both four and eight ohms.

The nCore module's damping factor is rated at greater than 600. This is a very high number for a product at this price point and it suggests that the C 399 has excellent control over a speaker's drivers, and thus its output. Further, the nCore module is said to use negative feedback without any of its commonly associated drawbacks. It's claimed that, unlike many class-D amplification circuits, the module operates with load invariance (i.e., it outputs a uniform signal regardless of a speaker's impedance). The C 399's Hypex amplification module is driven by an analog preamplification stage, and its level is adjusted via a rotary encoder which steers an analog volume control that operates in 184 steps of 0.5dB each.

Many manufacturers who use the nCore module purchase Hypex's matching power supply. For the C 399, NAD uses its own switch mode power supply, which it states provides superior performance, including low impedance stability and clean power at critical circuit junctions.

The C 399's moving magnet phono stage is based on NAD's freestanding PP2e phono stage ($189). Like the PP2, it contains proprietary circuitry that NAD states suppresses the infrasonic noise inherent to vinyl playback without compromising bass performance. The C 399 also contains a low output impedance, high output (32-ohm) voltage headphone amplifier.

BluOs Hi-Res streaming card with Dirac room correction

The C 399's optional features, which are accommodated via NAD's Modular Design Construction (MDC) technology which is now in its second generation. This technology enables the C 399 and certain other NAD components to receive updates and add features via periodically released, optional modules.

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.

When the BluOS-D is installed, signals received through the C 399's analog inputs are mostly converted into digital streams via a Texas Instruments PCM1863 24-bit/192kHz A/D converter. Each input's sampling rate can be set to 48, 96, or 192kHz. However, vinyl fans and other analog adherents aren't left out in the cold as A/D conversion can be bypassed, allowing for a purely analog signal path when using the C 399's internal phono stage. In A/D conversion bypass mode, multi-room streaming and Dirac Live room correction become unavailable.

The BluOS app is supported on Android, iOS, and Kindle-based mobile devices and Windows and macOS computers. It provides access to music streaming services such as Amazon Music, Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz, and the Neil Young Archives, along with hundreds of internet radio stations. While the C 399's ESS Sabre DAC chipset doesn't process native DSD streams as configured, the app converts them into 24-bit/192kHz PCM FLAC files.

Additional connectivity options with BluOS-D include SMB (Samba), Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. It also provides a USB type-A port for connecting an external drive.

When fitted with the BluOS-D module, the C 399 is Roon Ready and compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control devices.

NAD C399 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