NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier Preview

See the complete review for the NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier.

NAD’s C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier is built with trickle-down tech from the acclaimed Masters Series. With the same ESS Sabre DAC as the premium M10 and M33 amps and Hypex Hybrid Digital nCore circuitry, it brings high-end sound to an affordable price point. Modular Design Construction means you can add features as you wish to bring in things like BluOS, AirPlay, and Dirac Live room correction.

The C 399 delivers an honest 150 watts into two channels with no audible distortion. And no audible noise floor either. Unpacking the solidly built unit and connecting a pair of Axiom LFR-1100 towers quickly proved that this amp is super quiet. And super cool too. Running through a few test tracks at high volumes only raised the chassis’ temperature a few degrees above ambient.

My review unit already has the BluOS module installed which adds streaming via Wi-Fi and Dirac Live room correction. I can hear my entire iTunes library (all lossless CD rips) over AirPlay with the same quality as if I were listening to the CDs through a player.

I’ll be running a few sessions with Dirac Live since the C 399 has five configuration memories that let me toggle between setups using the remote. The free version of the software allows correction up to 500Hz, but I have the full package from a previous review that will let me correct the full range and create custom curves.

There’s a lot to see here so stay tuned to this space for my full review coming soon.

See the complete review for the NAD C 399 Hybrid Digital DAC Amplifier.